Boxoffice-January.21.1956

JANUARY 21, 1956
/he tu/Ae eif ~tne /V/&&Qfv fictuM
Three industry leaders will receive the annual Brotherhood Awards of the National Conference of Christians
and Jews in recognition of their services to the motion picture industry's role in fostering better understanding
between peoples of all faiths. They are Robert Dowling (left), president of City Investing Co. and the New
York Film Board of Trade, Sam Rinzler (center), president of Randforce Amusement Co., and Thomas O'Neil,
chairman of the board of RKO Radio and president of General Teleradio, Inc. . . . Story on Page IS.
Progress
Reported
In Orderly Film
Releasing
Plan
Page 8
NATIONAL EXECUTIVE EDITION
In, lull, n J ln> '.t. 1,0-11 MM> ?•

STAMPEDE OF
NEVER SUCH SCENES! WILL LIFT THE FOLKS OUT OF THEIR SEATS!
r
j-T»J.*F
r,*3smx TO JR HD :k v»tf
When this thundering herd comes stampeding at your
audience and your theatre trembles with the terror of frantic,
pounding hoofs; when Robert Taylor, as the kill-crazy
hunter, and Stewart Granger, who foresees the extermination
of the buffalo, come to grips over a beautiful Indian girl;
when the thrills of "THE LAST HUNT" and the majesty of
its backgrounds in CinemaScope and Color unfold on your
screen, you'll know you have one of the year's BIGGEST!

WILD BUFFALO!
IT'S
GREAT! M-G-M's "THE LAST HUNT" FILMED IN DAKOTA BAD LANDS!
M-G-M presents
in
CINEMASCOPE
"THE LAST
HUNT''
Starring
ROBERT TAYLOR
STEWART GRANGER
LLOYD DEBRA RUSS
PAGET '
TAMBLYN
NOLAN
'
Screen Play by RICHARD BROOKS
Bated On the Novel by MILTON LOTT • Photographed in EASTMAN COLOR
Directed by RICHARD BROOKS • Produced by DORE SCHARY
*
(Available in Magnetic Stereophonic, Perspecta Stereophonic or 1-Channel Sound)
M-G-M WEEK — FEB. 5-11 • "An M-G-M Picture On Every Screen of the World"

S66 ou
JlClUIc
01 U
THE EXCITEMENT BEGINS AT THE WARNER BROS'. TR
ALBANY
?0fh Cenlufy-Foi Stfeening Room
ios2i.il, soopm
ATLANTA
20th Century Foi Streening Room
l«7WoltottSi. NW. • 2 00 P M
BOSTON
20lh Century Foi Stfeening Room
HSIwoy. 2 00PM
BUFFALO
CINCINNATI
Motion Pit f Opetotori Hall RKO Polote T h Streening Room
12 F 6th St. • 8 00 P.M.
CLEVELAND
20th Cenlury-Foi Streening Room
22l9PoyneA»e -200PM
DALLAS
20th Century-Foi Streening Room
1307 So Wobcih»«e. • 1 30 PM
498 Pearl St • 8 00 PM.
CHARLOTTE
70th Century Foi Streening Room
308 S ChuethSl. -200PM,
CHICAGO
Worner Streening Room
PEGGIE CASTLE
•
GEORGE GIVOT
DENVER
Potomounl Streening Room
2100SIOUISI. • 2 00 PM.
DES MOINES
20lh Century Fox Screening Room
1 300 High St • 12 45PM.
DETROIT
20th Century For Stfeening Room
1803 Wood St. • 2 00 P.M. 2211 Con Ave. • 2 00PM
INDIANAPOLIS
LOS ANGELES
20lh Century Foi Stfeening Room Worner Screening Room
326Ko IllinonSi ' I 00 P.M.
JACKSONVILLE
Hondo Theatre Bldg St Rm.
128 F FotiythSt. -200PM.
KANSAS CITY
20lh Century- Foi Stfeening Room
1720 Wyandotte St. • 10 30 A.M.
2025 So VeimonlA.e 2 00 PM.
MEMPHIS
20lh Centuty-Foi Stfeening Room
151 Vontel.e 3 00PM
MILWAUKEE
Worner Theatre Streening Room
2I2W WlKom.nAve ' 800P.M.
MINNEAPOLIS
Worner Streening Room
1000 Cume Ave.
NEW HAVEN
• 2 00 PM.
Stanley Wofnef Streening Room
70 College SI. • I 30 P.M.
NEW ORLEANS
20th Century Foi Stfeening Room
200 liberty St. • 2 00 PM.
•
FRED CLARK- EILEEN HECKART- JOSEPHINE HUTCHINSON
BARBARA NICHOLS HALU WELL HOBBES PAUL PICERNI
ALAN KING- IRENE SEIDNER ARTE JOHNSON HOVIL AND ICffllN t»LAT BEN HECHT
NWliC CO-rCttd *MO CONDuCTCO
NEW YORK
Home Office
321 W. 44th Sf • 2ISPM
OKLAHOMA
20th Centufy Foi Streening
lONorlhleeSt. • 1000*
OMAHA
roth Century
foi Streening
1502 0o»efiport St. ' I 30 1
WILLIA
FHOOUCCO » FRAl

n
n
alllUbb
A LONELY GIRL,
A SOLDIER
AND THEIR
STREET-CORNER
PICK-UP DATE! —
THIS IS THE WAY
IT BEGINS—
TO CHANGE
A GIRL'S LIFE—
AND BRING
TO THE SCREEN
A NEW
EXCITEMENT.
A VERY
RARE GLOW!
•HIIADELPHIA
comer Screening Room
30 No ISlhSI. -200PM.
llTTSBURGH
SALT LAKE CITY ST. LOUIS
20rh Century Foi Screening Room S rento Screening Room
316 East hi Saurh 1 00 P M 3143 Olive St. • I 00 P.M.
SAN FRANCISCO WASHINGTON
Oth Centuiy Foi Screening Room Republic Screening Room Stanley Warner Screening Room
171 S Blvd ol Allies 1 30 PM 2 2 1 Golden Gole Ave • 13th S E.Sti. H W. • 10 30 AM
fOSTLAND
SEATTLE
lor Screening Room
Venetian Theatre
I2S N.tY 19ltr A.e • 2 00 P M. 1 Slh A»e. t E. Pint St. 2 00 P.M.
•
3ARGAN MARCEL DALIO
ROSENBERG •
mmco .v RUDOLPH MATE

NEXT
DEMONSTRATES
IN THE
FOLLOWING CITIES
JAN. 30
ATLANTA
FOX
MISSOULA
FOX
PITTSBURGH
FULTON
JAN. 31
FEB.1
FEB. 2
FEB. 3
JACKSONVILLE
FLORIDA
MIAMI
CARIB
NEW ORLEANS
SAENGER
MEMPHIS
MALCO
SALT LAKE CITY
VILLA
DENVER
CENTER
OMAHA
ORPHEUM
DES MOINES
DES MOINES
BUFFALO
CENTER
TORONTO
IMPERIAL
ROCHESTER
PALACE
SYRACUSE
PARAMOUNT
TO ATTEND
THE SHOWING
NEAREST YOU!
All showings start
promptly at 9:45 a. m.
x Projection in 35mm Prints • No Changes Required in the Booth of Theatres Equipped for Stereophonic Sound

Entered as Second Class matter at Prffll
-
THE
NATIONAL FILM WEEKLY
Published in Nine Sectional Editions
BEN
Editor-in Chief
SHLYEN
and Publisher
DONALD M. MERSEREAU. Associate
Publisher & General Manage'
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NATHAN COHEN. .Executive Editor
JESSE SHLYEN. .. .Manoging Editor
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IVAN SPEAR Western Editor
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MORRIS SCHLOZMAN Business Mgr
Published Every Saturday by
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N
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W
In Canada
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rhelle
St. John 43 Waterloo. Sam Rabh
Toronto: 1675 Ravvlew Ave . Wlllnudale
Out., W. C.ladlsh
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*3 00 per year: Nallnnal Edition $7 50
JANUARY

BEGIN RESCHEDULING FILMS
FOR NEW 'EVEN FLOW PLAN
Hopes Are Raised That Top
Product Will Be Available
On Year-Around Basis
NEW YORK— 1956 may become the year
when an orderly release schedule for motion
pictures is placed in effect, to give
exhibitors an even flow of topgrade features
throughout the 12 months, and eliminate
the "feast or famine" practices of
the past.
This was the big industry development of
the week. Edward L. Hyman, vice-president
of American Broadcasting-Paramount Theatres,
has discussed the plan with sales heads
of 11 companies, who support the idea and
have agreed to take it up with production executives
in order to fit the flow of product
into a pattern that will bring top results at
the boxoffice.
SEVERAL EARLY RESPONSES
Some of the companies already have rescheduled
top pictures to make them available
for showing at pre-Easter, May and June
and the first weeks of December—periods in
which exhibitors have complained about a
scarcity of good product. Warner Bros..
United Artists, 20th Century-Fox, Paramount
and Republic already have made changes in
their releasing schedules to fit their pictures
into the over-all plan.
Hyman, with Leonard Goldenson, president
of American Broadcasting-Paramount
Theatres, has sparked the movement, and
they said they are confident better results
will be obtained.
Of 332 U. S.-produced features already set
for release this year, 80 will be of triple-A
quality, Hyman said.
"If this is
of top quality pictures exceeds the number
of triple-A features released in any one year
that we have ever seen."
Outstanding in this group, he said, are:
Alexander the Great (UA).
Anastasia (20th-Fox).
Around the World in 80 Days (Todd-AO).
Away All Boats (U-I).
true," he remarked, "the number
The Benny Goodman Story (U-I).
Bus Stop (20th-Fox).
Carousel

must be diluted and a plan for the orderly
distribution of quality product throughout
the year be devised and consummated.
"As we all know, our business in 1955 was
good through the summer months. The last
quarter, especially the period from Thanksgiving
to Christmas, was not good and was
behind the same period in 1954. The difference
a few quality pictures would have made
in the May and June and September through
Christmas periods just defies the imagination
and this could easily have been accomplished
with a more orderly distribution."
CAN MAKE JUNE GOOD MONTH
Hyman said when the big TV programs go
off the air in June, release of big pictures
"coupled with aggressive newspaper advertising
and exploitation could very well make
this period the best of the year. May-June
is one of the drive periods for exhibition and
this would be of extreme help to the release
of quality pictures. For the year 1956, as you
know, Elmer Rhoden is sponsoring a Spring
Festival and any quality pictures released in
May-June would receive terrific sendoffs because
of this."
The disappointing results after Labor Day
last year will continue unless "we realize that
we are in business every day of the year and
must continue at all times to give our patrons
the proper inducement.
"That's the way department stores operate,"
he pointed out.
"The irony which is injected into this problem
of orphan periods," Hyman points out,
"is that on holidays like Easter, Fourth of
July and Christmas there are at times more
quality pictures available than can be
absorbed and, I repeat, if the distribution
were more orderly, it would make a difference
that would defy comparison."
Reporting on the progress of his conference
with sales executives, Hyman began
with Warner Bros.
"We are very happy to report specifically
that Warner Bros, has set 'The Spirit of
St. Louis,' with James Stewart, for release
June 2, and "The Searchers' or 'Giant' in
September, and will make available for
Thanksgiving a terrific picture from the following
list: 'Baby Doll,' 'The Big Brass,' 'The
Wrong Man,' 'Toward the Unknown,' "The
Bad Seed,' 'Band of Angels,' 'The Old Man of
the Sea,' 'Pajama Game' and 'No Time for
Sergeants.'
PARAMOUNT SHIFTS RELEASES
"With respect to Paramount," Hyman continued,
"we are happy to tell you that they
have already endorsed this program. Approval
has already been obtained on an outstanding
Paramount release for Thanksgiving
1956. We are advocating that the Thanksgiving
picture be Alfred Hitchcock's 'The Man
Who Knew Too Much' with James Stewart.
This would make for good business pacing
since Warner Bros.' 'The Spirit of St. Louis,'
with James Stewart, will be released on
June 2."
Hyman presented to tradepaper reporters
a folder containing all the announced releases
beginning December 1955 and running
into next spring and pointed out that Paramount
gives specific dates only through
Easter. He said George Weltner, in charge of
worldwide distribution, would leave shortly
for the coast to obtain definite information
for the summer and fall. Out of an impressive
lineup, Hyman said, "Paramount can
pick pictures for the orphan periods.
"MGM," he continued, "has always released
(Continued on page 10)
Two Ticket Tax Battles
Washington
Start in
TOA Ballot
Replies
Reported 'Rolling In'
NEW YORK—Responses to the 3,600
ballots sent out to Theatre Owners of
America members for the purpose of
ascertaining their sentiments regarding
a variety of topics to be presented to the
Senate Small Business Subcommittee next
month are coming in rapidly.
Late in the week signed ballots had
been received from more than 20 states.
Compilation of these has been started
in order to have the task complete in
time for presentation at the Senate committee
hearings.
Loew's 1955 Income
Under '54 Figure
NEW YORK—Loew's, Inc., and subsidiaries,
including theatre subsidiaries, reported a net
profit after taxes of $5,311,722, equivalent to
$1.03 per share, compared with $6,577,311,
equivalent to $1.28 per share in the preceding
year.
The report states that "while the earnings
for the first three quarters of the fiscal year
ended Aug. 31, 1955, were approximately the
same as in the corresponding period of the
prior year there was a decided drop in operating
revenue in the last quarter, resulting
largely from disappointing boxoffice returns
on pictures distributed in that quarter as
compared with more successful pictures distributed
in the corresponding quarter of the
previous year. This decline in operating revenue
with resulting diminishing earnings has
continued in the current fiscal year."
The statement for 12 weeks ended Nov. 24,
1955, which accompanied the annual report
indicates net profit after all taxes and charges
(.subject to year-end adjustment! of $248,161,
equivalent to five cents per share, compared
with $1,521,349, or 30 cents per share, in the
corresponding period of the preceding year.
It was pointed out that prior to July 1955,
the company had earnings in Japan, part of
which, because of exchange restrictions, cannot
be remitted to this country. By agreement
with the Japanese government in the
current period, there was loaned to a government
operated agency out of these unremittable
yen an amount equivalent to $1,072,000,
repayable over a three-year period starting
in 1958 and remittable at rates of exchange
current at time of repayment.
If this sum of $1,072,000 had been included
in income, the report points out, net earnings
would have been approximately 16 cents per
share.
Columbia to Pay S1.06V4 Dividend
NEW YORK—Columbia Pictures Corp. directors
have voted a quarterly dividend of
$1.06 U on the $4.25 cumulative preferred
stock payable February 15 to stockholders of
record February 1.
WASHINGTON—Two ticket tax battles are
under way simultaneously as Congress goes
into action. The District of Columbia commissioners
want a 2 per cent ticket tax imposed
and the Council of Motion Picture Organizations
want the national ticket tax removed.
The District of Columbia battle must precede
the national campaign, because all the
industry leaders agree that putting a new
tax on at this time would weaken the national
campaign and encourage states and municipalities
to start demanding new ticket taxes.
EXHIBITORS IN PROTEST
House-Senate com-
A hearing held by the
mittee hearing proposals for raising new revenues
for the District Monday (16) drew fire
from local exhibitors as well as COMPO.
Alfred Sindlinger, for COMPO, testified
gross receipts and theatre attendance were
down 15.2 per cent across the country for the
last quarter of 1955. He also asserted that the
decrease in the District was 21.7 per cent.
A. Julian Brylawski, president of the Motion
Picture Theatre Owners of Metropolitan
Washington, protested strongly and also declared
that the bill was worded so that both
admissions and film rentals could be taxed.
He declared the picture business should not
be singled out for a special tax, but at the
same time said theatres were willing to stand
a fair share of the local tax burden if the
scales apply to all businesses. He declared
that 10 or 12 theatres have closed and that
no new theatres have been constructed in the
past five years.
The District commissioners figure they will
get an income of $500,000 annually from the
proposed tax.
EISENHOWER OPPOSES CUTS
Robert J. Coyne, for COMPO, said Congress
came to the rescue of the industry two years
ago by cutting the ticket tax and he expressed
the hope there would be no reversal
of this attitude.
While this was going on President Eisenhower's
budget message was presented to
Congress. In it he opposed all tax cuts while
estimating a balanced budget. He also estimated
ticket taxes of all kinds will bring in
a revenue of $108,000,000 for the fiscal year
ending June 30.
Big Antitrust Suit Is Filed
Against Ascap, 9 Others
NEW YORK—Life Music Co., a music publisher,
has filed a $7,500,000 antitrust suit in
Federal Court against the American Society
of Composers, Authors and Publishers and
Broadcast Music and eight other music, radio
and TV broadcasting companies.
Life Music charges a conspiracy to restrain
trade by establishing a monopoly in the publication,
acquisition and distribution and sale
of musical compositions "through ownership
and control of radio and TV networks and
music publishers."
Among the eight other defendants are:
Radio Corp. of America. National Broadcasting
Co.. Columbia Broadcasting Co. and
Master Records.
BOXOFFICE :: January 21, 1956

'Pufoe SeOU
Reports Loew's Stockholders
To Confer Before Meeting
Animal session to be held Feburary 23 will
be first under presidency of Arthur M. Loew;
Howard Stem, Wall Street broker, says he
will seek conference as soon as executives
return from coast.
•
New Jersey Allied Is Querying
Members on Trade Problems
Questionnaires in circulation to get information
for presentation to Senate's Small
Business Subcommittee; TOA has similar
project under way and is collating replies,
*
Census Bureau May Begin
Reports on the Industry
Economic survey results expected to be
made available starting March 15 on a stateby-state
basis; completion of full study may
take about three months.
•
Pennsylvania Studies Funds
For Censors, Ohio Skips It
Bills for $235,000 introduced at Harrisburg
after 18-person staff is reduced to six by
resignations; measure referred to committee;
Ohio legislature adjourns without taking
any action on appropriation.
Films to Be Chosen by MPAA
For Showing at Cannes Fete
Each member company has been asked to
submit one picture for study by screening
committee which will select two for presentation
at festival April 10-24.
*
Brazil
Of Frozen $5,100,000
Completes Transfer
Final payment of $300,000 received and remittances
are now- on a current basis; arrangement
covering money from September
1951 to February 1953 originally set
Robert J. Corkery of MPEA.
up by
*
Missouri-Illinois Unit
Will Meet March 13
Theatre owners association of St. Louis
area will hold regional gathering at Wall
Hotel in Louisiana, Mo. to discuss profitmaking
plans and other business.
•
Texas Drive-In Session
In Dallas Feb. 21,22
Fourth annual convention of Texas Drivein
Theatre Ass'n scheduled for February
21, 22 in new Statler Hotel, recently built
$16,000,000 structure.
COMPO Ad Calls for
*
End
Of Wartime Ticket Tax
The 59th ad in Editor & Publisher series
applauds the action of the National Retail
Dry Goods Ass'n in passing a resolution for
the removal of "all excise taxes which were
initially imposed as a wartime measure."
Begin Reschedulin 9 Films
(Continued from page 9i
its pictures as quickly as they have been fin-
Ished. They also have endorsed this plan for
the orderly distribution of quality product
throughout the year. Charlie Reagan has informed
us that as soon as he has viewed all
the season's new product, he will be in a
position to advise us of specific pictures and
release dates for the summer and fall months.
Tins information will be forthcoming the first
week In February."
20TH-FOX IN AGREEMENT
Turning to the 20th Century-Fox product,
Hyman said: "We have all read the tradepaper
accounts of 20th Century-Fox's enlarged
plans for 1956. They will spend 70
million dollars for 34 pictures and this is one
of the most ambitious projects scheduled in
that company's history. We met with William
J. Gehring this past Monday i9> and discussed
this problem with him and his district
sales representatives. All of them unanimously
endorsed an orderly distribution of
quality product.
"We were delighted to learn that the men
in the field requested that 'Bus Stop' and
'Anastasia,' which were scheduled for release
during the third quarter of 1956, be released
in May and June.
"In March, which includes the pre-Easter
period, 20th-Fox will release 'The Man in
the Gray Flannel Suit.' In May 'The Proud
Ones' and "The Sixth of June' will be available.
In June they are endeavoring to make
'Bus Stop' and/or 'Anastasia' available, as requested
by their field men. 'The King and I'
will be released in September, and in November
'Island in the Sun,' Darryl Zanuck's
second personal production of the year, and
•Heaven Knows Mr. Allison' possibly will be
available.
"With their ambitious program and thenquality
pictures released in an orderly manner,
20th Century-Fox anticipates greatly improved
boxoffice grosses which will justify
their 70 million expenditure in 1956."
A. Montague, vice-president and general
sales manager of Columbia pictures, told
Hyman his company does not withhold pictures
and usually gets its product into circulation
two months after completion. This
gives time to set the national campaigns.
"Picnic," he points out. "will be released in
February despite the possibility of bad
weather."
TOP COLUMBIA FILM SET
Montague told Hyman that "The Eddie
Duchin Story" will be released early in June,
instead of April, as indicated on the release
chart. In April or May "The Harder They
Fall" will be released, and "Solid Gold Cadillac"
and "Autumn Leaves" will be released
as soon after completion as campaigns can
be set.
United Artists will have 40 pictures, of which
12 are expected to be of triple "A" caliber
and these will be released at the rate of one
a month. Within the next ten months the
company will invest over 40 million dollars
in new production and will .spend $7,500,000
on promotion and advertising.
"Alexander the Great" will be pre-released
in April, with regular engagements following
in May and June; "A Kiss Before Dying" in
June, and in July "Trapeze." For the
Thanksgiving through Christmas period three
titles—"Johnny Concho," "The Ambassador's
Daughter" and "Twelve Angry Men"—have
been furnished and one will be selected.
Charles J. Feldman, Universal-International
vice-president and general sales manager, will
subscribe to an "orderly" plan as far as possible.
The pre-Easter period is considered one
of the U-I drive periods.
Feldman pointed out that a handful of
stars "virtually controls" Hollywood and
said that this program was one of the strong
arguments for new faces. In connection therewith
Universal has tried to get the best
stars available for "Away All Boats" and has
surrounded Jeff Chandler with new faces.
REVISE REPUBLIC SCHEDULE
Herbert J. Yates, Republic president, and
Richard Altschuler have revised their schedule
for the first six months of 1956. "Doctor
at Sea" has been moved up to February for
a pre-release engagement with general release
to follow in March during the pre-
Easter period. "Doctor at Sea" has been devised
as a follow-up for "Doctor in the
House."
Attractions moved into the April, May and
June period to help theatres are: "Adventures
of Daniel Boone," in April; "The Maverick
Queen," in May; the revival of "The Quiet
Man," in May, and in June, "Lisbon."
Time should be given for an appraisal of
RKO product in view of the past troubles of
the company, Hyman stated.
"We are all very happy to realize that they
intend to enter production aggressively."
he said. "We have discussed with Walter
Branson our plan. He is about to leave for
the coast and intends to discuss this plan with
the production officials at RKO."
Leo Samuels of Buena Vista also promised
the schedule would be revised, and an important
picture will be made available for
Thanksgiving.
manager of
Morey Goldstein, general sales
Allied Artists, expressed pleasure over the
new plan and said that assurances of good
playing time in "off periods" would influence
any distributor.
GOP, Drug Firm Use
Closed-Circuit TV
NEW YORK—Theatre Network Television
used its closed-circuit network facilities for
two events during the January 18-20 period.
The Upjohn Co., presented the first in a series
of closed -circuit telecasts for doctors from
Boston's New England Medical Center and
Tufts Medical School Wednesday (18), before
an audience of 20.000 doctors in 50 cities, and
the Republican National Committee kicked
off its 1956 presidential campaign with a
closed-circuit telecast of local rallies across
the country shown at the "Salute to Eisenhower"
dinner in 53 cities Friday (20).
The Upjohn company will continue its
"grand rounds" of hospital wards under the
guidance of medical specialists in subsequent
programs to be telecast by TNT, according to
Nathan L. Halpern, president. The "Salute
to Eisenhower" dinner telecast, in honor of
the third anniversary of his inauguration,
consisted of 12 remote pickups from every
major region in the country, a record number
of fast TV switches in this type of TV
program, Halpern said.
10 BOXOFFICE :: January 21, 1956

AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE
from
SPYROS P. SKOURAS
President,
20th Century-Fox Film Corporation
TO THE EXHIBITORS WHO WILL ATTEND THE NATIONWIDE DEMONSTRATIONS OF
CINEMASCOPE
% ** *H N y OUR EYES HAV e st*?- & **
'i.U-^v— please turn page

I
want personally to extend my warmest welcome to each of you who will attend
one of the sixty demonstrations of CinemaScope 55 between January 19 and February 21.
Again it is our privilege to introduce something new and wonderful in the development
of motion pictures. We feel that the advent of CinemaScope 55 marks another glorious
moment in the history of our industry. Not since we launched CinemaScope itself on that
historic evening of September 16,
1953, have we of 20th Century-Fox been so proud of a technical
achievement.
|t is the final fruition of the dreams of men who make and love motion pictures.
We are confident the public will reward all
of us for our unceasing efforts to bring them something
different, something better. And exhibitors will be particularly heartened to know that
CinemaScope 55 can be exhibited in regular 35mm projection in theatres equipped for stereophonic
sound.
We of 20th Century-Fox appreciate, too,
that technical research and advancement
in itself is not enough. Our first responsibility is the production of the highest quality motion
pictures. When we launched CinemaScope we did so with an immortal subject, THE
ROBE. Now we embark on CinemaScope 55 and our first attraction is
the celebrated and
joyous Rodgers and Hammerstein masterwork, CAROUSEL* which played 1,016 performances
in New York and is
beloved round the world.
|n these demonstrations you will see for yourself scenes from both this great
musical romance CAROUSEL and our second important production in CinemaScope
55, Rodgers and Hammerstein's THE KING AND I, the magnificent musical play
which ran for four years on Broadway and on tour.
Now, just 29 months after the beginning of CinemaScope exhibition, we look forward
to the opening of CAROUSEL in CinemaScope 55 at the Roxy Theatre, New York,

VOUR EYES HAVfc
the night of February 16, 1956, to be followed immediately by
openings throughout the United States and in all the capitals
of the world.
want to express my eternal obligation to the army
of industrious co-workers at our studios whose technical genius
and dedicated research brought into being this new milestone of
progress. And I
wish to reaffirm my gratitude to the exhibitors
of America. It is their support which inspires us at 20th Century-
Fox to strive constantly to improve conditions in our industry.
D elieve me, it is an industry I am proud to be part
of and to serve, just as I
am so very proud to be a member of the
organization that is always planning ahead and moving forward,
to an ever brighter future for us all.
Sincerely,
President,
20th Century-Fox Film Corporation

22 Million Is Budgeted
For First 77
HOLLYWOOD—A budget of $22,500,000 has
been allocated for the first 11 pictures to be
produced by RKO Radio during the year's
first .six months, it was announced Monday
il6> by Daniel T. O'Shea, company president,
upon his arrival from New York. He is here
to confer with Charles L. Glett, executive
vice-president, and William Dozier, vicepresident
in charge of production.
The initial group of 11 features will be followed
by an additional lineup during the last
half of the year. O'Shea said, and consummation
of agreements with two top independent
producers will be made "shortly."
Simultaneously it was disclosed that William
Bloom, a 20th Century-Fox filmmaker, has
been signed as an RKO Radio producer and
will report February 15 to that studio. Bloom's
most recent credit is 20th-Fox's as-yet unreleased
"On the Threshold of Space."
Branson Promotes Four
In RKO Home Office
NEW YORK—Several promotions have
been made in the RKO Radio sales department
by Walter Branson, vice-president in
charge of worldwide distribution. Milton
Altholz, who has handled several home office
departments, has been named assistant to
Branson. Max Michelson, manager of the
checking department, has been promoted to
assistant business manager of the advertising
department.
Two members of the print department staff,
Edward Humenik and Frank Scheedel, have
been named manager and assistant manager
of the domestic print department, respectively.
S. Hurok Plans Release
Of Ballet Film Feature
NEW YORK— S. Hurok, who presented
"Aida." opera-film distributed in the TJ. S.
by IFE Releasing Corp., will present the
English-language version of "The Ballet of
Romeo and Juliet." full-length film in color,
in association with Tohan Pictures Co. in
New York in 1956. The picture, with a score
by Serge Prokofiev and with Galina Ulanova
starred, won the grand prize at the 1955
Cannes Film Festival "for its skill in adapting
the ballet to the screen."
Mindlin Joins Figaro
NEW YORK—Michael Mindlin jr. has been
named director of advertising and exploitation
for Figaro, Inc., by Robert Lantz, executive
vice-president. Mindlin recently returned
from Paris where he was publicity director on
Hecht-Lancaster's "Trapeze." Prior to that
he was with Lopert Films.
P-T-S Acquires TV Show
NEW YORK—P-T-S Productions, headed
by Howard Pine, William Thomas and Maxwell
Shane, have acquired screen rights to
"Bail Out at 43,000," a television show, for
United Artists release. It is a story about
Army test pilots. Paul Monash, who did the
TV story, has been signed to do the screen
treatment.
RKO Films
Cinemiracle Tests
'Very Satisfactory'
LOS ANGELES—First tests of the Cinemiracle
camera have proved highly satisfactory,
it was reported Jointly Tuesday (17)
by Elmer C. Rhoden, president of National
Theatres, and Louis de Rochemont, who will
make the first picture in the new widescreen,
three-panel process. Rushes of special scenes
lensed in Philadelphia were projected at
NT's experimental theatre here, following
which Rhoden and de Rochemont directed
their respective staffs to expedite the Cinemiracle
program.
De Rochemont plans to complete final preproduction
tests within 60 days. They will be
made with sound and with all the component
parts of the Smith-Dieterich optical and
electronic lens system installed on two camera
units.
90% Oppose Pay Television
In Popular Science Poll
CHICAGO—More than 90 per cent of the
thousands of readers of Popular Science magazine
who participated in a mail ballot on
pay-as-you-see television voted against toll
TV, it was reported this week. Only 6 per
cent of the readers were for it and fewer
than 3 per cent were undecided but willing
to give it a trial.
"A remarkably large number of readers
were incensed at the prospect of being offered
TV programs that they could see only after
paying a fee," the magazine reported in the
current (January) issue. The principal objection
was economic.
The magazine quoted one reader as saying
he felt he had paid enough for TV when he
bought his set. A Connecticut man said,
"If I have to pay to watch my TV set, out
it goes," and a Maryland physician was quoted
as saying, "Think of the thousands of poor
people whose only entertainment is TV. They
could not afford toll TV."
Many readers, who live in fringe areas
where reception is erratic, questioned the
practicality of pay television. They wanted
to know if they would lose their admission
price if the picture faded out in the middle
of
an expense show.
Pathe Withdraws a Suit
Over Technicolor Name
NEW YORK—Pathe Laboratories, Inc., has
asked and has received permission to withdraw
its suit in U. S. district court against
Technicolor, Inc., Technicolor Motion Picture
Corp. and De Luxe Laboratories.
Judge Archie O. Dawson required Pathe to
pay $1,000 in attorneys' fees to the defendants.
The suit grew out of the fact that in the
early stages of Cinemascope, 20th Century-
Fox was using Eastman negative and Technicolor
positives on prints. Pathe asked $400,-
000 damages and an injunction to halt use of
the Technicolor name. Twentieth-Fox stopped
this by calling its prints De Luxe Color.
Loew's Stock Split
May Be Speeded
NEW YORK—Distribution of stock of
Loew's Theatres, Inc., the newly organized
theatre company required by the antitrust
decisions, may be earlier than March 8, 1957.
This is the date last fixed by the court. Ample
notice of the new date will be sent out, the
annual report of Loew's, Inc., states.
Since Feb. 6, 1952, the production and
domestic distribution business of the company
has been carried on independently of its domestic
theatre business, the phonograph record
and radio business. Overseas distribution
and theatre business, the phonograph
record and radio divisions will continue as part
of the operation of Loew's, Inc.
A complete segregation of the consolidated
balance sheet and the consolidated profit and
loss statement between the domestic and
Canadian theatre business, which will be
transferred to Loew's Theatres, Inc., is not
possible at present, the report indicates,
because the funded debt of Loew's, Inc.,
amounting to $33,337,000 has not been divided
between Loew's, Inc., and Loew's Theatres,
Inc. Income for the year ending last August
31 was about 47 per cent from domestic and
Canadian theatre operations and 53 per cent
for picture and other operations.
Operations of Loew's International Corp.
showed further improvement and expansion.
The corporation operates through 120 regional,
branch and territorial offices outside
the United States and Canada and services
over 40,000 theatres, deals in 40 currencies,
shows pictures in about 40 different languages,
operates 40 theatres in 15 foreign countries
and employs upwards of 4,500 men and
women.
MGM's Schenck and Loew
On Coast for Confabs
HOLLYWOOD—Coinciding with an upsurge
in production activity at MGM, Nicholas M.
Schenck, chairman of the board of Loew's,
Inc., and Arthur M. Loew, newly elected
president, arrived Monday (16) from New
York to screen recently completed celluloid
and confer with Dore Schary, studio head, and
other executives. Howard Dietz, vice-president
in charge of publicity and advertising,
who has been here for the past week, is remaining
to participate in the meetings.
The visit marks Loew's first to the studio
since being elected president of the company,
and Schenck's first trip to the coast in nearly
a year.
Product to be viewed includes "Meet Me
in Las Vegas," "The Last Hunt," "Forever.
Darling," "Tribute to a Bad Man," "Gaby,"
"Bhowani Junction," "The Swan." "Lust for
Life" and "The Rack," as well as footage
from "The Catered Affair" and "The Fastest
Gun Alive," which last-named pair now are
before the cameras. During the next three
weeks, filming will begin on "High Society,''
"The Opposite Sex" and "Somebody Up There
Likes Me."
Set a Shorts Release
NEW YORK—"Fortune Seekers," fourth
in this year's Screenliner series, will be released
by RKO February 3. It deals with
inventors and how they profited from their
inventions.
14 BOXOFFICE :: January 21, 1956

Brotherhood Awards
Go to 3 in Industry
NEW YORK—Thomas F. O'Neil, Samuel
Rinzler and Robert W. Dowling will receive
the Annual Brotherhood Awards of the
National Conference of Christians and Jews
at the 10th annual dinner to be held in the
Waldorf-Astoria January 31.
Announcement of the choices was made by
William J. Heineman and Spyros S. Skouras,
national co-chairmen of the 1956 Brotherhood
Week drive sponsored by the amusement
industry. The drive is being supported
by the exhibition, production and distribution
branches of the motion picture industry and
by television, radio and other branches of
the entertainment field.
Dowling is president of the City Investing
Co. and president of the New York Film
Board of Trade. O'Neil is president of
General Teleradio, Inc., and board chairman
of RKO Radio, and Rinzler is president of
Randforce Amusement Corp.
Brotherhood Week will be observed
February 19 through February 26. This is
the tenth year in which the motion picture
industry has taken a leading role in stimulating
nationwide interest in the program of the
National Conference of Christians and Jews.
By use of trailers, development of programs
in communities where the Conference does
not have the well-known Roundtables, and
helping the Conference staff devise promotional
material for its program, the industry
has played an important role in the
organization's work.
Name 13 More Chairmen
For Brotherhood Drive
NEW YORK—William J. Heineman and
Spyros S. Skouras, national co-chairmen of
the Brotherhood Week Drive, (February 19-
26), have named 13 additional exhibitor
chairmen for the campaign. Twenty-three
theatremen and men from the equipment
field will manage the tenth anniversary effort
on a regional basis.
The new local chairmen are: Eddie Arthur
of St. Louis; Jack Beresin, Berlo Vending Co.,
Philadelphia; William Connors, Orpheum
Theatre, Seattle; Harry Feinstein, Warner
New England Theatres, New Haven; Lou Fensky,
Florida State Theatres, Jacksonville;
Moe Horwitz, Washington Circuit, Cleveland;
George Kerasotes, Kerasotes Theatres,
Springfield, 111.; Charles Kurtzman of Boston;
Irving Long of Louisville; Ted Mann, World
Theatre, Minneapolis: Moe Mesher, Paramount
Theatre, Portland, Ore.; Frank H.
Ricketson, Fox Intermountain Circuit, Denver,
and Morton Thalheimer, Neighborhood
Theatres, Richmond.
'Picnic' Heads Columbia
February List of Five
NEW YORK—Columbia has scheduled five
features for February release, with "Picnic,"
one of the top productions of the year, heading
the list. The other four announced by
A. Montague, vice-president and general sales
manager, are: "Battle Stations," "Joe Macbeth,"
"The Houston Story" and "Fury at
Gunsight Pass." "Picnic," which stars William
Holden and Rosalind Russell, with Kim
Novak top featured, has already been booked
in a number of key theatres.
RUN FOR YOUR LIVES—Director
Norman Taurog—hosting his son Jonnie
on the Phoenix location of Paramount's
Martin and Lewis comedy, "Pardners"
hopes the picture will be as explosive a
hit as he plans. A few minutes after this
photo was taken, the set was blown up
for a key scene in the VistaVision opus.
Negotiations Under Way
For New Actors Pact
HOLLYWOOD—Collective bargaining negotiations
for revisions in the present contract
between the Screen Actors Guild and the
Ass'n of Motion Picture Producers got under
way Tuesday (17), with the SAG seeking
higher minimum scales in all classifications
in line with the industry's recently adopted
five day work week. The Guild is asking for
a boost from $70 to $90 for day players and
an increase from $250 to $300 for weekly freelance
workers.
The present agreement expires in January
1958, with reopening rights this year.
Charles Boren, AMPP vice-president in
charge of industrial relations, is chairman
of the producers' negotiating group, while
SAG president Walter Pidgeon and John L.
Dales, national executive secretary, head the
Guild committee.
Roger Corman to Make Ten
For ARC Release in '56
HOLLYWOOD—Doubling his 1955 output,
of which was distributed by American Re-
all
leasing Corp., producer-director Roger Corman
will make 10 features this year, leading
off with "The Yellow Rose of Texas," a
western in Superscope and Pathe color, which
rolls Monday (23) as a John Ireland-Beverly
Garland starrer.
"Rose" will be followed by two sciencefictioners,
"Not of This Earth" and "The Girl
From Beneath the Sea." Fourth on the
docket, also in Superscope, will be "Island
Queen," to be shot in Hawaii, after which
"Frontier Women" will be lensed. The remaining
five will be scheduled by next May.
Academy Mailing Out
Nominations Ballots
HOLLYWOOD—Nominations ballots will be
mailed out Monday (23) by the Academy of
Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for its upcoming
Awards presentations. Selected candidates
in the various categories will be disclosed
February 18 on a "Nominations Night"
program to be carried on the NBC-TV and
radio networks.
Nominations polls will close February 4.
Eligible to ballot are Academy members, representatives
of the Screen Actors, Directors
and Writers Guilds and technical crafts.
Seven Disney Films
On 1956 Schedule
NEW YORK—Seven Walt Disney features
will be on the 1956 release schedule of Buena
Vista Film Distribution Co., according to Leo
F. Samuels, president and general sales manager.
Four will be live-action films, with two
in Cinemascope; one is a full-length True-
Life Adventure, and two will be reissues combining
live-action and cartoon.
First on the schedule for showing February
1 will be "The Littlest Outlaw," filmed in
Mexico, with a cast headed by Pedro Armendariz,
Joseph Calleia, Rodolfo Acosta and a
youngster named Andre Velasquez.
"Fantasia," originally released in 1940, will
be reissued, starting in February with a series
of big-city engagements.
"Song of the South," a live-action-cartoon
combination, will be generally rereleased
February 20 with a 175-theatre booking in
New England.
The rest of the schedule follows:
June — "The Great Locomotive Chase,"
CinemaScope-Technicolor dramatization of
a Civil War adventure, filmed in Georgia with
Fess Parker, Jeff Hunter and Jeff York.
July-August— "Davy Crockett and the
River Pirates," also starring Fess Parker,
with Buddy Ebsen as George Russel and
Jeff York — as Mike Fink.
October "Secrets of Life," fourth feature
length True-Life Adventure, in Cinemascope.
December— "Westward Ho, the Wagons,"
live-action feature in Cinemascope and
Technicolor, with Fess Parker, Jeff York,
Kathleen Crowley and Buddy Ebsen.
To Film 'Racket Squad'
For Allied Artists
HOLLYWOOD—In the second such tieup
with TV in recent months, Allied Artists has
arranged to co-produce, with Hal Roach jr.,
and release a theatrical film version of
"Racket Squad," a video series starring Reed
Hadley, made under the Roach banner.
Hadley will essay the same role in the
theatrical feature, which is being penned by
Malvin Wald and Arthur Orloff for an April
start.
Some time ago AA entered into an agreement
to participate in the production of,
and to distribute, "Medic," from a TV series
created by Worthington Minor, James Moser
and Frank LaTourette, starring Richard
Boone.
20th-Fox Will Continue
Release of Terrytoons
NEW YORK—Twentieth Century-Fox expects
to continue release of Terrytoon shorts
for another two years in spite of the reported
sale of the Paul Terry company to Columbia
Broadcasting System. There has been no
official word of completion of the sale, but its
consummation is generally accepted in the
trade as a foregone conclusion when Paul
Terry recovers from an illness.
New Chaplin Picture
LONDON—Charles Chaplin arrived in England
this week with plans to produce a new
motion picture. Reports are that the film
will deal with the monarch of a mythical
kingdom and will be titled "The Little King."
Chaplin has been living in Switzerland.
BOXOFFICE :: January 21, 1956 15

DANNY
*>
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THE
MOST
SPECTACULAR
COMEDY-
•"."'•-
THE
WILDEST
ADVENTURE
T^
i
ENTERTAINMENT
HISTORY!
FROM
PARAMOUNT! f

l\fm«Xl "has been rehearsing all his years in show
business to play the singing, dancing, swashbuckling, clowning
title role in his new $4,000,000 production/' - Ne* vor* sunday Ncu,s
COURT
co-s+a^Hng
r
THE
GLYNIS JOMS-mRATHeoNE
ANGELA LANSBURY- CECIL PARKER.
Words and Music by Sylvia fine sri Sa^myCahn- Written, Produced
a^ Owctedb/AiOfZM/W fWW4 a* MElVJW FRANK
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Color by
TECHNICOLOR,
King-sized selling assures it a royal and rollicking
boxoffice reception! From the moment millions of
TV viewers from coast to coast saw millions of
New Yorkers shout their welcome to Danny as
star of Macy's Thanksgiving Parade, Paramount
has been building unprecedented "want-to-see" for
this spectacular attraction.
Danny's key-city tour has launched the persuasion-loaded,
all-media campaign which will continue
throughout February and March!
WORLDS BIGGEST COMEDY WORLD PREMIERES ON
WORLD'S BIGGEST SCREEN, NEW YORK PARAMOUNT, SOON!

. .
^onehM ^efoont
—— By
JT looks as if the government -sponsored
National Film Finance Corp. will no longer
be subsidizing some film companies. The
British Film Producers Ass'n has received
a letter from a managing director David
Kingsley pointing out that of 27 second
features financed by the NFFC during the
last three years, 16 made a total loss of nearly
£100,000; while the remaining 11 made a
profit of £38,000. Accordingly, the film bank
has decided to curtail the financing of second
features and to concentrate on first feature
production.
Another factor leading to the pull-out of
NFFC from second feature production is
that this type of film contributes little to
the international prestige of the British industry.
•And." adds Kingsley in his
letter to the BFPA, "it is almost impossible
to maintain any sort of standard of quality at
less than £15,000 per picture." There will be
exceptions of course: companies with a past
record of profitable second features will receive
aid from the NFFC but these are few.
* * •
British Cinema Screen Advertising is showing
great initiative these days. The Pearl
and Dean group led by chairman Ernie
Pearl, president of the International Screen
Advertising Services (ISAS) has got together
with important Spanish interests to form a
company called Movierecord, S. A., with head
offices in Madrid. Policy of this company
will be to promote and develop screen advertising
in Spain with the cinemas showing
advertising films of various lengths and, for
the first time in Spain, to produce color
filmlets. The initiative for this Anglo-Spanish
screen advertising get-together has come from
Ernie Pearl and ultimately will not be limited
to this. Various other countries which have
not developed their cinema screen advertising
may find that the Pearl and Dean group will
be bringing them into this profitable source
of revenue for exhibitors.
* * *
The Cinema Exhibitors Ass'n is threatening
to take very strong action over the screening
of old films for television. The commercial
televising of "A Tale of Five Cities," former
British feature release, has led to a hardening
of exhibitor opinion. Some leading members
of the CEA General Council are considering
implementing a resolution calling for a
ban on any renter or producer who makes entertainment
films for both cinema and television
exhibition. Meanwhile Vernon Burns, a
former employe of RKO, who has been in
this country since 1947, has stirred up feelings
no end by announcing that he has 50
film length features films which will be released
for showing on television during this
year. Most of the films were made since the
war and are the former products from some
major Hollywood as well as British studios.
* • •
It is almost a year since Nat Miller, former
chief films booker for Granada Theatres, Ltd.,
resigned to enter independent film production
and distribution. A booker for 30 years, he has
already moved fast, completed two feature
films, "Secret Tent" with Donald Gray and
Andree Melly for British Lion release and
"It's a Great Day," a film starring the very
popular BBC Grove Family for Butcher's release.
Now he is managing director of Walter
ANTHONY GRUNER
Futter's Vidoscope Co., which has marketed
a large number of 35mm anamorphic lenses
and will shortly launch its 16mm equivalent.
* • •
The forthcoming retirement of Arthur Dent,
boss of Adelphi Films, has led to new
distribution arrangements whereby Grand
National Pictures will take over the further
U. K. distribution of all films at present
handled by this company. About 56 pictures
are involved in this deal. Arthur Dent, one of
the most popular film renters in Wardour
Street, built Adelphi up from a company that
handled a few shorts to the position of leading
independent renter in the industry.
* • *
Howard Thomas, managing director of
ABC Television, the company responsible for
the Northern Midland commercial television
weekend programs, has chosen the title of
his large-scale salute to the film industry.
The name— "Film Fanfare"—a one-hour program
which will include personal appearances
of leading stars from Britain and Hollywood,
extracts from forthcoming productions and
generally a fanfare of praise for the achievements
of the industry. Producer of the program
at Elstree Studios is Eric Fawcett, formerly
Rank's No. 1 television man.
* * *
News in Brief: Entertainment tax
collections for November dropped to £2,645,000
from £2,826,000 in the same month of 1954.
In the first 11 months of 1955, total receipts
from the tax dropped 7.2 per cent compared
with collections in the same period during
1954 . . . Frank Godwin, producer of "Portrait
of Alison" for Anglo-Amalgamated, which
is being distributed by RKO, has formed a
new company in partnership with scriptwriter
Ted Willis . . . Richard Todd has signed
on again with Associated British Studios for
another seven years' contract. The Scottishborn
actor will make two more films for 20th
Century-Fox before returning to Elstree for
his 1956 program and pictures . . . Lawrence
Parker, secretary of the Ass'n of Specialized
Film Producers, is leaving after ten years to
take up an appointment as secretary of the
Television Program Contractors Ass'n . . .
The CEA is planning a trade luncheon to
honor Sir Tom O'Brien M.P., general
tary of NATKE on his knighthood . . .
secre-
Joseph
Seidelman, one-time president of Universal-
International and now booking pictures for
U. S. television services, is in town for a
short survey of the British Television Market
. . . Here for business and a social visit is
Milton Sperling of United States Pictures accompanied
by screen-writer Charles Lederer.
He is at present casting for two films for
Warner Bros.' release, "Melville Goodwin,
U.S.A." with Humphrey Bogart and Lauren
Bacall and "Marjorie Morningstar," the film
based on the best selling H. Wouk novel .
Charles Goldsmith, British managing director
of MGM, is hospitalized with kidney trouble
. . . L. H. Clark, editor of the Cinema, was
. . .
taken seriously ill over the weekend with
coronary thrombosis Associated Television
produced a 15-minute profile on Alec
Guinness made up of all his film successes
. . . Anglo-Amalgamated has changed the
title of its film, "With All My Heart,"
starring Mary Murphy and Richard Basehart,
to "The Intimate Stranger."
Big U-I Force Will Aid
'Goodman' Premieres
NEW YORK—Seventeen Universal-International
field exploitation men have been
assigned to promote the world premiere and
Lincoln's birthday city dates on "The Benny
Goodman Story." Charles Simonelli, eastern
advertising-publicity manager, said more will
be assigned.
The picture will open at the Chicago Theatre
in Chicago February 2, kicking off more
than 75 dates for the holidays and following
the pattern of promotion two years ago of
"The Glenn Miller Story."
The first assignments went to Ben Katz
and Harold Pearlman for Chicago, St. Paul
and Minneapolis; Paul Ross, Pittsburgh;
Bucky Harris, Boston; Duke Hickey, Cleveland,
Toledo and Cincinnati: Julian Bowes,
Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, Austin and
San Antonio; David Polland, Washington and
Baltimore; Ed Aaronoff, Detroit; Milton
Crandall, Philadelphia; Bob Ungerfeld, Memphis
and New Orleans; Ben Hill, Jacksonville;
Dick Richman, Indianapolis; Mike
Vogel, San Francisco; Jack Matlack, Seattle;
Phil Laufer, New York, and John McGrail
and Jack Lazarus, special assignments.
Warners Will Open Troy'
In 56 Countries Jan. 26
NEW YORK—Warner Bros, will stage a
global premiere for "Helen of Troy" January
26 in 56 countries, states Jack L. Warner,
executive producer. There will be 130 openings
in foreign cities simultaneously with
United States openings January 26 in New
York, Los Angeles, Washington, Boston, Buffalo,
Philadelphia, Detroit, Chicago, San
Francisco, Miami, Denver, Dallas and New
Orleans.
Canadian openings that night will be in
Toronto, Edwardstown, Montreal, Winnipeg,
Calgary, Vancouver and Ottawa.
Arrangements for the event, first of its
kind, have been under way for months. The
picture was filmed in the Mediterranean area,
with Sir Cedric Hardwicke, Jack Sernas of
France and Rosanna Podesta of Italy heading
the cast. It was directed by Robert Wise.
Hal Wallis to Tour Keys
For 'The Rose Tattoo'
NEW YORK—Hal Wallis, producer of "The
Rose Tattoo" for Paramount release, left
for Philadelphia January 17, the start of a
promotion tour that will take him to several
other key cities. On the tour, Wallis will
discuss the making of the picture and its
stars, Burt Lancaster and Anna Magnani.
the latter having been hailed as a sure candidate
for Academy Award nomination.
Wallis also went to Washington following
Philadelphia and then returned to New York
Friday (20). On January 25, he will go to
Boston, where "The Rose Tattoo" will open at
the Metropolitan February 29, and then he
will visit Cleveland, Detroit and Chicago,
with dates to be set later.
IATSE Meet Starts Jan. 30
NEW YORK—The mid-winter meeting
of
the IATSE general executive board will be
held at the Hollywood-Roosevelt Hotel.
Hollywood, during the week starting January
30, states Richard F. Walsh, president.
18 BOXOFTICE :: January 21. 1956

THE NEW RKO IS MAKING NEWS
RKO is out in the field pre-selling its fine pictures
with an advanced-type of advertising. ..campaigns
that use network and independent TV and radio
in the modern way. ..campaigns that make better
use of magazines, newspapers and exploitation.
More than 150 theatres in
the Cincinnati, Indianapolis
and Cleveland areas are feeling
the impact of this new
pre-selling format during our
Bluegrass Premiere of GLORY
...and boxoffice reports from
these dates are truly gratifying.
DAVID BUTLER PRODUCTIONS. INC. P ...«n„
MARGARET
O'BRIEN
WALTER BRENNAN
•
CHARLOTTE
GREENWOOD
JOHN LUPTON - BYRON"~PALMER - LISA DAVIS
Produced and Directed by DAVID BUTLER • Screenplay by PETER MILNE
From a story by GENE MARKEY
S£/p£/?scope
Pent by
TECHNICOLOR

upon
Five Full Network Shows
Booked for 'Carousel'
NEW YORK—Time on five lull network
programs has been contracted by 20th Century-Fox
to publicize Cinemascope 55 and the
Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, •'Carousel."
The contract « I Wedne
(18).
This is believed to be the first sponsorship
of full network programs by a film company.
The arrangement will start February 8 and
continue for three weeks on the Bing Crosby.
Edgar Bergen. Amos n' Andy, Jack Carson,
Galen Drake, Peter Potter, Mitch Miller and
Curt Massey programs. "Carousel" is scheduled
to open at the Roxy, New York, February
16 and in other key cities later in the
month. The idea is to reach both the family
audiences and the younger age groups.
"We have decided on this full scale use
of network radio because we feel it is an
important supplement to our newspaper,
magazine, billboards and TV campaigns,"
Charles Einfeld said. "We feel that network
radio, with its vast audience at home and in
cars, will be able to bring our advertising
message to the infrequent moviegoer."
Those who took part in the preliminary discussions
for 20th-Fox were: Martin Michel.
TV and radio director; Abe Goodman, advertising
manager, and Rodney Bush, exploitation
manager. Columbia Broadcasting System
representatives in the discussions were:
Irving Bush, radio vice-president, and William
Shaw, network sales manager.
NBC 1955 Film Sales
In 20% Rise Over '54
NEW YORK—Sales for the National Broadcasting
Co. Film Division for 1955 were 20
per cent above 1954, according to Carl M.
Stanton. NBC vice-president in charge of the
Film Division. This was the largest sales year
since the inception of the Film Division three
years ago.
The fall sales season, which accounts for the
heaviest portion of total sales for the entire
film-syndication industry, was the largest
quarter In the history of the NBC Film Division
and the fourth quarter, usually a slowselling
season, was 51 per cent above the
fourth quarter of 1954, Stanton said.
Stanton attributed 1955 results not only to
the perennial top sellers, "Dangerous Assignment,"
"Badge 714," "Life of Riley," "Victory
at Sea" and "Hopalong Cassidy," but also to
several important regional sales on new programs,
"The Great Gildersleeve" and "Steve
Donovan, Western Marshal."
The NBC Film Division, which will move
from 30 Rockefeller Plaza to larger quarters
at 659-663 Fifth Avenue on or about January
23, has named Dowd, Redfield & Johnstone,
Inc., as its advertising agency to handle all
phases of advertising, sales promotion and
merchandising under the direction of Jay
Smolin, the Film Division's manager of advertising
and promotion.
Charles Einfeld, left, vice-president of
20th Century-Fox, and Arthur Hull Hayes,
president of the CBS network, sign an
advertising contract, marking what is
believed to be the first sponsorship of a
full network radio program by a motion
picture company to promote its current
attractions.
SMPTE In a New Service
On American Standards
NEW YORK—A new service has been
started by the Society of Motion Picture and
Television Engineers. Copies of all standards
to those engineers and companies needing
an up-to-date reference file of SMPTE-sponsored
American Standards will be furnished.
Participants will receive, four times a year,
copies of all standards approved during the
preceding quarter at an annual fee of $7.50.
In addition, engineers who do not already
have copies of all standards approved prior
to Dec. 31, 1955, may get these in a loose-leaf
binder, plus the service for 1956, for $27.50.
$2,500,000 Budget Set
On Five AA Films
HOLLYWOOD—Because of
upped production
costs and his desire to bid on more important
story properties, Lindsley Parsons has
set a budget of $2,500,000, approximately
$500,000 each on the five pictures he will produce
for Allied Artists release this year. The
increase represents nearly double the amount
spent per picture on his 1955 output. Parsons
also is upping his slate from the three films
he made last year.
Between now and mid-summer, Parsons and
his associate, John H. Burrows, will turn out
"Massacre at Dragoon Wells," starring Barry
Sullivan; "The Cruel Tower," to feature John
Ericson, and "The Intruder." They will be
followed later in the year by "The Desperate
Women" and "Proving Ground."
Not Much Chance Seen
For One Censorship
TORONTO—A move launched at Winnipeg
for the creation of a national system of film
censorship to replace the present provincial
censor boards interested film industry officials
in Toronto although they regarded
the plan as an old story.
C. L. Shuttleworth, Manitoba cabinet minister
who has jurisdiction over the provincial
censorship office at Winnipeg, proposed the
establishment of one censor board for the
four provinces in western Canada as the
first step toward national film censorship.
In recent years O. J. Silverthorne, chairman
of the Ontario board of motion picture
censors, has conducted conferences at Toronto
to simplify censorship in the Dominion. When
Col. John A. Cooper, was directing head of
the Motion Picture Distributors Ass'n of
Canada, he argued that the successive censoring
of films was an expensive and timekilling
process.
A stumbling block to all such moves, however,
has been the independent attitude of
Quebec, where both language and religion
are factors.
The Ontario board has accepted decisions
on pictures from France by the Quebeq censors.
Because of distance from Toronto,
pictures for theatres in northwestern Ontario
are censored by the Manitoba board at Winnipeg.
The censorship bureau at Winnipeg is
used by the censor of Saskatchewan to facilitate
the viewing of films but the two provinces
have their own schedule of fees for
the censoring. Prince Edward Island accepts
the film rulings of the New Brunswick
board at St. John. All told there are eight
censor boards for the ten Canadian provinces,
the exceptions being Newfoundland and
Prince Edward Island. Provincial fees are
as high as $4 per 1,000 feet or fraction thereof.
The chief argument for national censorship
is that one decision would apply for the
whole country, and would eliminate the successive
examination delays.
Police Confiscate 90 Ft.
Of French Film in K. C.
KANSAS CITY—A showing of the French
motion picture, "Lucrezia Borgia," at one of
Kansas City's art theatres brought the first
arrest of an exhibitor in years on the charge
of operating an obscene show. A city commissioner,
who said he had heard about the
film at his Sunday School class, and the
captain of the police vice squad, attended
a showing of the film at the Glen Theatre,
waited until the last performance ended and
confiscated 90 feet of the film for evidence.
They arrested James Strode, who manages the
theatre for the Dickinson circuit. The sequence
confiscated showed a banquet scene
in which courtiers frolic with partly nude
women. A hearing in the case will be held
next week.
Lanza Aids Easter Seals
NEW YORK—Mario Lanza has been named
honorary motion picture chairman of the
1956 Easter Seals campaign for crippled children,
according to Theodore H. Wegener,
president of the National Society for Crippled
Children and Adults. He will film this year's
appeal.
20 BOXOFFICE :: January 21, 1956

Four-Year Booth Pact ? rẹ ! ẹ .
Is Signed in Detroit
DETROIT—Weary committees representing
Detroit exhibitors and projectionists Of
IATSE Local 199 reached agreement upon
a new employment contract that is slated to
bring four years of peace to the industry
locally, after nearly mx months of earnest
and tedious negotiations. The final agreement
was reached after a fourteen-hour final
session that lasted until 3 a.m. Friday.
State and federal mediators were called
into the situation months ago, and a strike
vote was taken and a strike approved by the
union by a ten to one vote, just before
Christmas, marking the first time such a
serious threat to the local boxoffices had
occurred in a quarter century. Nevertheless,
counsels of moderation prevailed among
leaders on both sides and still further weeks
were devoted to the endless discussions and
negotiations, bearing fruit in the new contract.
Principal provisions are:
1. The contract will run for four years
the first time any contract longer than two
years has been made, with the terminal date
Jan. 2. 1960. No retroactive provisions are
included, with the new provisions starting
from actual date of ratification, which is
expected without further difficulty. This replaces
the old contract which expired last
July 31.
2. A six-day week will replace the present
seven, through four stages. In the first year
13 days are taken off the working year, without
wage adjustment; in the second year 26;
in the third year 38 and in the fourth 50,
making a fully effective six-day schedule.
• The remaining two days count on the vacation
schedule).
3. Each theatre will now give projectionists
a full two-week vacation. In the past
this was based upon one week for one year
of employment in the house and two weeks
for two. To iron out inequities because of
Shifts in personnel or other causes, all vacation
payments will be made to the union
office, which will assume the responsibility
of an equitable distribution to members.
4. For the first time an overtime rate of
time and a half is established here. However,
a concession is granted to continue the oldestablished
rates, which vary according to
the classification of each theatre, for early
overtime within the regular running time,
and for the first 20 minutes of late running
time (after 11:30 or 12 p.m. in different
cases).
5. No general wage increase is provided.
6. A special increase is granted for night
theatres in connection with holiday matinees
of $6.00 each, upon the six established holidays.
7. A joint study commission is to be established
by the two parties to explore the
feasibility of various pension plans. This important
union demand proved a major
stumbling block to agreement, and further
serious study in this area is anticipated.
Three Trailers Offered
By MGM on 'I'll Cry'
NEW YORK—Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer is offering
exhibitors a teaser trailer and two
regular trailers to promote "I'll Cry Tomorrow."
The first one runs 87 feet, stresses
national interest in the story and notes that
Susan Hayward sings for the first time.
The second trailer runs 257 feet, covers
dramatic and production values and gives
highlights from the film. The third runs
409 feet and features Lillian Roth, whose
life the film depicts.
n i
Two Awards
In NY Ceremonies
NEW YORK—The New York Film Critics
presented their annual awards for best picture,
actor and actress for 1955 at Sardi's Restaurant
Saturday (21). Earlier in the week.
Thursday (19), the Independent Motion Picture
Distributors Ass'n of America presented
the annual Joseph Burstyn Award for the
best foreign-language film of 1955 at a luncheon
at Sardi's.
Ernest Borgnine star of "Marty," arrived
from Hollywood Friday

(:
^^^i4^^^L%^7^^^^^^^^CONFIDENTLY PRESENTS 1956's
MOST EXCITING NEW SCREEN PERSONALITY
in
her first
ROCK HUDSON
RNELL BORCHERS
GEORGE SANDERS
rLifr>
5L.
"Universal-International is
searching the whole world for
new personalities... new faces with proven talent'.'—ALFRED E. DAFF

U.S. Clubwomen Suggest
Films for Overseas Use
NEW YORK—The National Council of
Women of the U. S. has mailed a second list
of recommended motion pictures to 34 foreign
unit.s of the International Council of Women,
of which it Is a member. The first list was
mailed In November 1955. While located on
continent, the foreign units are strongin
Europe, particularly in Great Britain.
Membership Is in the millions.
The pictures listed number 52 and are those
which Mrs. Dean Gray Edwards, motion picture
chairman of the council, believes to have
contributed most to an understanding of the
U. S. abroad or to a U. S. understanding of
foreign people. The first list contained 38
titles.
The latest list rates the first ten pictures in
the order of their considered importance.
They are:
"Oklahoma!" (Todd-AO).
"Marty" .
"A Man Called Peter" (20th-Fox>.
"The Great Adventure" (Louis de Rochemont*.
"The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell"
'Warner Bros.i.
"Interrupted Melody" iMGMi.
'The Benny Goodman Story" (TJ-I).
"Strategic Air Command" iPara).
"The Long Gray Line" (Col).
"The Divided Heart" (J. Arthur Rank*.
The others are listed alphabetically. They
are grouped here according to company, as
follows:
Buena Vista—"Davy Crockett."
Columbia—"The Gun That Won the West,"
"Hell's Horizon." "Picnic," "The Prisoner."
"Three Stripes in the Sun."
Daiei—"Gate of Hell," "The Golden
Demon."
IFE—"Umberto D."
Lippert— "Simba.
London Films— "Lucky Kid."
MGM— "I'll Cry Tomorrow," "The Scarlet
Coat," "Trial."
Paramount—"The Bridges at Toko-Ri,"
"The Seven Little Foys."
RKO—"The Naked Sea," "Glory."
J. Arthur Rank — "Lease of Life," "The
Night My Number Came Up."
Republic — "The Eternal Sea," "The Last
Command." "Come Next Spring."
Times Film—"Fabulous Versailles."
Twentieth Century-Fox—"Good Morning.
Miss Dove," "The Left Hand of God," "Love
Is a Many-Splendored Thing," "The Rains of
Ranchipur," "The View From Pompey's
Head."
— United Artists "Not As a Stranger."
Universal-International— "Never Say Goodbye,"
"The Private War of Major Benson,"
"The Shrike," "The Square Jungle," "There's
Always Tomorrow." "To Hell and Back."
Warner Bros.—"Blood Alley," "East of
Eden," "Mister Roberts," "Sincerely Yours,"
"Target Zero," "Tiger in the Sky."
Acquire Two Films
NEW YORK—Associated Artists Productions
has acquired rights to "The Angel Who
Pawned Her Harp," with Felix Aylmer and
Diane Cilento, and "Make Me an Offer,"
starring Peter Finch and Adrienne Corri.
Says Brutality in Films
Hurts U.S. in India
SPRINGFIELD, ILL.— American motion
pictures depicting savagery, brutality and
sadism may be helping the United States
lose the cold war in India, the Illinois
State Journal declared editorially this
week
The editorial quoted an American
traveler, returning from India with photos
he had taken of billboards advertising
Hollywood films, in which invariably the
leading character was shown in a handto-hand
fight with an adversary, often
with B knife in hand.
Comments the editor:
"In contradistinction to this blood and
bullet fare provided by Americans, the
Red Chinese are flooding India with
"culture." The California traveler brought
back a Calcutta newspaper showing an ad
announcing a program of folk songs and
dances' to be presented by a 'cultural
delegation of the People's Republic of
China.' He also picked up a pictorial
magazine published in Red China and
widely distributed in India. It features
Chinese painting and photographic art.
Still another magazine features Chinese
literature.
"What makes all this so significant is
that the Indians preach and practice
non-violence. Ghandi. the apostle of nonviolence,
is a saint to the Indians. So
what do our cheap blood and bullet movies
accomplish? They tend to convince the
Indians that we are barbarians. The Red
Chinese, aware of this impression, are
going all-out to create the opposite impression
for themselves."
The editorial sums up the case by declaring
that "It is time the American
movie industry woke up to its responsibility
in the cold war and started making
decent low-budget movies more often.
This would mean probably a welcome
change in India as well as on our own
shores."
Kingsley Abroad to Seek
Foreign Films for Col.
NEW YORK—Edward L. Kingsley, head of
Columbia Pictures special sales division, left
for Europe Thursday (19) to make a product
survey of the French film industry to seek
quality pictures for release by Columbia in
the U. S.
Columbia's special sales division, which was
formed in the fall of 1955, has put only one
foreign-made film, "The Prisoner," British
feature starring Alec Guinness and Jack
Hawkins, into domestic distribution. The
picture, which was acclaimed by New York
reviewers and is on several "Best Ten of
1955" lists, is in its sixth week at the Plaza
Theatre. Columbia is now seeking to acquire
more foreign films for the domestic market.
Kingsley said.
A French Revolution,
In Films, Forecast
PARIS—Revolutionary changes in the organization
of the motion picture industry in
France are under consideration. They range
all the way from development of a pool from
which technicians, stars and producers can
be drawn to stricter government control over
theatre tax collections.
The suggestions have been made by producer
and exporter associations which are
organized under the control of the Confederation
du Cinema Francais. One calls for the
dissolution of the Centre National de la
Cinematographic and Its replacement by two
separate organizations, one representing the
film industry and the other the government.
There would be a third authority to act as
a liaison between the two.
A producers' cooperative would be formed
which would be responsible for studio planning.
It would buy equipment, maintain an
inventory and establish a central warehouse
for stage settings. Twenty film companies
have approved the project in the belief it
would end the monopoly of some firms in
renting equipment and reduce studio renting,
technical equipment and stage setting costs.
The exact functions of a film producer and
his social and financial responsibilities would
be clearly defined.
The number of government representatives
on the censorship board would be reduced.
It is now 20, plus a president appointed by
the prime minister. Nine members represent
the various interested ministries.
Public television shows which compete with
film theatres would be taxed. In addition,
the price paid for showing a film on TV would
be increased. The maximum rate for a feature
now is 300,000 francs.
New government controls over theatre tax
collections are suggested in the belief that
about 4,000,000,000 francs, or 10 per cent of
1954 total receipts, were not regularly declared
by exhibitors.
Greater financial assistance would be
sought from the government on the argument
that although 1.000.000.000 francs were earmarked
for the industry, only 400,000,000
francs were made available to producers in
1954.
Ballantyne Cuts Prices
On Magnetic Heads
OMAHA—The Ballantyne Co.. has announced
new low prices for exhibitors using
20th Century-Fox's new Cinemascope 55 and
new magnoptic prints. Ballantyne now offers
their regular Model 4452 four-track, magnetic
mixer system which formerly was priced at
S1.259 for $850 complete.
J. Robert Hoff, Ballantyne president,
pointed out that the company wanted to cooperate
with theatre owners everywhere. He
said that Model 4452 is ideal for reproducing
20th-Fox single-track, magnoptic, and all
other distributors' single to four-track prints
as well.
The Model 4452 includes two SX400 Buttonon
Soundheads with four-track pickups, SX455
Preamplifier and the SX421 Power Supply
matched to the present amplifier of theatres.
Hoff said that orders may be placed direct
to Omaha or through any authorized Ballantyne
dealer, with delivery schedules set up
to meet any booking date.
24 BOXOFFICE :: January 21, 1956

CALENDAR of EVENTS
JANUARY

. . . and
LETTERS
Disappointment in a Business Practice
I'm scared to look at a fireplace after going
through the pre-Christmas season. Christmas
Day found a lot of exhibitors feeling like
the little boy who wanted a "bike" for
Christmas and didn't get it. For several
years, the month of December has found
exhibitors going to bat—and somebody calls
"time out"—and a guy can't play ball unless
he's got something to work with.
Picture shortages have been something to
behold in Decembers of the past, but the one
just concluded ought to hold a record on the
Gregorian calendar for some time to come.
There not only tame into being a dearth of
good product for the period in question—but
there was an atomic explosion in the number
of "No can do" when it came to trying to
play good pictures between December first and
Christmas Day ... or even Christmas week!
As to why great minds feel that a good picture
cannot play in the pre-holiday season,
we'll never quite understand. Experience has
proven time and again that A GOOD PIC-
. . any
TURE is a good picture anywhere .
just as a really good
time . . . any place,
executive is good anywhere . . any time . . .
.
any place. The few good pictures this company
could get into the slots prior to Christmas
did some fine business. There were some
special exploitation pictures which went into
the pre-holiday season and came forward
with magnificent grosses. There just weren't
enough of them!
The result! This circuit and many exhibitors
ran into a situation so short of product,
they felt a wallop somewhat related to
the jolt Joe Louis could lay on when in his
prime. The jolt extended right down to the
pocketbook, too, and thousands of dollars
were lost, because marquees were empty of
the thing that counts more in this business
than anything else—quality product!
There's nothing wrong with the ulcers of
this business that strong boxoffice pictures
can't nurture into good health. Let's hope
that the little exhibitor and show business will
never again find the safari of economics,
without water, in the middle of the Sahara
Desert in December—because too many exhibitors
can't afford it!
One more little question I'd like to raise!
The Audience Awards program was a fine
thing. Perhaps some were skeptical, but many
exhibitors were not—and progressive exhibitors
came forward with many hard-earned
"bucks" to carry the program through. The
spirit behind Audience Awards was a good
War Buddy in Search of Walter Erdeman
I am a regular reader of BOXOFFICE.
Through your publication I may be able to
locate an old Army buddy who is a projectionist
somewhere in these United States.
I have been trying ten years now to locate
him. Could you assist me somehow?
I am a projectionist at the Seville Theatre
in Detroit, Mich. My buddy is Walter
Erdeman, formerly of the 7th Armored Division,
147th Signal Company. Prior to World
War II he lived in California.
Thank you very much.
4655 Winifred St.,
Wayne, Mich.
ALLAN V.
HUGHES
spirit, dedicated to trying to help the industry
as a whole! The program was contrived
to focus the attention of the public back on
the "movies" ... to point out new talent . . .
and good pic-
and to encourage good stars . . .
tures.
What happens ??? We get into "a game
of ducks and drakes!" the pictures and stars
promising new talents have failed to
reappear on hundreds and hundreds of marquees,
because the major windmills in the
industry were tilted directly into the wind
just as soon as the announcements were
made. WTiat a pity!
Instead of taking a long-range constructive
view that would obtain widespread showings
of these films, thereby building a following
for "future stars" involved, one of whom
is scheduled for three or four pictures to be
released in 1956, opportunism reared its ugly
head: consequently, rental terms for these
pictures went out of reach of the vast majority
of theatres. That poured down the
drain the money thousands of exhibitors spent
to boost and develop a good cause in the
industry!
M. B. SMITH
Advertising Director,
Commonwealth Theatres, Inc.,
Kansas City,
Mo.
High Standard Policy Pleases
I have just read the letter of O. C. Alexander,
Kiowa Theatre, Kiowa, Kas., and I
heartily agree with him in his criticism of
so-called costume pictures. One a year is
too many. But I must disagree with him on
the general run of pictures which we have
had the past season and so do many of my
regular customers, as witness the letter
which I received just before Xmas:
Dear Mr. Rule:
Members of the St. Anne's Altar Society would like
to express their sincere appreciation to you for the
continued high standard and wholesome movies which
you have presented in your theatre, the Alco, during
the year 1955.
It has been noticed that you have obviously avoided
many movies of questionable taste which have oppeared
elsewhere in the area.
We hope you continue your policy of excellence
and assure you of our continued patronage of movies
which we enjoy.
Very sincerely yours,
Miss Margaret Sharboneau, Pres.,
Mrs. E. W. Burgoyne, Sec'y.
Thank you, members of St. Anne's Altar Society,
for this unsolicited letter which helped make our
Christmas more cheerful, and, while we realize it is
impossible to please all of the people all of the
time; we will do our best to continue to merit your
appraisal.
Mr. and Mrs. Rule
I thought well enough of this that I had
it appear on the front page of our local
paper. And I am not a Catholic.
Alco Theatre
Harrisville, Mich.
R. V. RULE
Protests Murrow s TV Interview of Liberate
Attached is copy of a letter I sent to
Edward R. Murrow after viewing his program
Jan. 6, 1956, which will, I believe, be of interest
to people in the motion picture industry.
(The letter follows)
"In my opinion you have done Mr. Liberace
and the motion picture industry an injustice.
"I refer to your unwitting questioning of
Mr. Liberace when you asked, Have you been
particularly discouraged over the apparent
lack of enthusiasm over your first venture
ACCEPT AWARD—Edward Muhl, center,
Universal Pictures vice-president In
charge of production; Valentine Davies,
left, writer-director, and Aaron Rosenberg,
producer of "The Benny Goodman
Story," are seen here with the special
award presented by Parents' Magazine.
into the motion picture field? Even after
Mr. Liberace spoke in defense of 'Sincerely
Yours,' you persisted by asking if he blamed
the failure of his movie on his brother.
Though Mr. Liberace passed the matter over
lightly, the damage was already done.
"Damage to the thousands of small-town,
neighborhood and subsequent run theatre exhibitors,
who have not yet shown this picture.
Through these theatres millions of patrons
who have not yet seen this movie are
certain to have their enthusiasm dampened,
to say the least, because you have implied
that the picture is not very good.
"P.S. I did not use quotations because I
didn't remember your exact words."
WARD P. RIGGINS JR.
Vice-President,
W. P. Riggins Enterprises,
Jessup, Ga.
Thinks Free TV Worse Than Pay TV
I never did quite understand the logic behind
exhibitors fighting pay-as-you-see TV.
But one of the answers I've gotten a few times
is that Hollywood would release most of its
productions to that medium. Now that RKO
has sold its library to free TV, what happens
to such reasoning? No revolution or evolution
ever struck a blow at the movie industry
with the devastating impact of free TV,
emphasis on the FREE. But when the chance
came to strike a blow for the PAY idea,
damned if we didn't team up with the free.
Strange bedfellows!
New York City.
JACK STEVENSON
Brotherhood Week Set
To Start February 19
NEW YORK—The period of February 19-
26 has been set for observance by the amusement
industry of the tenth anniversary of
its participation in National Brotherhood
week, according to William J. Heineman and
Spyros S. Skouras. national co-chairmen of
the drive sponsored by the National Conference
of Christian and Jews.
All segments of the motion picture, radio,
television and stage industries will take part
as in the past. Planning is under way on
local, regional and national levels.
26 BOXOFFICE :: January 21. 1956

British Film Academy
Selects 5 U. S. Films
LONDON—Five American pictures were included
in the list of top films for 1955 picked
by the British Film Academy. Seven on the
list were British, one was Japanese and one
Italian. The American films were "Bad Day
at Black Rock" 1MGM1; "Carmen Jones"
(20th-Fox); "East of Eden" 1WB1, "Marty"
and "Summer Madness," the latter distributed
by United Artists. "Madness" was called
"Summertime" in its U. S. release.
The British films were: "Richard III," soon
to be roadshown in the U. S. by Ilya Lopert;
"Simba," distributed in the U. S. by Lippert;
"The Night My Number Came Up," Continental;
"The Dam Busters," distributed by
Warner Bros.; "The Prisoner," Columbia; and
"The Ladykillers" and "The Colditz Story,"
not yet released in the U. S. The Italian film
was "La Strada" and the Japanese film was
"Seven Samurai," neither yet shown in the
U. S.
Baltimore Judge to See
'Amazon' in Appeal Case
BALTIMORE—Times Film Corp. of New
York has attacked the constitutionality of the
Maryland censor law in an appeal filed in city
court here to invalidate a ruling of the state
censor board ordering elimination of scenes in
"Naked Amazon" showing nude natives where
they are naked below the waist.
The Maryland statute, as originally passed
in 1922 and amended by seven later acts, is
null and void because it violates the First
amendment of the Constitution as a prior
restraint on freedom of speech, and because
it violates the due process clause of the
Fourteenth amendment, the appeal, filed by
Bilgrey & Levinson, a New York law firm,
and David Ross, Baltimore attorney, contends.
Times Films asks the city court to issue a
license permitting the showing of the film
in its entirety, contending the film is not
obscene.
A city judge will be called on to view the
film.
Chairman C. Morton Goldstein of the
censor board and Mrs. Maude B. Dorrance.
board member, issued the elimination order
in
November.
Dozen More Censors Lose
State Jobs; Funds Gone
HARRISBURG, PA.—The discharge of 12
members of a rapidly dwindling staff of the
state board of motion picture censors was
ordered by Gov. George M. Leader on the plea
that necessary funds had not been appropriated
by the legislature. Michael Felt, acting
chairman of the board, said he felt the action
would eventually flood the state with
"obscene, immoral and downright filthy"
films.
The last board appropriation, for $229,000,
ran out last May 31. Governor Leader had
diverted funds from other departments to
maintain a staff of 18 censors.
Governor Leader, echoing Felt's fear that
the state would be open to immoral films,
said he had requested the legislature to appropriate
$235,000 to continue the censors' work
A bill that would ban films that "incite to
crimes of violence and the use of narcotics,"
is now bottled up in the Senate committee
on state government.
HONOR THE CHIEFS—A plaque and an engraved gold watch were presented to
Alvin Q. Ehrlich, retiring chief barker of the Variety Club at Washington, at the annual
installation dinner recently. Above, Jack Fruchtman (left), is shown making the
presentation. At right is Orville Crouch, new chief barker of Tent 11.
Plan Third New Drive-In
In N. Y.-M. J. Area
NEW YORK—A third new drive-in in the
New York-New Jersey area will be constructed
on a 31 -acre tract at Orangetown. N. Y., by
the 303 Drive-In Theatre Corp., comprising
Joseph M. Seider of Prudential Theatres;
Charles B. Moss of B. S. Moss Theatres;
Spyros S. Skouras of Skouras Theatres Corp..
and Samuel Rinzler of Randforce Amusement
Corp.
Loew's is building a drive-in on Route 35,
Raritan Township, Monmouth County, N. J.,
and the Redstone Management Co. recently
announced the construction of a new drive-in
in Sayreville, N. J. The Redstone Management
also has acquired the Salina Drive-In
Theatre in Syracuse, N. Y., and owns the
Whitestone Bridge Drive-In, the Bronx; the
Sunrise Drive-In, Valley Stream, L. I., and
the Newark Drive-In.
The new drive-in will be located at the
junction of the Palisades Interstate Parkway
and Route 33 in Rockland County, just five
miles south of Nyack, N. Y., and will have a
capacity of 2,062 cars. Designed by Leon Einhorn,
is planned an early spring opening.
Report More 100% Dates
In Big MGM Sales Drive
NEW YORK—Over half of the domestic
exchanges of MGM and eight foreign countries
have lined up every theatre in their
territories for the showing of an MGM subject
during the February 5-12 period. With
three weeks to go, daily reports are being
received at the home office.
Reports of 100 per cent books have been
received from Finland. France, Italy, Norway,
Switzerland and Sweden. These are
in addition to the South Africa and Israel
bookings previously reported. Taipei (Formosa).
Belgium and Spain have reported
80 per cent; Austria and Holland, 75 per
cent, and Portugal, 70 per cent.
Associated British Theatres has booked
a short or feature in all but 17 of its 398
theatres.
Big Crowd Sees First Show
Of CinemaScope 55 at Roxy
NEW YORK—A capacity audience of
sales
executives, circuit and independent theatre
operators, representatives of all the publicity
and advertising departments, and bookers
and film buyers turned up at the Roxy Theatre
Thursday (19i at 9:15 a.m. for the screening
of scenes from "Carousel" and "The King
and I," for which the Cinemascope 55 was
used.
Spyros P. Skouras, Al Lichtman, Charles
Einfeld and W. C. Gehring were on hand to
greet the guests.
Also in the audience were representatives of
the press, including publishers, editors and
reporters and syndicate writers.
This was the first of a series of Cinema-
Scope 55 showings in theatres of 59 U. S. cities
during the next few weeks. Another morning
showing is scheduled for January 23 for
stockholders. "Carousel" is scheduled to open
at the Roxy February 16 in a benefit showing
for the New York Medical College.
Altec Service Supervising
CinemaScope 55 Showings
NEW YORK—Altec Service Corp. is
furnishing the technical supervision for trade
demonstrations of CinemaScope 55 by 20th
Century-Fox.
C. S. Perkins, operating manager of Altec,
has assigned Bruce Mewborn, one of the
southern division branch managers, and C.
S. Lundy, field engineer in the central division,
to have direct charge of the technical
details.
Danny Kaye to Appear
NEW YORK—Danny Kaye will appear on
the stage of the Paramount Theatre at five
performances during the opening day of his
new picture, "The Court Jester," February 1.
He will be on the stage approximately 30
minutes each time performing his stage
repertoire. It will be his only New York stage
appearance this year.
BOXOFFICE :: January 21, 1956 27

Music Hall
and Roxy Stage-Screen
Shows Open Strong; Holdovers Mild
NEW YORK—Two new stage-screen
programs,
at the Radio City Music Hall and the
Roxy, drew strong business in their opening
weeks on Broadway while most of the long
run holdovers were mild. Two new foreign
films in art houses also did smash business.
"I'll Cry Tomorrow" had long waiting lines
at the Music Hall, particularly at the weekend,
while "The Lieutenant Wore Skirts,"
bolstered by Sonja Heme making her first
appearance m her ice revue, also had waiting
lines in the evenings, the first time this had
happened at tile Roxy in a long time except
for holiday periods. Two other new Hollywood
pictures. "Diane" at Loew's State and
"Shack Out on 101" at the Globe, were Just
fair in their opening weeks.
Best of the holdovers were: "The Rose
Tattoo," which had a strong fifth week at
the Astor, as Anna Magnani is being touted
for Academy Award nomination; "The Man
With the Golden Arm," also in its fifth big
week at the Victoria, and "Artists and
Models" in its fourth good week at the Paramount.
For the second time in the past year, the
Palace held over its film, this time "Hell on
Frisco Bay," which had a big first week and
a good holdover stanza.
In the art houses, the new French film
"Adorable Creatures," gave the Baronet its
biggest opening day and a smash first week,
and "Samurai," Japanese picture, was strong
in its opening week at the Little Carnegie.
(Average Is 100)
Astor—The Rose Tattoo (Para), 5th wk 145
Baronet—Adorable Creatures (Cont'l.) 190
Bijou Too Bod She's Bad (Getz-Kingsley), 4th
wk 100
Capitol Guys and Dolls ;MGM), 11th wk 120
Criterion The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell
(WB), 4th wk 120
Fine Arts Diabolique (UMPO), 7th wk 150
55th Street Picasso (Wolf-Parker), 4th wk.;
Flamenco (Lewis), 1 st wk 110
Globe Shock Out on 101 (AA), 2nd wk 105
Guild Umberto D. (Harrison), 10th wk 130
Little Carnegie Somurai (Fine Arts) 130
Loew's State Diane (MGM) 115
Moyfoir The Indian Fighter (UA), 4th wk 100
Normandie Trouble in Store (Rep) 100
Palace Hell on Frisco Bay (WB), 2nd wk., plus
vaudeville 115
Paramount Artists and Models (Para), 4th wk...l25
Paris Letters From My Windmill (Tohan), 4th wk.. 120
Plaza The Prisoner (Col), 6th wk 1 40
Radio City Music Hall I'll Cry Tomorrow (MGM),
plus stage show 1 60
Rivoli Oklahoma! (Magna), 14th wk. of two-aday
120
Roxy The Lieutenant Wore Skirts (20th-Fox),
plus Sonja Henie ice revue 175
Sutton The Night My Number Come Up (Cont'l.)
4th wk 115
Trans-Lux 52nd The Littlest Outlaw (Bueno
Vista), 3rd wk 125
Victoria The Man With the Golden Arm UA),
5th wk 1 30
YOU'LL GET
THE FINEST
TRAILERS
IN THE
SHORTEST
TIME.
SPECIAL
TRAILERS
FROfv
CHICAGO
1317 S. WABASH
How means Better
Trailers . . . Faster!
NEW YORK
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37 years of Know-
Worner—Clncromo Holiday (SW), 49th wk. of twoa-doy
3o
'
World— Hill 24 Doesn't Answer (Cont'l I, 1
1th v.
'Heaven,' 'Skirts'
Baltimore Reception
Get Good
BALTIMORE—Two newcomers among the
runs did better than average—"All That
[lrst
Heaven Allows" and "The Lieutenant Wore
Skirts." "Guys and Dolls" and "The Court-
Martial of Billy Mitchell" seem to have
settled into routine runs.
Century— The Lioutenont Wore Skirts (20th-Fox). .125
Film Centre Diabolique (UMPO), 4th wk 95
Hippodrome; Guys and Dolls (MGM), 4th wk 125
Little— You Know What Sailors Are (UA) 95
New—Artists and Models (Para), 4th wk 90
Mayfair Count Three and Pray (Col), 2nd wk . 90
.
Playhouse The Trouble With Harry (Para), 4th
wk 100
Stanley The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell (WB),
3rd wk 90
The Cinema The Bed (Getz-Kingsley) 100
Town—All That Heaven Allows (U-l) 140
"Dolls' Rates Splendid 200
In 4th Buffalo Week
BUFFALO — "Guys and Dolls" continued to
hold up well at the Cinema Theatre, where it
wound up a fourth week. Shea's Buffalo, in
spite of a big advance campaign on its
anniversary, the 30th, and "Ransom!" was off.
Buffalo Ransom! (MGM) 95
Center The Lieutenant Wore Skirts (20th-Fox) . .125
Century Three Bod Sisters (UA) 130
Cinema Guys and Dolls (MGM), 4th wk 200
Lafayette The Spoilers (U-l) 110
Paramount Hell on Frisco Bay (WB) 1 35
Japanese, English Films
Booked in Art Theatres
NEW YORK—Two foreign-made
features,
the Japanese "Golden Demon" and the
British-made version of a Yiddish classic,
"Castles in the Sky," will open at New York
art theatres the last week in January.
"Golden Demon," produced in Eastman
Color by Daiei Motion Picture Co., was made
by Masaichi Nagata, who was responsible for
"Gate of Hell," "Ugetsu" and "Rashomon,"
stars Fujiko Yamamoto. It will open at the
Guild Theatre January 30, following a 12-
week run for "Umberto D." Both pictures are
being distributed in the U. S. by Edward
Harrison.
"Castles m the Sky" is the English version
of the Yiddish film classic, "Yiddle and His
Fiddle," and stars Molly Picon in her first
English-speaking role. It is a President Films
release produced by Joseph Green and will
open at the World Theatre January 25, following
a 12-week run for the Israeli film, "Hill
24 Doesn't Answer."
Delay on Daylight Bill
ALBANY— "Lay-aside" objections by several
senators from rural districts delayed advancement
of the Williamson bill to extend daylight
saving time from general orders to
third reading in the Senate Monday night.
Senator Pliny W. Williamson. Westchester
Republican, had hoped for a vote by Tuesday.
However, no action before next week seemed
likely. Williamson indicated that if an early
vote could not be arranged, consideration
might be given to a postponement until next
year.
MEETS STAR AM) AUTHOR—Russell
Downing, president of Radio City Music
Hall in New York, meets Lillian Roth,
left, the author of "I'll Cry Tomorrow,"
and Susan Hayward, star of the MGM
picture in the role of Lillian Roth, on
whose life the film is based.
Lyric at Asbury Park
Goes on Foreign Films
ASBURY PARK, N. J.—The Lyric Theatre
this week became Monmouth County's first
art theatre with the opening of "The Sheep
Has Five Legs." French comedy starring
Fernandel.
"The Prisoner," starring Alec Guinness;
"Letters from My Windmill," Marcel Pagnol's
comedy trilogy; "The Night My Number
Came Up," British suspense thriller starring
Michael Redgrave; "Doctor in the House."
comedy produced by J. Arthur Rank Organization,
and "Diabolique," French shocker
currently enjoying a long run in New York
City, will follow.
"It has been long apparent that there is a
need and desire for a specialized theatre in
Monmouth County," Walter Reade jr of the
Reade circuit commented. "For the past
several years, Walter Reade Theatres has
been running Curtain at 8:40 series throughout
the states of New York and New Jersey,
and each year the attendance has increased.
We feel that the time is now ripe for one
theatre to devote itself exclusively to the
showing of imported motion pictures.
"Beginning Tuesday, the Lyric will operate
one show daily at 8:30 p. m., and continuous
performances on Saturday and Sunday at 2,
4, 6. 8 and 10 p. m.
"The hours are designed to meet the
schedule of busy people whose activities
place heavy requirements on their time,"
Reade said. "The theatre will present single
features, together with unusual and enlightening
short subjects. A nice touch, too, we
think, is that coffee, with our compliments,
will be served in the lounge of the Lyric plus
continually changing displays of art work,
paintings, ceramics, etc., by local artists. As
a policy, the major emphasis will be on the
quality of the program and the comfort of the
patrons."
Rockaway Theatre Leased
And Becomes Art House
NEW YORK—The 800-seat Gem Theatre
at 1920 Mott Ave., Far Rockaway. has been
leased to Morris Goldman and Gilbert Josephson.
They have changed its name to
the Pix Theatre and have reopened it as
an art theatre. The lessor is Rock Beach,
Inc., of which Charles F. Haring is president.
Berk and Krumgold were the brokers
in the transaction.
28 BOXOFFICE :: January 21, 1956

OtitifrAmef ~(&wi cd£f
/Vifti
The /¥£
'CENTURY
projector mechanism is
big news for exhibitors
m*m
Better than ever before (and that's going
some) this new projector reflects more than
30 years of leadership in the development
and production of cinematic equipment. It
again demonstrates CENTURY'S intent to
utilize the latest in scientific advances for
the benefit of the exhibitor.
NEW non-condensing water-cooled aperture easily
changeable for ail of the new screen dimensions.
It increases screen illumination and reduces film
distortion.
m
NEW light shields designed to accommodate latest
high-intensity arc lamps.
NEW lens mount with adapters for all sta'ndard
lenses, large and small. The mount incorporates an
easy-focusing device for high speed lenses.
NEW enlarged observation door affording clear
view of film.
NEW main drive shaft eliminates pinion and stud
unit at soundhead coupling. Provides a more positive
trouble-free drive.
Be sure fo see CENTURY'S new heavy duty film magazine.
Much more convenient to use, for they are equipped with
side viewing windows and much larger hinges to provide
better door support.
Make no mistake, see CENTURY before you buy.
Century Projector Corporation, new york i», n. y.
SOLD BY
Amusement Supply Co.
346 West 44th St.
New York 18, N. Y.
Perkins Theatre Supply Co.
505 Pearl St.
Buffalo 2, New York
J. F. Dusman Company Albany Theatre Supply Co.
12 East 25th St.
Baltimore 18, Maryland
443 North Peorl St.
Albany 4, New York
BOXOFFICE :: January 21, 1956 29

. David
. . Louis
. . Joan
. . On
BROADWAY
Otanley Kramer, United Artists producer,
who held an exhibit of sketches and properties
for ins forthcoming "The Pride and
Passion - '
at the Associated American
Artists Galleries January 11-18. left for Madrid
to prepare for the shootmu. starting in
April . . . Wolfe Cohen, president of Warner
International, got back to the home office
Thursday after a three-week visit to
Phillips,
offices in Mexico and Cuba .
Paramount general counsel, and wife left for
Mexico City
. Golding and Meyer
Hutner of Samuel Goldwyn Productions, went
to Washington to confer with officials of the
Department of Defense regarding the exploitation
of The Sharkfighters" which will be
made by Goldwyn jr. for UA release.
Three of the stars of •Carousel," first 20th-
Fox Cinemascope 55mm picture. Shirley
Jones. Cameron Mitchell and Barbara Ruick.
attended the exhibitor-press demonstration at
the Roxy Thursday morning. Also glimpsed
in the audience was Elizabeth Mia Copping,
talkative stockholder, who should have waited
to attend the Roxy demonstration for 20th-
Fox stockholders Monday (23) ... Don De-
Fore, film-TV star who was in New York to
select categories for TV's Emmy awards, attended
the Actors Fund benefit of "The Desk
Set" Sunday 1 15 > as did Michael Redgrave.
Harry Lembeck and Graham Velsey.
Cornell Borchers, German film star signed
by Universal, saw "Red Roses for Me" with
Phil Gerard, eastern publicity manager, and
Mrs. Gerard, manager of the Paris Theatre,
Wednesday ( 18 > and the next night met the
tradepress at the special U-I screening at
the home office . . . Blanche Livingston, in
charge of publicity for RKO Theatres outof-town
houses and before that with the
RKO Pictures publicity department, has announced
her engagement to Albert H. Levi
. . . Clarence Secor, associated with Altec
Service Corp. New York headquarters for
many years, has resigned. He was well known
to exhibitors and theatre supply men
Fred Lida. on the
throughout the U. S. . . .
advertising staff of IFE Releasing Corp., was
married to Sabina Wanderman of New York
Sunday.
Uec Guinness, England's most popular star
with American audiences, completed his first
Hollywood film, "The Swan" for MGM, and
sailed back to England after a few days in
.
. . .
New York where his "The Prisoner" is breaking
records at the Plaza the same
boat were Joyce Grenfell, British film comedienne
who starred in a Broadway revue this
fall, and Don Edman, concert pianist bound
for Paris Crawford and her husband.
.
Alfred N. Steele, and Ramon Novarro,
silent days star, returned from abroad
Leon Leonidoff. senior producer of Radio
City Music Hall stage shows, flew to Europe
and Fayette W. Allport, European manager
of MPAA-MPEA, planed back after a vacation
in the U. S.
Walter Wanger, who produced "Invasion of
the Body Snatchers" for Allied Artists and
now is tied up with RKO, came in from Hollywood
with the print of the film, accompanied
by his wife Joan Bennett, who just completed
an AA film, "Mother-Sir" . . . William
Wyler. who just completed Allied Artists'
biggest film to date. "The Friendly Persuasion."
was here to see new Broadway plays . .
AA vice-presidents Harold J. Mirisch and
G. Ralph Branton came in to discuss the
sales policy of "Persuasion" with Morey R.
Goldstein, general sales manager, and John C.
Flinn, director of advertising and publicity.
1956 looks like Allied Artists' biggest year.
Allen Miner, producer of "The Naked Sea"
for RKO. planed in from Hollywood en route
to South America . . . Howard Dietz. MGM
vice-president in charge cf oublicity and advertising,
who makes a half-dozen west coast
trips yearly, got back to the home office
Tuesday (17) from his latest look at forth-
coming product. William B. Zoellner. head
of MGM short subject sales, left the same day
for the coast to start a seven-city tour.
Arthur Canton, eastern MGM press representative,
and Charles Felleman, New York
and New Jersey exploiteer, went to Jamestown,
N. Y., to complete arrangements for
the opening of "Forever Darling" in Lucille
Ball's hometown February 7.
American Broadcasting Co.
Appoints Three Veeps
NEW YORK—Three new vice-presidents
for the American Broadcasting Co. have been
named by the board of directors of American
Broadcasting-Paramount Theatres, Inc.
They are:
Robert F. Lewine, vice-president and director
of the program department, ABC television
network.
James A. Stabile, vice-president and director
of the business affairs department,
ABC.
Mortimer Weinbach, vice-president and director
of labor relations and personnel. ABC.
W. J. German Heads Drive
For the March of Dimes
NEW YORK—William J. German has been
named chairman of the motion picture division
of the 1956 Greater New York appeal for
$3,000,000 for the National Foundation for
Infantile Paralysis. Harris A. Dunn, vicepresident
of the Bowery Savings Bank, is
general chairman of the citywide committee.
Funds are urgently needed, German stated, in
order to support the four-point program of
the March of Dimes.
Frank Folsom to Receive
Catholic Youth Award
NEW YORK—Frank M. Folsom, president
of Radio Corp. of America, will receive the
Catholic Youth Organization's Champions
Medal at the the 20th anniversary dinner of
the board of directors Monday (23) at the
Ambassador Hotel. Cardinal Spellman will
make the presentation. James A. Farley,
former postmaster general, will deliver the
presentation address.
Variety Club Tent 35 Has
Three New Committees
NEW YORK—Three committees for the
1956 work of Variety Club Tent 35 have been
named. George Brandt and Harold Rinzler
are co-chairmen of a committee to seek
permanent quarters; Robert K. Shapiro heads
a membership committee, and Sol Trauner is
chairman of a film exchange area committee
which will seek ads for the International Variety
Club convention journal.
THEY SEE 'THE CONQUEROR'—RKO Radio staged a sneak preview of "The
Conqueror" at the RKO 86th Street for New York exhibitors and theatre executives.
Shown here, left to right: Nat Levy, RKO eastern sales manager; Samuel Rosen,
executive vice-president of Stanley Warner Theatres; Walter Branson, RKO vicepresident
in charge of worldwide distribution; Bernie Brooks, film buyer for Fabian
Theatres, and Charles Moss, president of Moss Theatres.
Normandie Being Equipped
NEW YORK—The Trans-Lux Normandie
Theatre, which will be re-equipped with a
Superscope electronic lens, four-track sound
and self-expanding Cinemascope screen for
the revival of Walt Disney's "Fantasia" in
mid-February, will meanwhile play revivals
of best films of 1955. Starting Friday (20)
was "Mister Roberts" and "Marty" will open
at the Normandie January 25. Later attractions
will include "To Catch a Thief." "Love
Me or Leave Me" and "Summertime."
30 BOXOFFICE :: January 21, 1956

. . Gilman
: January
. . Jack
Celebrities Will Attend
NY Troy' Debut on 25th
NEW YORK—Warner Bros, predicts an imposing
list of celebrities will attend the Overseas
Press Club benefit premiere of "Helen
of Troy" at the Criterion Theatre January 25.
Among the early acceptances are the names
of Perle Mesta, Elsa Maxwell, Gloria Vanderbilt,
H. V. Kaltenborn, Sir Pierson Dixon,
British ambassador to the United Nations,
Cole Porter, Elizabeth Arden, Nanette Fabray,
Mr. and Mrs. Huntington Hartford.
Mrs. William Rhinelander Stewart and
M. Christian Palamas. Greek ambassador to
the United Nations.
SYRACUSE
Tied Galanter of the Los Angeles office of
MGM, who was "loaned out" to do work
on "Guys and Dolls" was here last week with
Steve Pirozzi of the Buffalo office conferring
with Sam Gilman of Loew's State. The
film will open February 3 at Loew's Strand.
.
Galanter has traveled 52,600 miles for the
film used the newspaper pages,
with success, to get back his cardboard figure
of Marlon Brando, which was taken from the
lobby of the Strand as a prank by some coeds.
The girls returned the "cardboard lover" and
Mr. and Mrs. Gilman
received passes . . .
were among those at ringside when Ted
Lewis, veteran showman, appeared at the
Persian Terrace, Hotel Syracuse.
. . .
Nat Marcus, manager for Warner Bros.
at Buffalo, and Charles Kosco, 20th-Fox
manager, were visitors here Henry and
William Berinstein. sons of Mr. and Mrs.
Benjamin M. Berinstein of the Cornell Theatres,
Ithaca, were home on vacation from the
University of Michigan. They were present
at the engagement reception for their sister
Mary Frances, who is to wed Benjamin Hoffman.
Mary is studying for a Master's degree
at Columbia. Harry Unterfort, zone manager
for Schine Theatres in central New York,
pinch-hit as bartender during the party. A
New Year resolution of Unterfort was to
play regular sessions of squash at the Y to
trim the w y aistline.
Johnny Gardner to Build
Drive-In at Unadilla, N. Y.
ALBANY—Construction by Johnny Gardner,
who operates the Turnpike at Westmere,
of a 350-car drive-in at Unadilla, between
Sidney and Oneonta, will start as soon as
the state approves plans. He hopes to finish
the rough grading and the foundations before
winter. Gardner's 21-year-old son John W. jr.
will manage the new theatre. He is a student
in electronics at the Hudson Valley Technical
Institute in Troy, but has worked with his
father and mother at the Turnpike the past
four seasons. Gardner sr. built Vermont's
first drive-in at Burlington.
A steel and wood tower will be put up at
Unadilla by the United Electric Construction
Corp. of Schenectady, which erected the
Turnpike tower. The nearest competing
drive-in will be the Del Sego, on the opposite
side of Oneonta, a distance of 15 miles.
Smalley's Theatre is in Sidney, four miles
away.
"Acapulco" is the new title of Republic's
picture formerly called "Brief Rapture."
ALBANY
If Mending the opening of E. M. Loew's Gulfstream
Drive-In at Hallandale. Fla., were
John Gardner of the Turnpike Drive-In,
Westmere, and Mrs. Gardner, and F. Chase
Hathaway, operator of Hathaway's Drive-In,
Hoosick, and Fort Warren Drive-In, Castleton,
Vt. Hathaway occupies a winter home in
nearby Hollywood, which he purchased more
than a year ago. The Gulfstream, with a
penthouse projection booth, accommodates
600 cars, Gardner reported . Hamilton,
Berlo Vending Co. manager, and wife
will head for New York City and a week of
legitimate-shows attendance February 3.
Accompanying them, for a several-days stay,
will be Norman Jackter, Columbia manager,
and Mrs. Jackter, who are celebrating a
wedding anniversary. Hamilton and Jackter
have been friends since their service in Washington,
the former, with Roth Theatres, and
the later with Columbia as salesman.
An overflow audience was attracted to the
sneak preview of Paramount's "Anything
Goes" at the Strand Friday night, when "All
That Heaven Allows" topped the regular bill.
Noted were Elias Schlenger, Fabian division
manager; John Gardner jr. and Billy Gardner,
sons of drive-in owner Johnny Gardner;
Arthur J. Newman, Republic manager; Dan
Houlihan, Paramount manager, and daughter
Gretchen; Ed Wall, Paramount upstate
director of publicity-advertising, with his
daughter Pat; Paramount salesmen Gordon
Bugie and Howard Smidt, and Fox salesmen
Johnny Wilhelm and Alvin Kosoff.
A varied fare of cocktails, food and motion
picture entertainment, tastily served for Variety
Club members and their wives at
Sheraton-Ten Eyck Hotel, drew a record total
of 122 at the weekend. The drinks were
served in the mezzanine quarters; a smorgasbord,
in the first floor dining room. "The
Big Knife" was then screened in the Empire
room. Following it, a number of the couples
repaired to the quarters for a social hour.
Among those present were Harold Gabrilove,
Lewis A. Sumberg, Aaron Winig, George
Greene, Jules Perlmutter, George Schenck.
AT 'GOODMAN' PARTY — Following
a preview of "The Benny Goodman Story"
at Albany, guests of l T -I gathered at the
Sheraton-Ten Eyck Hotel for a television
party. Left to right: Elias Schlenger,
Fabian division manager; Norman Leitn
i.i > U-I manager; Jules Perlmutter.
exhibitor, and Leonard L. Rosenthal,
film buying counsel for Upstate Theatres.
Leo Rosen, Jack Goldberg. Ralph Ripps, Jack
Hamilton, Sylvan Leff, Norman Jackter,
Johnny Gardner, Gene Teper, Bill Wennar.
Al Kellert, Ken Farrar and Judge George
Myers. A Sweetheart's luncheon and fashion
show will be held by the Variety Club in the
Fort Orange room February 13. Starting at
12:30 p.m., it will feature a display of clothes
from the shop of Jozef Yezzi, a new Variety
member. Tickets are $5 per couple.
Moe Bittman, partner in the Dix Drive-In
near Hudson Falls, has been bulletined for
membership in the Variety Club. Other proposed
barkers are Simon Rosenstock, lawyer:
Ferd Levinson and Charles Dearstyne, Albany
businessmen, and Julius Goodman of the Troy
family owning the Union-Fern furniture
store chain ... A table in the Tent 9 quarters
contains copies of the December issue of the
Barker, official publication of Variety Clubs
International, with tributes to the late William
C. McCraw, former executive director
and a frequent visitor here.
Edward J. Tingle, Palace doorman for five
years who died recently in the Veterans Hospital
at the age of 63, was a veteran of World
War II and a former longtime member of the
Albany fire department ... A demonstration
of 55mm Cinemascope will be given by 20th-
Fox in Fabian's Palace February 6 at 9:45
a.m. Exhibitors and other guests have been
invited.
Albany Tent Lists Rules
For Its Ten Eyck Rooms
ALBANY—A copy of rules, drafted by the
Variety Club House Committee and approved
by both the crew and membership, has been
mailed to each barker. Running a page and
a half, it sets forth operating hours, meal
schedules, payment of food and bar checks,
guest admission. Family nights, regulations
for card games, disciplinary procedures and
other details on the use of the clubrooms.
The Sheraton-Ten Eyck Hotel suite is to
be open on Sundays from 5 to 12 p.m.; Mondays,
11 a.m. to 1 a.m.; Tuesday through
Saturday, 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Luncheon is
served at 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Monday to
Saturday: dinner, 5:30 to 8 p.m. Monday
through Sunday.
Members expecting a guest or guests to
meet them at the club are required to call
the steward and advise him. Guests must
wait in the reception room. A member host
is necessary to enter bar or card room. Members
are held responsible for the guests they
invite; must take them when leaving. Persons
under 18 are not admitted.
Except for Family nights—Saturday and
Sunday—individuals residing in the Albany.
Schenectady and Troy area cannot be guests
more than once a month. Out-of-towners are
welcome at all times. Wives may be brought
for dinner on Saturday and Sunday eveings.
Every guest must sign the register.
A member may be placed on "immediate
suspension" at the discretion of the house
committee, pending presentation of his case
to the crew. Any violations of house rules
make the violator liable for suspension or
expulsion under proceedings instituted by the
house committee and approved by the crew.
The outline concludes: "This is your Club.
If you enjoy it, help keep it in operation by
observing all rules and regulations."
BOXOFFICE :
21, 1956 31

. . Ernest
BUFFALO
pddie Balser, who served more than 35 years
as head of the Paramount exchange Shipping
department, h;is retired and has moved
to Ann Arbor, Mich. The staff gave a farewell
party for Balser, who before joining
Paramount was associated with some of the
pioneer exchanges in Buffalo. Sam Block,
who has been an assistant to Balser for
almost ten years, has taken over the post of
shipping department head.
Shea's Buffalo celebrated its 30th anniversary
this week Edward P. Meade arranged
an interesting lobby display, installed by the
New York Telephone Co., which showed
progress in communication since the theatre
was opened in 1926. The telephone plays a
prominent part in the theatre's current attraction
"Ransom.'' Meade also landed photos
in the Courier-Express showing the groundbreaking
ceremony in 1926 and construction
scenes.
Surrogate Philip J. Weiss of Batavia has
Slanted letters of administration in the
estate of Charles L. Mancuso to his daughter,
Mrs. Joseph Attardi, who claimed the estate
never had been settled and asked to be
named executrix. Her move was opposed by
several brothers who now make up the firm of
Charles Mancuso & Sons. Surrogate court
attaches said that "discovery proceedings" will
be undertaken to determine whether Mancuso
owned property, where it went and what became
of the proceeds. The Mancuso family
operates the Mancuso Theatre in Batavia
and is also interested in the auto, restaurant
and other undertakings in the same town.
The name of the late Vincent R. McFaul.
who managed the Buffalo and western New
York Shea theatres for many years, is among
those engraved on a gold chalice to be presented
by Msgr. Francis Gravey, administrator
of St. Joseph's New Cathedral, to St.
Francis Cabrini parish in Collins Center. The
presentation will be made at the annual chalice
presentation dinner of the Knights of
Columbus Sunday . . . Arthur Canton, eastern
division publicity representative, has been
working on details of the world premiere
February 7 in Dipson's Palace Theatre in
Jamestown of "Forever Darling." Lucille Ball
and Desi Arnaz will make a tw'o-day visit to
the town where Lucille was born. A 24-member
committee of business, industry, labor and
press representatives is working out details
of a gala homecoming slated for the former
Jamestown and Celeron school girl who rose
to the top in the screen and television worlds.
Max Rothstein Dies
NEW YORK—Max Rothstein, film editor
for De Luxe Laboratories for over 30 years,
died Tuesday (17) at the Lenox Hill Hospital
following an operation. He was 56. Funeral
services were held Thursday. He is survived
by his wife and a married daughter.
^'*&S'
SAM FTNEBERG
TOM McCLEARY
JIM ALEXANDER
84 Wan Broom Street
PITTSBURGH 19, PA.
Phone EXpresi 1-0777
Movies Are Better Than Ever • How's Your Equipment?
IIFLPER OF CHILDREN—W. E. J.
Martin, 1955 chief barker of Variety
tent 7 of Buffalo, presents a citation
from the club to Marion N. Ryan, office
manager of the MGM exchange, honoring
her for her efforts in coordinating theatre
collections during the club's drive for
the tent's Children's Hospital clinic fund.
The presentation was made at the club's
annual installation ceremonies.
Elmer Lux Is Appointed
To Redevelopment Post
BUFFALO—Elmer F. Lux, former president
of the city council and third-time chief
barker of Variety Tent 7 of Buffalo, has
been named president of the Buffalo Redevelopment
Committee, Inc.. dormant since
early last year. At a meeting last week, which
followed considerable spade work, the revitalized
committee stepped into the slum
clearance and new housing situation with
vigor and named Lux president. It is a parttime
paid post.
Lux also has been invited to meet with
TOA executives in Washington February 2
to discuss the executive directorship of that
organization.
In a short and snappy session, Vice-President
Diebold said: "It may well mark a
turning point in the history of our program
for better housing, slum clearance and rehabilitation
in Buffalo and the Niagara
frontier. With Mr. Lux's assistance, the committee
will be able to break the log jam in the
entire field. Mr. Lux will endeavor to coordinate
all legislative provisions and assist governmental
and other agencies to accomplish
the basic objectives of sufficient and adequate
housing for all income groups."
A motion picture, "The Philadelphia
Story," was shown at the meeting depicting
what that city has accomplished in redevelopment.
Lux, who ended his term as president of the
council December 31, was installed as chief
barker of Tent 7 at the annual installation
dinner dance Sunday evening. W. E. J.
Martin is the retiring chief barker. The new
crew includes Harold Bennett, first assistant:
George H. Mackenna, second assistant: V.
Spencer Balser. secretary, and Manford
Pickrell, treasurer, and Peter Becker. Edmund
C. DeBerry, Robert Hayman, Marvin Jacobs,
Charles B. Kosco and Jack Mundstuk.
Lux accepted the invitation to present himself
to the executive committee of TOA before
receiving the redevelopment appointment.
Drive-In on Cattle Farm
GREENSBURG, PA.—Mr. and Mrs. Edward
Tomajko jr., who own the Clara-Mar
Hereford cattle farm here, are building a
drive-in theatre on their farm.
PITTSBURGH
The Penn Theatre at Monaca. operated by
G. M. Owen and booked by Vince Corso, has
.
.
been closed Stern. Elmer Hasley
and Jimmy Nash are on the attendance committee
for the third annual drive-in theatres
convention to be held February 21-23 at
Cleveland. James C. Naughton of National
Carbon Co. will attend the convention as a
district representative of his organization
A. P. Way, DuBois theatre owner who is
. .
observing
his 60th year in show business, departed
with some friends who are driving to
St. Petersburg, where he makes the Princess
Martha Hotel his headquarters. An item in
the January 14 issue endeavored to rub out 54
years of Way's experience in show business,
the mechanical department having mistakeingly
reported him in his 6th year.
FCC has refused WKST-TV (45) permission
to shift from New Castle, Pa., to Youngstown,
Ohio, and has approved the sale of
Altoona radio and television stations, WFBG-
TV to the Triangle Publications, Inc., of
Philadelphia . . . Visitors included John Goshorn
and J. W. Servies of National Theatre
Supply, and Howard Minsky, Paramount district
representative . . . Lois Chazman of the
SW contact office and Sam Rofey honeymooned
in New York . . . Norbert Stern, who
heads Associated circuit, was vacationing in
Miami ... Eli E. Kaufman, formerly of
Filmrow who last operated Pittsburgh Poster
Service, turned up to say hello. He has been
a television salesman for MPA-TV in Pennsylvania
and West Virginia for nine months
and he has more than a dozen half-hour
serial TV shows on the airways.
Erie movie critics will be guests of Desi
Arnaz-Lucille Ball at a cocktail party and
premiere of their "Forever Darling" in Jamestown,
N. Y., February 7.
Philadelphia Tolerance
Campaign Under Way
PHILADELPHIA—Brotherhood Week activities
in this territory were launched Wednesday
(18) at a meeting in the Stanley Warner
projection room called by Ted Schlanger and
Charles Zagrans, co-chairmen. Committees
to cover the entire industry were organized
and plans were made for full scale coverage
by newspapers, radio and television. Andrew
Gottschall, local representative of the National
Conference of Christians and Jews, attended.
The first distributor meeting was held Friday
(20) in the RKO projection room with
district and branch managers attending.
Michael J. Foster Heads
ABC Ad-Pub Departments
NEW YORK—Michael J. Foster has been
named vice-president in charge of press information
for American Broadcasting Co. by
Robert E. Kintner, president. He will take
over January 30. Foster has been in charge
of press relations for CBS television.
New Seats Installed
MOUNT MORRIS. PA.—The Almeda Theatre
has installed new American seating
chairs placed 40 inches back to back. Glenn
Easter, owner-manager-projectionist, reduced
capacity drastically to provide the
better facilities.
32 BOXOFFICE :: January 21, 1956

. . What
. . The
,
. . William
and
NEWARK
'The foreign policy at the Kent is meeting
with great success, since this theatre is
the only one in Newark featuring foreign
films. First run English and foreign features
are shown alternately. On Saturdays,
there's a children's matinee, featuring a serial,
cartoons, a western, etc. . . . The Wellmont
in Montclair is working on a spring program.
A new candy stand has been installed and
the interior is being painted.
. . .
. . . Murray
At the Ormont, East Orange, Adolph Retting,
manager, reports "Othello" and "The
Beachcomber" will open on the 25th. A
York airconditioning system is being installed
Milton Brenner of the Roosevelt has a
new assistant, Charles Lipton
Scharf, Loew's State, arranged a terrific
campaign for "Kismet." Disk Jockey Paul
Brenner is conducting a contest based on
two questions: "What is the meaning of
Kismet? . language is it from?" on
his daily radio and his weekly TV show.
Contestants answering both questions correctly
become eligible to win a record album
of the songs from "Kismet" . Mayfair
Theatre, Hillside, reports Eleanor M. Chasney
is the new candy girl.
Mrs. Lillian Soares, assistant
~i
manager at
the Regent, Elizabeth, was out sick with the
gTippe. Hobe Harris, stagehand at the Regent,
became the grandfather of his first
grandson ... At the Park Theatre, Roselle
Park, a new marquee is being installed to replace
the old one which was hit by a lumber
truck and demolished.
BALTIMORE
\A7alter Gettinger, one of the owners of the
Howard, is booking for the Miles at St.
Michaels, and also is managing that theatre
. . . Stanley Stern, manager of the Playhouse,
is receiving sympathy of friends on the death
of his father Able . . . M. Robert Rappaport
of the Town and Hippodrome spent the weekend
with his grandparents at Atlantic City.
Rappaport, March of Dimes chairman for the
theatres, reports that 75 Baltimore houses are
cooperating with trailer and audience collections.
. . Willard
. . . Charles Walton, veteran
Richard Dizon, formerly of the Town, now
is manager at the Hiway Theatre .
Shoffer, assistant manager at the Film
Centre, spent a day off with friends at Cape
The Timonium Drive-In has
St. Claire . . .
provided in-car heaters "at no extra cost"
to the patron
showman of Prince George County, has remodeled
his newly acquired Marlboro with
Cinemascope and a widescreen. He reopened
last week.
Tom Harrison jr. is giving a special matinee
at his Park Theatre in Lexington Park on
January 28 to help raise funds for the Little
Baseball League.
AT 'ANYTHING' PREVIEW — Paramount
hosted an invitational trade preview
of "Anything Goes" at Loew's 72nd
Street Theatre in New York. Among
the guests were Arnold Miehaelson, left,
of Warners at Newark and Peter Adams,
operator of the U. S. Theatre at Patterson,
N. J., shown above as they arrived
for the showing.
Tax Revision Promise
At Tent 13 Installation
PHILADELPHIA—Over 200 showmen, city
officials and politicians attended the annual
installation dinner of Variety Tent 13. Newlyelected
Mayor Richardson Dilworth and District
Attorney Victor H. Blanc spoke. Louis
J. Goffman retired as chief barker and Maxwell
Gillis was installed as the new chief.
Jack Beresin inducted the new crew into
office. Ralph W. Pries, March of Dimes
chairman, gave a stirring address requesting
those in the industry to help this charity. He
emphisized that "showbusiness continues to
wear on its sleeve the badge of humanitarianism.
Mayor Dilworth declared that Philadelphia's
amusement tax was the highest of any
city in the United States, and insisted that
his administration did not want to maintain
taxes which were responsible for diminishing
returns. He promised to reappraise the situation
next year and see if an adjustment
could not be made in the tax structure.
Industry officials present at the dinner
included William Gehring, general sales
manager of 20th-Fox; Arthur Israel, assistant
to Barney Balaban at Paramount, and
Richard Altshuler, vice-president of Republic
in charge of worldwide sales. The tent gave
Kitty Kallen an award for her humanitarianism
in helping the tent's charity work.
The "heart fund" campaign prize winners
were: Carroll Hutchinson, Harvey Brodsky,
Eugene L. Brozen. S. A. Alesker, Jack Klein,
Michael Magill, Fremont Engleman, Dolly
Banks, Sam Goldwyn jr. and Al Burke.
Mother of Ed Heaton Dies
HARRISVILLE, W. VA.—Mother of Ed
Heaton of the Model Theatre died here.
PHILADELPHIA
'Twentieth-Fox is holding an invitational
screening of Cinemascope 55 at the Fox
Theatre Wednesday (25) at 9:45 a. m., featuring
clips from "Carousel ' "The King
and I" . . . The Alden Theatre on Midvale
avenue in East Falls, the place from which
Grace Kelly hails, recently advertised on its
marquee that "To Catch a Thief" was playing.
Under the title on the marquee, in
letters almost as large, the theatre announced.
"Filmed in Monaco." Of course, that is
where Grace will soon be living.
Bill Yurasko, Stanley Warner assistant
film buyer, was given a special birthday present
by his wife Sunday (15), a baby daughter
. . . Dave Rosen, independent distributor,
went to Pittsburgh on business . . . Jack
Harris was being complimented on his exploitation
techniques used in the releasing
of a horror combination . . . "All that Heaven
Allows" was breaking records at the Viking
Theatre, and it has topped "Not As a Stranger"
every day since its opening. The surprising
thing is that the film got brushoff
reviews . Madden, MGM manager,
was on a Mediterranean cruise aboard the
Niew Amsterdam.
Albert A. and Jeanette E. Moffa have added
the Ritz Theatre in Coplay to their string.
They have subleased the Sauconia in Hellertown
to another operator. The Ritz, a 600-
seat house, which has been closed since April,
will reopen about February 1 after Cinema-
Scope equipment is installed. The Moffas
also own and operate the Tenth Street and
Towne theatres in Allentown.
Melvin J. Fox, president of Fox Theatres,
will lead the campaigns of the theatrical,
coin machines, check cashing and collecting
agencies divisions in the Allied Jewish Appeal.
Fox is secretary-treasurer of the Philadelphia
Parking Authority, and he has been
active for many years in the United Fund,
Fellowship Commission and Community
Chest. He is a member of Locust Club, Variety
Club and Philmont Country Club.
. . DeLuxe
. . . A. R. Boyd Enterprises
The Strand in Pottstown, Pa., closed since
December 12, 1955, has reopened .
Theatre Service is now doing booking and
buying for the Holland in Old Forge and the
Strand in Bangor, Pa. . . . James A. Carey is
booking and buying for Elmwood in York,
Andrea Theatre in Catanissa, Pa. has
Pa. . . .
been reopened
has bought the Colonial in Lancaster from
the estate of Charles F. Widmyer. The theatre
was built in 1912.
Benefit for Cancer Victim
VANDERGRIFT, PA.—The Casino Theatre
here featured Gary Weaver Day, turning
over proceeds to a fund for a 9-year-old cancer
victim. Arrangements were made by Fran
Aiello. manager, who conceived the idea to
give assistance to the Vandergrift lad in his
fight against the dreaded disease.
BOONTON, N. J.
Large Core
Greater Crater Area
means
MAXIMUM LIGHT
Evenly Distributed
in W. Va.—CHARLESTON THEATRE SUPPLY, S06 Lee Street, Charleston,
West Virginia— Dickens 4-4413
in Po— NATIONAL THEATRE SUPPLY, Philo.—Tel. Locust 7-6156
SUPERIOR THEATRE EQUIP., 311 North 13th Street, Philadelphia
7, Pennsylvania— Rittcnhousc 6-1420
PROJECTOR CARBON Co., Torentum—Tarcntum 2341
BOXOFFICE :: January 21, 1956 33

. .
how
Theatre Managed by George Peters
Is Favorite for Picture Tryouts
RICHMOND—When MGM completed "The
Bar Sinister," a story about a dog, Richmond
was selected as the city
lor a test run to obtain
answers on such ques-
. . .
tions as, was the title
good what sort of
promotion would be
needed . much
money should be spent
on advertising?
This was not the
first time Richmond
had been picked as a
motion picture testing
ground, writes William
George R. Peters Bien in the Richmond
News Leader.
The city is a favorite for film tryouts.
One reason is Richmond's excellent crosssection—factory,
white collar and professional
people in abundance. If a motion picture
pleases the average audience here, Hollywood
feels it will do well in Podunk, Chicago
or Oshkosh. But another reason for Richmond's
popularity as a test market is a 46-
year-old, bespectacled individual named
George Russell Peters.
At first glance, Peters Seems to be the
typical man in an average Richmond
audience—rather on the quiet side, dressed
in a medium-priced business suit (with a
bit of flair from a checked sport vest), carrying
a few too many pounds on his average
frame. But Peters, in the eyes of the industry,
is not an ordinary individual. He is
manager of the 2,113-seat Loew's Theatre, one
of the "ace" houses in the Loew's group of
380 cinemas throughout the world.
VETERAN OF 30
YEARS
With 30 years' experience and a highly
developed knack for judging the failures
the "turkeys"—at first sight, Peters' evaluation
of a film is respected by the moviemakers.
So it was with "The Bar Sinister,"
the story of a dog. When several persons
complained about "romanticising all that
drinking" and a man telephoned to asked
who was in "that western, Bar X or something,"
Peters made his report: The name
needed changing.
Now the film is doing very well under a
new name, "It's a Dog's Life."
Peters' father was a Florida hotel man
who died soon after World War I from war
injuries. Afterwards, Peters and his mother
made their home in Washington. It was soon
apparent that a war widow's pension would
not be enough to support them, so he got a
job after school days at the Palace Theatre.
For $9 a week, he worked a 10-hour day
as an usher. The Palace was no treasure
house for Peters, but the job paid dividends;
he hobnobbed with the stage greats of the
day. Many of them gave him autographed
pictures that he still keeps for sentiment.
If he'd planned to make the theatre a
temporary job, his mind was soon changed.
Peters stayed on after high school, became
head usher, treasurer and eventually assistant
manager. Then, in 1930, Loew's made him
manager of the State Theatre in Norfolk and
he was on his way. To Loew's Capitol in
Washington as house manager in '32, to
various theatres as relief manager in the
middle thirties, to Loew's Colonial in Reading,
Pa., in 1937 and finally, in 1942, to Loew's
here as manager.
Meanwhile, he'd gained experience between
times in handling "hard tickets"
trade term for reserved seat sales—and scaling
a house (pricing its seats) as advance
man for several of the early "spectaculars,"
such as "The Great Ziegfeld" and "The
Good Earth."
With a few more years seasoning in Richmond,
and the added maturity of two years
in the Navy during World War II, Peters was
ready for advancement in the Loew's organization.
Why, then, is he still here after 13
years and planning to live out his working
days in Richmond?
FAMILY TIES IN VIRGINIA
For one thing, his wife—the former
Margaret Stiff— is a Virginian and her
parents in Deltaville have been like his own
folks to Peters since his mother died. Then
there are
television^—"a
naughty word," Peters says) he
enjoys at 3409 Kensington Ave. There is his
son George who has been reared most of
his 17 years in Richmond.
Finally there is the Loew's Theatre, which
Peters roams for long hours as if it were his
very own.
He's been offered promotions, several times,
but he has turned them down. He enjoys
what he's doing here and that—as too many
men fail to realize—is the important thing.
In the afternoon, after he's seen the
matinee on its way, Peters will sit back in
his mezzanine office, perhaps with organist
Eddie Weaver, and complain about "all these
new screen sizes"—the regular old-timers,
19 ' 2 by 22 feet; the widescreen that is 35 by
20; Cinemascope, 45 by 18 in Loew's, and the
forthcoming Todd-AO, which will be goodness
his friends and the home (without
knows what. Every time a new picture opens,
the camera lenses have to be changed, screen
borders adjusted and the sound equipment
changed.
Then he has to "screen" the picture, sit
through it and make notes about such things
as sound ratios. He has to make sure the
sound equipment is adjusted in the evening
to compensate for 30 per cent absorption of
sound in the clothing of a full house of
patrons.
DUTIES ARE VERSATILE
For the entire evening, either Peters or
assistant manager Robert Westermann must
be handy in event of trouble—lost children or
purses, customers who fall asleep and snore
too loud, the crashers and the mashers.
There's always something, he says, and
always different.
At the same time, he says, the current production
of "thoughtful" Hollywood producers
creates ever-greater problems. "They're turning
out so many pictures on controversial
subjects," he says, "and they are hard to
sell."
Of course, that's what a good theatre manager
is supposed to do. To do the job, he
should be a hand-shaker, a showman himself,
a competent critic, a civic-minded businessman,
a handyman, a promoter, a bookkeeper—in
other words, a George Peters.
Gala 'Conqueror' Opening
Staged in Philippines
MANILA — Howard Hughes' "The Conqueror,"
released by RKO, opened at the
Avenue Theatre Tuesday (17) to an audience
composed of government officials, including
Ramon Magsaysay. president of the Philippines,
and society. The opening was sponsored
by the Manila Lions Club and was a
benefit for organizations doing construction
and rehabilitation work.
Openings also have been scheduled for
London, Paris, Rome, Berlin, Bombay. Mexico
City, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Caracas and Washington,
D. C.
Hoover Heads Palsy Group
Nominating Committee
NEW YORK—George C. Hoover, former
exhibitor and chief barker of Variety Clubs
International, has been appointed 1956 chairman
of the United Cerebral Palsy national
nominating committee. He is serving a second
term as southeast regional vice-president of
UCP.
The appointment was made by Louis C.
Whiton, president, of Westport, Conn., who
also is president of Prat-Daniel Corp. of
South Norwalk.
Ralph W. Budd Addresses
Springfield Film Group
SPRINGFIELD, MASS.—Ralph W. Budd,
director of personnel for Warner Bros., was a
speaker at the Springfield Motion Picture
Council in the Sheraton-Kimball Hotel Friday
(20).
Budd also is booked as a speaker at the
Rotary Club of Poughkeepsie February 22
and the Publicity Club of Boston February
29. His title at each gathering is "What Is
a Motion Picture?"
Industry Ideals Questioned
ALBANY—The motion picture
industry is
"hungry for a quick dollar," and attempts by
"the glorification of sex and crime to appeal to
the adolescent, the unwary and the unstable,
thrill-seeking adults." This was the comment
by the Evangelist, weekly Catholic publication
here, in a feature editorial on "Freedom and
Movies." "Mouthing pious platitudes about
democracy, the movie moguls, champions of
barnyard ethics, attempt to cloak their perversions
under the mantle of the United
States Constitution," read the editorial.
Get Achievement Awards
NEW YORK—Paddy Chayefsky, writer;
Paul Muni, actor, and Phil Silvers, comedian,
have been added to the list of recipients of
the 1955 Mark of Achievement awards of the
Federation of Jewish Philanthropies, according
to Oscar Hammerstein II, awards chairman,
and Harry Brandt, luncheon chairman.
The luncheon will be held at the Sheraton-
Astor Tuesday (31). Previously announced as
recipients were Elia Kazan, Kim Novak,
Samuel Rinzler and Louis G. Cowan.
Floyd Stawls Promoted
RICHMOND, VA—Floyd Stawls, former
director of advertising and publicity for
Fabian's Lee, National, Carillon and Colonial
theatres, has been named resident manager
of the local Fabian Theatres, succeeding
A. Frank O'Brien, who has retired.
34 BOXOFFICE :: January 21, 1956

. . Moppet
. . Carol
-
. . King-sized
'ZfoUywaod ^efxvtt
— By IVAN SPEAR
Marilyn Monroe Schedules
Her First Independent
Announced as the first picture which the
curvaceous star will make under the aegis of
her independent Marilyn Monroe Productions,
Inc., is "The Sleeping Prince." an original by
Terence Rattigan, British scenarist-playwright,
according to an announcement by
Milton H. Greene, vice-president of Marilyn's
company. "Prince," which Rattigan will
script, probably will be made in England this
summer or fall.
First, however, the generously endowed
Miss M. will report back to 20th Century
Pox—which studio she ankled many a long
month ago—to do "Bus Stop" as the first in
a group of four features under a newly inked
non-exclusive ticket.
Five Bogey Men Now Cast
For UA's 'Black Sleep'
With Basil Rathbone and Peter Lorre already
cast therein, Bel-Air Productions booked
three other bogey men—Lon Chaney jr.,
John Carradine and Bela Lugosi—for the allhorror
lineup in its newest entry for United
Artists, "The Black Sleep" Channing,
stage comedienne, will make her film
.
debut in RKO Radio's "The First Traveling
Saleslady" . . . Tom Tully, Sylvia Sidney and
Betty Lynn drew the toplines in Universal-International's
prison melodrama, "Behind the
Signed to co-star opposite
High Wall" . . .
Ingrid Bergman in 20th Century-Fox's
"Anastasia" was Yul Brynner, currently emoting
on the lot in "The King and I," with
Deborah Kerr . Richard Eyer will
share the honors with George Montgomery
4,186 on 20th-Fox Lot;
Peak Since Spring '43
Good news department:
Its peak employment since the spring
of 1943 has been reached by 20th
Century-Fox, at which studio—according
to production chieftain Darryl F. Zanuck—a
total of 4,186 persons currently
are at work.
The high mark over a 13-year span is
attributable, according to Zanuck, to 20th-
Fox's big production boom, under which
34 pictures will be released during the
year.
Additionally, many segments of the
video series being manufactured by TCF
Television, the company's TV subsidiary,
are being lensed at the Westwood film
foundry on an overflow basis from TCF's
headquarters at the Fox Western avenue
lot.
Seven Cinemascope features are presently
in work, including "The Man in the
Gray Flannel Suit," "The Sixth of June,"
"The Revolt of Mamie Stover," "The
Proud Ones," "The King and I," "Hilda
Crane" and "23 Paces to Baker Street."
in Allied Artists' new Cinemascope galloper,
"Cattle King" . Jeff York (he's
6 feet 4 inches tall and weighs in at 230
pounds) was booked by Walt Disney to portray
a frontier scout in "Westward Ho, the
Wagons," currently before the CinemaScope-
Technicolor cameras with Fess Parker and
Kathleen Crowley in the leads.
Charles Vidor to
Produce
Film With Frank Sinatra
Still another newcomer entrant to the independent
filmmaking field is Aurora Productions,
Inc., set up by veteran director
Charles Vidor. The unit's first activity will
be a joint venture with Frank Sinatra's Kent
Productions to film "The Joker Is Wild,"
based on Art Cohn's biography of night club
comic Joe E. Lewis, for Paramount release.
Sinatra will star.
Vidor's last megging assignment was "The
Swan," a Grace Kelly-Alec Guinness costarrer,
at MGM, for which studio he also
piloted Doris Day and James Cagney in "Love
Me or Leave Me."
UA to Release Four Films
From Robert Goldstein
Producer Robert Goldstein and United
Artists have completed arrangements whereby
the latter company will release four pictures
to be made this year by Goldstein. The initialer,
"Dance With Me Henry," starring Bud
Abbott and Lou Costello, will go before the
cameras in March.
Also on the Goldstein agenda are "Brass
Legend," a western by George Zuckerman
and Jess Arnold; "Love Story," by Jo
Eisinger, and "Showdown Creek," from a
novel by Lucas Todd, which is being scripted
by Don Martin.
20th-Fox Signs Dick Powell
As a Producer-Director
Currently at Columbia, where he is producing
and megging the musical remake of
"It happened One Night" with his actresswife,
June Allyson, and Jack Lemmon in the
a term
leads, Dick Powell has been inked to
ticket as a producer-director at 20th Century-
Fox.
Powell, when he reports to the Westwood
film foundry, will draw as his first assignment
"Sitka," from a novel by Louis L'Amour.
Sol Lesser to Co-Produce
'X the Unknown' Abroad
A hands-across-the-sea production venture
has been set up by Sol Lesser under which a
science-fiction drama, "X the Unknown,"
will be filmed in England via a co-production
deal with Hammer Films.
With Anthony Hinds producing and Joseph
Walton directing, the feature—for which no
release has as yet been established—will star
Dean Jagger as a scientist endeavoring to
combat an unknown element which threatens
the earth.
Wanger to Make Six
For RKO in
3 Years
Still another established filmmaking
name has been added to RKO Radio's
briskly burgeoning roster of creative
personnel with the
m.
disclosure
Walter
that
Wanger
I Pictures, Inc., has
been inked to produce
six pictures
for that organiza-
. tion during the
I next three years.
Wanger's unit will
L A I move onto the
^y 10V RKO lot February
1.
Wanger's first
Walter Wanger
for the company
has not as yet been selected, and is now
being discussed by him with William
Dozier, vice-president in charge of RKO
production. Wanger, accompanied by his
actress-wife, Joan Bennett, has left for
New York for a two-week stay to catch
the new crop of Broadway plays.
The RKO deal does not jeopardize an
arrangement whereby Wanger, who has
been at Allied Artists for the past several
years, will function as producer on
"Underworld USA," in which he is partnered
with Humphrey Bogart and Lauren
Bacall under the banner of Mapleton
Productions. This one, starring Bogart
and Bacall, will be for AA distribution,
as is Wanger's most recent venture, a
science-fiction thriller called "Invasion
of the Body Snatchers."
"Lady and the Prowler/
TV Play, Goes to RKO
Still another literary work which made its
first appearance on television has been secured
for theatrical filming through the
purchase by RKO Radio of "The Lady and
the Prowler," an original TV drama by F. W.
Durkee jr. To be produced and directed by
John Farrow, the opus is slated to roll in
June. It concerns a wife who plots the death
of her husband and who, escaping the consequences
of one murder, is convicted of
another of which she is innocent ... To
MGM went the film rights to "The Trumpet
Unblown," a new novel by William Hoffman,
dealing with the heroism of army medics
during World War II. It will be produced by
Charles Schnee from a script to be prepared
by Millard Kaufman.
Hecht-Lancaster Signs
Schorr As Producer
In a further expansion of its production
organization, the Hecht-Lancaster unit^-in
which Burt Lancaster and Harold Hecht are
the operating partners—has signed William
Schorr as a producer, his initial two projects
to be "Cry Tough" and "The Tall Dark Man."
Schorr, who co-produced the Paramount
release. "Ulysses," and the Kirk Douglas starrer
for United Artists, "The Indian Fighter," has
trekked to New York to scout locations for
"Cry Tough," a novel by Irving Shulman
about Manhattan's garment center.
BOXOFFICE :
: January 21, 1956

BOXOFFICE
BAROMETER
This chort records the performonce of current attractions in the opening week of their first runs in
the 20 key cities checked. Pictures with fewer than five engagements are not listed. As new runs
arc reported, ratings are added ond averages revised. Computation is in terms of percentage in
relation to normal grosses as determined by the theatre manogcrs. With 100 per cent as "normal,"
the figures show the gross rating above or below that mark.
African I. ion. The tBV)
African Manhunt iRt'pi
95 135 235 200 250 125 300 200 175 80 250 250 191
75 120 50 100 100 89
t

I
Sell the show anywhere, anytime is the
motto of Ray Monroe, manager ot the
Dunes Theatre in Zion, a small Illinois
town only a stone's throw from Chicago.
Despite the big city and purported trends
to the contrary, Monroe never misses an
opportunity for promotion in his community,
as illustrated herewith. Monroe
gathered some abandoned Christmas
trees, brush from nearby fields and arranged
them around a couple of bicycle
racks to create a miniature jungle! To
this he added a stuffed lion and some toy
monkeys.
LARRY
GOODMAN
Editor

GREAT
ALEXANDER' CAMPAIGN
INCLUDES NATION'S
SCHOOLS
Local Level Promotion Also Will Reach
Women Through Fashion Tieups
The millions of school children in the
nation are a primary target of United
Artists' greatest preselling promotion.
which has been launched for "Alexander
the Great." The all-inclusive campaign will
reach the local exhibitor level through
athletic contests, brochures and heralds
stressing the historical background of the
film, essay contests, painting and sculpturing
competitions and other activities.
The campaign, which has been in preparation
for nine months, was started last
month, five months before the world premiere
at Easter, with the national tour,
the first of a series, by Dave Ballard, 7-
foot, 5-inch Texan who rates the title of
the world's largest press agent. Ballard
and three "Grecian goddesses," supplied
by the Powers model agency, left on a tour
of key cities demonstrating authentic costumes
and weapons used in Robert Rossen's
$4,000,000 historical spectacle.
Other tours will be made by Producer
Rossen and star Richard Burton with
Prince Peter of Greece, the latter as historical
consultant. They will visit 119
cities. Other featured players in the film
are expected to receive tour assignments.
FOR SUB RUNS. TOO
The intensive UA campaign is
designed
to carry on in behalf of subsequent run engagements,
not only for the key runs.
Teams of promotional experts have been
retained to supervise the different segments
of the campaign in the field, in cooperation
with the recently expanded UA exploitation
force. These teams will have charge
of the athletic contests, fashion exploitations,
book promotions, radio-TV activity,
etc.
The educational activities include national
javelin and discus throwing contests
and other Greek athletic games, with
"Alexander" trophies going to the winners.
A tieup with the Junior Chamber of Commerce,
now being completed, will draw
maximum newspaper, radio and television
movie
»^ m.^>
\ Our 31 Yean In Theatre Advertising Assures the
/ Exhibitor o(
^
^wali-ty!
THEATRE ADVERTISERS
BOX 795 OMAHA, NEBRASKA
support for the local phases of the competition.
This month, a coast-to-coast tour by
an "Alexander" exhibit truck will get under
way. The huge trailer-truck will make
theatre, school and shopping district appearances
to display its cargo of authentic
weapons, costumes and props used for the
film. Barry Jones, who has a top role in
the production, will accompany the truck
and give talks on the wealth of detail that
went into making the film. He also will
make local television and radio appearances
and give press interviews.
500,000 COPIES OF BOOK
On other fronts, activity will continue
unabated. The Dell Publishing Co. is
printing an initial run of 500,000 copies of
"Alexander the Great," written from the
script of the film. Distribution of the book
will be supported by Dell's field organization
with streamers and window cards
crediting the Rossen production. In another
phase of the book campaign, libraries
in 206 cities are being solicited to set up
special shelves of books about "Alexander"
and his times. A special display card is
being prepared to spotlight the collections.
"Alexander" is being carried to the
feminine trade by an impressive series of
fashion tieups inspired by the Grecian
costumes used in the film. Already arranged
is the Campus Girl lingerie co-op,
which will run a full-page ad in Charm
and Life magazines. More than 6,300 department
stores, specialty shops and lingerie
outlets carrying the Campus line
will help plug the film via newspaper co-op
ads, window streamers, hang tags and insertions
in trade publications.
Wohl Shoes are placing full-page ads in
mass-circulation magazines, with co-star
Claire Bloom featured. Sally Victor is
bringing out a line of three "Alexander the
Great" hats, backed by ads crediting the
picture.
64 AIRLINES ADS
American Airlines is coming aboard the
"Alexander" bandwagon with 64 threequarter
page newspaper ads in key cities
across the country. The ads, which carry a
picture of co-star Fredric March, will be
converted into displays for countercards to
be used at American Airlines ticket offices,
air terminals and travel agencies.
Another participating concern is Shields,
maker of cuff links. Pull-page ads saluting
"Alexander" are being taken by this
manufacturer in the New York Times and
in Life magazine. To spark the promotion
in the field, Shields has prepared a special
salesman's kit containing countercards
and other display materials, plus an exploitation
blueprint detailing supplementary
local support.
Van Heusen also will spotlight the UA
release, placing an "Alexander" motif on
cards accompanying its shirts. Countercards,
window streamers and hang tags will
support the tieup at thousands of department
stores and haberdashery shops.
{j
Baldwin, the piano maker, is scheduling ^-^ I
full-page magazine ads ballyhooing "Alexander"
with strong credits.
Additional co-ops, now in negotiation.
will further insure maximum consumer
penetration, according to UA exploitation
officials, with ads timed to break through
the prerelease period and during national
distribution.
Producer Rossen's own schedule of radio
and television appearances through 34
principal cities includes top-rated network
shows, as well as local programs, and is
aimed at a listening audience of 62,000.000.
He has prepared special TV clips from the
film, including the massive battle scenes
and behind-the-scenes footage pointing up
the problems encountered in handling as
many as 1,000 performers in a single sequence.
Backing the exploitation and co-op activity
is a $300,000 program of magazine
advertising covering Life, Look, Saturday
Evening Post, Collier's,
This Week, Ladies
Home Journal, McCall's, Women's Home
Companion, Cosmopolitan, Redbook, the
Saturday Review, Harper's and nine fan
magazines. Additional ad penetration will
be spotted in a program of 450 displays,
ranging up to full-page insertions, in 75 ^y.
key city newspapers with a total circulay^J
tion of more than 24,000,000. More support
will be garnered via a 24-sheet highway
campaign triggering attention to the
film in 14 states.
Finally, saturation TV-radio spots will
be timed to back local openings.
Weber Theatre in Denver
Exploits Check Cashing
For the convenience of customers, the
Weber Theatre in Denver will shortly open
a payroll check cashing service in its lobby.
Positive identification of the person cashing
the check wall be required, regardless
of the firm back of the payroll check, and
only those who can show a theatre stub
purchased the same evening as the check
is being cashed will be accommodated. The
check cashing booth will be located in the
interior lobby and open only from 7 to 10
p.m. each evening.
'Magic' Water Tap Used
To Attract Attention
To call attention to a lobby display of
books of theatre tickets as a Christmas
gift suggestion. Manager T. Murray Lynch
of the Paramount in Moncton, N. B., used
the old gag of an endless supply of water
running as if by magic from a tap with
no apparent supply connection. A sign at
the display read: "Famous Players Book
Tickets for Christmas. Give the Happy
Receiver an Endless Supply of Top Entertainment."
— 16 — BOXOFFICE Showmandiser " Jan. 21. 1956

O
Popular Library Book ALL-EXPENSE PAID TRIPS TO NEW YORK
Pre-Sells 'I'll Cry'
More than 1,250,000 copies of the Popular
Library edition of "I'll Cry Tomorrow"
have been sold to date, helping to pre-sell
OFFERED IN SHOWMANSHIP CONTEST
Columbia to Judge Exhibitor Campaigns
For 'Wonders of Manhattan' Travelark
o
o
the MGM movie on the life of Lillian
Roth, now in pre-release engagements.
Popularity of the hard cover book and
the advance publicity for the film, likewise,
have aided sales of the 25-cent edition,
published by Pines Publications of
New York. Pines has spent more than
$50,000 in advertising and promotion of
the Popular Library book, now in its fourth
printing of 500,000 copies. Sales are expected
to go way above 3,000,000 copies.
Lillian Roth herself has made more than
30 personal appearances on behalf of her
book and movie on television, on radio,
and in newspaper and magazine offices.
Altar Group Commends
Theatre's '55 Bookings
Offering screen fare that meets the tastes
of serious-minded members of the community
pays off at the Alco Theatre, operated
by Ray V. Rule and William C. Frank, at
Harrisville, Mich. At the end of the year
the owners received a letter from the
local St. Anne's Altar Society, commending
them for the "continued high standard and
wholesome movies" shown during 1955.
"You have obviously avoided many
movies of questionable taste," the societypresident
said. "We assure you of our continued
patronage of movies which we
enjoy."
In a reply, Mr. and Mrs. Rule modestly
noted, "We realize that it is impossible to
please all of the people all of the time;
we
will do our best to continue to merit your
approval."
FLAT OR CURVED
STEEL SCREEN TOWERS
Any mi, any ratio •specially arrginaorad lor your
Driv.-ln. Designed for 10 lb. wind load ply* lately
factor. Quick and oaty (taction.
Aha Extonilont for Eihtlna. Towtri
WRITE FOR QUOTATIONS
drive-in theatre mfg. co. SU^SR-ft?
A nationwide exhibitor showmanship
contest for its CinemaScope-Technicolor
featurette, "Wonders of Manhattan," in
which grand prizes will be all-expense paid
trips to New York City, was announced in
that city Thursday (19) by Columbia Pictures.
Two winners will be selected, one from
either side of the Mississippi River. Each
will receive a four-day visit for himself
and a guest in the city which is the subject
of the musical Travelark. The winners will
be the guests of New York's leading tourist
attractions, outstanding restaurants and
many of the famous spots visited in the
featurette.
THROUGH OCTOBER 15
The contest, which will run through
October 15, will be based on the showmanship
campaigns accorded the special tworeeler
by each exhibitor entrant. Entries
will be limited to one for each theatre; a
manager or theatre publicist who stages
separate campaigns for more than one
movie house, of course, may submit entries
for each theatre. All entries must be in
writing, and all statements and claims must
be substantiated by ad and publicity tearsheets,
photographs of displays, window
tieups, theatre fronts, etc. The full details
and rules of the
showmanship contest are
available in the special pressbook for
"Wonders of Manhattan," which will be
released shortly, and from the Columbia
home office exploitation department in New
York. In addition, a copy of the rules
is printed below.
The judges will include three Columbia
executives: A. Montague, general sales
manager; Rube Jackter, assistant general
sales manager, and Maurice Grad, short
subject sales manager. In addition, a
fourth nonindustry member of the judges
panel will be Royal Ryan, executive director
of the New York Convention and
Visitors Bureau.
AFTER CONTEST ENDS
Columbia does not intend to release any
of the campaigns for publication in the
tradepress until after the conclusion of the
contest, according to a company spokesman.
To aid the exhibitor in setting up his
exploitation campaign, Columbia's special
pressbook for the "most sensational musical
Travelark ever made" will have six
pages and will include ad mats, publicity
stories, special promotion ideas and information
on accessories. In addition, a
one-sheet in color has been prepared, as
well as extra ad mats which can be used
on throwaways, the backs of souvenir postcards,
etc.
Others are in the shape of a giant key,
with the copy within the confines of the
BOXOFFICE Showmandiser :: Jan. 21,1956
— 17 —
key's outline. Two sets of stills, one action,
the other of stars George Jessel and Bill
Hayes, also are available to exhibitors.
These and specially prepared post cards
which can be sold or distributed free to
patrons can be obtained through the Columbia
home office.
Exhibitors who rate well with their local
disk jockeys can make much of the fact
that Bill Hayes provides a singing background
to the featurette. Picture plugs.
Bill Hayes fan club tie-ins and use of
music tieing in with "Wonders of Manhattan"
can be arranged here.
The official rules of the contest, as released
by Columbia Pictures, follow:
1. Entries must represent campaign conducted
by theatre manager and/or publicity
representative of one theatre. Only
one entry will be considered for each theatre
represented; however, individuals representing
more than one theatre may submit
a separate entry for each theatre.
FOR TJ. S. AND POSSESSIONS
2. This contest is open to any theatre
manager or publicity representative of any
theatre within the continental limits of the
U. S. or its possessions.
3. Each entry should be accompanied by
a letter from the candidate stating that
the entry is the work of the candidate and
thus entitles him or her for consideration
for the prizes involved.
4. All entries will automatically become
the property of Columbia Pictures Corp.
and will not be returned. In the event of
a tie, duplicate prizes will be awarded.
5. Columbia reserves the right to reproduce
in any way it may see fit any part of
any entry submitted for this contest. Any
element of any entry that would require
clearance for reproduction should be supported,
when submitted, with that clearance
in writing.
6. All descriptions and supporting material
must be submitted intact in one
package. Secondary material submitted
separately will not be considered.
7. Entries should include: (a) A detailed
description of the campaign. This description
should not exceed five pages in length;
(b) Complete supporting evidence of each
phase or element of the campaign. This
evidence would include: tearsheets of ads
and tieups, etc.; photographs of all exhibits
and ballyhoos, etc.; reproduction of art
work, and copies of throwaways, etc.
8. All entries must be received by the
judging committee no later than midnight.
Monday, Oct. 15, 1956. Address all entries
to: Wonders of Manhattan Showmanship
Contest, Columbia Pictures Corp., 729 7th
Ave., New York 19, N. Y.

Sk
owmctnaiSina dlsu
. By LARRY GOODMAN
According to the old saw, "there's nothing
new under the sun." And, by and large,
we go along with that premise in the realm
of exploitation-promotion. Very often, in
these pages, we publish this old gag or
that old gimmick, which must be working
out right, we figure, because otherwise
you guys wouldn't be writing in about 'em!
Sure, you're adapting them to new films
and new situations, but basically they're the
ideas that have clicked during the past
50 years or so. That's one of the reasons
we keep writing them up, too . . . giving
you just one more reminder to get started
with some stunt right now. You don't have
to rack your brain to come up with some
thing unique . . swipe an idea and put
it to work for you ... but do it TODAY!
*
What brought the above to mind was
a press release from Filmack Trailer
Co. telling about a special six-page
supplement to the February issue of
Fumade's Inspiration, which is full of
money-making ideas. Included are such
promotion suggestions as family 7iights,
cash ?iights, sponsored kiddy shows,
jalopy giveaways, bingo and benefit
shows. Says President Irving Mack:
"None of these ideas are brand new.
They're all tried-and-proven promotions,
successfully exploited by active,
promotion-minded showmen. We're
publislmig them in this Filmack extra
in the hopes that theatremen who are
having a rough time . . . the ones who
say their business is skidding dangerously
near the rocks . . . will give some
of them a try. We still believe that
business never gets so bad that it can't
be increased by smart and well-planned
exploitation."
#
Universal-International really seems to
be intent on exposing more people to the
pre-selling of "The Benny Goodman Story"
than any previous picture in the history
of U-I. That, if you've seen any of the
publicity, is the avowed goal of the company,
as announced by Vice-President
David A. Lipton. We've been receiving at
least one new story every day on special
"The Benny Goodman Story" stationery,
detailing the latest from the campaign
front.
This week, among other developments,
has come word of a search for a "Queen
of Swing" in New York for the Capitol
opening; a "Queen for a Day" promotion in
Chicago for the world premiere there at the
Chicago; a publicity lineup in 22 major
national magazines and Sunday supplements
with a combined circulation of more
than 65,000,000; and the assembly of one
of the biggest exploitation forces in its
Viewpoints
jpi
history for the premiere and key city dates.
To date, 17 field representatives have been
assigned to duty on more than 75 playdates
for the Lincoln's Birthday holiday. Additional
exploiteers will be taken on daily,
the company reports.
*
Arnold Gates, who manages the
Loew's State in Cleveland and contributes
to these pages regularly, often
throws in a tongue-in-cheek comment
along with a description of his latest
successful promotion. One that we
nearly overlooked was sent along with
a photo for "Gentlemen Marry Brunettes"
showing a blonde and redhead
acting as very attractive borders for a
lobby display which read, "Heads
Shrunk Free! Brunettes Only! Because
'Gentlemen Marry Brunettes'
We were about to file the photo away
when loe saw a P.S. in his memo: "Probate
court asked that any applications
for this treatment be referred to them,
immediately." Small wonder we always
look forward to mail from this guy.
*
Warner Bros, proudly sent us some spot
news the other day, concerning Newsweek's
national movie survey. It seems that the
top five directors, according to that publication's
findings, are John Huston, William
Wyler, George Stevens, Fred Zinnemann
and Billy Wilder. Of these, four will
have Warner Bros, films on the screen
this year: Huston's "Moby Dick," Stevens'
"Giant," Zinnemann's "The Old Man and
the Sea," and Wilder's "The Spirit of St.
Louis." In addition, Newsweek chose "The
Spirit of St. Louis," "Moby Dick" and
"Giant" among the films which will make
motion picture history in 1956.
*
More from the magazines: Parade,
the Sunday picture magazine, reports
that motion picture advertising in the
Sunday supplement field showed a
healthy increase during 1955. Total
linage for the first ten months of last
year was 58 per cent greater than that
for the year before. Parade itself has
been devoting 77 per cent more editorial
space to films, and almost half of its
covers to film celebrities— an important
factor in the advertising boost, the
magazine believes.
*
And here's the kind of information that
also comes across our desk: Rhubarb, the
cat who starred in a film as the owner of
the Brooklyn Dodgers, is making a screen
comeback in Paramount's next Martin and
Lewis opus, "Pardners." Don't say we don't
keep you well informed on the latest movie
news.
Kaye Profile in Coronet
The February issue of Coronet comes up
with an article entitled "A Touch of Pagliacci,"
a profile of Danny Kaye. The title
page has a photograph of Kaye in a scene
from Paramount's "The Court Jester."
rOODS Ot8T
MIDWEST
a
Q^ituit\tteMti
rjtnxcc
.
euros
Sir
Seven distributors, the Baloban & Katz, Stanley
Warner and Alliance circuits, Allied Theatres of
Illinois were among the advertisers of a page
on midwest amusements which appeared in the
Chicago American last week (9). Copy pointed
out the importance of the midwest in the motion
picture
industry.
Letter Writing Contest
Held at Miltonvale, Kas.
A dual "grassroots" letter writing contest,
one for adults and one for school
children, is being conducted throughout
January by John M. Bailey, owner of the
Opera House at Miltonvale, Kas. Entrants
are asked to write why they do or do not
like motion pictures, what kind they prefer,
what actors and actresses they like,
how the theatre can improve on entertainment
and if there is any particular
show they would like to see.
First prize for adults is $10, second prize,
$5. For children, first prize is ten free
tickets, second prize, five free tickets. Every
person entering the contest gets one free
admission ticket.
Bailey announced the contest in a herald,
which also listed product for January, the
contest month. Winners will be announced
February 26. Contest closes January 31.
Redheads Admitted Free
"An old gag but still effective" is the way
L. W. Palmer of the Colonial in Port Arthur.
Ont., described his stunt of inviting all
redheads to see "The Man Who Loved Redheads"
as guests of the management. "The
response was pretty good inasmuch as we
had 32 redheads visit us," he commented,
adding. "We didn't lose much on this deal
as each one brought anywhere from one
to three patrons with her."
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— 18 — BOXOFTICE Showmandiser Jan. 21. 1956

RECENT DISPLAYS. LIVE AND OTHERWISE
Manager Bob Ricker, second
from left, of the World in Minneapolis
dispatched a bannerbearing
goat, chaperoned by
youngsters in Alpine costumes,
on street patrol for "Heidi and
Peter." The trio, underscoring
the Swiss setting of the film,
attracted crowds of small fry
and adults. At extreme left is
assistant manager Tom Martin.
Cutouts and standees of the
four stars highlighted displays
arranged by Leonard
Kane, Palace at Wichita.
The adjacent photo illustrates
their use in a record
shop window for "Guys and
Dolls."
f .'
m
O
The enormity of the lobby display used for "The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell" at RKO Keiths
in Syracuse, N. Y., is highlighted by comparison with the relatively pocket-size appearance of
manager Sol Sorkin at the extreme right. The film was the New Year's Eve Show attraction at
the theatre and was given the gala treatment in advertising and publicity in advance.
J. J. Lefave, manager of the Capitol Theatre at
Windsor, Ont., arranged the above lobby display
for the Windsor public libraries in conjunction with
Young Canada's Book week, and considered it good
public relations.
CLARA GABLE JANE RU5SELL
THE TALL MEN
II CINEMASCOPE AND COLOR
ROBERT
I
Full-blooded Hopi Indians were on hand to perform tribal dances at the
New York premiere of "The Indian Fighter" at the Mayfair. Manager
Sam Salwitz is shown greeting the Hopi contingent the day of the
opening.
BOXOFTICE Showmandiser :: Jan. 21, 1956 — 19 —
Taking advantage of the "hitching rail" out in front of his theatre, Manager
Roy H. Kane of the Reeves in Elkin, N. C, set up this display of outdoor
characters for "The Tall Men." The cutouts were made from a 24-
sheet mounted on cardboard, and the middle sign is a six-sheet. These
cutouts were used for one week in advance in the inside lobby, then moved
to the front during the run.

Valentine Is Leap Year's First Romantic Date to Exploit
Ben Tureman of the Russell Theatre, Maysville, Ky., had the entire surrounding area in a dither over his Miss Volentine contest last year. Five
girls from five communities were judged on the theatre stage and the winner was chosen before a packed house.
February, with its many special days, and
this February—Leap Year—in particular,
offers alert showmen an unsurpassed
opportunity for some true old-fashioned
ballyhoo. Many theatremen already are
planning special promotions for St. Valentine's
Day, which comes up February 14,
with an eye to continuing it on through
February 29.
In this special planning exhibitors are
talcing care to book product suitable for
the theme of Valentine's Day and Leap
Year. Much product already in release is
especially suitable— "The Tender Trap,"
"Guys and Dolls," "The Lieutenant Wore
Skirts," "The Girl Rush," "The Second
Greatest Sex," "All That Heaven Allows,"
and many others.
Last year, for instance, on Valentine's
Day, Manager Frank Aiello of the Manos,
Vandergrift, Pa., booked in "Young at
Heart." He then made up a folded throwaway
carrying the copy
1 LOVE YOXT TIME
"So there you are! . . . and here's your
valentine. You'll love it." Inside the
throwaway was copy reading: "This is that
time of year when everyone is saying, T
love you,' and when would be a better time
to see the Sweetheart of all Shows. P.S.
You and your valentine will love it!"
The bottom half of the folder carried
copy about "Young at Heart" placed inside
the design of a flowery valentine heart.
To distribute the folders, Aiello had one
of the greetings tucked away in the wrapping
of each box of valentine candy sold
by the neighborhood candy shop and two
local drug stores.
A similar novelty throwaway idea was
employed by assistant manager Victor
Sims at the Ritz Cinema, Oxford, England,
last year.
He drew a heart with all the trimmings
around it, mounted it on a black card with,
"Will you be my valentine?" in white
rough lettering. The inside of the valentine
carried a line drawing of an ugly little
girl with the sign "I Hate Teacher," much
like our comic valentines. Sims had this
made into a block and used it as a frontispiece
for a valentine card.
Inside, on one page he used this corny
little rhyme: "Roses are red, violets are
blue. If you take me to the pictures, then
I'll love you," on one page. The other page
read: "Take me to the Ritz or Regal in
Oxford to see, etc."
Sims said 1,000 of them were printed and
distributed from the theatres and added.
"We had no trouble at all in people taking
» . UM a« mjVnO* iTMXTl j OSBAIMESTONV
MJ HUJ It
A special merchants co-op od was promoted for
Valentine's Day last year by Mel Jolley of the
Century in Hamilton, Ont. Note the Century
ad for "Young at Heart" located in the center
of the page.
them, so I feel sure that a good many must
have gone through the post in time for St.
Valentine's Day."
Valentine's Day also provides an excellent
time for special kiddy show activities,
as Jim LaFarr of the Seneca, Salamanca,
N. Y., found last year, when on the Saturday
preceding Valentine's Day he conducted
a special Little Miss Valentine contest
on his stage during the matinee.
A DRIVE-IN PROMOTION
One idea, tried last year by five driveins
in the Pittsburgh area, served merely
to keep the drive-ins' names before the
public. In a series of public service ads,
the drive-ins included one which read:
"Valentine's Day ... A good time to remember
a shut-in friend." It was signed
"Your local drive-in theatres—ABC,
Brookside, Dependable, Green Garden and
Kane Road."
10 New Year Resolutions
For Loew's Theatremen
A list of ten suggested New Year's resolutions
were sent to managers of Loew's
Theatres houses by the main office. They
were
To campaign for better editorial support
of the movies.
To be sure that every employe who comes
in contact with the public is courteous at
all
times.
To improve children's attendance.
To reduce expenses wherever possible.
To keep a clean theatre.
To maintain an inviting front always in
good repair.
To try to get good movie plugs in local
TV shows.
To refrain from knocking any movie
yours or opposition.
To be on the floor or in the lobby during
business hours.
with
To develop a personal relationship
your patrons.
— 20 — BOXOFFICE Showmandiser :: Jan. 21, 1956

AND VIEWS THE PRODUCTION CENTER
(Hollywood Office— Suite 219 at 6404 Holly wood Blvd.: Ivan Spear. Western Manager)
Testimonial Slated
For Richard Walsh
HOLLYWOOD—More than 1,000
leaders of
the film and TV industries will participate in
a Tuesday

Blurbers
STUDIO PERSONNEUTIES
Allied Artists
Exploitecr ;ACK LEEWOOD returned from the midweit
otter setting up the advance campaign tor
openings ot "At Gunpoint,' the Fred MacMurray
starrer, in the Kansas-Missouri area.
United Artists
CHARLES A. MOSES has been appointed advertising,
publicity and exploitation director for Bel-
Air Productions, succeeding the late Bernie Hynes,
killed recently m a hit-run automobile accident.
Briefies
Warner Bros.
Due for early release is "They Seek Adventure,"
a two-reeler in WarnerColor, produced by Cedric
Francis and directed by Harold Schuster. Storring
Marshall Thompson, it deals with the professional
challenge focing a doctor in a small town.
Cleffers
Columbia
HUGO FRIEDHOFER will write
score for "The Harder They Foil."
Score
Sun/' is
the
background
United Artists
for the Russ-Field production, "Run
being penned by FRED STEINER.
for the
Meggers
20th Century-Fox
Recently inked to a term ticket as a producer
DAVID WEISBART draws "The Day the Century
Ended," adopted from the World War II novel by
Francis Irby Gwaltney, as his first assignment.
United Artists
Bel-Air Productions, the Aubrey Schenck-Howard W
Koch unit, inked REGINALD LE BORG to direct "The
Black Sleep," o suspense droma starring Basil
Rathbone and Peter Lorre.
Universal-International
VALENTINE DAVIES will write and direct the Aaron
Rosenberg production, "Bojangles," based on the life
of the fomed dancer. Bill Robinson.
Options
Allied Artists
Juvenile actor RICHARD EYER was signed for a
starring role with George Montgomery in Richard
Heermance's CinemaScope production, "Cattle King,"
being megged by Harmon Jones. Joining the featured
cost were ALAN HALE JR., WALTER SANDE and
ROBERT WILKE. Cast odditions include PETER
GRAVES and MARCIA HENDERSON.
Buena Vista
Producer Walt Disney booked JEFF YORK for o
character lead with Fess Porker and Kathleen Crowley
m "Westward Ho—the Wogons," being directed
in CinemaScope and Technicolor by William Beaudinc
Columbia
JAY C. FLIPPEN and DENVER PYLE were signed
for feotured ports in the Rondolph Scott storring
western, "The Return of Custer," being produced
under the Scott-Brown Productions banner by Harry
Joe Brown. The megaphonist is Joseph H. Lewis.
Independent
Producer-director Roger Corman set BEVERLY GAR-
LAND to star with John Ireland in "The Yellow
Rose of Texas."
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
VIVIENNE SEGAL was signed for the cast of the
Joe Pasternak production, "The Opposite Sex,"
starring June Allyson under the megging of David
Miller.
Paramount
Contractee VALERIE ALLEN was given an option
hoist.
20th
Century-Fox
Inked for a top role in producer-director- writer
Charles Martin's "Death of o Scoundrel" was COL-
LEEN GRAY. Also featured in the CinemaScope drama
are George Sanders, Yvonne De Carlo, Zsa Zsa Gabor,
Noncy Gates and George Brent. Cast as an industrialist
was VICTOR JORY.
Contract player KEN CLARK was added to the
cast of Producer Robert L. Jacks' "The Proud Ones."
The galloper, directed by Robert Webb, stars Robert
Ryan, Virginia Mayo and Jeffrey Hunter.
YUL BRYNNER has been signed to star with Ingrid
Bergman in "Anastasia," which will be filmed obroad
as a Buddy Adler production. Anotole Litvak will
direct.
United Artists
Bel-Air Productions, headed by Aubrey Schenck and
Howard W. Koch, signed JOHN DEREK to a fiveyear,
non-exclusive contract, calling for his services
m two pictures a year. The first will be a western,
"Chief Red Sleeves."
Stage actor STERLING FRANCK was booked for
a role in the Bel-Air production, "Rebel in the Town,"
which has Alfred Werker directing a cast including
John Payne and Ruth Roman.
Security Pictures, headed by Sidney Harmon, signed
ANTHONY QUINN and JAY ROBINSON for stellar
parts in "Step Down to Terror," crime melodrama to
be directed by Harry Horner.
LON CHANEY, JOHN CARRADINE and BELA
LUGOSI were cast with Basil Rathbone and Peter
Lorre in "The Black Sleep," o Bel-Air production being
directed by Reginald LeBorg for producers Aubrey
Schenck and Howard W. Koch.
Universal-International
Cast with topliners Tom Tully and Sylvia Sidney
m "Behind the High Wall" was BETTY LYNN. The
prison dromo, o Stanley Rubin production, 15 being
piloted by Abner Biberman. Recently signed to a
term contract, JOHN GILMORE will make his film
debut in the Rubin picture, portraying a prisoner.
Warner Bros.
Character player NELSON LEIGH was cast in the
James Stewort starrer, "The Spirit of St. Louis," The
film biography of aviator Charles Lindbergh, a Leland
Hayward production, is being megged by Billy Wilder.
Scripters
Paramount
NOEL LANGLEY is working on the screenplay of
the upcoming Samuel Briskin production, "Sons of
Katie Elder," which is to star Alan Ladd.
Warner Bros.
FRANK GRUBER is developing his novel, "Buffalo
Grass," as a western in which Alan Ladd will star
under the letter's independent Joguar Productions
banner.
Story Buys
Independent
Curtleigh Productions, which comprises Tony Curtis
and his actress-wife, Janet Leigh acquired "The
Foolish Immortals," a new novel by Paul Gallico,
in which they plan to star.
A CBS-TV "Chmax" teleplay, "Public Pigeon No.
One," was purchased and Red Skelton, who starred in
the video version, was inked to repeat the role in
the comedy, penned by Larry Berns and Don Quinn.
Slated for a spring start, it casts Skelton as a
bumbling waiter who becomes involved with and
outwits a gang of confidence men.
Technically
Allied Artists
Crew recruited for "Cattle King" includes ALLEN
K. WOOD, production manager; ELLSWORTH FRED-
RICKS, cinematographer, AUSTEN JEWELL, DON TOR-
PIN and NED DOBSON, assistant directors and DAVID
MILTON, art director.
20th
Century-Fox
CHARLES LE MAIRE, head of the wardrobe department,
was given a new long-term contract. He
has been with the studio since 1948.
United
Artists
Set as production designer on Robert Aldrich's
"The Fragile Fox" was BILL GLASCOW.
Title
Changes
Republic
"Brief Rapture" to ACAPULCO.
Universal-International
"The Bill Robinson Story" to BOJANGLES.
Mario Lanza Directing
Easter Seals Campaign
HOLLYWOOD—Mario Lanza, who has just
completed "Serenade" for Warners, has been
named honorary motion picture chairman for
the 1956 Easter Seals campaign on behalf of
crippled children, it was reported by Theodore
H. Wegener, president of the National Society
for Crippled Children and Adults.
In spearheading Hollywood's annual efforts
in the drive, Lanza will film this year's
motion picture appeal for theatres and television.
NEW CINEMA EDITORS HEADS—Here are the recently elected officers and
board of directors of American Cinema Editors. Seated, from left, Ellsworth Hoagland,
secretary; Warren Low, president; Jack Ogilvie, vice-president; Daniel A. Nathan,
treasurer. The board, standing from left, Terry Morse, William Hornbeck, Jack
Dunning, Charles A. Nelson. Roland Gross, Aaron Stell. Not shown is another board
member, Fred Berger.
Mervyn LeRoy Dinner Chairman
HOLLYWOOD—Producer-director Mervyn
LeRoy will serve as general chairman of the
February 5 seventh annual Humanitarian
Award dinner sponsored by the Los Angeles
chapter of the American Medical Center.
At the affair, singer Tony Martin will receive
the organization's 1955 tribute for his humanitarian
services.
36 BOXOFFICE :: January 21, 1956

Sam Goldwyn Boosts
Charity Bldg. Fund
HOLLYWOOD—As a gift from its founder
and first president, Samuel Goldwyn, the
Motion Picture Permanent Charities organization
will soon be located in a permanent
new home, it was disclosed by Y. Frank Freeman,
chairman of the MPPC building committee.
Goldwyn, who spearheaded the formation
of the charity group in 1940, has donated
$75,000 for erection of the new headquarters.
Work will start shortly on the structure, to
be located in Hollywood and designed by
Douglas Honnold, who has donated his services
as architect.
Joining Freeman in praising Goldwyn for
his generosity were Willis Goldbeck, MPPC
president, and building committee members
Walter Pidgeon, Steve Broidy, Lawrence
Weingarten and Valentine Davies.
In 1942 the MPPC, representing all industry
segments, conducted its first campaign on behalf
of the TJSO. In the fall of 1945 the
multiplicity of campaigns became so great
that a one-drive-a-year policy was instituted
and has continued ever since.
Don Fedderson Prepares
Three New TV Series
HOLLYWOOD—In line with expansion
plans for his TV activities, Don Fedderson
has signed Gerald Mayer, film-video director,
as associate producer on the CBS series, "The
Millionaire." Walter Goetz remains in charge
of production and Fred Henry retains his
post as executive producer on all of Fedderson's
television presentations.
Fedderson, who recently launched the telequiz
series, "Do You Trust Your Wife?" over
CBS-TV, is preparing three new programs—
dramatic show, a situation comedy tentatively
tagged "The Dreams of Mrs. Angel," and
another comedy series. Mayer, who for
several years was a contract megaphonist at
MGM, will direct occasional segments of "The
Millionaire."
La Jolla Firm to Produce
'Prince and Pauper' Film
HOLLYWOOD—Announced some months
ago for production by Samuel Bischoff and
David Diamond, Mark Twain's "The Prince
and the Pauper" also has been scheduled for
lensing by the newly formed La Jolla Productions,
headed by Jack Haley, Harry Weiss
and Warner Toub jr. The La Jolla entry,
to be made in Cinemascope and Technicolor,
will star a newcomer, Dirk London.
"Pauper" has been filmed twice previously
—once as a silent in 1915, subsequently by
Warners in 1937. The property is in public
domain.
Donald O'Connor to Star
In 'Buster Keaton Story'
HOLLYWOOD—Packaged as an independent
by Robert Smith and Sidney Sheldon,
"The Buster Keaton Story" will be made
as a Paramount release this summer, with
Donald O'Connor inked to enact the famous
dead-pan comedian. Smith and Sheldon will
write and produce and the latter will direct.
Keaton will assist in preparation of the film
and will coach O'Connor in his impersonation.
A June start Is planned in VistaVision and
Technicolor.
fOT unknown in the annals of Hollywood
individuals who have made brashness
and opportunism pay off
IT-;
quite
handsomely.
In fact, so numerous have been
such persons that—real, imaginary or composite—
they have served as the subject of
countless sardonic articles and novels, a la
"What Makes Sammy Run?" They thrived
during the film colony's more opulent, adolescent
days, when the business of production
was not beset by the multitude of problems
currently confronting it, and when
breast-beating often was mistaken for creative
talent.
Now comes one Don McGuire to make a
pass at a sliver of Cinemania's limelight by
declaring—via a tradepress interview—that
producers as a class are strictly for the birds.
McGuire, a one-time actor who later turned
to writing for TV, radio, the screen and stage,
recently moved into still another bracket by
making his bow as megaphonist on Frank
Sinatra's first star-producer effort for
United Artists, "Johnny Concho."
McGuire, who also collaborated on the
screenplay of that opus, used his directorial
experience on the venture as the springboard
for his remarks, in which he referred
to the "average" producer as nothing more
or less than a "roadblock" between the writer
and the front office. It's his contention,
according to the interview, that the "real"
producer of a picture is the unit manager or
production supervisor, while the director
handles all of the casting problems. Most
producers, says McGuire, don't know how to
write—and "to this day," he adds, "I don't
know what a producer is."
Faced with infinitely more serious headaches,
Hollywood took the McGuirean gibes
in stride. A few facetious comments by gossip
columnists were generated; and Bob
Goldstein, a producer, if you please, undertook—
in a letter to ye editor— to refute the
blast, but concentrated on belittling McGuire
rather than countering his contentions.
Indications are, therefore, that McGuire's
status as a Hollywood Moses will depend upon
how effective proves the job he will deliver
as writer-pilot of "Concho," rather than on
his blatantly aired views on "roadblocks."
Ironically enough, the McGuire propoundments
were closely followed by an announcement
that Samuel Goldwyn, a producer and
a good one, whose current "Guys and Dolls" is
climaxing a long list of outstanding, moneysnatching
hits, had contributed the sum of
S75.000 to the Motion Picture Relief Fund so
that that organization can go ahead with
long-nurtured plans to build a permanent
headquarters.
Goldwyn, who in 1940 founded the MPRF
and served as its first president, has actively
aided in every one of its fund-raising campaigns
and, according to Y. Frank Freeman,
chairman of the MPRF building committee,
"has been the most generous donor of any
person in the industry." His contributions
thereto, prior to the dispensation of his
latest donation, have exceeded $350,000. Echoing
Freeman's sentiments was Walter Pidgeon,
1956 campaign chairman, who pointed
out that Goldwyn had pledged 330,000 to that
drive and that the charity organization has
raised more than $18,000,000 since 1942.
Apparently the community can still find
use for "roadblocks," especially those of Goldwyn's
picture-making talents and public
spirit; and, fortunately, there are many of
them—McGuire to the contrary.
According to Harrison Carroll, Hearstian
pillarist, Virginia Mayo and hubby Michael
O'Shea are planning to move to Santa Fe,
N. M., "to get away from the smog"—commuting
here only for picture work.
Which publicity should endear Virginia
and Mike to the Los Angeles Chamber of
Commerce.
RKO Radio, which is just releasing producer-director
David Butler's "Glory," a
Margaret O'Brien starrer about horseracing,
has revealed plans to remake "Morning Glory,"
first filmed in 1932 as a Katharine Hepburn
vehicle, and for which Jean Simmons has
been inked.
Next: "Night Glory"?
From Bill Hendricks, chief of the Freres
Warner's Burbankian blurbery. intelligence
that Percival Vivian, one-time British Shakespearean
actor, has been cast in "The Spirit of
St. Louis" in a role wherein "his entire dialog
consists of unintelligible double-talk."
Et tu, Percival.
Entry for the names-is-names department
comes in a handout from John Flinn, informing
that one George Washington was honored
at an Allied Artists studio luncheon
upon his retirement after heading the mail
department for a quarter of a century.
Alas, poor Johnny. Now he'll have to add
to his many other duties the chore of chopping
down any cherry trees that might spring
up on the AA lot.
Rogers & Cowan, silk-stocking freelance
flackery, reveals the drafting of an exploitation
stunt on behalf of "Moby Dick." filmed
by John Huston for Moulin Productions and
Warner release, whereby Huston purportedly
will bring the Pequod. the square-rigger used
in making the picture, across the Atlantic for
a cruise in connection with eastern seaboard
openings of the maritime adventure drama
next spring.
The same general effect might have been
accomplished—and for far less cost—by towing
Ted Loeff. an R. & C. associate, around
those ports.
>•
BOXOFFICE :: January 21, 1956 37

12 Films Nominated
For Awards by SDG
HOLLYWOOD—Two additional nominations
have been made for the annual achievement
awards of the Screen Directors Guild,
bringing to 12 the number of films chosen to
compete for honors Winners will be announced
Sunda\ sDG's yearly dinner.
Chosen to augment the ballot were "Picnic,"
directed for Columbia by Joshua Logan, with
Carter DeHaven as assistant director, and
"The Rose Tattoo," megged by Daniel Mann
for Hal Walhs Productions and Paramount,
with Richard McWhorter as assistant.
Previously nominated were the following
pictures, directors and assistants:
Bad Day at Black Rock (MGM), John
Sturges, Joel Freeman; East of Eden ,
Elia Kazan. Don Page and Horace Hough;
The Bridges at Toko-Ri (Para*. Mark Robson.
Francisco Day: The Long Gray Line 1C0I1,
John Ford. Wingate Smith and Jack Corrick:
Blackboard Jungle (MGMi, Richard
Brooks. Joel Freeman: A Man Called Peter
i20th-Fox>, Henry Koster, David Silver; Love
Me or Leave Me (MGMI, Charles Vidor,
Ridgeway Callow; Seven Year Itch (20th-
Fox). Billy Wilder, Joseph Rickards: Mister
Roberts iWBi, John Ford and Mervyn LeRoy
i co-directors ), Wingate Smith; Marty (Hecht-
Lancaster, UA), Delbert Mann, Paul Helmick.
Walter Blake Leaves CBS
HOLLYWOOD—Walter Blake has resigned
as CBS-TV film coordinator to join the Associates
& Aldrich as an associate producer
on "The Fragile Fox," to be produced and
directed for United Artists release by Robert
Aldrich. Blake also will work with Aldrich on
developing the company's telefilm plans.
Portrait Work for Ads
HOLLYWOOD—For use in its national
campaign on "World Without End," sciencefiction
drama in Cinemascope, Allied Artists
has commissioned Alberto Vargas to create
full-size, futuristic portraits of Nancy Gates,
Shawn Smith and Lisa Montell, featured in
the Richard Heermance production.
West: Daniel T. O'Shea, president of RKO,
and Walter Branson, vice-president in charge
of distribution, arrived from Manhattan for
conferences with William Dozier, production
chief, and Charles L. Glett, studio head.
* * •
West: Edwin H. Knopf, MGM producer,
returned from a business junket to New York.
* *
West: Back at Paramount after an eastern
business trip was Loren L. Ryder, head of
engineering and recording.
* * *
East: Frederick Brisson, who will produce
the film version of "The Pajama Game" for
Warner release, left for New York to confer
on the casting thereof with George Abbott,
director and co-author.
* * •
West: Darryl F. Zanuck. 20th-Fox vicepresident
in charge of production, checked in
after a ten-day visit in Gotham.
* * *
West: W. J. German, president of the company
bearing his name, trained in for a week
of conferences with local representatives of
the raw-stock supply firm.
* * •
East: Earl I. Sponable, technical director
for 20th-Fox's Movietonews, returned to his
Gotham headquarters after checking here
on 55mm Cinemascope developments.
* * *
East: Having completed "The Friendly Persuasion"
for Allied Artists, producer-director
William Wyler left for New York to view the
new plays. He was accompanied by Mrs.
Wyler. Upon his return, Wyler will check in
at Paramount to begin preparations on an
upcoming Audrey Hepburn starrer.
* * *
East: Producer-director Alfred Hitchcock
planed to New York to prepare for the beginning
of location shooting there next month
on "The Wrong Man," a Henry Fonda starrer,
which Warners will release.
Changes in Format
In Warner TV Shows
HOLLYWOOD—Beginning in February,
"Warner Bros. Presents," the Burbank studio's
TV venture, will undergo format changes to
incorporate "a selective group of topflight
dramatic stories," it was revealed by Jack L.
Warner, under whose personal supervision the
programs are being produced.
As a result of the modifications, several of
the "Kings Row" and "Casablanca" episodes,
which alternate with "Cheyenne" every third
week on the ABC-TV network, will be
shelved, while "Cheyenne' will go on an
alternate-week schedule beginning February
7.
William T. Orr, executive producer of the
video program, said three extra episodes are
being added to the "Cheyenne" series, starring
Clint Walker, produced by Roy Huggins
and megged by Richard Bare. The "Behind
the Cameras" segment of each show will be
retained, with Gig Young continuing as
master of ceremonies.
Meantime Jack M. Warner placed in preparation
a new telefilm adventure series, "Port
of Call," with John Ireland inked to enact
the stellar role as captain of a cargo-passenger
vessel. A schedule of 39 subjects is
planned. The series will not, however, be
incorporated in the "Warner Bros. Presents"
program, but will be filmed and merchandised
separately.
* * •
Castings at Screen Gems, Columbia's TV
subsidiary, include Dale Robertson to star in
"The Face" for the Ford Theatre series and
Howard Duff and Phyllis Kirk as the headliners
in "Home Is the Soldier," an entry in
the Falstaff Celebrity Playhouse program.
* * *
Inked for the lead in Screen Gems' "Tomorrow
We May Part" was Laraine Day. The
entry in the Falstaff Celebrity Playhouse
series, rolling Saturday (28), will be produced
by Lou Breslow.
V. C. Shattuck Dies; Was
Showman Over 25 Years
TRUCKEE, CALIF.—Vern Carroll Shattuck,
52, died at his home here following a
heart attack. Operator of a chain of theatres
through the Sierra Nevada region for more
than 25 years, Shattuck at the time of his
death was owner and operator of the Tahoe
Theatre at King's Beach, Lake Tahoe. He
was interested also in theatres in Downieville.
Sierra County and Truckee.
Funeral services were held in Truckee
under the auspices of the Truckee Masonic
Lodge.
SEE 'ANYTHING'—Among the northern California theatremen who attended
P.ir.imn nut's special invitational preview of "Anything Goes" at the Paramount Theatre
in San Francisco, were left to right: Fred Williams, Consolidated Amusement
Co.; Bill Greenbaum, buying and booking agent; George Archibald of Arch Booking
and Buying Service, and Earl Long of United Paramount Theatres.
Admission Price: Food
For Victims of Floods
SAN RAFAEL. CALIF.—On behalf of
families made destitute by recent northern-
California floods, Abe Blumenfeld of Blumenfeld
Theatres presented benefit Saturday
morning shows at the Rafael Theatre here
and at the Sequoia Theatre in Mill Valley.
Canned goods and other nonperishable food
was the price of admission. It was turned
over to the Salvation Army for distribution.
Manager Al Goodwin of the Rafael reported
a good response to the plan.
38 BOXOFFICE :: January 21. 1956

-
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%e^
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utilize the latest in scientific advances for
the benefit of the exhibitor.
NEW non-condensing water-cooled aperture easily
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It increases screen illumination and reduces film
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NEW light shields designed to accommodate latest
high-intensity arc lamps.
NEW lens mount with adapters for all standard
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NEW enlarged observation door affording clear
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NEW main drive shaft eliminates pinion and stud
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Make no mistake, see CENTURY before you buy.
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BOXOFTICE :: January 21. 1956
39

. . . Morris
ninplete
. . Bob
. . Larry
LOS
ANGELES
rjiimmfmoratins his 30th anniversary m
show business, Eddie Zabel. general manager
of the Fox West Coast circuit, was on
the receiving end of a bouquet of roses from
his staff at Its weekly planning session. Zabel
got his start as a theatre usher In San Diego
and worked hi- way up through the ranks
Sudmin. 20th-Fox manager, took
his sales stall up to San Francisco to participate
in a western district huddle conducted
by Herman Wobber. division chief,
and his assistant Reville Kniffin. The twoday
se Ion was staged at the Fairmont
Hotel in the Bay city to set merchandising
and promotion plans on the company's early
1956 releases.
\ , inside-and-out redecorating job
has been finished on the Santa Anita Theatre
in Arcadia, managed by C. J. Hubley.
Further improvements are contemplated, including
new carpeting, drapes and screen
curtains . . . Temple Israel of Hollywood has
unanimously re-elected Sherrill C. Corwin,
who heads the Metropolitan circuit, as president
for the upcoming year.
Here on his annual pilgrimage to escape
the rigors of a midwestern winter is Morrie
Snead. who operates a showcase in Council
Bluffs, Iowa . Helm of the Normandie
and Imperial theatres was handing out cigars
to celebrate the birth of daughter Cynthia
Ann . . . Joe Blumenfeld of the Blumenfeld
circuit up San Francisco way was a Filmrow
visitor.
. .
Hospitalized for a checkup was Harold
Green, Columbia manager . Mr. and Mrs.
Charles Caballero and their son Harold, of
the Pacific Drive-In chain, returned from a
vacation junket to Honolulu. Also going
along on the trip were Harold's two daughters,
Candy and Cathy . Dopps, an assistant
shipper at Paramount, has upped to
a berth in the accounting department . . .
Announcement was made of the engagement
of Don Torodor of the Panorama Theatre in
Panorama City and Judy Franklin. They plan
to be married early in May.
Harry C. Arthur jr., head of the Fanchon
& Marco circuit and board chairman of the
Southern California Theatre Owners Ass'n,
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. . San
. . The
SAN FRANCISCO
•The Coronet Theatre on Geary boulevard, a
San Francisco Theatres circuit house, is
expected to be selected to show the first
Todd-AO film, "Oklahoma!" George Skouras
was in town along with other Hollywood
executives to look over the house. The
Coronet will close around February 1 for two
weeks for the installation of the $100,000
screen. The Rodgers-Hammerstein musical is
expected to run one year. Meanwhile, the
Coliseum on neighboring Clement street, dark
the past two years, will open to show films
normally booked into the Coronet.
. .
George Poultney of Actors Equity Ass'n
has been elected president of the Theatrical
Federation of San Francisco . Sheree North
was here to aid in the promotion of "The
Lieutenant Wore Skirts" at the Fox Theatre
. . . Reports are that Bob Lippert, Lippert
Theatres, will construct four showhouses this
year, bringing his circuit to 33 in Oregon and
California.
Alan Markgraf has been named manager of
the New Fillmore Theatre here . Arlon,
which specializes in Spanish-language films,
has closed for the winter, according to Manager
Don Smith . Francisco's new
mayor, George J. Christopher, was honored
at a luncheon sponsored by the Downtown
Ass'n last week. Among those attending was
L. S. Hamm, California Theatres Ass'n . . .
Betty Merritt, cashier at Paramount exchange,
was hospitalized for a few days . . .
Producer Perlberg was in town to catch the
preview of "The Proud and Profane" at the
Paramount in Oakland.
. . .
"Rock 'n Roll" stage show, scheduled for a
week starting Friday (20) at the Paramount
here, features Al Hibber, LaVern Baker and
Gloria Mann. At increased admission prices,
the stage attraction will be accompanied by
"The Twinkle in God's Eye" on the screen.
District Manager Earl Long flew to Los
Angeles for a day to catch the jazz show
Ray Farley, operator of Walter Bell's
Bel-Air Drive-In at flood-devastated Eureka,
drove in and reported that it took him twice
the normal time to drive to Frisco . . . Dave
Peterson and Jim Barry of Western Theatrical
Equipment Co. returned from a business
jaunt . . . Western Theatrical Equipment
Co. held demonstrations of a new electronic
admission control system at its offices on
January 19, 20.
.
Bill Watson, RKO home office, was in town
for a few days . . . Herb Mclntyre, RKO
western district manager, conferred with Joe
Emerson, local manager .
Joy Theatre, King City,
. Ike
was
Hables,
on the
Reel
Row
Golden State circuit is
despite the rain . . .
remodeling the Palo Alto Drive-In, damaged
by floods.
. . . The
John Bowles will take over the booking
and buying for the Panero circuit here. The
circuit headquarters are in Delano
Daly City Theatre, United California circuit
house closed for many years, will be razed.
Manager Al Levin of the Coronet theatre
was vacationing . . . Arthur Unger, the popcorn
man, returned from his Los Angeles
office . . . Ernest Landry, new owner of
Reed Theatre at Reed, was along the Row.
Also in town was Alan Finley. Boyes Theatre,
Boyes Spring . . . Don Fleck, assistant
shipper at Republic, has a baby daughter.
Holdovers Dominate Los
Angeles;
Rock and Roll Show Grosses 250
LOS ANGELES — Newcomer attractions
generally found the going a bit tough along
the local first run rialto, where top-drawer
holdover attractions still continued to dominate,
as exemplified by the 350 per cent rating
chalked up by "I'll Cry Tomorrow" in its
fourth canto and the continued remarkable
strength of three roadshow attractions, "Guys
and Dolls," "Cinerama Holiday" and "Oklahoma!"
Among the new bills, the strongest showing
was made at the Downtown Paramount,
which attracted jive fans with a Rock and
Roll stage show, accompanied on the screen
by a western, "I Killed Wild Bill Hickok."
The management was frank to state that the
stage fare, not the celluloid, was the lure
which resulted in a 250 per cent week.
(Average Is 100)
Chinese The Lieutenant Wore Skirts (20th-Fox). .180
Downtown Paramount Rock 'n' Roll stage show;
Killed Wild Bill Hickok (Wheeler) 250
I
Egyptian, United Artists Oklahoma! (Magna),
9th wk 250
Fine Arts The Littlest Outlaw (Buena Vista),
4th wk 150
Four Star I'll Cry Tomorrow (MGM), 4th wk 350
Fox Beverly The Man With the Golden Arm
(UA), 3rd wk 160
Fox Wilshire All That Heoven Allows (U-l), 4th
wk 1 00
Hawaii, State Diane (MGM) 90
Hillstreet, Warners Wiltern, Fox The Second
Greatest Sex (U-l); Two Gun Lady (AFRC) 90
Hollywood Paramount Guys and Dolls (MGM),
8th wk 225
Orpheum, Uptown, Pantages At Gunpoint (AA);
Toughest Man Alive ( AA) 1 00
Fox Hollywood Day the World Ended (ARC); The
Phantom From 10,000 Leagues (ARC), 2nd wk.. .110
Warners Beverly The Rose Tattoo (Para), 5th
wk 125
Warners Downtown The Square Jungle (U-l);
Sudden Danger (AA), 2nd wk 75
Warners Hollywood Cinerama Holiday (Cinerama),
9th wk 275
.
"Dolls' Continues to Hold
Lead at Seattle
SEATTLE — "Guys and Dolls" continued as
top grosser as it completed its third week at
the Blue Mouse with a strong 280 per cent.
A new offering, "All That Heaven Allows,"
pulled 150 per cent at the Music Hall, while
"Three Bad Sisters" at the Coliseum and "The
Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell," in its second
week at the Orpheum, followed with 140 per
cent.
Blue Mouse Guys and Dolls (MGM), 3rd wk. .
__^
. .280
Coliseum Three Bad Sisters (UA) 140
Fifth Avenue The Lieutenant Wore Skirts (20th-
Fox) 130
Music Box— The Sheep Has Five Legs (UMPO), 2nd
wk 100
Music Hall All That Heaven Allows (U-l) 150
Orpheum The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell
. .
(WB), 2nd wk 140
80
Paramount Artists and Models (Para), 4th wk.
.
'Dolls' Continues Leader
At Portland With 425
PORTLAND — "Guys and Dolls," continued
as the top picture in the 1,800-seat Broadway
with an estimate of 425 per cent in its third
week.
Broadway Guys and Dolls iMGM), 3rd wk 425
Fox The Lieutenant Wore Skirts (Fox) 190
Orpheum The Court-Mortiol of Billy Mitchell
(WB), 3rd wk 115
Liberty The Second Greotest Sex (U-l) 125
Paramount Square Jungle (U-l) 120
Guild The Sheep Has Five Legs (UMPO) 180
"Heaven Allows' Opening
Scores 180 at Denver
DENVER—"All That Heaven Allows" at
the Paramount copped the top money and
held over. "Guys and Dolls" in its fourth
week at the Orpheum remained strong and
entered a fifth week. "The Lieutenant Wore
Skirts" held at the Centre after an above
average opening week.
Aladdin The Littlest Outlaw ;BV), 4th wk 95
Centre The Lieutenant Wore Skirts (20th-Fox) . . 1 10
Denham Artists and Models (Para), 4th wk 100
Denver The Last Frontier (Col); Footsteps in the
Fo 3 (Col) HO
Esquire Folly to Be Wise (Fine Arts) 100
Orpheum Guys and Dolls (MGM), 4th wk 175
Paramount All That Heaven Allows (U-l) 180
"Last Frontier,' at 120,
Is Leader in Frisco
SAN FRANCISCO—The top honors for the
week went to "The Last Frontier" at the
Paramount with 120 per cent. All other first
runs were in their second and third w'eeks.
Fox The Roins of Ranchipur (20th-Fox), 3rd wk.110
Golden Gate All That Heaven Allows (U-l);
The Naked Dawn (U-l), 2nd wk 100
Loew's Warfield Kismet (MGM), 3rd wk . . . 70
_.
Paramount The Last Frontier (Col); Hell's
Horizon (Col) 1 20
St. Francis The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell
(WB), 3rd wk 100
United Artists The Indian Fighter ;UA); Killer's
Kiss (UA), 3rd wk 100
SEATTLE
"The inaugural ball of the Variety Club was
held Friday (20) following dinner at the
New Washington Hotel. International representatives
Al Grubstick and Rotus Harvey,
San Francisco, presided over the installation
of the following officers: Bud Saffle, chief
barker; Ed Cruea, first assistant; Art Greenfield,
second assistant; Fred Danz, property
master, and C. B. Gustafson, dough guy.
Canvasmen are Frank Christy, O. Tom
Franklin, B. C. Johnson, Paul McElhinney,
and Harry Plunkett. The Yukon room on the
mezzanine of the New Washington was
opened as a permanent club room.
. . .
. . Barney-
The Melody Theatre, Shelton, was sold to
George W. Eckman by J. C. Christianson.
Buck Smith of Smith Enterprises will continue
to do their buying and booking . . .
Mr. and Mrs. Jack Burk of 20th-Fox returned
the 14th from a Hawaiian vacation
Helen Reynolds of Saffles Theatre Service
also returned from the Islands
Rose, district manager for
.
Universal, was in
a few days from San Francisco.
Jack Burk, Mike Powers, Glen Haviland
and Jim Brooks, 20th-Fox, returned from a
San Francisco meeting . . Paramount
.
screened its new Bing Crosby picture, "Anything
Goes," at the Fifth Avenue Theatre.
The musical was well received by a full house
. . . National Theatre Supply completed installation
of a new Walker screen at the
Cordova Theatre, Pullman, operated by Vance
Weskil.
Zollie Volchok and Jack Engerman of
Northwest Releasing Corp. returned from
Yakima where they have set up a campaign
on "Wire Tapper" and "Mobs, Inc..'' opening
at the Yakima Theatre on the 25th and the
following week at the Rialto. Tacoma . . .
Dick Edge, former manager of the Burien
Theatre for Bob Anderson, has gone to Roseburg,
Ore., as city manager for the Roseburg
Theatre Co. . . . Jim Griffith of the
Selah Theatre, was on the Row . . . E. A.
Darby of the Darby was over from Natchez.
BOXOFFICE :: January 21, 1956 41

. . Edward
. . {Catherine
Southland Showmen See 'Anything Goes'
I,
Southland exhibitors were numerous
among the audience of press and industry
representatives at the recent invitational
press preview of Paramount^ "Anything
Goes," tunefilm starring Bing Crosby,
Donald O'Connor. Mitzi Gaynor and Jeanmaire,
at the Stanley Warner Wiltern
Theatre in Los Angeles. In lower photo,
from left: Gus Metzger, of the Metzger-
Srere circuit, who is observing his 50th
year as a showman; Y. Frank Freeman,
Paramount studio head; Edwin F. Zabel,
general manager of the Fox West Coast
chain, and H. N'eal East, Paramount's
western division manager. In upper photo:
Ben II. Wallerstein, zone manager for
Stanley Warner; Mr. and Mrs. Earl Collins
(he is president of Republic's TV subsidiary,
Hollywood Television Service) ; Mrs.
\. K. Taylor, wife of the Paramount Los Angeles manager; Roy and Marco Wolff of the
Fanchon & Marco circuit; Mrs. Marco Wolff; Lou Goulding, general manager of Fabian
Theatres, New York, and A.
R. Taylor.
Leonard Glarum Named C A I T I A if f
RAWLINS. WYO—Leonard Glarum of
Alliance, Neb., has been named assistant manager
of the Fox Theatre here. He will work
under Warren Maus, who has been manager
of the local theatre for the last six months.
Before coming to Rawlins. Glarum was employed
parttime by Fox Intermountain in
Alliance.
Closed for Renovations
DENVER—L. J. Albertini, district manager
of Wolfberg's Compass Drive-In, has closed
the Valley Drive-In during January for repairs
and renovations and to allow staff members
to take vacations.
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pirst big sneak preview of the year found
several Filmrow executives and their
wives among the crowd. Although it was
raining, the Capitol Theatre was filled for
a screening of "Anything Goes." Among those
mingling with the crowd in the lobby was
K. O. Lloyd. 20th-Fox manager, who has
just returned to work after a lengthy stay
in the hospital, caused by penicillin poisoning.
He was there with his wife Mildred.
Jewell Hendry was out again with the theatre
crowd, one of the first times she's been
with them since Ray's death.
Charles Walker, who definitely has whipped
the illness that laid him low for many
months, came to the "Anything Goes" screening
just behind O. J. Hazen. who says he
"just has a few fingers in a few theatre
ventures now." Also there were dapper Clyde
Blasius and Harold Chesler. Frank Smith.
host for the evening, chatted with John
Krier in the lobby, while Gene Jones and
Bert Turgeon came in just ahead of the
Iaconas.
Spotted Giff Davison coming up Main street
with division boss Al Kolitz. They'd just been
dickering for "The Conqueror," which was
made in southern Utah . Skates,
longtime secretary at Fox, died after a long
illness . . . Ralph Trathen, independent operator
and buyer and booker, died.
Juvenile activities plagued at least one
downtown theatre as the basketball season
cpened at the high schools. Prep school
Mudents drove downtown after the games to
raise a general racket and try to crash the
Utah Theatre. Manager Lou Sorensen called
out the police to help him, but later in the
night lost a "balcony closed" sign to unidentified
hoodlums . J. Conahan, who
had managed the Opera House, Fox Intermountain
theatre at Sun Valley, Ida., since
its opening in 1936, died in Los Angeles, according
to word received by Jack McGee,
Fox district manager.
Intermountain Theatres recently gave up
its lease on the Roxy at Logan, which it had
operated for more than a decade . . . Price
increases have gone into effect at Salt Lake
City downtown theatres the last two weeks.
Matinee prices have been increased from 65
to 75 cents, with the exception of Saturdays,
Sundays and holidays. Admissions on
matinees are now 85 cents on weekends.
Evening prices are $1, with the exception of
roadshow runs.
Bill Prass of UA was in town to set up
exploitation on three pictures and take care
of local appearances of three stars and
Mike Vogel set up contests for
starlets . . .
"The Second Greatest Sex" during his recent
Willard Coglan was in for Warners.
visit . . .
Helen Griffin was installed as new president
of the Women of Variety Tent 38 of Salt
Lake. Others include Mrs. Charles Walker,
vice-president; Mrs. Sam McFadden, secretary;
Mrs. Claude Hawke, treasurer; Mrs.
Doris Seib, charities chairman; Mrs. Don
Tibbs, membership chairman; Mrs. Jack
McGee, publicity, and Mrs. Chris Politz,
entertainment.
George Zischank, manager of the Utah
Drive-In Corp., has been on vacation . . .
Unusual and unseasonal weather for the last
six weeks has allowed at least one drive-in
to operate periodically. The Park-Vu, which
had an unprecedented New Year's Eve showing,
has been opening weekends since, because
the weather has been so beautiful.
John Krier, vice-president and general
manager of Intermountain Theatres, was
seriously hurt when he was struck by a car
shortly after leaving the showing of "Anything
Goes" at the Capitol. Mrs. Krier had
left the theatre to get the car when the police
ambulance drove alongside her and asked her
where she wanted them to take her husband.
He was in the hospital with a dislocated
shoulder and other injuries.
Second Demonstration
Of 55mm in LA on 23
LOS ANGELES—Exhibitors and the press
have been invited to another demonstration
Monday (23 ) of 20th-Fox's new 55mm Cinemascope
process. Clips from "Carousel" and
"The King and I." both lensed in the kingsize
system, will be screened at three showings
during the day at the Village Theatre in
Westwood. It is the second 55mm demonstration,
a similar screening having been held
approximately six weeks ago here and in
New York.
42 BOXOFFICE :
: January
21, 1956

. . Walter
. .
. . . Chicago's
Louisiana, Mo., Confab
0nMarchl3byMIT0
ST. LOUTS—An "Operations Cash for You"
clinic, designed to give exhibitors profitmaking
ideas, will highlight a regional
gathering of the Missouri-Illinois Theatre
Owners to be held at the Wall Hotel in
Louisiana, Mo.. March 13.
The gathering is designed primarily for
members of MITO but, of course, all other
motion picture theatre owners and managers,
film exchange and theatre equipment representatives
are invited to attend.
Details of the gathering will be worked out
at a meeting of the officers and directors
here February 14. How: ever, exhibitors are
assured there will not be any long-winded
speeches. Those in attendance will be encouraged
to discuss ideas that they have personally
found to be worth while from a
"results gotten" basis. Clear, concise details
on a down-to-earth level is all that is necessary.
MAKING ARRANGEMENTS
L. J. Williams, Union, Mo., president of
MITO, and Russell Armentrout of Louisiana,
Mo., a director, who is making the local arrangements,
said the chief objective of the
March 13 gathering, is: "We want every exhibitor
who attends to return home that day
convinced that his trip to Louisiana was fully
worthwhile and that he should profit from
having been there."
Williams has named standing committees
of MITO. They are:
Membership: Pete Medley, Sikeston; Pete
Gloriod, Poplar Bluff; Eddie Clark, Metropolis;
Sid Sayetta, Kirkwood; Nick Karakas
and Phil Nanos, St. Louis; Ken Hirth, Pac.fic;
Bill Waring jr., Cobden, and Clyde
Metcalf, Edwardsville.
Legislative—State Senator Edward V. Long,
Clarksville; Tom Edwards sr., Eldon; Edward
Arthur and Bess Schulter, St. Louis;
Harold Farmer, Pinckneyville, and Loren
Cluster, Salem.
Grievance—Lou Ansell, St. Louis; Charles
Beninati, Carlyle, and Russell Armentrout,
Louisiana.
Regional meetings — Russell Armentrout,
Louisiana; Jimmie James, St. Louis, and
Bernard Temborius,
Lebanon.
TOA representatives — L. J. Williams,
Union; Paul Krueger and Tommy James, both
of St. Louis, on TOA board of directors; Tom
Bloomer, Belleville, on its executive committee,
and Lester R. Kropp, St. Louis, a
TOA vice-president.
CONVENTION COMMITTEE
1956 MITO annual convention—Paul Krueger,
St. Louis, general chairman; Tom Edwards
sr., Eldon; Tom Bloomer, Belleville,
and Lester R. Kropp, advisory chairmen, and
A. B. Magarian, East St. Louis, 111., trade
show chairman.
Finances—Charley Goldman, Howard Zulauf
and John Meinardi, St. Louis; Joe Goldfarb,
Alton, and Frank Plumlee, Farmington.
Publicity and public relations—Frank Henson,
William Kaimann, Speros Karides, D.
Davis and John Dugan, St. Louis; John
Carothers, Carbondale; Tom Edwards jr.,
Farmington; Herschel Eichhorn, Mounds;
Robert Johnson, Fairfield; Forrest Pirtle,
Jersey ville; William Collins. De Soto; Guy
Haskins, Maiden; Harry Miller, Festus, and
Vincent "Red" Rost, New Madrid.
1 I »*-*
St. Louis exhibitors and the Paramount branch manager there are shown looking
over the program following the special invitational preview of "Anything Goes,"
starring Bing Crosby and Donald O'Connor, at the Fox Theatre in St. Louis Friday
(13). Left to right: Louis and Joseph Ansell of the Ansell Bros, circuit; John Meinardi,
Fox Midwest district manager, and Harry Haas, Paramount manager.
CHICAGO
Tack Botaro has been appointed head booker
and office manager at Allied Artists offices
here. At 22, Botaro is known as the
youngest booker on Filmrow. He started in
Republic's 16mm division in 1952. Later
he joined Allied as a 35mm booker. Recently
Botaro negotiated what was considered an
interesting reissue sale, 50 simultaneous
bookings of "Massacre River." The February
17 reissue of "Gangster" and "Panhandle"
also promises satisfactory results.
. . . Joan
N. S. Barger completed an agreement with
Alliance Amusement Co. to operate the Parkway.
Located on the city's far south side,
the Parkway is just a block from the State,
which Barger remodeled some months ago.
The Parkway has been closed while Ace
Seating Co. installed 800 new seats, and construction
of a new front and lobby should
be completed soon . E. Branson of
RKO stopped off between trains before going
on to the west coast . . . Also making a short
visit here were Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Schenck,
who were en route to Hollywood
Blondell talked mostly about the role she
is going to play in "The Opposite Sex" during
her day with friends here.
.
. . .
At the first meeting called by Arthur
Schoenstadt, chairman for the amusement
and recreation division of the Red Cross
drive, a goal of $10,000 was announced
No change in operation policy is expected
at the Palace, which is part of the Eitel real
estate holding purchased by Arthur M.
Wirtz. The Palace is being leased by Stanley
Warner for "Cinerama Holiday"
Wheeler and Lorraine Howaniec were
Herb
home
ill from the Stanley Warner office.
James Cagney, accompanied by his wife,
stopped off here before continuing his trip to
New York . . . Norman Pyle, MGM publicist,
will escort Les Price on a round of appearances
in behalf of "The Last Hunt." Price,
who was technical adviser for the film, was
once an FBI agent and is now superintendent
of Custer State Park, Rapid City, S. D.
The 1955 theatre tax report shows that
$1,197,394 was collected during the year, as
against $1,203,244 collected in 1954. In December
1955, which proved a rather bad
month for theatres here, taxes totaled $100,-
372 compared to $107,109 collected in the
Kermit Russell has
same period in 1954 . . .
announced his resignation from Allied Theatres
of Illinois. He will spend all his time
Emil Montemuro
on private theatre interests . . .
of Movietone News was invited to
shoot film on the opening of the new Statler-
Hilton Hotel in Dallas.
. . .
. . .
Dave Williams was welcomed back at the
Roseland Theatre following an absence of
several weeks because of a heart attack
Post cards mailed by David Barrett from
Rome indicate that he soon will return to
the U. S. and manage the Carnegie Theatre
in Chicago On Filmrow were Sidney
Schatz of the Park in North Chicago and
Russell Lamb of the Oregon Theatre, Oregon.
Charles Demos, manager of the Jeffrey, was
to be married to Eileen Greenan Saturday
(21). They were to honeymoon in Florida
first "show train." bringing
visitors to the Loop for theatre attendance,
was scheduled for Sunday . Indiana
patrons from Elkhart, Mishawaka, South
Bend and LaPorte will arrive on a special
New York Central train for a visit to Mc-
Vickers Theatre to see "Oklahoma!"
The Cinema is charging students 60 cents
for admission, whereas the regular admission
is 85 cents. Steady patrons in the student
groups are students attending Northwestern
University on McKinlock campus, about three
blocks from the Cinema. The reissue of
"All About Eve" went over with such a bang
here last week that management extendeJ
the run.
Zenith Radio Corp. announced it is beginning
the 1956 manufacturing season with
inventories at a low level and a new redesigned
line of TV sets scheduled for marketing.
Leonard C. Truesdell, vice-president in
charge of sales, said Zenith's TV plants are
"swept clean of last season's merchandise."
Inventories at distributor and retailer level
also are small, he said.
Walter Wanger, who attended the Cafe
Bonaparte opening with his wife Joan Bennett,
revealed he just signed with RKO. Hifirst
film will be "Underworld, U. S. A."
starring Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall.
BOXOFFICE :: January 21, 1956 43

. . . The
. . Tommy
. .
ST.
LOUIS
T^rs George Skouras of New York City has
been a recent visitor in the interest of
her favorite charity, the Boys Towns of Italy.
Details of local participation are to be announced
soon. Mrs. Skouras and her husband
are no strangers to St. Louis .
Clarence M. Turley, co-owner ot the Ambassador
and Missouri theatre and office
buildings, was installed as the 1956 president
of the National Ass'n of Real Estate Boards
m Washington, D. C. Thursday il9> Mrs.
Turley, Mr. and Mrs Clarence M. Turley jr.,
and Mr. and Mrs. Herbert E. Hetzler were
among the St. Louisians on hand for the
ceremonies.
Francis Starr, assistant manager of the Roxy,
Springfield. 111., has taken over the manager's
lor the Bond Theatre, Greenville, 111.,
also a unit of the Frisina Amusement Co.
He succeeds Pic Pedrucci, who has been
transferred to be city manager in St. Charles
Mo., where Frisina operates the Strand and
Roxy . James, owner of the New
Comet, Douglass, West End and Strand in
St. Louis, has a very fine public relations tool
in the "Good Conduct Passes" which he distributes
through the principals of schools in
the areas served by his theatres. At the
end of each week, boys and girls are selected
on the basis of their conduct as school
pupils to be honored with theatre passes.
The schools make the selections.
Elton Holland, manager of the Orpheum,
Fulton, Ky., recently was transferred to
Portageville by Malco Theatres, which operates
the Maxon and Shannon in Portageville
Collins, De Soto, Mo., owned by W. A.
Collins, and the De Soto Elks Club gave a free
show for some 1,000 boys and girls on December
24. It was the 20th year for entertaining
De Soto children with free Christmas
shows. The De Soto Elks Club has been
donating free candy and oranges for about
35 years. A Roy Rogers western and eight
cartoons were shown.
Hall Walsh, southern prairie district manager
for Warner Bros., continues to progress
in his recovery from a recent heart attack.
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NEW FOX MANAGER—Ray Schmertz,
right in top photo, newly appointed 20th-
Fox manager at Indianapolis, is shown
with his father Izzy Schmertz, the
company's veteran Cleveland manager,
attending a division sales meeting in Indianapolis
Friday (13). In lower photo,
left to right: Thomas O. McCleaster, Fox
central division manager; Robert L. Conn,
former Indianapolis manager promoted to
manager at Chicago; Schmertz, and
Glenn Norris, eastern sales manager,
photographed at the division meeting.
. . John
He is a patient at De Paul Hospital .
Kirby. western division sales manager for
Warner Bros., was here, then returned to
Exhibitors seen along
New York City . . .
Filmrow included Mrs. Frieda Paul, Carlinville,
111.; Jack Keiler and Bernie Palmer,
Columbia Amusement Co., Paducah, Ky.;
Robert Strauss, Benton, 111.; Ben Beckett,
Valley Park, Mo., and John Carothers, Carbondale,
111. . . . Mary Jane Webb, secretary
to Clarence Ritzier, MGM office manager,
was home several days suffering from a severe
cold and virus infection.
( 16 > .
Fred MacMurray and his wife June Haver
met the press, radio and television folk at a
cocktail party in the Tiarra Lounge of the
Park Plaza Hotel Monday They were
here for personal appearances at the Fox
and the opening of "At Gunpoint" January
17, kicking off some 125 spot engagements
in the St. Louis trade area. Maurice
Schweitzer is the local manager for Allied
Artists.
Izzy Wienshienk, Publix Great States district
manager, and his wife reportedly will
leave Alton soon for a three-week vacation
in the Bahamas . . . Arthur Greenblatt, Allied
Artists sales executive and captain of
the company's March of Progress, has St.
Louis as one of his "ports of call" on a tour of
AA branches.
Police Clip 'Borgia'
And Gross Hits 500
KANSAS CITY—Police action against "Lucrezia
Borgia" at the Glen Theatre shot the
gross of the art house up to a fabulous 500 per
in spite of the fact 90 feet had been
clipped from the film for use as evidence.
Manager James Strode was released on bond,
charged with operating an obscene show.
lAvcrogc Is 100)
G;en— Lucrezio Borgia (Jewel Prod.) 500
Kimo— The Deep Blue Sea (20th-Fox), 4th wk...l00
Midland Quentin Durward (MGM) Billy the
Kid (MGM1, reissue 100
Missouri— Eost of Eden (WB); Battle Cry (WB),
repeat engagement, 4 days 110
Paramount The Trouble With Harry (Para) ...105
Roxy Guys and Dolls (MGM), 4th wk I 50
Tower, Uptown, Fairway and Granada The Second
Grcotcst Sex (U-l), Long John Silver (DCA).... I 15
Vogue The Dom Busters !WB) 90
Fourth Week ol 'Dolls' Hits
200 in Indianapolis
INDIANAPOLIS—First run theatres here,
continuing the momentum gained over the
holidays, enjoyed heads-up business this
week. The only exception was "Ransom,"
which did not quite catch fire at Loew's, apparently
due to the fact that its story was
done twice previously on television. "Guys
and Dolls" stayed big in its fourth week at
Keith's and "I Am a Camera" rounded out
a third good week at the art film house, the
Esquire.
Circle dory (RKO); Sudden Danger (AA) 130
Esquire I Am a Camera (DCA), 3rd wk 100
Indiana The Second Greatest Sex (U-l) 100
Keiths Guys and Dolls (MGM), 4th wk 200
Loew's Ransom (MGM), The Crooked Web (Col). . 90
U-I Thrill Bill Clicks
For 215 in Chicago
CHICAGO—Nine newcomers in the Loop
theatres received a hearty welcome. "Tarantula,"
which opened with "Running Wild"
at the Grand, and "At Gunpoint," paired with
"Toughest Man Alive" at the Roosevelt, were
credited with giving these theatres grosses
topping any others in many months.
Cornegie I Am a Camera (DCA); Hunters of
the Deep (DCA), 2nd wk 200
Chicago Guys and Dolls (MGM), 9th wk 225
Esquire Triol (MGM), 2nd wk 190
Eitel's Palace Cinerama Holiday (Cineroma),
31st wk 350
Grand Running Wild (U-l); Tarontula (U-l).... 215
Loop The Littlest Outlaw (BV), 4th wk 235
McVickers Oklahoma! (Magna), 3rd wk 275
Monroe The Deep Blue Sea (20th-Fox), 2nd wk. 215
Oriental All That Heaven Allows (U-l) 200
Roosevelt At Gunpoint (AA); Toughest Mon
Alive (AA) 225
State Lake: The Court-Martiol of Billy Mitchell
(WB) 235
Surf The Sheep Has Five Legs (UMPO), 9th wk..l80
United Artists I'll Cry Tomorrow (MGM), 4th wk. 240
Woods The Mon With the Golden Arm (UA),
3rd wk 245
World Playhouse The Return of Don Camillo
(SR) 215
Ziegfeld Diabolique (UMPO), 4th wk 225
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44 BOXOFFICE :: January 21, 1956

Oti&AiheS ~&&n a£t/
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projector mechanism is
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Better than ever before (and that's going
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again demonstrates CENTURY'S intent to
utilize the latest in scientific advances for
the benefit of the exhibitor.
NEW non-conde/ising water-cooled aperture easily
changeable for all of the new screen dimensions.
It increases screen illumination and reduces film
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NEW light shields designed to accommodate latest
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NEW lens mount with adapters for all standard
lenses, large and small. The mount incorporates an
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NEW enlarged observation door affording clear
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NEW main drive shaft eliminates pinion and stud
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Be sure fo see CENTURY'S new heavy duty film magazine.
Much more convenient to use, for ihey are equipped wifh
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SOLD BY
An-Lee Inc.
2831-33 North Clark St.
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McCarty Theatre Supply Co.
3330 Olive St.
St. Louis 3, Missouri
Shreve Theatre Supply Co.
217 West 18th St.
Kansas City 8, Mo.
Movie Supply Company
1318 South Wabash Avenue
Chicago 5, Illinois
SSSssiSSJsSiSSSS
BOXOFFICE :: January 21. 1956
45

e
. .
. . . Larry
. . Regal
. . Don
. .
. .
. . . Nate
KANSAS CITY
T es I>urland is now booking for MGM. Most
recently he was associated with Consolidated
Agencies, but
had booked previously
for Republic and for
RKO and at one time
manager for Film
Classics. Durland replaces
Charles Stump.
resigned, at MGM .
. . Ralph
Howard Strum has returned
from a trip to
Oklahoma City, Wichita
and other points
for Midwest Popcorn
Co. The firm will disl.es
Durland tribute Triple AAA
root beer and syrups in this area .
Adams, Fox Midwest film buyer, has been
called to serve on the jury.
Jm 1f044* Sfuuc* Since 1899
STEBBINS THEATRE Equipment Cc
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0,34 KANSAS CITY «, MO n "
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COMPLETE LINE OF CONCESSIONS
EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES
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114 West 18th St. Kansas City, Mo.
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• CURTAINS • TRACKS • RIGGING • STAGE
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MISSOURI
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Midwest Popcorn Co.
C J SHEPARD and H. I. STRUM
116 West 18th St.
Kansas City, Mo. BA. 1-7353
°
.lor Redmond, Pox Midwest advertising and
publicity director, will represent the industry
in the U. S. Treasury's savings bond drive
starting February 1. He is asking the theatres
lo run tile special nailer made with Marlon
do to encourage payroll savings. Kansas
iii rady ranks fourth among other cities
In the percentage of payroll savings bonds .
J. W. Shreve of the Shreve Theatre Supply
was home ill the first part of the week .
Chick Evens, 20th-Fox publicist, went on to
New York from the recent Milwaukee meeting,
stopping off in Plattsburg to see his
mother.
.
Arthur Greenblatt, assistant to the eastern
division sales manager for Allied Artists and
who is captain of the March of Progress
Drive, will be here the latter part of January.
He is visiting all exchanges in the division
Brueninger. city manager for Pox
Midwest houses in Topeka, went to Florida
for a vacation Poppers Supply reports
the sale of a Jet-Spray dispensing
machine to Herman Ullmer for his Tivoli
roller-skating rink, formerly the Tivoli Theatie
Jack Winningham. salesman for National
. . . Screen Service, became the father of
a baby boy January 16. No name had been
decided upon at this writing.
Chet Borg, manager at Warner Bros., wain
St. Louis last week conferring with John
Kirby. division sales manager . Phillips
reopened the Lyric, his B-house in Colby.
Kas., on a weekend basis . . . Joe Redmond.
Fox Midwest advertising and publicity director,
will hunt for a needle in a haystack
any time in preference to scattered car keys
in the snow. It seems the chain which held
them broke when he got out of the car Tuesday
morning and he was scrambling around
in the cold snow trying to find them so he
could get home that night.
The original Lone Ranger, Clayton Moore,
w.ll be in Kansas City for a personal appearance
at the Missouri Theatre on the opening
day, Wednesday (1), of his picture which
Warner Bros, made in Cinemascope and with
WarnerColor. He will make three stage appearances,
at 3, 6 and 9 . . . Mrs. Vern Skorey
has returned from Calgary where she was
called by the death of her mother and reports
that area is having its coldest weather
in 75 years. It has averaged 35 below for a
period of six weeks. Skorey, salesman for
20th-Fox, who lived in Calgary many years,
thinks the winter here may make up for last
summer.
. . .
. . .
John A. Alexander, district manager for
Republic Pictures, conferred with Bob
Withers, Republic franchise-holder. Alexander
went on to Omaha and Des Moines . . .
Foster Blake. Universal division manager,
conferred Monday with Lester Zucker, district
manager, and Morry Relder, manager
Joe Stark of the Stark Enterprises at Wichita
was in . . . Nat Hechtman of the Capitol Flag
& Banner Co. says their order barometer
shows "Guys and Dolls" leading the parade.
with "The Lone Ranger" much bigger than
expected United Artists is having a
United Artists Week July 1-7, in which every
theatre is asked to book one UA picture that
week.
The Stebbins Theatre Equipment Co. sold
R. O. Robison Bausch & Lomb anamorphic
and backup lenses for his Grant City Theatre
at Grant City. Mo Petty thievery re-
Milted in $6 being taken from the Kimo Theatre.
Police believe the robbers hid in the
building after the show and took the money
from a vending machine and some cigarets
before breaking out. They attempted to open
the office safe but failed . . . Mr. and Mrs.
Martin Stone will have a booth at the Allied
States drive-in convention in Cleveland
February 21-23, displaying their Drive-In
Theatre Recording Service.
Ed Durwood, head of the Durwood Theatre
circuit, left Monday H6i for a Caribbean
cruise. He flew to Galveston and boarded the
SS Flandre for the 16-day trip . . . Tommy
Thomp-on, Buena Vista representative for
both the St. Louis and Kansas City exchanges,
is commuting between the two offices.
Marvin Goldfarb, division manager,
was in from Denver . . . Woodie Latimer of
L&L Popcorn and Poppers Supply is home
from the hospital and convalescing at home
Gould, previously with PRC and
Eagle Lion offices here, was in from California
and visited on the Row. He is a
brother of Arnold Gould of Jefferson City
and of Herman Gould of Omaha.
. . .
R. P. Brous and Senn Lawler, president and
division manager of Fox Midwest, left on a
routine trip to the National Theatres headquarters
in Los Angeles Lou Patz, division
manager for National Screen Service,
shot off fireworks in his office a few days
ago when he w-as trying to light his pipe and
the whole match folder lighted, burning his
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46 BOXOFFICE :: January 21, 1956

. . Cindy
hand. With bandaged fingers, how can he
help with the office facelifting job for which
walls are being washed? . Countz,
NSS booking clerk, was in San Diego on a
two-month leave of absence.
Kansas Exhibitors who recently visited
Filmrow included: Don Burnett, Lamed;
O. C. Alexander, Kiowa; Mr. and Mrs. Ernie
Block, Sabetha, Kas.; Mr. and Mrs. William
Bancroft; Mr. and Mrs. Jim Snyder, and
Mrs. Eunice Snyder, Oakley; F. L. Norton,
Caldwell, Kas. Missouri exhibitors included:
Mrs. C. W. Wilhelmi, Norborne; F. F. Chenoweth,
Bethany and Earl Kerr, Bethany and
Pines, Colo.; Dewey Kiser, Gallatin; Woodrow
Rife, Knobnoster; Howard Larsen, Webb
City; Mrs. John Brandt, Plattsburg; Mr.
and Mrs. Grover Brooks, Mt. Vernon.
Tom Dowd Is Appointed
To Handle 'Diabolique'
CHICAGO—Tom Dowd, manager of the
Ziegfeld Theatre, has been appointed by
UMPO to handle "Diabolique" in the midwest
exchange area. Dowd has already set
up an initial opening at the World in downtown
Minneapolis. Negotiations are now
under way for an early opening at the Downer
in Milwaukee. Figures at the close of
the fourth week at the Ziegfeld show that
the picture has outgrossed any other film
shown at the house during a comparable
period.
With grosses approximating $7,900 during
the fourth week, the picture will continue at
the Ziegfeld for at least ten more weeks.
While a $7,300 gross during opening week,
which was at Christmastime, did not outshine
business done by "Come Back, Little
Sheba" and "Captain's Paradise," "Diabolique
is outgrossing both these products according
to second, third and fourth week
figures. Holdouts were still common as it
went into a fifth week. Patrons waiting in
the lines are made happy with coffee, served
with compliments of the Ziegfeld.
Playhouse at Chicago
Lists Choice Features
CHICAGO—A choice lineup of international
films has been announced for the
World Playhouse by Abe Teitel, who during
the past 22 years has made this one of the
nation's leading art theatres. Currently the
theatre is presenting "The Return of Don
Camillo," and business promises to excell
that done by the film's predecessor, "The
Little World of Don Camillo." The next
attraction scheduled for the World is the first
midwest showing of the all-color widescreen
Japanese film, "Samurai." "The Prisoner"
will open in February. Also on the World
Playhouse agenda this year are "Madame
Butterfly" and "Carousel."
Discuss Foreign Films
ST. LOUIS—"Foreign Films Compared to
Hollywood" was the subject for discussion at
a meeting of the Better Films Council Friday
(20>. William H. Curran. midwest regional
representative for the Foreign Policy
Ass'n, was moderator. He and Jack L. Theiss,
assistant to the publisher of the St. Louis
Daily Record, a business and court publication,
showed a foreign film and led a discussion
afterward. Four international students
also were on the panel.
AT 20TH-FOX MEETING— St. Louis and Kansas City exchange personnel attended
a division meeting at Milwaukee last weekend. Standing, left to right: Vern Skorey
and Howard Kinser, salesmen. Kansas City; Joe Feld, Art McManus, Dick Stahl and
Manager Gordon Halloran, St. Louis; seated: Eric Green, John Long, Kansas City;
Florence Patke, Cliff Mantle, St. Louis; Jack Cohan. Ray McKitrick, Kansas City. Joe
Neger, Kansas City manager, was not available when this was taken.
Ransack Granada Theatre
To Obtain About $100
KANSAS CITY—Thieves, who probably
hid themselves in the building when the
Granada Theatre closed the night of January
3, obtained about $100 after prying open soft
drink and cigaret vending machines and
looting the cash box. The safe containing
the receipts for the day was in the boxoffice
in the front of the building and was not
damaged. The robbers evidently left by the
rear fire exit.
J. R. Bey, janitor, discovered the robbery.
Chuck Barnes, manager, was notified around
5:30 a. m. and found the intruders had
littered the lobby with wrappers from candy
and ice cream bars and papers were strewn
over the floor of his office on the mezzanine
floor. A pay telephone had been ripped from
the wall and the concession stand had been
ransacked.
George Barrett on Job
KANSAS CITY—George B. Barrett, business
representative for the projectionists
Local 170 who suffered face and scalp lacerations
and a back injury in an airplane accident
at the Independence airport December
24, is back on the job at local headquarters.
He will have to continue wearing a cast for
several months.
Fire Damage of $20,000
At Rivoli in Danville
DANVILLE, ILL. — Fire of undetermined
origin caused an estimated S20.000 damage recently
to offices and the projection booth of
the Rivoli Theatre here. The theatre was
closed pending the repair of damages.
The blaze started on a stairway between
the first floor and the second floor offices
and booth. Loss includes damage to the
projectors and an electric motor on an airconditioning
unit and there was some water
damage to the lobby and smoke damage to
the auditorium. The building is owned by
William Smith and the contents by Smith
and Frank Stewart of Champaign, former
manager of the theatre. The house now
is managed and operated by Marshall Pinckard.
No one was in the building at the time.
J. R. Weinbrenner Dies
ST. LOUIS—J. Ray Weinbrenner, 71.
counsel for the old St. Louis Film Board of
Trade from 1920 to 1926, died January 10 at
Bethesda General Hospital. He had been
ill for only about two weeks with a kidney
disease, complicated by a heart condition.
Masonic funeral services were conducted at
the Hoppe Chapel, followed by burial in
Memorial Park Cemetery.
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BOXOFFICE :: January 21, 1956 46-A

Kansas Cily Orpheum
Purchased by Hotel
KANSAS CITY— Fox Midwest Tin
ba .old the Orpheum Theatre, 1212 Baltimore,
which it acquired m 1948, to the Trianon
Hotel Co.. which operates the Hotel
Muehlebach adjacent to the theatre. Richard
P. Brous, president of Fox Midwest, said the
Circuit has taken a lease on the theatre for
at least a v
According to Barney Allis, president of
the hotel company, the purchase is considered
an investment but future plana may call for
using the space to expand dining facilities,
catering and exhibit space. There is no
present plan for razing the building winch
was constructed by the Radio-Keith-Orpheum
circuit. The first vaudeville show
there was on Dec. 26, 1914. For many years
the late Martin Lehman operated the house
and later his son Lawrence H. managed it.
Lehman retired Dec. 1. 1953, having moved
over to the management of the RKO-Missouri
(former Mainstreet Orpheum > in 1949.
Under Fox Midwest management the Orpheum
has been used for special feature motion
pictures and for stage plays and musical
attractions. The 2,000-seater was extensively
refurbished by Fox. The 20th-Fox demonstration
of CinemaScope 55 will be held February
9 in the Orpheum, showing "Carousel
clips.
Cultural Films on Rise,
FCA Head Reports
CHICAGO—The Film Council of
America,
with headquarters in suburban Evanston,
reports that the organization is getting more
than 2.000 inquiries a month from seekers of
information about 16mm educational and
documentary films. Most of those who write
in are looking for a particular kind of film,
according to Dr. Paul A. Wagner, president
of the organization.
Educational films, or cultural films, as Dr.
Wagner prefers to call them, are becoming
a big business, he said. The council has as
affiliate members 48 national organizations
with a combined membership of over 28 million
individuals. For these organizations it
serves as an information clearing house in
promoting the use of movies and other audiovisual
materials on the adult educational
level. It is a nonprofit organization.
Robert Kehe Is Speaker
EVERGREEN PARK, ILL.—Robert
Kehe.
manager of the Coral Theatre, was guest
speaker at a recent meeting of the Morgan
Park Junior Women's Club. His subject was
"You Make the Movies," dealing with how
films are chosen to be shown at a theatre.
He also touched briefly on the behavior of
children at the theatres and the general
conduct of juveniles today.
Bob Jackson Promoted
FORT WAYNE—Robert Jackson has been
named manager of the Embassy Theatre here,
with Don Hammer taking over as manager
of the Jefferson. Jackson has been employed
by the Alliance Theatre Corp. for ten years
and has been in charge of the Jefferson for
three years. Hammer, former manager of
the Starlight Drive-In, has managed theatres
in Knox and Connersville for Alliance.
INDIANAPOLIS
•The 20th-Fox managers from Cincinnati,
Detroit, Cleveland and Pittsburgh attended
a central division meeting at the
Marott Hotel here Friday (13). Thomas O.
McCleaster, division manager, and Glenn
Morris, eastern sales manager, headed the
Fox will show its CinemaScope
roster . . .
55mm demonstration film to the trade in
the Indiana Theatre at 9:45 a. m. Tuesday
(24). Other demonstrations are set for the
Paramount, Fort Wayne, at 9:45 a. m. February
14 and the Rialto, Louisville, at 9:45
a. m. February 18.
The January Allied Theatre Owners of Indiana
board meeting elected nine directors
at large for 1956. They include Forrest
Songer, Kenneth Law, Harold Hargis, Bruce
Kixmiller, E. L. Ornstein, Keith Coleman,
Dr. Marvin Sandorf, Joe Cantor and Al Taylor.
It also elected Ralph Fisher to a board
vacancy made by the retirement of Al Borkenstein
of Fort Wayne.
The Varety Club gave a cocktail party
. . . Bob
. .
Wednesday to introduce Ray Schmertz, new
20th-Fox manager. It will have a going away
party Friday for his predecessor, Bob Conn,
promoted to the Chicago branch
Arvin has succeeded Del Buckley as office
manager at Columbia . Dean Brown, manager
of the Lyric, booked a "thrill-o-rama,"
featuring five horror films, for this week's
George Marks, who introduced midweek
bill . . .
dime nights at the Grove in
Beech
Grove recently, is playing his own hillbilly
jamboree from a Muncie TV station for two
performances along with the regular double
bill Sunday.
Arthur J. Hansen, 60 years old, who built
the Greenwood Drive-In and operated it
until his health failed, died here January 13.
A native of Racine, Wis., Hansen lived here
35 years. His wife Mable and two daughters
survive . . Estal Voss has installed Cinemascope
.
in the Milan Theatre at Milan . .
.
. . .
J. B. Sconce has reopened the Pixie, local
neighborhood house Manager Donald
Baier of the Ridge Road Drive-in at Griffifth
reported that thieves took nearly $740
worth of radio and recording equipment from
the projection booth while he was out of
town . . . The former Janola Wilson of the
Fox cashier's department is now Mrs. William
McClara.
Charles F. Nelson Dies
EAST ST. LOUIS—Funeral services were
held in the First Presbyterian Church of
Granite City, 111., January 13 for Charles
Francis "Bat" Nelson, 72, former soldier
and prizefighter, and stage manager for the
Majestic Theatre in East St. Louis for 27
years. Nelson was burned to death in a fire
at Memphis, Tenn., that destroyed the home
of a daughter, Mrs. Muriel Fossieck, with
whom he was visiting. Nelson, a native of
Denmark, retired as stage manager for the
Majestic in December.
Oak Grove Reopened
"OAK GROVE, MO.—H. R. Scofield, who
also owns the feed and grain store here, has
reopened the theatre formerly named the
Colony. He is renaming it the Glow. It has
been closed almost all of the past year.
Join the
MARCH OF DIMES
Jtuuuuy3to 3/
4S-B BOXOFFICE :: January 21, 1956

Harland Clark Antitrust
Suit for $150,000 Filed
MILFORD, ILL. — Harland Clark, owner
and operator of the Milford Theatre here,
has filed an antitrust suit in federal district
court seeking total damages of $150,000 from
the major film companies and the McCollum
Enterprises. Named m the action are Columbia,
Allied Artists, RKO, Universal,
United Artists, Warner Bros., Paramount,
Loew's, Republic, 20th-Fox and A. B. Mc-
Collum, doing business as McCollum Enterprises.
The suit claims that McCollum Enterprise.}
operates a circuit of theatres, including twj
located at Watseka, 111., and two others at
Hoopeston, 111., which are competitive to
Clark's Milford, and that these theatres had
prior run of films to the Milford house. In
addition to damages, Clark seeks an injunction
against earlier runs at the Mc-
Collum houses.
C. P. Rogers Will Retire;
Geo. Hyde to Take Over
CONCORDIA, KAS — C. P. Rogers, manager
of Fox Midwest's Grand Theatre at Concordia,
Kas., will join the retirement ranks
February 1. Rogers became affiliated with
the old Midland Theatre Co. in the middle
'30s before it became a part of Fox Midwest.
George Hyde will take over the Grand,
coming from the position of house manager
at the Strand in Salina. Bill Rector will
replace Hyde at Salina. Speed Martin is
Salina city manager for the Fox Midwest,
of which the Strand is one.
The Watson Theatre in Salina will celebrate
its 25th anniversary next month.
St. Louis Office Local
Re-Elects Jim Gately
ST. LOUIS—Jimmy Gately has been reelected
business agent for Local F-l of film
exchange front office workers. Others
named:
President, Marcella DeVinney, Republic;
vice-president, Bill Thomas, 20th-Fox; recording
secretary, Anne Kerr. 20th-Fox;
financial secretary, Mable Schmidt, MGM;
corresponding secretary, Pauline Wrozier,
Paramount; treasurer, Margaret Duggan, on
leave of absence; guide, Hazel Heidedbran,
Republic; executive board, Ruth Shurnass.
Richard Klages, Helen Guion and Margaret
Harrel. and trustees, Bea Rapp, Dorothy
Dressel and Eugene Dolan.
To Open Heart Campaign
CHICAGO—Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz
will have little spare time during their twoday
visit here, January 29, 30. They will go
ahead with original plans to plug "Forever
Darling," but the highlight of their trip will
be to open the heart fund campaign. In a
half hour WBBM-TV show emceed by Howard
Miller, the two stars will start the campaign
rolling by dropping a $5 bill into the
contribution hopper for every one of Miss
Ball's heart beats recorded in a single minute.
The couple will be introduced to the
crowds expected to gather for the opening
of the campaign by Mayor Richard J. Daley
and Dr. Louis Katz, president of the Chicago
Heart Ass'n.
Kansas Censor Chairman,
Seeing No New Term, Quits
KANSAS CITY, KAS.—Mrs. Frances
Vaughn of Bonner Springs, cha.rman of the
Kansas State Board of Review functioning
f;om this city, has resigned, effective immediately,
giving the reason "political pressi
re was being used on the board."
Gov. Fred Hall commented that Mrs. Vaughn
had been in his office recently to ask about
being reappointed and he had told her he
would not. She has been on the board for
20 years, having been reappointed by the last
five governors. She led the fight to keep
censorship in Kansas. A few months ago she
sponsored raising the censorship fee from
$1.25 per reel to $3 a reel.
Pecatonica Roxy Theatre
Leased by Don Bowen
PECATONICA, ILL. — The Roxy Theatre
here, operated for the last few years by Hans
Balle of Byron, who also owns the house, has
been leased to Don Bowen of Erie, 111. Bowen
also manages the Don Theatre in Erie, which
he reopened in July 1954 after it had been
closed for 18 months. Bowen has been in
the theatre business for about eight years.
His son Lloyd, a high school student at Erie,
operates the projectors at the Don and will
assist at the Roxy here. Balle has decided
to retire from exhibition for the time being
to devote his time to other business interests.
Illinois Boothmen Discuss
Film Industry Problems
SPRINGFIELD, ILL.—Economic problems
in the motion picture industry were discussed
at a meeting of the Illinois State Conference
of motion picture operators and stage employes
at the St. Nicholas Hotel here. International
representatives attending included
Frank Stickling, Elgin; LeRoy Upton, St.
Louis, and D. R. Barneclow, Indianapolis.
President of the organization is Wilber F.
Wepner of Springfield.
George Harttmann Dies
KANSAS CITY—George W. Harttmann, 61.
owner of the Armour Theatre in North Kansas
City, died at his home in Chatsworth.
Calif.. Thursday (12), where he had lived
since 1944. He had been ill for several
months. Burial was in California. He i
survived by his wife Donna. Harttmann
opened the first motion picture theatre in
the town across the river in 1926. Ed Lederer
has been managing the Armour for him
for a number of years.
BOWLING
KANSAS CITY—Filmrow Bowling League
standings after the game Friday (13) were
reported as follows:
MEN'S
WOMEN'S
Tcom Won Lost
Finton Jones 38 16
Monley 34 20
Borq & Kim 30 24
Heart Drive-In 30 24
Manlcy Inc. 28 26
Hartmon's .20 34
Mode O'Day 18 36
101 Service. 18 36

. . . because they went to their doctors in time
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But the tragic fact, our doctors tell us. is that every
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A great many cancers can be cured, but only if
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YOUR BEST CANCER INSURANCE is ( 1 ) to
see your doctor every year for a thorough checkup,
no matter how well you may feel (2 ) to see your
doctor immediately at the first sign of any one of
the 7 danger signals that may mean cancer.
For a list of those life-saving warning signals and
other facts of life about cancer, call the American
Cancer Society office nearest you or simply write
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American Cancer Society
*Y>
Through the Courtesy of BOXOFFICE
46-D BOXOFFICE :: January 21, 1956

Mack Herbert Takes
Over Miami Bard
MIAMI—Mack Herbert, former manager of
the Bard Theatre, owned by L. O. Davis, took
over the lease January 1, and will operate
the house himself. Widespread interests elsewhere,
in other than show business fields,
brought Davis to the decision to relinquish
his lease.
The Bard recently has undergone extensive
renovation and redecoration. Herbert,
who has been in the theatre business most
of his life, plans no changes at the moment.
The policy of the theatre, he says, will be
dictated by the tastes of his clientele. A believer
in added attractions and special stunts
to vary the entertainment for his neighborhood
patrons, Herbert hopes to book some
special events soon.
The Bard is located in the Little River section
of Miami and was formerly known as the
Little River Theatre.
Arkansas Baptists Don't
Like Preacher in 'Hunter'
LITTLE ROCK. ARK.—In a statement to
the press following demands of the Arakansas
Baptist state convention that "The Night of
the Hunter" be reviewed by a committee of
the local censor board, J. S. Carbery, city
manager of Rowley United Theatres, said
he was unable to fathom their reasoning.
The part depicted by Robert Mitchem was
not that of a Baptist minister, he pointed
out, but only one who posed as such. Too,
he said, the film had been classified in the
newspaper ads as adult entertainment, which
it
College Students Held
In Theft of Speaker
BATON ROUGE—Two 18-year-old LSU
students have been booked on theft charges
after city police said they found a stolen
speaker from a drive-in theatre in their car.
The speaker, valued at $13, was found in their
car after police stopped them for routine
investigation.
Charles A. Herrington, manager of the
is.
The film was criticized in the Arkansas
Baptist, official publication of the church
group. A scheduled review of the picture by
the three-member inspection committee was
finally called off when members agreed that
the problem was "not under our jurisdiction."
Tiger Drive-In Theatre on the Airline highway,
identified the speaker as coming from
his place of business. He said he lost "several
hundred dollars" worth of the speakers
when they were either stolen or accidentally
pulled out.
One of the youths detained is a former
employe of the theatre.
Gladys Hardin Manages
SPRINGDALE, ARK—Mrs. Gladys Hardin,
Mr.
who with her daughter and son-in-law,
and Mrs. J. T. Hitt, recently purchased the
Concord Theatre and the Apollo Theatre
here, has moved to Springdale and will manage
the theatres. Mr. and Mrs. Hitt will
continue to live in Bentonville and manage
the Cozy and Plaza, which they have owned
and operated for some time.
Myron Blank to Speak
At Carolina Session
CHARLOTTE—Myron Blank, president of
Theatre Owners of America, will be headline
speaker at the 43rd annual convention of the
Theatre Owners of North and South Carolina
convention here January 29-31.
Howard Anderson, acting president of the
association, said Blank would address business
sessions January 30. Herman Levy, TOA
general counsel, also will speak that day.
George Gaughan, TOA field representative
will attend the convention also.
Anderson of Mullins, S. C, came here from
his home to arrange convention details.
Registration opens at noon Sunday and will
remain open until 7 p.m. A social hour is
scheduled for the late evening.
Theme of the convention is "United Action
Only Will Bring Success." Monday morning's
meeting will be open to exhibitors and distributors,
and the afternoon session will be
open only to exhibitors.
John Harmon Vickers, representing Carolina
Delivery Service, and J. G. Ward of
Observer Transportation Co. will host a buffet
style luncheon in the Chelsea room Monday
for exhibitors and their friends.
Activities for the women in attendance will
include a fashion show by the Ed Mellon Co.
women's apparel shop on Monday, with the
Miss Filmrow candidates serving as models.
Following this, the women will be guests of
Howard Anderson, president, at a luncheon
in
the Tryon room of the Hotel Charlotte.
Born in Calcutta, Anna Kashfi signed to an
MGM contract, appeared in two Indian pictures
before going to England in 1953.
Nash Weil Dies;Wil-Kin
Official 25 Years
ATLANTA—Nash Weil,
vice-president and
general manager of the Wil-Kin Theatre
Supply Co. for 25
years, died here recently.
A graduate of
Massachusetts Institute
of Technology,
Weil was a specialist in
theatre sound engineering.
He had addressed
exhibitor
. groups in many parts
\ I of the country on the
\ ^^^^ subject and had taken
\ part in many industry
panel discussions.
Nash Weil weil was a Shriner
and a member of Atlanta Variety Tent 21.
Following local rites held at Spring Hill in
Atlanta, Weil's body was taken to Dallas
for burial.
Business associates serving as an escort of
honor included R. B. Wilby, H. F. Kincey,
W. G. Enloe, Harry Hardy, Montgomery Hill,
Warren Irvin, Roy Smart, J. H. Harrison,
J. T. Redd, Mark Barre, A. B. Padgett, Emil
Bernstecker, J. E. Fitzgerald and Emmett
Rogers.
Visits Son in Texas Hospital
SPARTA, N. C—Marvin Caudill, manager
of the Twin Oaks Drive-In here, has returned
from a trip to see his son who is a patient
in a U. S. Army Hospital at Camp Hood.
One Theatremaris Hope for 7956
Is Improvement in Film Titles
CHATTANOOGA, TENN^What 1956 holds
in store for the theatre business here has
been the primary subject of speculation
among local theatremen, who have declared
that they will spend the year "trying to
figure out why one picture clicks and another
doesn't . . . and trying to anticipate the likes
and dislikes of theatre audiences."
Emmett Rogers of the Tivoli said he hoped
that the caliber of film titles improved.
"When you take a fine picture and give it
a title like 'The View From Pompey's Head'
it is difficult to sell it to a potential audience.
People just don't seem to understand it and
don't want to go to see it. Now, I think that
we had a very fine picture there, but it just
didn't attract attention. Motion picture producers
seem to feel that people read every
book that comes out, and that is not true.
There is another picture coming up, entitled
Good Morning, Miss Dove,' which is a fine
picture, but that title won't help sell it."
Jay Solomon, associated with local drive-in
and neighborhood theatres and the downtown
Capitol, said he believed that the
trend toward big spectacular pictures, such
as "Oklahoma!" and "Carousel" and "Guys
and Dolls" would be continued this year.
"The producers are spending more money on
deserving projects and aren't trying to turn
out as many low-budget western pictures.
They are making them bigger and planning
longer runs. Too, there has been the swing
toward the bold picture, and the clear look
at social problems. 'Blackboard Jungle' was
a good example of this. Another type of
picture gaining in popularity is the biographical
type."
Another complaint about titles of films
came from Charlie Simpson of the State, who
said:
disappointed at the busi-
"We were a little
ness 'My Sister, Eileen' did. Here was a
brand new picture with an outstanding cast
and a great many people thought it was
just a reissue. A new title would have helped
that one a great deal.
"Speaking of trends," he continued, "I
think that the audience poll this year was an
important innovation that will be continued.
And this new Todd-AO screen process that
is being used for 'Oklahoma!' was a forward
step."
All the exhibitors liked the authenticity of
foreign backgrounds in pictures and said
they felt that such photography added to
boxoffice appeal.
Dunlap Henry, manager of the Rogers,
who has played many reissues, said he has
found that if the picture is good enough it
doesn't matter how old it is.
"Take 'Billy the Kid' for Instance," he
-said. "I guess that picture first showed here
back in 1938, and yet we did good business
with it. There's a case where a title had a
great deal to do with it. The name of Billy
the Kid just seems to be magic."
The opinions of the exhibitors were printed
recently in an article by Ray Howe in the
Chattanooga Times.
BOXOFFICE :: January 21, 1956
SE 47

. . Mrs.
MIAMI
lyritchell Wolfson has invited Senator Estes
Kefauver and Adlai Stevenson to a debate
to be telecast over WTVJ. They have been offered
a one-hour public service program and
their appearance together would be in connection
with the Florida presidential preference
primary. In 1952. WTVJ engineered
the only joint campaign appearance of Senator
Kefauver and Richard Russell for the
presidential preference primary.
The fifth annual WTVJ Cerebral Palsy
Telethon will be held this weekend (21,22).
Beginning at 10:30 p. m.. it was to run nonstop
until 2 p. m. the following day. The telethon
has consistently topped the nation in money
donated per TV set in the area. A cumulative
audience of 1.500.000 was the estimated
number of viewers last year. The Miracle
Theatre in Coral Gables and the Gateway in
Fort Lauderdale will carry the show on their
screens. Practically all entertainers currently
in the area take part in the event.
Florida State Theatres took special ad space
and used jack-in-the-box art to publicize
its big kiddy matinees at four neighborhoods.
Adventure and western films comprised the
features, with plenty of color cartoons pre-
YOITLL GET
THE FINEST
TRAILERS
...IN THE
SHORTEST
TIME. FROM
SPECIAL
TRAILERS
I
37 years of Know-
How means Bolter
Trailer! . . . Filler!
FILMACK
CHICAGO \ N£W YORK
1317 S.WABASH \ 341 W. 44th SI.
a mm
ceding .
Lillian Claughton is general
chairman of the American Cancer Sodety'l
fashion musical revue, "Holiday in Wool,"
scheduled for lunch time in the supper club of
a newly opened hotel.
"Has voice, will travel," facetiously wrote
Herb Rau of the News about George Hoover.
His title could be Chief Gabber Instead of
Chief Barker. A week's schedule included a
Monday speaking date at Toot Shor's in New
York; a Tuesday speaking date at a dinner
banquet at the Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas;
a Wednesday rest; a Thursday speech at the
Ambassador and a Saturday speaking date
at the Mark Hopkins Hotel in San Francisco.
Jay Rayvid, former aide to Gordon Spradley
at the Lincoln, is now an actor. He has
a role in "Bar Kochba," playing here in February.
Participating in what is being heralded as
an "unprecedented global premiere," the
Olympia, Beach and Gables theatres will offer
"Helen of Troy" Caplan's Roosevelt has
the Florida
. . .
premiere of "Monika" . . . The
Town Theatre carried a line in advertising
"The Man With the Golden Arm" to the
effect that the film is adult and no children's
or student tickets would be sold.
Irving Jacobson and the Grossmans are said
to be trying to bring Yiddish vaudeville to
the Cameo Theatre. So far, stagehand union
requirements are the stumbling block . . .
The Coral Way Drive-In had a Saturday
midnight no-extra-charge show with a differ-
30 YEARS OF DEPENDABLE SHOWS
H. G. ARENSON
3450 SELWYN AVE., CHARLOTTE, N. C.
Always A Pleasing Boxoffice Attraction
m\\\\
'everything for the theatre except film"
STEREOPHONIC
• lTTTii
wil-kin theatre supply, inc.
atlanfa, ga. • charlotte, n. c.
ent feature. Both this airer and the Boulevard
Drive-in opened a half-hour early in
order to present the first chapter of a new
serial.
As a Friday the 13th feature, Wometco's
five drive-ins (two in Fort Lauderdale) put
on midnight horror shows. "Can you take it?"
read the heading on the special ad. "Test
your nerves and courage in Superstition Alley.
Free tickets to brave souls." The extra dividend
show was available at no extra admission.
Films were "Phantom From Space,"
"Killers From Space," etc.
Addie Addison, United Artists, is up to old
tricks. He's been showing a real Indian
around town to plug "The Indian Fighter." A
photo appeared in the News of Chief Necko
Echo Nomnie in the newspaper's composing
room, where he was "threatening" linotype
operator Pete Hadley with a thorough scalp
treatment unless he set up a story about the
picture. Carib, Miami and Miracle have the
feature.
The local Variety Tent will hold its annual
Good Samaritan-Great Gal and Installation
banquet at 7 p.m. Saturday (28) in the Seville
Hotel, Miami Beach. Maurey L. Ashmann,
retiring chief barker, said a floor show featuring
well-known entertainers is to be presented.
The Good Samaritan award — patterned
after the Variety International Humanitarian
Award—will be given out in recognition
of services in club work. Added to
the list of citations this year is the Great
Gal Award, which will be presented to the
outstanding woman who has worked in behalf
of Variety community projects. Edward Melniker
is general chairman of the banquet.
Frame Theatre Building
Burns at Kenton, Tenn.
KENTON, TENN.—The Ken Theatre was
burned "beyond repair" in a midmorning fire
which threatened the entire uptown area, but
was finally contained by firemen. Fire Chief
Ray Holloman said he believes the fire
originated around a gas stove near the front
of the theatre.
The Ken was owned and operated by W. A.
Peel of Rutherford and the building is owned
by Jesse B. Finch, a Kenton coal dealer. The
frame building was said to be a total loss. It
was reported that Peel carried some insurance
on "several thousand dollars" worth of
movie film that was destroyed, along with
damages to the two projection machines.
The building was partially insured.
'Mitchell' 2nd Stanza
Is Tops in Memphis
MEMPHIS—Memphis first runs had a good
week with holdovers. Warner had 20 per
cent above average attendance with a second
week of "The Court-Martial of Billy
Mitchell."
(Averoge Is 100)
Malco—Guys and Dolls (MGM), 3rd wk 100
Palace—The Indian Fighter (UA), 2nd wk 80
Stale—The Rains of Ronchipur (20th-Fox), 2nd
wk 100
Strand— Artists and Models (Para), 3rd wk 100
Warner—The Court-Mortiol of Billy Mitchell
(WB), 2nd wk
1 20
Anna Kashfi Makes Debut
Anna Kashfi, young native of India, will
make her American debut with Spencer
Tracy in MGM's "The Mountain."
48
BOXOFFICE :: January 21, 1956

OutfrAihes H&em. a£t/
The /V£f& fHCW CENTURY
projector mechanism is
big news for exhibitors
%e^^
Better than ever before (and that's going
some) this new projector reflects more than
30 years of leadership in the development
and production of cinematic equipment. It
again demonstrates CENTURY'S intent to
utilize the latest in scientific advances for
the benefit of the exhibitor.
NEW non-condensing water-cooled aperture easily
changeable for all of the new screen dimensions.
It increases screen illumination and reduces film
distortion.
NEW light shields designed to accommodate latest
high-intensity
arc lamps.
NEW lens mount with adapters for all standard
lenses, large and small. The mount incorporates an
easy-focusing device for high speed lenses.
NEW enlarged observation door affording clear
view of film.
NEW main drive shaft eliminates pinion and stud
unit at soundhead coupling. Provides a more positive
trouble-free drive.
Be sure fo see CENTURY'S new heavy duty film magazine.
Much more convenient to use, for they are equipped with
side viewing windows and much larger hinges to provide
better door support.
^^^^^^^^^^
Make no mistake, see CENTURY before you buy.
yj^fjjjj^ Century Projector Corporation, new york i*, N . Y .
^^^^^ SOLD BY
Alon Boyd Theatre Equipment Co. Joe Hornstein, Incorporated
P. 0. Box 362 Shreveport, Louisiana 273 Flagler St.
r , I I xl r I /- Miami, Florida
Standard Theatre Supply Co.
Greens^STaronna Queen Feature Service, Inc.
219 South Church St.
Charlotte, North Carolina
191214 Morris Ave.
Birmingham 3, Alabama
Capital City Supply Co.
161 Wolfon Street, N. W.
Atlanta,
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Tri-State Theatre Supply
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BOXOFTICE :: January 21, 1956
49

. . Newest
. . Manager
Pity the
Poor
Woiking
She sits on her . .
office choir all day.
When she goes to the
movies at night, she wonts
real relaxation and comfort
or she simply doesn't go! To attract
the working girl—ond her boy
friend and mother and father and
sister and brother— let us repair or
replace worn, uncomfortable seats.
We'll do it in a jiffy ... for a pittance
. . . without interrupting your
show. Wanna know how much?
WRITE, WIRE or PHONE
ALpine 5 8459
ANUFACTURERS
Poam Rnbbei
& S |) r I iu
Cushions, hurk
and sent nun
DISTRIBUTORS
Upholstery
I' a hr it's and
general seating
supplies.
theatre seat
seruice co.
JACKSONVILLE
Crovo, field man for the Mo-
/"•ol. John L.
tion Picture Exhibitors of Florida, was
making a rapid recovery following surgery
at St. Vincent's Hospital . Cinema-
Scope installations in the area are the Sunrise
Drive-in, Ft. Lauderdale; Air Force
Base Theatre at Pine Castle; Blossom Trail
Drive-In, Orlando; Colony Theatre, Miami
Beach, and the new 600-seat Cinemarado
Theatre at Islamorado on the Florida Keys.
Exhibitors in town included Mrs. Roy Bang
and Bob Scraggs, both of St. Augustine; R. C.
Mullis, High Springs; Chris Carratt, Starke;
Mrs. C. F. Summerlin, Homerville, Ga.; J. H.
Robinson, St. Marys. Ga., and Charles Nelson,
Hahira, Ga. ... P. J. Sones, executive of Bay-
Lan Theatres, returned to Tampa after a
brief stay in Havana, Cuba, and began making
plans for a February trip to the West
Coast and Honolulu.
Leaving here for the Dinkier Plaza Hotel
in Atlanta were Thomas P. Tidwell, 20th-
Fox manager, together with salesmen Phil
Longdon, Walter Powell and Bob Stevens,
and office manager Marvin Skinner. They
were to attend a sales gathering there from
20th-Fox's entire Southern area, headed by
Alex Harrison, New York . . . Dave Prince,
RKO manager in Atlanta, was here with Nat
Levy of New York, RKO's eastern sales manager,
en route to Miami.
. . Byron
Here to screen new product for exhibitors
and to call at booking offices were Jack Barrett,
Allied Artists, Atlanta, and Harold
Laird, Republic manager, Tampa .
Adams, United Artists manager, Atlanta,
came down on a combined business and fishing
expedition . . . Clint Ezell, NTE's assistant
general manager, journeyed to Atlanta's
Filmrow for a few days.
Harry Botwick and Al Weiss, Miami; J. L.
Cartwright, Daytona Beach; Frank Bell,
Tampa, and Walter Tremor, St. Petersburg,
were at the Florida State Theatres home office
for a number of executive sessions . . .
LaMar Sarra, FST vice-president, left to
spend several days the Tampa area . .
in .
Herman Allen, long-time employe of Benton
Brothers Film Express, has accepted an office
post at Paramount under Manager Ed
Chumley.
given away at the group's St. Valentine
charity dance in the Women's Club on February
18.
Bill Beck, manager of the Five Points
Theatre, has joined George Krevo, Palace
Theatre manager, in promoting the advance
buildup of the Miss Jacksonville Beauty
Pageant, to be staged at the Palace on February
8. Krevo, pageant chairman, named
Beck to direct press relations and radio and
TV publicity . Sheldon Mandell
of the St. Johns Theatre, said that J. D.
Woodard, Warner press representative from
Atlanta, would accompany "The Lone Ranger"
on a tour of public appearances here and
in Miami and throughout the Southeast to
coincide with openings of the picture.
Cleo Misleh is a new worker in the 20th-
Fox office following Mildred Land's resignation
to join her husband in Orlando.
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206 Memorial Highway
Tampa, Florida Phone 8-5189
Mail Address: Box 37 5, Tampo 1, Fla.
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Neil
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492 So. Second St.
Memphis,
Ttnn.
GRILLS & FRYERS
ROY SMITH CO.
TAMPA
JACKSONVILLE
C. H. "Danny" Deaver, one of the founders
of local Variety Tent 44 and its first
chief barker, has announced the opening of
his Motion Picture Service Co., a buying and
booking agency, at 933 Garth Ave. A veteran
of 20 years in distribution and exhibition,
Deaver said he is prepared to offer showmen
"the most complete service in this exchange
area." Until recently manager of the Photo
Enlargement Service, he was receiving many
wishes of good luck from persons in the industry
here.
Ted Chapeau, WJHP-TV entertainer and
Variety Club member, was re-elected president
of the city's Agricultural and Industrial
Fair Ass'n for another year. He announced
that Variety had been awarded $8,665 for the
work of its membership in conducting the
1955 fair. The next fair has been set for
October 25-November 3 and will be considerably
larger than the last one, with a proposed
advance budget of $37,000
Claxton and Sarah Keller,
. . . Janice
WOMPI leaders,
said that a number of door prizes will be
2nd Hit • Qinntln Reynolds'
"HALF-WAY TO HELL"^^
Nrw
Orleans
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ond
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OUR WATCH WORD
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GREENSBORO, R. C
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50 BOXOFFICE :: January 21, 1956

. . . Airway
. . Keith
. .
R.
. . Carl
. .
MEMPHIS
/""•halmers Cullins, part owner of the Idlewild,
Handy and Savoy theatres of Memphis,
was elected illustrious potentate of Al
Chymia Temple of the Shrine at Memphis.
Cullins has been in the theatre business all
his life. Cullins often played bit parts in
vaudeville at the old Orpheum Theatre and
was a member of the Hopkins Stock Co. for
many years. He has long been active in
theatre circles and the Shrine.
A. A. McGuire, 56, Dukedom, Tenn., farmer,
remembers well how he lost 40 pounds
while a private on cut rations of corned beef
and cabbage under the famous Gen. Billy
Mitchell. McGuire was a guest of E. H.
"Slim" Arkin, manager of the Warner Thea-
.
tre, this week to see "The Court-Martial of
Billy Mitchell" . . . Vernon Adams is the new
owner of Von Theatre, Hernando, Miss
C. B. Clark bought the Philadelphia Drivein,
Philadelphia, Miss. Both new owners
will book and buy in Memphis.
Motorvue Drive-in, Piggott, Ark., has closed
until spring . R. Clemmons, owner,
closed the Missouri Theatre at Palmer, Mo.
Theatre, Little Rock, owned by
L. C. Childers, has closed until warmer
weather . McLeod, owner, closed
the Medina, Medina, Tenn. . Christian,
owner, has reopened the Cozy Theatre
at Tuckerman, Ark. ...CO. Taylor, owner,
closed his Pike Theatre at Murfreesboro,
Ark. . . Melvin O. Weaver, owner, closed
.
New Theatre, Peach Orchard, Ark.
Charter Park Concern
BALLWIN, MO.—The Playland, Inc., has
been incorporated here to do a general
amusement park business. The company has
been authorized to issue up to 3,000 shares
of no par value common and 300 shares of
$100 par value preferred stock. Incorporators
were F. R., P. J. and W. G. Horsfall.
COMPLETE LINE
THEATRE EQUIPMENT and
CONCESSION SUPPLIES
TRI-STATE THEATRE SUPPLY
320 So. Second Si. Memphis, Tenn.
Kay Films Merges
Office at Memphis
ATLANTA—The Memphis office of Kay
Film Exchanges has been consolidated with
the New Orleans office to eliminate duplication
of work in handling of accounts.
However, film shipments for clients in the
Memphis area will continue to be handled by
Memphis Film Service, the same as in the
past.
A bulletin mailed by J. Ken McCartney
from the Kay headquarters here explains the
merger to customers. McCartney requests
clients in the Memphis territory now address
their correspondence to Kay Film Exchange.
218 South Liberty St., New Orleans.
Kay has just obtained the franchise for
Hallmark of Hollywood product, including
"Karamoja," "Half Way to Hell" and "Sho
Shoulda Said No." McCartney also announces
that "Rhythm and Blues Revue"
probably will follow "Rock 'n Roll Revue."
N. L. Stephens to Operate
Sylvania, Ga„ Theatres
SYLVANIA, GA—Mr. and Mrs. Marion
Anderson have leased the Grand and Screven
theatres here to N. L. Stephens of Savannah.
Stephens has been in the theatre business for
18 years and carries on a booking service for
theatres in southeast Georgia.
He plans to take up residence here, but will
maintain Savannah headquarters for his
booking service.
Vernon Adams Leases
Von at Hernando, Miss.
HERNANDO, MISS.—John C. Bonds of
Memphis, owner of the Von Theatre here,
has leased the house to Vernon Adams of
Memphis. Adams is an experienced showman,
having been with .Warner Bros, in
Hollywood for a number of years in production,
distribution, publicity and photography.
He has operated theatres in Houston, Tex.,
and at present is also managing the Roxy
Theatre in Memphis. The Adamses have two
sons, Dick, 16, and Phil, 14. The family
plans to establish a residence here.
Closed on Thursdays
WELSH, LA.—Jules Courville, manager, is
closing the Joy Theatre here each Thursday.
HANDY SUBSCRIPTION

. . . Mrs.
. . Mrs.
. . Claude
. . W.
. . Bob
Tunc Published in 1910
The tune of "Come, Josephine, in My
Flying Machine." added to the score of Warners'
"The Court-Martial of General Mitchell,"
was first published in 1910.
They add up to
befo ptofc
good
pictures
comfortable
"home-comfort"
temperatures
seating
and International
Theater Seats
give your
patrons
that
"homecomfort"
relaxation
When seating or reseating your
theater with Internationals, you
win two ways — in lower installation
costs because Internationals
are factory assembled and save
time and labor — and in maintenance
because all-steel
construction,
hingeless seat suspension and completely
interchangeable seats and
backs require less maintenance.
For complete information on International
theater seats in the Southeast
area, write, wire or phone —
Theater Seat Service Co.
160 Hermitage Avenue
Nashville, Tennessee
Phone 5-8459
or
^nteruatiouaC
L
SEAT
DIVISION OF
UNION CITY BODY COMPANY, INC.,
UNION CITY, INDIANA
ATLANTA
Triends of Otto Gross, veteran exhibitor,
were, glad to see him on Filmrow recently
for the first time since his recent hospitalization
Mr. and Mrs. Bernie Shapiro,
. . . Southern Poster Printing Co., have returned
from a vacation in Miami . D. Loggans,
Fox Theatre, Kingsport, Tenn., checked in
the Veterans Hospital, Johnson City, Tenn.
Juanita Foree, Lakemont Drive-in.
Alcoa, Tenn., spent some time in Indiana
With her ailing mother.
Ebb Duncan, operator of Carroll Amusements,
a circuit of theatres with headquarters
in Carrollton, Ga„ and state legislator.
has become Carroll County agent for the
newly formed United American Insurance
Co. The company writes life and group insurance,
and Ebb is enthusiastic over his
new venture . Bedford has assumed
operation of the Memorial Theatre,
here . Darlene Eskew, for many years
secretary to Emil Bernstecker, district manager
of Wilby Theatres, has resigned to accept
a position with Auto-Lite Battery Co.
in East Point, Ga., where he lives.
Mack Grimes, Bailey Theatres executive, attended
the opening of the circuit's Sunrise
Drive-In at Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. . . . Mr. and
Mrs. John Ezell have returned to their home
. . Arthur
in Vero Beach, Fla. Ezell, retired film distributor,
spends each fall in Atlanta .
Greenblatt, head of AA's Progress Sales
Drive, was in town recently. He is making a
swing of the 31 exchanges, winding up in
Los Angeles.
W. H. Griffin, operator of the Gibson Theatre
at Gibson and Columbia Theatre at Harlem,
is now doing his own buying and booking.
His account had been handled by ABC
Booking Agency ... At the farewell party for
Cliff Wilson in the Variety clubrooms, members
presented Cliff with a tape recording
bidding him Godspeed and good luck in his
new position with Paramount-Gulf Theatres,
New Orleans. A practical accompanying
gift was a handsome piece of luggage.
The Center Theatre at Oak Ridge, Tenn.,
closed effective December 31. W. J. Hatfield
also reports the closing of the Tower
Drive-In at Gadsden, Ala., for the winter, on
January 12 ... A. B. Padgett, Wilby Theatres
executive, was installed as president of the
Northside Kiwanis club. Installation ceremonies
were conducted by Cam Mitchell, Kiwanis
governor of the Georgia District . . .
Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Pete Bryce
of the Pal Circuit, Vidalia, Ga. The following
announcement has been received by their
friends: "Mr. and Mrs. Pete Bryce announce
the adoption of a new partner, Mitchell
Francis Bryce II. Mr. Bryce assumed his
duties December 19 and will be in charge
of all future entertainment."
U-I Southern District Manager James V.
Frew and Southern Divisional Manager F. J.
A. McCarthy spent several days in Miami on
business. Ben Hill. U-I publicist, met with
Jerry Evans of the home office in Jacksonville.
They discussed exploitation and promotion
ideas with Bill Beck, operator of the
Five Points Theatre, on "The Benny Goodman
Story." Hill staged special screenings
of the picture in Atlanta for press, TV, radio
dejays and record dealers.
Russell Parham who formerly operated the
80 Drive-In at Kin?sport. Tenn., has joined
Kay Films as a salesman. Beatrice Crowe
is the new stenographer at Kay. The Kay
Exchange has gone on a five-day week, with
no more Saturday work planned for the near
Mrs. Stella DeFoor, U-I clerk, was
future . . .
ill at her home for a week . Moscow,
operator of the Rialto Theatre here, returned
from a business trip to New York.
A pleasant epidemic of engagement-weddings
is occurring at National Screen Service.
Norma Barber was married to L. M. Thompson;
Anita Langley will be married early
next month to Paul Gerkin in the chapel at
Ft. McPherson; Shirley Turner has announced
her engagement to A. L. Smith, and
Juanita Denham and Norma Chapman are
both sporting new engagement rings.
Arthur Bromberg was a visitor to the At-
publicist Spence
lanta AA office . . . RKO
au & Kecetve . . .
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. . Leonard
.
Steinhurst, was in for a day and then out
to Chattanooga Allen, Paramount
press agent, was busy arranging the
national invitational screening of "Anything
Goes."
Visitors to MGM's local exchange were A.
F. Cummings, head of exchange operations
in the home office, and Rudolph Berger,
southern division sales manager. Office manager
Sam Perloff, salesman Grover Fuller,
and cashier Dorothy Eller, have been ill at
home, all victims of virus. Marcia Rhodes
and her husband spent their vacation in
New York and Philadelphia. A moustache
growing contest is on between salesmanager
Ed Bendler, booker Joe Johnson and publicist
Judson Moses, with no signs of reneging on
the part of any of them.
WOMPI NEWS: Darlene Eskew resigned
as Bulletin Editor of WOMPI since she is
leaving the film industry. Her successor
will be named by President Stella Poulnot.
Because of the great amount of pleasure the
patients at Battle Hill Haven received from
the November WOMPI party at the Home,
the WOMPIs have decided to stage a bingo
party for them Thursday (26). Mrs. Charline
Jones, service chairman, will have charge
of the program. Grace Bramblett's husband
is recuperating at home following an operation.
Lois Cone's sister, Callie Davis, is back
home after recent hospitalization. Sympathy
is extended to Irma Marshall in the death of
her aunt, Mrs. Pearl Reeves. The regular
luncheon meeting will be held at the Variety
Club, Wednesday (25) with Willis Davis,
Wilby executive, as guest speaker.
More than the usual number of exhibitors
were on Filmrow last week. From Alabama
there were Rufus Davis jr., Martin, Ritz and
Houston Theatres, Dothan; Mr. and Mrs. R.
C. Cobb, Cobb Theatres, Fayette; LeRoy Rollins,
Rogers Theatre, Montgomery; Frank
Merritt, Acme Theatres, Birmingham; Al
Morgan, McLendon Theatres, Union Springs;
Ernest Ingram, Ashville and Lineville Theatres,
Ashville and Lineville; R. M. Kennedy,
Kennedy Theatres, Birmingham; Mack Nation,
Southport Drive-In, Bridgeport; Paul
Engler, Engler Theatres, Birmingham; W. W.
Hammond jr., Albertville, who was accompanied
by Carlton Mann, manager of his
Bowline Drive-in, Decatur, and J. P. Mccormick,
manager of his Marshall Drive-In,
Albertville. Nat Williams, Interstate Enterprises,
Thomasville; W. T. Yarbrough, Emily
Theatre, Hartwell; Paul Gaston, Rex and
Lincoln Theatres, Griffin, and J. H. Thompson,
president Georgia Theatre Owners Ass'n,
were in from Georgia. From Tennessee there
were H. B. Hamaker, Starlite and 4 Lane
drive-ins, Murfreesboro; H. P. Vinson, Sundown
Drive-in, Columbia, and Bill Fincher,
drive-ins, Chattanooga, and C. H. Simpson,
State Theatre, Chattanooga.
fiLdi
bookihg (me
Experience Industry — Integrity
ALBERT E. ROOK, Owner
160 walton st. n.w. RVW»

Miami Women's Group
Lauded for Its Work
MIAMI—Maurey Ashmann. chief barker of
Variety Tent 33, addressing members of the
Variety Women's Committee here recently,
told them to sit back and enjoy the fine reputation
they had built for their work in behalf
of Children's Hospital, pet charity of the
local tent
Ashmann said that through the help of the
auxiliary. Variety had been able to raise $500,-
000 in 1955, the largest amount of money
raised for a specific project by any tent in
Variety International. The women's group,
he said, also leads in membership gain, with
90 new members in 1955, and in activities.
Presiding at her last meeting as chairman,
Mrs Gilbert Chaplin conducted a committee-report-making
session, which revealed
total income earned by the Women's Committee
of $53,969.87 in 1955. The latest project,
the Fiesta Seville, earned $12,461.88.
Mrs. Frank Rubel, now of Des Moines and
former chairman of the Women's Committee,
was a guest at the meeting.
Mrs. Tracy Hare, reporting on the recent
third annual conference of the Florida Ass'n
"Jf
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PHONE FR. 5-7787
Our life -saving film,
BREAST SELF-EXAMINATION
Are you one of the 4,000,000
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chances of cure are the best ? Our
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already saved many a woman's
life and could save many thousands
more every year.
If you missed our film, call the
American Cancer Society or
write to "Cancer" in care of
your local Post Office.
American Cancer Society
of Hospital Auxiliaries, which she founded,
said that the women's committee of Variety
Children's Hospital is leading in fund-raising.
Other women's groups were thanked for
aiding in special event programs at the hospital.
They included B'nai B'rith, Coral Gables
Women's Club, Pythian Sisters Temple 54,
Coral Gables Lions Auxiliary, Little River
Home Demonstration Club, Miami Lions,
Order of Rainbow for Girls, and others.
NEW ORLEANS
Qffiee Manager Bobby Saloy informs us
that the firm name of Lippert Pictures
of Louisana was changed to Harold F. Cohen
Enterprises, Inc., as of January 1. The distributing
company will still be located at
150 South Liberty St. . . . Cliff Wilson
ABC Booking in Atlanta is now in
from
New Orleans
as assistant to Jlmmie Howell at Paramount-Gulf
theatres . . . The
WOMPI is assisting
with the collection for the March of
Dimes in the lobbies of six downtown theatres.
Joe-Oke Theatres, which operates in Welsh,
Kaplan and Gueydan, La., has purchased the
interest of E. Elias of the Essanne and Colonial
theatres in New Iberia. Jack O'Quinn,
head of Joe-Oke, also operates the Echo
Drive-in in the same town.
. .
Paramount sneak-previewed "Anything
Goes" on Friday the 13th at 8:00 p. m. in
the Saenger Theatre here . Appearing here
was Clayton Moore, the masked rider in the
TV Lone Ranger series, who stars in the WB
production at the Saenger . . . Andy Bevelo
reports Exhibitors Cooperative Service has
moved into new quarters in the Film Exchange
Bldg. on Filmrow. The booking company
was in the Warwick building.
CHARLOTTE
\I7 Frank Harris of Harris Theatre Sales, a
member of the executive committee of
the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis,
is going full speed with the January
March of Dimes campaign. Basil O'Connor,
national president, has been here and given
out instructions, and workers are getting out
the March of Dimes appeal envelopes.
WOMPI members have given numerous hours
in preparation of the envelopes and by next
week they will be out . . . Approximately ten
cartons of cigarets and three boxes of candy
were stolen from a concession stand at the
Albemarle Road Drive-In in a break-in during
the night of January 12. Intruders pried
locks off the concession stand door and a
cabinet.
Two young holdup men got $85 at the Diane
29 Drive-In on the Gastonia-Kings Mountain
highway Friday night. Barbara Turner,
cashier, said one pulled a pistol and took the
cash box. She said they then ran to Highway
29, where she presumed they had an automobile
waiting ... In a poll of eight people on
the question "Do you think Charlotte should
extend its city limits now?" Herbert Peake,
MGM booker, was questioned. His reply was
"Yes. With increased revenue county residents
will bring, the city can serve them with
more efficient utilities and schools. All
would benefit."
Join th
MARCH OF DIMES
January3 to 31
54 BOXOFTICE :: January 21, 1956

Clyde Rembert Names
Teni 17 Committees
DALLAS—Clyde Rembert, chief barker of
Variety Tent 17 here, has named new committees
for 1956. They are:
Ceremonial—Wallace Walthall, chairman:
Joe Caffo, Alex Keese, Edwin Tobolowsky and
Richard White.
Carnival night—W. L. Marshall, chairman:
Prank Bradley, Henry Peld, Ed Gall, Ben
Gold. John K. Hicks, Harry Kaplan, Bert
Klimist, Charles Levi, Ernest Lovan, George
Myer, Jerry Rosenberg, George Schepps, Phil
Schepps and Bob Slaton.
Entertainment—Rip Giersdorf, chairman;
C. A. Dolsen, Charlie Freeman. Ed Gall, Ben
Gold, John K. Hicks, Charles Levi. W. L.
Marshall, George Preston, George Schepps
and Chic Scoggin.
Finance — Meyer Rachofsky, chairman;
Arnold Ablon, Joe Caffo, Ted de Boer, Don
Douglas, Frank Dowd, Henry Feld and James
Russell.
Gin rummy tournament—John K. Hicks,
chairman: Henry Feld, Ben Gold, Bert
Graetz, Richard Hamann, Roy Kanter, Dave
Lutzer.
Golf—M. J. Dowling, chairman; Duke H.
Evans, E. C. Kuehn, Lester Lief, Adrian B.
Upchurch and Louis J. Weber.
Heart—C. A. Dolsen and Wallace Walthall,
co-chairmen; Dan O'Keeffe and Walter Penn.
House—Alex Keese, chairman; Duke Clark,
Don Douglas. Glenn Fannin, Ed Gall, Bert
Graetz, Arthur Harris, John K. Hicks, Clyde
Houston, Roy Kanter, W. L. Marshall, Lynn
Stocker, Norman Teguns, Ray Tolerton, Jack
Underwood and Jack Zern.
Legal—Edwin Tobolowsky, chairman; W. F.
Burrow, George Potts and Harold B. Sanders.
Membership—Richard White, chairman;
John K. Hicks, Harry Kaplan, Bill Williams.
New Year's Eve party—W. L. Marshall,
chairman; Ed Gall, Ben Gold, John K. Hicks,
Bert Klimist, George Schepps, Jack Zern.
Publicity — Ralph Nimmons, chairman;
John Q. Adams, George Back, Randall Brooks,
Layton Bailey, Martin Campbell, Larry Du-
Pont. Paul Evans, John K. Hicks, Harry
Kaplan, Alex Keese, Leake McCauley, W. E.
Mitchell, Bill Roberts. John Simmons, Jim
Susong, Tony Zoppi.
Julius Schepps heads the Turtle Derby
committee with the following:
Norman Alweis, John Q. Adams, W. O. Bankston,
James O. Cherry, Harold Cole, Ben Ely, Louis Freed,
Ed Gall, Ben Gold, Irving Greenberg, Phil Isley, Roy
Kanter, Morris Levine, Ben Lipshy, L. D. Lutzer,
Joke Lutzer, S. H. Lynch, Ed McLemore, W. M. Mc-
Kinley, Herman Marcus, W. E. Mitchell, Ralph Nimmons,
Louis Novy, R. J. O'Donnell, George O'Rourke,
E. L. Pock, Lee Pelzmon, Clyde Rembert, Morns
Robinson, John H. Rowley, Harry Sachs, Phil Schepps,
Carl Sewell, Morris Shaffer, Robert Slaton, Henry Stern,
Lynn Stocker, Norman Teguns and Morris Zale.
Turtle Derby production: Walter Baroff.
chairman; John Gebhard, W. L. Marshall.
Tickets: Morty Freedman, Meyer Rachofsky.
Henry Feld. Publicity: Ernest S. Lovan, Randall
Brooks, Marshall Jacobs, Alex Keese and
John Simmons.
Plans Airer at Taft, Tex.
TAFT, TEX.—Harry Ellis, theatre operator,
has announced plans for the construction of
Taft's first drive-in on an 8.35-acre tract
west of town. The drive-in will have capacity
for 400 cars. Ellis is the owner of the
Leland Theatre here.
Texas Drive-In Session
In New Dallas Hilton
DALLAS—The Texas Drive-In Theatre
Ass'n will hold its fourth annual convention
February 21, 22 in the new Statler Hilton
Hotel, a $16,000,000 structure of 1,001 rooms
recently completed here.
An action-packed and informative program
is promised by Charles Weisenburg, president.
Drive-In owners, wives and managers from
throughout the southwest are expected to
attend.
"We have planned for you the finest convention
in the history of the association,"
stated Weisenburg. "The program will be
of vital interest and concern to those working
in every phase of the drive-in theatre business.
We have been fortunate enough to
obtain national figures as speakers, and are
trying to obtain several Hollywood personalities.
"There are many vital subjects which every
drive-in theatre owner will want to discuss
and hear discussed at the closed sessions,
such as excess film rental problems, sale of
pictures to TV, arbitration, small businessmen's
committee, insurance coverage and special
tax information. In addition, there are
many operational problems which managers
will benefit from hearing discussed, so do not
forg~et to make reservations for your managers
since a special closed session has been arranged
for them.
"We believe we have the finest and most
diversified concession and equipment display
booths which will bring you right up to date
on every new development in the industry as
far as operation and merchandising in your
drive-in theatres are concerned.
"These conventions are the life blood of
our association and only by having a full attendance
can we hope to carry on the activities
of the Texas Drive-In Theatre Owners
Ass'n.
"The convention will convene in America's
LONE RANGER IN TEXAS—The Lone
Ranger visited in San Antonio recently,
and is shown above backstage at the
Majestic Theatre with, left to right: Lynn
Knieger, Majestic manager; Mrs. Jack
VVrather iBonita Granvillel, and Jack
Wrather, producer.
CHARLES WEISENBURG
newest, finest, most luxurious, multimillion
dollar hotel, the Statler Hilton, which in itself
will be worth your visit to Dallas. We have
arranged special rates at this wonderful new
hotel for your convention attendance. The
only thing left to make this the most outstanding
and fruitful convention in our history
is your attendance.
"Each of the many committees are working
night and day to organize the finest banquets,
cocktail parties and business sessions, so that
you may combine business and pleasure at
this convention. Even with this most elaborate
and expensive meeting place, the registration
fee will be nominal as always, $15 for
theatre owners and managers and $10 for the
women who will receive special souvenirs.
The women are invited to attend all events.
Entertainment and special events will be provided
for the women who do not want to attend
the general business sessions."
Registrations should be sent to Charles
Weisenburg, Weisenburg Theatres, 412 South
Harwood, Dallas.
"We have tried to assemble a program
which will include discussions on all of the
problems and developments in the drive-in
theatre business, but before finalizing this
agenda, if you have any ideas or problems on
matters you would like discussed or would like
to speak on any particular subject or problem,
please let me know by return mail and I will
assure you that it will be included in the
program. The ideas and problems of each
owner and manager are important to us,"
Weisenburg assured.
Cold Weather Hits Dallas;
First Run Grosses Down
DALLAS—Extremely cold weather, with
temperatures in the lower 20's, hit hard at
local
first runs.
(Average Is 100)
Coronet Moddelena (IFE) °S
Majestic The Lone Ranger VVB) 75
Palace Kismet (MGM) .75
Rialto Johnny Stool Pigeon U II Kiss the Blood
Oft My Hands (U-H. reissues.. . 75
BOXOFTICE January 21. 1956 sw 55

. .
. . . Rowley
. . . Joe
. .
DALLAS
f^[ TS - Harold Sihwarz and Charles Marcus
are seeking a "first rate ulni distributor"
to serve as general manager and continue
Tower's aggressive policy a.s n Mrs.
Schwarz now supervises all operation
mer contacts. Tower now is ainu
a Tower picture on every screen in Oklit
and Texas during Tower Pictures Week, May
(3-12
Matt DowliiiK. who has been booking and
buying for Video Independent Theatres sill e
1948. report.-- he will open a booking-buying
agency at 604 Melba Bid?. February 1. Dowling
joined Universal at Oklahoma City In
1920 as booker and office manager. In 1931 he
became booker and office manager for RKO
there. In 1939 he moved to Dallas to book
and buy for the R. E. Griffith Theatres. He
is a member of the Variety Club, and has
served a.s chairman of the golf committee for
a number of years.
Seen along on Pilmrow were Pat Murphree,
Texas, Waxahachie; H. J. Robinson,
Plaza, Denton; C. E. Campbell, Majestic,
Bowie; Bob L. Vaught, Plains, Cross Plains,
and Tad Gould, River Oaks. Fort Worth.
George Pabst of New Orleans, district
manager for UA, was along the Row .
Harold Wirthwein, western division manager
for Allied Artists, was in Dallas and Oklahoma
Sonny Martini. Galveston.
City . . .
was in his usual optimist lo mood, as he arrived
on Filmrow during a cold drizzle that
ibout to turn to ice. He said he liked
the change of weather from the warm
Galveston.
At the Astor exchange, D. F. McCrosky.
general sales manager, was on a trip to
\n in, San Antonio and points south . .
.
0. K. Bourgeois announced that "Fear,"
Starring Ingrid Bergman and based on a
novel by Stefan Zweig, was a recent release
United partners and managers
are looking forward to their two-day conclave
at the new Statler Hilton Hotel here February
1, 2. One of the main items on the agenda
will be a talk by Al Sindlinger, who conducts
surveys on the trends in the motion picture
industry ... At National Theatre Supplywere
Posey Williams, Roxy, Munday; Bob
Lilly, Carnation, Sulphur Springs; W. E.
Cox, Tower, Seminole; W. V. Adwell, Ranch,
Ozona.
Mr. and Mrs. Walter Penn announce the
marriage of their daughter Marjorie to Eugene
Wesley Palmer on Saturday. February 4, at
5 p.m. in the Highland Park Presbyterian
Church . . . John S. Allen, division manager
for MGM, returned from a week's stay in the
New York office . . . MGM
Worldwide Week,
Feb. 5-11 is going over big in Texas. Every
theatre in this state will have at least one
MGM subject on its screen that week and
many theatres are playing MGM pictures
100 per cent that week, the local exchange
reports. Louis J. Weber, assistant manager,
will be in southern Texas next week . . .
"Forever Darling," starring Lucille Ball and
Desi Arnaz, was tradescreened . . . Al Cummings,
MGM manager of exchange operations.
was at the Dallas office.
Adrian Upehurch is now buying and booking
for the Main and Lamar theatres in Paris
Skelton is buying and booking for
all theatres in Gatesville as well as for the
Loop and Tern-Bel drive-ins in Temple .
Glenn McClain, who operates a theatre and
lives in Cleveland, Tex., journeys to Dallas
every Monday and helps do the booking
and buying for the Long Theatres, returnin
; home Friday afternoons. Leon Abram.s
is here fulltime for Long Theatres. J. G. Long
visited the Dallas office this week.
W. E. Cox Jr. Will Manage
Houses at Lamesa, Tex.
SEMINOLE, TEX.—W. E. Cox jr., owner
and manager of the Tower Theatre and Chief
Drive-In here, has taken over as general
manager of the Palace, Majestic and Tower
theatres and the Yucca Drive-in in Lamesa
since the recent death of his brother Audrey.
The office of the Lamesa theatres has been
moved to Seminole and extra office help
added. There will be no change in the
Lamesa personnel.
Fastest Switch In Soft Drink History
63% more theatres now vending Pepsi than one year ago.
And here's why Pepsi is the right choice for your theatre
MORE DRINKS PER GALLON
MORE PROFIT PER DRINK
Pepsi profit tops all nationally advertised and nationally
available cola syrup lines. Pepsi's syrup price is
the lowest of any nationally advertised cola—far
lower than the nearest comparable cola. Add extra
profits from Pepsi's extra drinks—128 drinks per
gallon, compared with 115 for the nearest comparable
cola.
PEPSI IS AMERICA'S FASTEST
GROWING COLA DRINK
Write for full details.
We'll be around to discuss
this important subject with you.
Sterling Sales & Service, Inc.
Theatre Equipment Supplies & Service
Phone PR-3191 • 2019 Jackson Street • Dallas, Texas
56 BOXOFTICE :: January 21. 1956

OctttAthef ~tA&n a£t/
#£(K
The a CENTURY
projector mechanism is
big news for exhibitors
%e^k
Better than ever before (and that's going
some) this new projector reflects more than
30 years of leadership in the development
and production of cinematic equipment. It
again demonstrates CENTURY'S intent to
utilize the latest in scientific advances for
the
benefit of the exhibitor.
NEW non-condensing water-cooled aperture easily
changeable for all of the new screen dimensions.
It increases screen illumination and reduces film
distortion.
•«
NEW light shields designed to accommodate latest
high-intensity arc lamps.
NEW lens mount with adapters for all standard
lenses, large and small. The mount incorporates an
easy-focusing device for high speed lenses.
NEW enlarged observation door affording clear
view of film.
NEW main drive shaft eliminates pinion and stud
unit at soundhead coupling. Provides a more positive
trouble-free drive.
Be sure fo see CENTURY'S new heavy duty film magazine.
Much more convenient to use, for they are equipped with
side viewing windows and much larger hinges to provide
better door support.
%e*£Pt>
Make no mistake, see CENTURY before you buy.
Century Projector Corporation, new york i», n. y.
SOLD BY
Hardin Theatre Supply Co.
714 South Hampton Road
Dallas 11, Texas
BOXOFFICE :: January 21, 1956 57

EASTERN OKLAHOMA
By ART La MAN
TACK HULL, general manager. Downtown
' Theatres, has just returned from New York,
where he attended the American Spaniel
Show. Jack had one of his prize spaniels
entered In the show While in New York, he
also attended to business pertaining to the
Tulsa Theatres Haskell Robinett was in the
village last week Haskell is always watching
for more business for National Screen Service.
Eddie Jones, manager of the Sand Springs
Drive-in. now is keeping the airer open on
weekends. Mrs. Jones, who helps Eddie with
the drive-in, has been quite ill, and has
undergone some surgery this winter. She
now is on the mend. Louise Wesson, Video's
girl Friday of the concessions, was in town
going over the local concession problems.
We've been told that Louise does a swell
job for the merchandising department.
Jake Watkins, National Theatre Supply, was
showing a new seat, known as Texteel. It's
made out of a spring steel mesh, is comfortable
and cannot be cut from any angle. It's
a dandy to balk kids with switch knives.
Kenneth Blackledge, Video's eastern Oklahoma
district man. was in T-Town going over
the operation of the local theatres recently.
Max Bishop, artist for the Downtown Theatres,
has a son Dick in college. During the
holidays, Dick brought home Hassan Beykpoor.
a native of Tehran, Iran. The lad had
a good time looking over the sights of Tulsa.
Later, he gave Max a beautiful hand engraved
cigaret case.
Gene Welch of the Delman Theatre
grabbed off a nice bit of free space in the
papers Friday

with black cats and letters, a constant reminder
of the jinx being at the Rocket come
the 13th. Among other things, he ran an ad
in the paper "Black Cats Wanted." He may
not have received any cats, but he did receive
a lot of phone calls from folks who were
worried about what the cats were to be used
for. I'll bet a wooden nickel that most of
these same phoners will be on hand to find
out for themselves. All these ideas require
some time, work and thought to put into action.
One other thing that is still clicking in
El Reno is the ten-cent night that was introduced
some time ago.
* * »
It was late at night when I arrived in
Cordell. Of course, as is the custom, dropped
in on the Blacks at the Washita Theatre.
It was far after midnight when I took leave
of these two most interesting people. The
Blacks. Creal and Mrs., came to Cordell eight
years ago this month. This was their first
venture in show business and during the last
eight years they have learned a lot.
They are always trying to do something
for Cordell and the folks who make up the
city. Sometimes they have felt that maybe it
was not worthwhile, and it would seem, according
to this little story, there may have
been plenty of reason to feel that way.
It seems that a group from the local
Chamber of Commerce came to Creal some
time back. They were very much interested,
they said, in getting back of the picture "Martin
Luther," if Black would book it into his
theatre. The picture had been played some
time back, so it was obvious that these same
Chamber of Commerce members were missing
Black's advertising, or were not paying very
much attention to what was going on. As a
result, Black has made a number of changes
in advertising and sees to it that the Chamber
and other groups are posted in regard to
what's playing at the Washita.
The Blacks have introduced a "first" in
good public relations in the city of Cordell.
In the basement of the theatre building they
have equipped a complete hall and clubroom,
some 80 feet long and about 30 feet wide. This
room has a good dance floor and is used many
times each month by teenage groups for
parties and all around times. The women of
the community also have had some hangup
card parties there. This is all free, as a
courtesy by the theatre. No doubt there are
a hundred and one things that the Blacks
could use this basement room for, storage, or
what not, but they still keep it for the use of
the towns kids and grownups.
* * *
We come in contact each week with a good
many theatre managers. Recently, we've been
asking if they have read the page of comment
by Mack Herbert in the December 31
issue of BOXOFFICE. Mack tells what is
mostly wrong with the business in the last
column on page 41. It requires very little time
to read, and if some of the suggestions were
followed. I'm very sure that before too long
the "never-do boys" would get the general
idea that stunts, gimmicks, work and thought
pay off.
• • •
Here in Tulsa, we have one man who is
certainly up-an'-at-'em! He's J. C. Duncan,
city manager for the Video Theatres. The
lobby of the Will Rogers always looks good.
Nearly every picture gets some extra promotion.
A fine job was done recently on the
Billy Mitchell picture and is being followed
by "The Lieutenant Wore Skirts," with special
displays, including a special of 25 free records
given to the first 25 adults that come to this
attraction. The record is "Rock Around the
Island" and they were promoted from the
Roof Terrace Music Center. Duncan has
renewed his giveaway of miniature comic
books each Saturday at the Circle, not, as
he admits, because it is going to set the world
on fire, but it is something that pleases the
kids, does a bit of advertising, and is very
low in cost. Recently, Duncan was going over
some future promotions and every idea has
plenty of boxoffice sock-a-roo. Once upon
a time some one said, "What this country
needs is a good five-cent cigar." Right now,
what could be used is more good hustling
show boys.
Burkburnett, Tex., Houses
Sold to Wayne Wallace
BURKBURNETT. TEX.—The Palace and
Tex-Ok Theatres here have been purchased
from Frontier Theatres by Wayne Wallace,
formerly of Roswell, N. M. Wallace has had
25 years' experience in the theatre business.
He began his career with Griffith Theatres
mow Frontier) in 1936 in Kermit, Tex. He
served as manager for the circuit in Ponca
City, Seminole, Oklahoma City and Elk City,
Okla., and in Kermit and Pampa, Tex., from
1939 to 1945.
In 1947 he was manager of Frontier Theatres
in Roswell, N. M., and he went back to
Roswell after serving in Gainesville, Tex.
BOWLING
DALLAS—Men's high single was rolled by
Joe Caffo, Rangers, with 200, while the threegame
high was rolled by Leon Abrahams,
Tower, 500.
Women's high single, Mary Will Jackson,
Rowley, 183; three-game high, Helen Davidson,
439.
The Rowley team took high scores with
591 for one game and 1,695 for three games.
Standings:
Team Won Lost Team Won Lost
Fox 44 20 Paramount .34 34
Metro 42 26 Tower 32 36
Evans ...41 23 Interstate ...29 39
Rangers 40 28 Rustlers 29 39
Rowley 39 29 Blazers 23 45
Liberty 36 32 Warner 17 51
Out-of-Control Grass Fire
Ignites Oklahoma House
FORT GIBSON. OKLA.—A grass fire
raging
out of control ignited the rear of the
Old Fort Theatre and another building here
recently and destroyed both buildings. At
the height of the fire in the theatre, the
front of the building exploded, shattering
glass over a half-block area. Several firefighters
and spectators were injured by the
flying glass, some requiring medical treatment.
Firefighters were handicapped by the
lack of water pressure, apparently caused by
a break in the line. Fire trucks from Muskogee
and Tahlequah were called to assist in
fighting the spreading flames.
Starring in Allied Artists' "The Magnificent
Roughnecks" are Jack Carson, Mickey Rooney
and Nancy Gates.
BUFFALO
3409 Ook Lawn, Room 107
OKLAHOMA CITY
TWTr. and Mrs. Glen Thompson of the Thomp-
.
son Theatres returned from a fishing
trip to Florida . 20th-Fox screened "Pic:;:
Monday. Seen
.
there were Leonard White
Weatherford; Mrs. Bessie Wilkes, Harrah:
H. D. Cox, Binger; Bob Barton of Barton
Theatres, and Mrs. Opal Gray, Chickasha.
Mrs. Gray has discontinued matinees in the
Esquire Theatre Mondays through Fridays.
She is making plans to go into one end of
the building business, drawing plans, designing
and building homes in Chickasha. This
idea and offer came about after Mrs. Gray
designed and built her own home, which is
one of the most beautiful and unusual homes
in the city.
. . . Mr.
Mrs. Avece Waldron, Lindsay, was married
this week (17) to Jep Holman, a retired chief
and
warrant officer of the Navy
Mrs. Bob Browning returned from a visit
with L. C. Griffith, former president of the
Griffith Amusement Co., who now is living
in Beverly Hills, Calif. They report Griffith
is improving all the time and is looking forward
to returning to Oklahoma for a visit
with his many friends, who have missed him
to the fullest the last few years.
Bob Merrill has signed a seven-year contract
with MGM to write, compose and produce.
tJLg-fi-vJLS-O-O-y-fl-g-0.8 8 B_gJL8_8JL0.g.8 8

. .
HOUSTON
Jake Elder of Interstate circuit, Dallas,
Rex Van. Variety Club
local visitor . . .
manager, has been working at the Houston
National Automobile Show in the Coliseum
. . . Fred Cannata, Uptown Theatre, was
sporting a shepherd-check suit and a
shepherd-cheek shirt not-quite-to-match .
W. L. Edwards, assistant manager at the
Yale, has been promoted to manager, according
to Lem Newton, who is manager of
the Broadway. Since these two houses have
been acquired by Bill O'Donnell. Lem is
superintending them both. He advertised a
Friday 13th midnight show of "Two Spine
Tinglers"—House of Frankenstein" and
"House of Dracula."
The King Center Twin Drive-In had
SPEEDY
MEAN
SPUDS
SPEEDY
PROFITS

. . Bob
. . Ali
RESEARCH
for
BUREAU
MODERN THEATRE PLANNERS
ENROLLMENT FORM FOR FREE INFORMATION
The MODERN THEATRE
PLANNING INSTITUTE
825 Van Brunt Blvd.
Kansas City 24, Mo.
Gentlemen:
1-21-56
Please enroll us in your RESEARCH BUREAU
to receive information regularly, as released, on
the following subjects for Theatre Planning:
Acoustics
D Air Conditioning
Architectural Service
"Black" Lighting
Building Material
Carpets
Coin Machines
Complete Remodeling
Decorating
Lighting Fixtures
D Plumbing Fixtures
Projectors
Projection Lamps
Seating
Signs and Marquees
Sound Equipment
Television
Drink Dispensers Theatre Fronts
Drive-In Equipment Vending Equipment
D Other Subjects
Theatre
Seating Capacity
Address
City
State
Signed
Postage-paid reply cards for your further convenience
in obtaining information are provided in The MODERN
THEATRE Section, published with the first issue of
each month.
SAN ANTONIO
. . .
"Phe team of Ken Lawson, Benno J. Kusenberger,
Gallo Gonzales and Norman Tahan
won the Brackenridge Park weekly proam
midweek golf tournament with a 64.
Kusenberger is a local projectionist ... A
masked rider appeared on the stage of the
Majestic Wednesday (11
1 to spark the opening
of "The Lone Ranger" Jack Chalman,
advertising manager for Interstate
Theatres here, authored a special article,
titled "Films to Catch History on the March
to 1966." It appeared in the San Antonio
Morning Express Tuesday dOi.
George V. Comeaux has taken over as the
new house manager of the Josephine. He
formerly managed a drive-in here for the
last six years . . . Visiting the film exchanges
to book and buy Mexican pictures were Bob
Bru, new manager, El Capitan Drive-In, San
Antonio; Mr. and Mrs. Reynaldo Benitez,
Benitez Theatres, Weslaco; Mateo Vela,
Iris, Alice, Tex.; T. L. Harville, Rio, Alice;
Benito Silvas, Mexico, Carrizo Springs; Raymond
Alvarado, manager, Rio, Beeville, and
others . . . Clara Cundiff, Clasa-Mohme
poster clerk, was in the hospital for three
Mrs. Ida Meadows, film inspector
weeks . . .
at C-M, is recovering from a successful operation
for cataracts on her eyes.
Robert Bru, newly appointed manager of
the El Capital Drive-In here, is a native
San Antonian and started as an usher for
local Interstate theatres. Bru formerly
worked for Sylvan K. Barry when Barry
managed an Interstate house some years ago.
For the last several years, Bru has managed
drive-ins in Houston.
Benito Silva has installed a widescreen
at his Mexico in Carrizo Springs. He opened
.
his new drive-in, Huntsville, January 13. It
has 330 in-car speakers . Two 13-year-old
boys, who threw stink
.
bombs in two west
side theatres recently, were being held by
juvenile officers.
A. R. Farias has reopened the Empress,
Benavides . Wallace of the O&A Film
Truck Lines here went duck hunting . . .
Azteca Films screened "El Monstruo Resucitado"
at the Josephine . "Lucky"
Silva. son of Benito Silva, now is operating
the newly opened Loop 13 Drive-In, Huntsville.
"Lucky" is a former Azteca Films employe
here . . . Calling on the film exchanges
were the following theatremen: DelmoPearce,
El Charro Drive-in, San Antonio; Gidney
Talley, Talley Enterprises, Pleasanton; Manuel
Womble. Royal, La Feria; Reynaldo Benitez,
Palacio, Donna; Bob O'Donnell, Tom
Sumners Theatres, this city; Hiram Parks.
El Capitan, Lubbock; Arthur Garcia, Alma.
Encinal. and G. A. "Tano" Lucchese, Alameda,
Nacional and Guadalupe, San Antonio.
. . .
The Alamo, Mission. Rigsby and South Loop
13 drive-ins now are playing pictures 38
days after their downtown showings
. . .
Henry Tagle, doorman for the Zaragoza
Amusement Co. some years ago, suffered a
heart attack and now is resting at home
following a stay in the hospital. He is 82
Also on the sick list is J. L. Greenwood,
manager of the Joy. Clinton Livingston,
operator of the Joy, is doing double duty
during Greenwood's illness.
The Broadway in Alamo Heights was robbed
of some $800 by two armed bandits shortly
before the theatre closed Monday i2>
ev<
Alvin Krueger, treasurer, was forced to open
the office safe. Eric Brendler, manager;
Don Williams, doorman, and the theatre
treasurer were tied up by the thugs and
forced to lie on the floor. After freeing themselves,
the theatre employes notified Alamo
Heights and San Antonio police, who rounded
up a half dozen suspects who were later released
for lack of evidence. The theatre is
operated by Interstate circuit . . . E. Doyle
Garrett, city manager for Bordertown Lone
Star Theatres here, spent the holidays in
Dallas and Waco.
Charlie Wolfe, manager of the Prince and
advertising man for seven Lone Star Thea-
. . . Clasatres
here, said that business at his houses is
much better since the holidays
Mohme employes held a party at the Kit
Kat Dinner Klub. A section of the nitery
was reserved and toasts were given followed
by dining and dancing . . Enrique Flores and
.
his son Epitacio, Rio, Mission; D. W. Trisko
and his son, Runge, Runge; John A. Flache.
Teatro Alameda and Fiesta Drive-In. Lamesa.
and Delmo Pearce, manager. El Charro Drivein,
San Antonio, were recent visitors to the
local exchanges.
Clasa-Mohme is planning to release its first
widescreen picture. It is titled, "El Tesoro de
la Isla de Pinos," which is in Superscope and
has color by Eastman Color. Any theatre
equipped to show Cinemascope can show this
picture, according to the C-M booking department.
Several others will be released in
Superscope during the year. C-M has asked
theatremen to advise whether they are
equipped to show this widescreen picture.
Flat prints will be furnished where desired.
The exchange needs the information from
the theatres to determine how many of each
kind of print to order.
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BOXOFTICE :: January 21, 1956 61

HARLLEE BRANCH, JR. Portrait by Fabian Bachrach
?
We consider it
a privilege to make the
Payroll Savings Plan available to all
onr people"
As President of Georgia Power Company. Mr. Harllee
Branch, Jr., can be proud of his company's Payroll
Savings Plan — more than 50% of Georgia Power's employees
are Payroll Savers. They are putting more than
$423,000 into U.S. Savings Bonds each year. But, Mr.
Branch's interest goes beyond his own company Plan. A
few months ago, as President of the Edison Electric
Institute, he asked all the 185 member companies in the
electric utility industry to join in an industry-wide effort
to increase employee percentages in
their Payroll Savings
Plans.
First results of the industry campaign are now com-
. . . .
ing in. Gulf Power Company has reached 87.3% employee
participation . Utah Power and Light employees
Wisconsin Electric Power reports
have enrolled 69.6' v
. . .
69.8% . Wisconsin-Michigan Power Company,
62% . . . Wisconsin Public Service, 57.6% . . . Lake Superior
District Power, 52%.
Has every employee in i/our company been offered an
opportunity to enroll in the Payroll Savings Plan? If not,
communicate with Savings Bond Division, U.S. Treasury
Department, Washington, D. C. Your State Sales
Director will show you how easy it is to conduct a
person-to-person canvass.
The United Stales Government dues mil pay for this advertising. The Treasury Department
thanks, foi their patriotic donation, the Advertising Council and
BOXOFFICE
62 BOXOFFICE :: January 21, 1956

Pressure Is on MGM
To Okay Moveovers
MINNEAPOLIS—There's a belief in local
trade circles that MGM will lift its ban on
moveovers in consequence of U.S. Judge G. H.
Nordbye's recent decision upholding downtown
playdating and the industry's clearance
methods generally.
MGM is now the only company that prohibits
such moveovers, here and elsewhere.
And Loop first run interests make no bones
of the fact they'd like to see MGM fall in
line with the others.
United Paramount Theatres and RKO Theatres
frequently move first runs from the
larger Radio City or RKO Orpheum, where
they play initially, to the smaller Lyric or
Pan.
Judge Nordbye's ruling was in the antitrust
conspiracy suit brought by Volk Bros, against
major distributors and others, seeking $1,-
000,000 damages for alleged clearance discrimination
and a day and date moveover run
with Loop first run moveover theatres for
their de luxe suburban Terrace.
In the decision, which went against the
plaintiffs on every count and gave approval
to the so-called showcase principle of displaying
pictures first in downtow:n theatres,
Judge Nordbye held that moveovers could be
confined to such Loop houses. Unless there
was evidence of conspiracy and unreasonableness,
which he found lacking in the Volk's
suit, he opined that clearance should not be
disturbed.
A survey indicates that local independent
exhibitors generally are glad because Judge
Nordbye refused to upset the local clearance
applecart. They apparently didn't want the
Terrace to have an exclusive run or one
earlier than the 28-day availability which it
now shares with a dozen other subsequent
run neighborhood houses.
It's expected that several months will elapse
before the Volks decide whether to appeal
a procedure which would involve considerable
cost. Lee Loevenger, their counsel, previously
winner of a $135,000 judgment in an antitrust
conspiracy suit against major distributors,
favors such an appeal.
Minnesota Jobs and Pay
Reach Alltime Figure
MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota employment
and earnings have been hitting an alltime
high, the state commissioner of employment
security reports.
Helped by booming construction and high
average earnings in manufacturing, Minnesota
nonfarming employment earnings skyrocketed
to an alltime peak of $3,264,874,000
in 1955, which compares to 1954's $3,062,712,-
000.
Minneapolis employment during December
reached a record total of 278,830, topping the
previous record set in December 1953 by 1,273
jobs. It was 5,400 higher than a year ago.
All the job gains were noted in non-manufacturing
classifications.
December unemployment here was estimated
at 11.200, an increase of 1,800 since
the previous month and attributed to seasonal
layoffs. The jobless figure, however, was 6,000
below last year, although still above the 9,500
estimated in December 1952.
In Minneapolis December average weekly
pay of factory workers was $79.60, $4.57 above
last
year.
ON THE SET—While shooting on
location near Phoenix for their current
Paramount starrer, "Pardners," Dean
.Mart in. left, and Jerry Lewis chat with
Mabel Mitchell, advertising-publicity head
of the Arizona-Paramount circuit. Miss
Mitchell formerly was employed at
Omaha.
'Guys' Still Biggest
Draw in Twin Cities
MINNEAPOLIS—Despite weekend snows
and cold weather, business held up well with
newcomers making a respectable showing and
holdovers— particularly "Guys and Dolls"
continuing merrily.
(Average Is 100)
Gopher A Man Alone (Rep) 95
Lyric—Artists and Models (Para), 3rd wk 125
Radio City The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell
(WB), 2nd wk 100
Orpheum Guys and Dolls (MGM), 4rh wk 175
Pan—The Warriors (AA) 95
State The Second Greatest Sex (U-l) 100
World Footsteps in the Fog (Col) 100
Allied Watchdog Avers
Clearance Violations
MINNEAPOLIS—Failure to abide by the
local clearance setup by all but three distributors
here, causing injury to subsequent run
theatres, is charged by Martin Lebedoff,
Allied's local watchdog committee chairman.
They're doing it, he claims, by refusing to
release regularly to the neighborhood subsequent
runs their top pictures 28 days after
their Loop first runs end, as clearance here
provides.
In consequence, the sub runs suffer from
a greater product shortage than otherwise
and are more at the mercy of distributors in
a sellers market, according to Lebedoff. He
threatens to expose the alleged offenders at
the U. S. Senate small business subcommittee's
hearings next month.
The three companies in the clear are MGM,
Paramount and Universal, declares Lebedoff.
Reason for the other distributors frequently
holding back their top pictures from the
subsequent runs, he explains, is the belief
that the time isn't the most favorable from
a boxoffice standpoint and they can derive
more film rental for the pictures in question
by holding back the releases until later.
Free Matinees on Saturday
ODEBOLT, IOWA—Chamber of Commerce
directors recently arranged to sponsor free
movies at the Princess Theatre Saturday
afternoons, starting at 2 p. m.
Allied Seeking Facts
For Senate Inquiry
MINNEAPOLIS—North Central Allied i
asking exhibitors to supply information
will enable Ben Berger and National Allied
to make an effective presentation which will
win the sympathy of the Senate small business
subcommittee'' when the latter starts its
public hearings February 2 "on exhibition's
plight."
The desired information "will point up the
small exhibitor's predicament along three
lines," a recent bulletin explains.
These lines, it asserts, are the small exhibitor's
inability to obtain important pictures,
"which are the only moneymakers," at
any except "exorbitant" terms, deprivation of
"millions of people in thousands of small
communities" of the right to see such pictures
because of the aforementioned reason, and
the consequent threat to the continued
existence of many theatres.
"Unless the small-town exhibitor is able to
obtain the big boxoffice pictures on the basis
of ability to pay he's likely to close his showhouse,"
Allied contends. "In such a case,
more and more communities will be blighted
by lack of any out-of-the-home entertainment.
And if the film companies force more
small theatres out of business, more communities
will have darkened Main streets,
and the effects will go far beyond the poor
theatreowners and extend to merchants up
and down the Main streets."
What's wanted, the bulletin explains, is
"detailed information."
"We want you to send us facts and figures
that will help us spell out for a senate committee
unfamiliar with our business just what
is happening to the exhibitor caught between
a calculated product shortage," says the bulletin.
"If a large number of you who receive
this will give us figures showing that film
prices have increased greatly since April 1,
1954, we can show the committee that the
distributors drained off all of the tax relief,
leaving the exhibitor no better off than he
was before, and thus thwarting the purpose
of Congress."
Cold Feet in Theatres
MINNEAPOLIS— It has been an unusually
The new Grand in Grand Rapids,
cold winter.
Minn., apologized in a newspaper ad to patrons
for failure to provide sufficient warmth.
The ad promised that henceforth there'd be
no more "cold feet" in the theatre. The
Portage (Wis.) theatre closed for installation
of a new heating plant when the old equipment
proved unequal to the occasion.
YOU'LL GET SPECIAL
THE FINEST TRAILERS
TRAILERS
.IN THE
SHORTEST
TIME. FROM
BOXOFFICE :: January 21, 1956 NC 63

. .
. . MGM
D E S
MOINES
TJtixny Kilmrowcrs and members of the Variety
-Club attended the jubilee dinner
dance last Saturday at the Standard Club.
The event honored Jake Kaplan, manager
of the club six years, who is resigning. He
vill leave here for a vacation in Florida.
The event also served to introduce Steffen
Diamant. formerly of Omaha, the new manand
his wife. Mr. and Mrs. Robert
Sandler and Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Rubin
were in charge of the party.
.
Myrtle Bechcl, Warner cashier, hit by the
flu last week, waa home for recuperation
N'.nuy Trost, resigned as Warner booking
Lou Levy, Universal manager, visited
clerk . . .
Muscatine on the 12th . . . Shirley Gass.
MGM secretary, has resigned . has
started its spring facelift early—with a fresh
coat of paint on the interior of the exchange.
The Frank Kubels (Central States) returned
to Iowa after a month in the Florida
sunshine (?), but with their many friends
down there to make their stay a pleasant
one, perhaps the bad weather wasn't too
much of a disappointment!
Robert Dunnuck, Fairfield theatre manager,
has been named chairman of a drive to
build a new fieldhouse on the Parsons College
campus there. Goal of the drive is $150,-
000. Dunnuck said the success of the campaign
will have vital significance in the col-
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"The colloge cannot expect the increased support
of corporations and special friends if the
college community doesn - t form the vigorous
backbone for its program."
Separate Wage Class
Asked for Teenagers
PARK FALLS, WIS.—The Allied Independent
Theatre Owners of Wisconsin, has requested
the state industrial commission considering
proposed minimum wage standard
raises to establish a separate classification for
parttime minor employes.
The request was made by Harold P. Pearson,
Milwaukee, executive secretary of the association
at a recent hearing here. The
hearing was the second of five being held by
the commission throughout the state to
sound out reaction to its tentative orders
boosting stage minimum pay standards.
The commission has statutory authority
to set "living wage levels" for minors and
women not covered by the federal minimum
wage law.
The commission's 15 member minimum
wage advisory committee, representing employers,
employes and the public, has unanimously
recommended these boosts in present
state minimum wage standards:
In cities of 3.500 or more, 70 cents an hour,
an increase of 25 cents; in cities of 1,000 to
3,500, 60 cents an hour, up 20 cents, and
elsewhere, 50 cents an hour, a 12-cent increase.
The commission has embodied the suggested
boosts in its tentative orders and will
decide whether to make the orders effective
after the hearings. It will allow 30 days for
interested persons to submit written statements.
Pearson said that he could understand the
need for increased minimum standards applying
to minors who have quit fulltime school
attendance and were working for a living.
However, he said, the theatres employ minors
who still are in school full time. "Actually,"
he said, "it gives the boys and girls a chance
to make a little spending money."
S. R. Nothem in Hospital
DES MOINES—Sylvester R. Nothem, 60,
Remsen, theatre owner charged with federal
income and admission tax evasions, has been
ordered held in a hospital psychiatric ward
here for observation and examination. The
order was issued by the U. S. district attorney's
office. Nothem's attorney said his
client had been under treatment in the state
mental hospital at Cherokee from May
through October. When Nothem learned of
the indictment, the attorney said, he suffered
a relapse. The indictment charges
Nothem with evasion of income taxes totaling
$3,980 for the years 1949 through 1952,
and of theatre admission taxes totaling $648-
53 during five months of 1952 and 1953.
Winter Schedule in Effect
OAKES. N. D.—The Grand Theatre here
has gone on a new winter schedule which will
continue until April 1. Monday through
Friday each week there will be only one
show each night, starting at 8 o'clock, with
two shows on Saturday and Sunday evenings
and a 3 p. m. Sunday matinee.
64 BOXOFFICE :: January 21, 1956

Oci&Aihef ~%&n. a$£/
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again demonstrates CENTURY'S intent to
utilize the latest in scientific advances for
the benefit of the exhibitor.
•
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changeable for all of the new screen dimensions.
It increases screen illumination and reduces film
distortion.
NEW light shields designed to accommodate latest
high-intensity
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NEW lens mount with adapters for all standard
lenses, large and small. The mount incorporates an
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NEW enlarged observation door affording clear
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Be sure to see CENTURY'S new heavy duty film magazine.
Much more convenient to use, for they are equipped with
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Make no mistake, see CENTURY before you buy.
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BOXOFTICE :: January 21, 1956 65

. . Independent
. . Andy
MINNEAPOLIS
£\ne of the first activities of newly elected
Variety Club Chief Barker Sim Heller will
be to launch a campaign to raise funds to build
and equip a fifth floor addition to the club's
heart hospital on the University of Minnesota
campus. The campaign committee will
comprise Charles Winchell. chairman, ;md M.
A. Levy, John Branton and J. MacFarland
The independent Gopher here and the
. . .
St. Paul Strand landed MGM's newest important
boxoffice picture. "Ransom," and
exploiteer Norm Levlnson already is at work
on the campaign.
Condolences to M. A. Levy, 20th-Fox di-
.
. . .
vision manager, and wife on the death of
the latter's mother, Mrs. Anna Trimble, in
Indianapolis distributor
Don Swartz also maintains an office in
Milwaukee Columbia exploiteer Harry
Rice was here working on "The Prisoner,"
the Alec Guinness picture which opened at
the World here this week. Ted Mann also
booked "The Man With the Golden Arm"
for the World.
AA exploiteer Sam Hart was here on "At
Gunpoint." which opened at the State. It's reputed
to be one of AA's all-time tops. On the
opening night, a local recording artists favorite
who has his own band, Slim Jim, was
in the theatre lobby handing out 100 of his
latest disk clicks, "The Drifting, Visiting
Snow."
Fay Dressell and Fred Finnegan, RKO
manager and head booker, were home ill
briefly . . . Warner exploiteer Don Walker
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was in to beat the drum for "Helen of Troy,"
due at local Radio City and the St. Paul Paramount
February 3 and 10 . . . The Lyceum
booked the Broadway musical hit "Can Can"
for four nights and two matinees starting
February 1 . . . Herb Bushman. UA manager,
entertained his brother John of St. Louis.
. . . Ben
The Swedish "Monica" was in the second
month at the Suburban World
Berger, North Central Allied president, is
due back from a Mexican and Cuban vacation
January 27 . . . Circuit owner Clem
Jaunich was recuperating after surgery at
the University of Minnesota Hospital . . .
Phil Jasen, "Cinerama Holiday" managing
director here, was vacationing in the east
. . . Ollie Brouton, MGM maintenance department
representative, departed after a
brief visit here.
Charlie Fox, Milwaukee burlesque impresario,
left town after failing to get back
the Alvin Theatre for burlesque. It has
been an evangelistic tabernacle the past two
years ... A 14-year-old boy arrested by the
police for threatened extortion told the
authorities that he got the idea for his
threatening letter from watching TV . . .
University of Minnesota regents have approved
the location of an educational TV
station on the campus. All but $28,000 of
the $349,049 needed for video and studio
equipment has been already raised by public
subscription.
Minn. Amusement to Sell
Fringe House in Duluth
MINNEAPOLIS—Harry B. French, Minnesota
Amusement Co. president, has announced
that the United Paramount circuit
subsidiary is disposing of its Duluth Garrick
Theatre to be converted to commercial uses.
MAC will still be left with three Duluth
theatres, two of which—the Norshor and
Lyric—are currently in operation. The circuit's
policy, says French, is to divest itself
of fringe houses and those not lending themselves
to large screen projection.
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MILWAUKEE
TJob Mellin, Screen Guild salesman, has resigned
to operate the Marion (Wis.) Theatre,
which will be opened late this month.
Bob operated this house for a time two years
ago . Kenny, MGM office manager,
returned to his desk after a siege of illness . . .
The Bay Theatre, on S. Delaware here, operated
by Mike Regan, has closed.
. .
Eddie Lipson, for many years an MGM
salesman, died here recently. Increasingly
poor health had forced him to give up his
work about a year ago . Don Swartz of Independent
Film Distributors, Minneapolis,
was a visitor at Realart exchange here recently
... A group of Milwaukee exhibitors
and press representatives went to Chicago
at the invitation of Wally Heim of UA for a
special showing of "The Man With the
Golden Arm." Otto Preminger was the host
for this showing.
Earl Thompson, manager of the Downer
Theatre, is displaying work of regional artists
in the lobby of the theatre through an
arrangement with Artists' Equity Ass'n. The
Downer is running first run art pictures.
Thompson says that the displays bring art
lovers to the theatre and he is getting good
publicity through this medium.
Bob Gross, middle west district manager for
Smith Management Co., won first prize in his
firm's recent payroll contest for district managers.
The circuit operates the Blue Mound
Drive-In at Elm Grove . . . Dick Grede, manager
of the Blue Mound Drive-In mentioned
above, was off on a three-week trip to Mexico.
Mrs. Louise Bergtold, operator of the
Westby Theatre at Westby and the Cashton
Theatre at Cashton, became a grandma when
her daughter, Mrs. Robert Drew, gave birth
to a son Thomas Anthony on December 18.
Mrs. Bergtold's son-in-law, Robert Drew, is
appearing in a play with Arthur Kennedy in
Erv Clumb, Riverside
Washington, D. C. . . .
Theatre manager, ran a full-page ad in color
in a recent Sunday edition of the local papers
advertising "Guys and Dolls." Gimble Department
Store across the street from the
Riverside gave this production a window
display.
Tuesday Night Is Worst
At Minneapolis Now
MINNEAPOLIS—Tuesday has supplanted
Monday as the week's worst boxoffice night
here. Exhibitors blame the Tuesday night
fall-off on TVs $64,000 Question. The video
show comes through here at 9 p.m. and too
many prospective theatre patrons stay at
home to watch it, it is asserted. Even though
stores are open on Monday nights grosses for
the latter now run ahead of Tuesday's, according
to exhibitors.
Walter Sayler Sells
WISHEK, N. D.—Walter Sayler has sold
the Dakota Theatre here to Mr. and Mrs.
Delmar Hoff. Hoff is area representative for
Investor Syndicate and will devote most of
his time to the theatre business. The theatre
building was erected in 1947 at a cost
of $82,500. Sayler did not comment on his
future plans.
66 BOXOFFICE :: January 21, 1956

. . George
. . Harold
. . Bernard
Downtown Business
Strong in Detroit
DETROIT—First run business continued
strong, but subsequent run houses fared poorly
in the absence-of newspapers during the late
unlamented strike.
(Average Is 100)
Adams Guys and Dolls (MGM), 7th wk 150
Broadway-Capitol The Last Frontier (Col); The
Houston Story (Col) 1 30
Fox—The Rains of Ranchipur (20th-Fox); Texas
Lady (RKO), 3rd wk 1 35
Madison All That Heaven Allows (U-l), 3rd wk..l00
Michigan Artists and Models (Para); Tennessee's
Partner (RKO), 2nd wk 1 50
Palms The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell (WB);
The Noked Street (UA), 2nd wk 140
United Artists Closed to Todd-AO installation.
Good Week in Cleveland
With "Guys' Hitting 350
CLEVELAND—Most of the downtown theatres
played holdovers on a short run basis
to get back on regular opening days following
the holiday weekend openings. Exceptions
were "The Last Frontier," which played a
full week at the Hippodrome and registered
a healthy 115 per cent, and "Guys and Dolls,"
playing to capacity attendance in its third
week. The holdovers all did satisfactory business
in spite of rain, ice and fog.
Allen The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell (WB),
2nd wk 1 30
Hippodrome The Last Frontier (Col), seven days. .115
Lower Mall Too Young for Love (IFE); The
Outlaw Girl (IFE) 100
Ohio Guys and Dolls (MGM), 3rd wk 350
Palace All That Heoven Allows (U-l), 2nd wk...l20
State The Indian Fighter (UA), 2nd wk 85
Stillman—Artists and Models (Para), 3rd wk 120
20th-Fox to Unveil 55mm
In Detroit January 26
DETROIT—The new 55mm film process
will be unveiled by 20th-Fox on the 26th at the
Fox Theatre. The event, comparable to the
advance showing of Cinemascope itself two
years ago, will be a 9:45 a.m. screening for the
trade, press and specially invited guests.
A ranking sales executive of Fox Is scheduled
to attend, according to Sol Gordon, director
of exploitation who is in charge of
arrangements, and the screening will be followed
by a question and answer period.
The installation of equipment for the 55mm
projection is another step in the $50,000 refurbishing
program for the theatre inaugurated
by Robert Bothwell, new managing director,
when he took over the management
last fall.
Gov. Chandler in Parade
For Opening of 'Glory'
LEXINGTON, KY.—Governor and Mrs.
Chandler of Kentucky led a parade through
the main thoroughfare of this city Wednesday
(11) to the Kentucky Theatre for the opening
of David Butler's RKO release, "Glory."
Two
showings were held, with the proceeds going
to the Clinic for Spastic Children at the
University of Kentucky.
Starting Thursday (12) the picture opened
in 240 theatres.
Detroit Variety Members
Honor WXYZ President
DETROIT—A turnout of 300 friends gave
a surprise testimonial dinner on Friday (6)
to James G. Riddell, perennial winner of the
Variety Club golf championship and president
of WXYZ, upon his 25th anniversary with the
firm at the ripe old age of 42. Robert E.
Kintner, president of ABC, in presenting a
testimonial watch said Riddell "is the best
manager of radio and television properties in
the country."
.
Notes: Bill Hendricks, long with United
Detroit Theatres, was in charge of the entertainment
Jack Hurford,
activities . . . former manager of the Fox, found a place at
the last table in the house . Kilbride,
who hired Riddell 25 years ago for $10
a week, was a principal speaker . . . John Pival.
now WXYZ-TV station manager, another
speaker, was formerly manager of the Senate
Theatre . W. Trendle, former
UDT president, was on the west coast refilming
"The Challenge of the Yukon," so
his son George jr., show business attorney,
read his lengthy tribute Brown,
president of UDT—who succeeded Earl Hudson,
another Detroit contribution to the top
ranks of ABC, was on the dais.
Irving Goldberg, partner in Community
Theatres, was at a table flanked by partners
Larry Michelson and Leonard Simons . . .
Eduard R. Werner, Musicians Union prexy
and former musical director at the big Michigan
Theatre, unable to attend the dinner,
made the rounds to greet friends . . Stuart
.
W. Frankford was the toastmaster . . . Leonard
Goldenson, head of ABC-Paramount
Theatres, paid tribute to Riddell . . . Special
presentations included an oil portrait of the
guest of honor and a large, covered, electric
golf
cart.
Calvert Airer Reopens
CALVERT CITY, KY.—The Calvert Drivein
has been reopened by owner and operator
Paul Harrington. Adverse weather conditions
earlier had prompted closing of the drive-in
and the shift of operations to Harrington's
downtown indoor house. More suitable
weather conditions this month resulted in
reopening of the drive-in.
Cleveland Unit Names
Henry Greenberger
CLEVELAND—The Cleveland
Motion
ture Exhibitors Ass'n met Tuesday '1
the association headquarters and re-elected
Henry Greenberger
president for a third
term. Also re-elected
were vice-president.
Joe Rembrandt; treasurer,
Ted Vermes, and
secretary, Louis Weitz.
All were re-elected by
acclamation.
On the
board of directors,
Joe Rembrandt
and Leonard Mishkind
are serving unexpired
two-year terms; Meyer
Henry Greenberger Fine and P. E. Essick
are serving unexpired one-year terms. Unanimously
elected for three-year terms were
Henry Greenberger and Howard Reif, and
elected for one year were Jack Essick, Marshall
Fine, Bert Lefkowich, Max Lefkowich,
Leonard Greenberger, Arnold Porozynski, Ted
Vermes, Ray Essick and James Kalafat.
A total of 12 common pleas and municipal
judges were guests of the association at the
buffet luncheon that preceded the business
meeting. Other guests included Ralph Locher,
city law director, representing Mayor Anthony
J. Celebrezze, who was unable to be present:
W. Ward Marsh, Plain Dealer critic; Arthur
Spaeth, News critic; Frank Murphy, Loew's
theatre division manager, and Jerome Friedlander,
attorney.
Rob Georgetown House
GEORGETOWN, KY.—Burglars entered
the Glen Theatre here, blew the safe door
open with an explosive and took cash representing
the receipts of three days' business.
All cash in the safe was taken, but nothing
else was missed from the office in which the
safe was kept. Nelson E. Ward of Lexington.
Ky., president and general manager of the
Nelson Theatre circuit which owns the theatre,
declined to say how much was taken,
but said that it represented Friday. Saturday
and Sunday receipts.
Purchase Ozoner Site
BEAVER DAM, KY.—H. W. Anderson and
Charlie Bowles, both of Russellville. have
purchased property on Highway 231 here for
construction of a $30,000 drive-in theatre. Anderson
and Bowles operate two other driveins
in the state.
OHIO ITO BOARD MEETS—Members of the board of directors of the Independent
Theatre Owners of Ohio are shown at the first 1956 meeting at Columbus. Clockwise
from President Horace Adams, Cleveland, shown at head of tabic, right: C. F.
Pfister, Troy; Blair Russell. Millersburg; F. W. Huss jr., Cincinnati: Park Belden.
Akron; L. F. Eick, Martins Ferry; C. S. Velas, Bellaire; J. Beat Neth, Columbus:
Hoy L. Russell, Millersburg; Edward Ramsey, Plymouth; Charles Sugarman, Columbus;
Marshall Fine, Cleveland; Henry Greenberger, Cleveland; Louis Wiethe. Cincinnati;
Mrs. Erva Swysgood. office secretary, and Robert Wile, executive secretary.
BOXOFFICE :: January 21. 1956
ME 67

. . Rex
. . Theatremen
DETROIT
Tick and Gladys Smuklrr sent greetings from
London. Ky . where they have been visiting
her family for a week, after a vacation in
Central Florida, where Jack's sister has been
quite ill . . . Nightingale notes—Roy Thompson
really hit Into the plus scores with his
powerful 652. Jack Colwell is minus on the
scores, and secretary Floyd Akins says his
Robert Bloch Is a
eyes aren't open yet . . .
new member of the league, succeeding Jack
Yelllch, who had to give up his post because
of his wife's Illness. She is back home and
was able to go out to call on Mr. and Mrs.
Edgar Douville the other day.
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. . . Jerry
This scribe can now claim to be "of age."
Next Wednesday ( 25) is the 21st anniversary
of his appointment as Detroit representative
for BOXOFFICE . . . Ted Levy, manager for
Walt Disney Productions, is putting in two
Mrs. Helen
weeks in the Cleveland office . . .
Hayden, owner of the Dundee, Dundee, and
Mrs. Herbert Fox, Fox, Mason, were In town
Monday to make it a real ladies day on Filmrow
. Kinnie of the Lyons at South
Lyons was another visitor . . . Burt London
luis moved to East Jefferson
Gross, United Artists salesman, Is slated to
marry Maurie Silver April 29.
. . .
Sol Gordon is arranging the first showing of
55mm Cinemascope Jan. 26 ... A. C. Schmidt
of the Hudson, Hudson, has bought a lumber
yard Manny Youngerman, salesman for
United Artists, is being transferred to the
Bob Pennell of Bronson
New York office . . .
and James Olson of Clare were Row visitors
from upstate.
Alex Jagmin of T. Jagmin, Inc., theatrical
decorator, has completed redecoration of the
Lake, Walled Lake, which burned, with damage
reported at $80,000, last October. Owner is
Bud Harris.
COLUMBUS
Jtforman Nadel, theatre editor of the Columbus
Citizen, selected 13 films on his "ten
best" list for 1955. "It seemed impossible
to cut the list to ten without omitting certain
types of movies that deserved to be included,"
Nadel said. The list includes: Marty,
Bad Day at Black Rock, Love Me or Leave
Me, East of Eden, One Summer of Happiness,
The Phenix City Story, Romeo and
Juliet, The View From Pompey's Head. Mister
Roberts, A Man Called Peter, The Country
Girl, Blackboard Jungle and The Bridges at
Toko-Ri.
. .
"Guys and Dolls" started a fourth week at
the Palace . "The African Lion" continued
at a good pace at the World in its fourth
week . were cheered by population
growth figures for Columbus and Franklin
county just released by the Columbus
Chamber of Commerce. Columbus now has
430,755 citizens and the county, including
metropolitan Columbus, has 607,890. The
rate of increase over 1950 census figures for
the city is 14.6 per cent and 21 per cent for
the county.
Manager Walter Kessler of Loew's Ohio has
arranged with Civitas, independent men's organization
at Ohio State University, for Cyd
Charisse and Dan Dailey, stars of "Meet Me
in Las Vegas," to choose the queen of the
organization's first annual Mardi Gras costume
ball. Photos of semifinalists will be submitted
to the stars. Costumes to be worn at
the ball will be types one would expect to
see in Las Vegas.
Harry Hobolth Dies;
Theatreman 43 Years
DETROIT—Harry Hobolth, a well-known
Michigan theatre operator for 43 years, died
from a heart attack January 8 while driving
to Florida.
Hobolth's 43rd anniversary
party was reported
in these columns
last fall. He
opened the Crescent In
Marlette in 1912, shortly
after adding the
local Fairy Theatre to
his holdings. In 1913
and 1914 he toured the
state with portable
motion picture equipment.
By 1916 his clr-
Harry Hobolth cint included houses in
Imlay City, Cass City, Caro, North Branch,
Owosso, Brown City, Holly and Capae. He
disposed of most of these in 1932. At the time
of his death he owned the DeLuxe in Imlay
City, where he resided, and the Midway in
Davison.
Hobolth was a director of the Allied Theatres
of Michigan for 17 years. He is survived
by his widow and son John, who manages
the DeLuxe.
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Better than ever before (and that's going
some) this new projector reflects more than
30 years of leadership in the development
and production of cinematic equipment. It
again demonstrates CENTURY'S intent to
utilize the latest in scientific advances for
the benefit of the exhibitor.
NEW non-conde/ising water-cooled aperture easily
changeable for all of the new screen dimensions.
It increases screen illumination and reduces film
distortion.
NEW light shields designed to accommodate latest
high-intensity arc
lamps.
NEW lens mount with adapters for all standard
lenses, large and small. The mount incorporates an
easy-focusing device for high speed lenses.
NEW enlarged observation door affording clear
view of film.
NEW main drive shaft eliminates pinion and stud
unit at soundhead coupling. Provides a more positive
trouble-free .drive.
Be sure to see CENTURY'S new heavy duty film magazine.
Much more convenient to use, for they are equipped with
side viewing windows and much larger hinges to provide
better door support.
Make no mistake, see CENTURY before you buy.
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Akron 10, Ohio
Theatre Equipment Co.
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BOXOFFICE :: January 21, 1956 69

. . Jack
. . Herb
.
,
0rwe-«n.»«*«
CLEVELAND
. . . Paul
rjnlfctl Artists Manager Danny Rosenthal
and his wife celebrated their 21st wedding
anniversary on Friday the 13th
Vogel, Wellsville exhibitor, goes back into
uniform February 1 for four weeks to serve
as Instructor in the Army staff school at Ft.
Henry Greonberger. Community
Meade. Md. . . .
circuit executive and president of the
Cleveland Motion Picture Exhibitors Ass'n.,
leaves this week with his wife to spend the
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next two months in Florida . Horstemeier,
buyer-booker for independent theatres,
didn't make it to Florida as previously announced.
His wife took sick while en route,
and they headed back home where she was
laid up several weeks with a virus infection . . .
Mr. and Mrs. Milt Mooney of Cooperative
Theatres are expected back from their Mediterranean
trip early in February.
Kirkio Labowitch has started her 24th year
as secretary of the Cleveland Motion Picture
Exhibitors Ass'n . . . Jack Ochs and his tribe
of five youngsters are back from two weeks
in Florida visiting the Herb Ochses . . . Dave
Canton of the RKO publicity staff was here
with Margaret O'Brien and her mother .
Jack Sogg, MGM manager, has been named
distributor chairman for Brotherhood Week
... In the making is a testimonial industry
affair for Ray Schmertz, recently promoted
to 20th-Fox manager in Indianapolis. Irving
Marcus of NSS is in charge of arrangements.
When on Filmrow have a look at the 24-
sheet display on "I'll Cry Tomorrow" in the
MGM exchange. It takes up almost the entire
side wall and is in line with the branch's
policy of using all possible display space to
sell its product . Gertz of Gertz Enterprises
has on display a new set of dishes
for giveaway promotion in theatres . . . "The
Man With the Golden Arm," booked into
Loew's houses, will play locally and in all area
key situations the week of January 25, according
to UA Manager Danny Rosenthal.
. . George
Sam Schultz, Allied Artists manager, is being
honored for his 20 years with AA and
its forerunner, Monogram Pictures, in the
AA March of Progress Drive starting January
28 . . . Columbia's "Picnic" has a February
22 opening date at the Hippodrome . . .
Walter Steuve, Findlay exhibitor, made it to
Filmrow in spite of ice and snow .
Wakeley, Limelite, Woodville, was a patient
in St. Charles Hospital, Toledo, for surgery . .
Frank Slavik, Capitol, Mount Gilead, was on
Filmrow looking for Frank Slavik of the
Mumac, Middlefield. They are the twins (not
related) with the same name, same height
and same number of years in the picture
business . . Leroy Kendis of Associated circuit
.
and his family moved into their new
home on North Park boulevard in Shaker
Heights.
Schools and Theatres Join
To Combat Hooliganism
YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO—The Motion Picture
Council of Youngstown held a special
meeting Monday (16) to discuss a program
to combat the unwarranted boisterousness of
teenagers in neighborhood theatres. The program,
launched by the council in cooperation
with the Youngstown public and parochial
schools, was reportedly showing progress.
Speakers at the meeting included Herman
Heller of the Foster Theatre, speaking
for the managers; John Olejar of the police
department, and Paul Luce, principal of
Chaney High School, for the schools.
Raymond Schmertz Named
Fox Indianapolis Manager
CLEVELAND—Raymond Schmertz, 20th-
Fox city sales manager, has been promoted
to manager of the 20th-Fox office in Indianapolis,
succeeding Robert Conn, who steps
up to the position of assistant manager in
Chicago.
Schmertz has been with 20th-Fox for 19
years. He joined the company in 1937 following
his graduation from high school. His
first position was as assistant poster clerk
working under Nate Scott, who now Is In
the insurance business. From assistant poster
clerk, Schmertz worked up through the various
departments, becoming salesman, and
for the last three years, sales manager.
The promotion became effective January 9.
No successor to Schmertz in the Cleveland
exchange has yet been appointed.
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70
BOXOFTICE :: January 21, 1956
1

Bad Winter Storms
Hurt Boston Scores
BOSTON—The season's worst ice storm
and several days of rain and high winds
caused weekend boxoffice receipts to drop,
although suburban business picked up. The
roads and sidewalks were so treacherous that
the suburbanites did not come into town on
Sunday, thus helping the neighborhoods. "The
Rains of Ranchipur" was the standout for the
week in the first runs with "The Naked
Street" a pleasant surprise at the twin Paramount
and Fenway theatres.
(Average Is 100)
Astor—Guys and Dolls (MGM), 9th wk 110
Beacon Hill The African Lion (BV), 4th wk 100
Boston Cinerama Holiday (Cinerama), 1 9th wk.. .110
Exeter Street— Lease of Life (IFE), 3rd wk 105
Kenmore— I Am a Camera (DCA), 2nd wk 135
Memorial All That Heaven Allows (U-l), 2nd wk.. 90
Metropolitan The Roins of Ranchipur (20th-Fox) . 1 25
Paramount and Fenway The Naked Street (UA);
Top Gun (UA) 115
State and Orpheum The Indian Fighter (UA);
Break to Freedom (UA), 2nd wk 90
"Last Frontier' Grosses 125
To Lead in New Haven
NEW HAVEN—Three of the four major
downtowners reported receipts 10 to 25 per
cent above normal. "The Last Frontier"
brought the largest return.
Loew's College— Inside Detroit (Col); Houston
Story (Col) 115
Paramount The Spoilers (U-l); Fighting Chance
(Rep) 1 10
Loew's Poll The Last Frontier (Col); Teenage
Crime Wove (Col) 125
Roger Sherman The Court-Martial of Billy
Mitchell (WB), 2nd wk 90
Philip Smith Heads NE Variety Tent
BOSTON—Philip Smith, president of Smith
Management Co., has taken over as chief
barker of the Variety Club of New England.
He succeeds Walter A. Brown, president of
the Boston Garden, the Boston Bruins and
the Boston Celtics, who had held the office
for the last five years. Brown has been appointed
Variety Clubs International canvasman.
Other officers are Michael Redstone, president
of Redstone Drive-in Theatres, and
Kenneth Douglas, president of Capitol Theatre
Supply, vice-presidents; William S.
Koster, executive director; James Marshall,
treasurer; George Roberts, secretary. Directors
elected were Richard Berenson, Reuben
Landau, Arthur H. Lockwood, James Mahoney.
Benn Rosenwald, James Stoneman and
Arnold Van Leer.
Shown above are the new officers and crew.
Standing are Mahoney, Stoneman, Lockwood.
Douglass, Smith, Walter A. Brown, Murray
Weiss, Theodore Fleisher and Louis Gordon.
Seated are Benn Rosenwald, Reuben Landau,
George Roberts, Michael Redstone, Marshall
and Van Leer.
Stormy Week Cuts Grosses
In Providence Houses
PROVIDENCE—With business so good that
four attractions were held for a second week,
a sudden ice storm, followed by high winds
and heavy rain, caused a sharp decrease in
grosses. What loomed as another banner week
was almost washed out by the torrential
downpour. Despite this and because of an
excellent start at the beginning of the weekend,
four first runs were able to report betterthan-average
business. "All That Heaven
Allows." running for a second week at the
Albee, reported 130.
Albee All That Heaven Allows (U-l), 2nd wk..,130
Avon The African Lion (BV), 2nd wk 120
Loew's The Indian Fighter (UA), 2nd wk 100
Majestic The Court-Mortiai of Billy Mitchell
(WB), 2nd wk 105
Strand The Last Frontier (Col) 90
Fourth Week of "Dolls' Holds
Lead in Hartford
HARTFORD—"Guys and Dolls" continued
as downtown Hartford's bright spot. The
MGM release, playing at $1.40 top, went
into a fourth, brisk week at the 1,200-seat
Parsons.
Allyn—All That Heaven Allows (U-l), 2nd wk...l40
Art The Bed (Getz-Kingsley), 7th wk 90
E. M. Loew Houston Story \Col), Fury at
Gunsight Poss (Col) 110
Palace Code Two (MGM); Wild One (Col),
reissues 1 25
Parsons Guys and Dolls (MGM), 4th wk 220
Poll Kismet (MGM); Alias John Preston (SR)..105
Strand The Spoilers (U-l); Dig That Uranium
(AA) 100
Bronstein Back From Trip
HARTFORD—A. J. "Jack" Bronstein, president
of Bronstein Drive-in Enterprises, returned
from a business trip to Scranton, Pa.,
and Trenton, N. J. The Bronstein interests
are building drive-ins, with capacity for 1.000
cars, in the aforementioned communities.
New Theatre Site Law
Passed by Committee
NEW HAVEN—An ordinance which would
give the city regulation over the location of
theatres and other enterprises that charge
admission has been approved by the committee
on ordinances of the board of aldermen.
The legislation must now be sanctioned by
a majority of the full board before it becomes
law.
The regulation would require both the board
of zoning appeals and the board of police commissioners
to pass on the "suitability of location"
of any place of assembly for 50 or more
persons, where admission is charged.
Introduced by Alderman Robert Vogel several
months ago, the proposal is delaying construction
of an open-air theatre which the
E. M. Loew organization plans here. Building
Inspector Henry Falsey withdrew a permit
which he issued to Loew, pending aldermanic
action on Vogel's petition. Subsequently, Loew
instituted superior court action to force
Falsey to release the permit.
The court has not yet acted on Loew's request
for a writ of mandamus. It was not
immediately determined what effect, if any,
the ordinance would have on the Loew
project.
At a public hearing preceding the vote of
the committee on ordinances. Lester H.
Aaronson, attorney for Loew, said the law
would be unconstitutional because it set up
arbitrary power and had no provisions for
appeals from decisions.
Aaronson said his client paid $100,000 for
property where it proposes to erect a drive-in.
He said the legislation is "discriminatory"
against his client. He urged the committee
to obtain a legal opinion before it acted. The
committee, however, approved the ordinance
in executive session.
John Houseman to Direct
Shakespeare Festival
BRIDGEPORT—John Houseman, MGM director,
has been given a leave of absence by
the studio to become artistic director during
the coming season at the American Shakespeare
Festival Theatre in nearby Stratford.
In addition to having complete artistic
charge, Houseman will direct two plays. The
theatre's second season will open early in
June.
Eye Raffles in Ontario
TORONTO—In a general tightening of laws
and regulations around the province following
a wave of traffic fatalities, crime and
violence, the authorities have started to clamp
down on raffles for automobiles. At Whitby.
Prosecutor Alex Hall issued a warning
January 13 that he would no longer tolerate
the raffling of cars by service clubs and other
organizations. Other forms of gambling, such
as bingo games, are engaging the attention
of provincial officials. Study is being given
to jackpot stunts on radio.
Interview Lillian
Roth
HARTFORD — Floyd Fitzgibbons. MGM
field exploitation department, set up a phone
interview with Lillian Roth, subject of "I'll
Cry Tomorrow." for local drama critics. Film's
opening has not been set as yet here.
"Little Tin Qoddess," Louis Stevens' original,
has been acquired by B&B Co.
BOXOFFICE :: January 21, 1956
NE 71

for
i
i
itjiirii
. . Ann
Rhode Island Jimmy Fund
Collections to New High
PROVIDENCE—Rhode Island theatremen
once again sparked the Jimmy Fund campaign
to new heights, according to a report by
Edward M. Fay. dean of local showmen and
I
State the fund. Contributions
in this State for the 1955 drive totaled $31,161,
which topped the 1954 total by $1,530.
The fund, which is dedicated to the study
and treatment of cancer among children, saw
43 theatres throughout Rhode Island donating
$15,874.32.
Fay said public response was particularly
gratifying, since many of the drive activities
planned by the theatres had to be canceled
because of the severe storms which swept this
state in September. The monies raised by
the theatres came from audience contributions,
for the most part, while the balance
was raised through tag days, sporting events,
donations by state and city employes and
various industrial plants, the Narragansett
Racing Ass'n. special mail solicitation, containers
placed in retail outlets by the Coca-
Cola Bottling Co. and Narragansett Brewing
Co. employes and other activities. All services
were contributed without compensation by
people of the theatrical and sports world.
participate
The Jimmy Fund was invited to
in the United Fund Appeal, but local exhibitors,
wishing to preserve their identity,
declined.
The usual lively competition among houses
in various cities highlighted the 1955 drive.
In Providence, the Strand romped off with
first honors, collecting $2,350.77; the Majestic
was second, with $1,193.19. The Leroy in Pawtucket,
with $383.04 topped the Strand's total
of $298.80. In Woonsocket, the Stadium
garnered first honors with $223.77, nosing out
the Bijou which reported $200 even. Cranston's
Auto Theatre in that city collected
$516.12; next closest being the Palace with
$165.80. A close battle resulted in Newport,
with the Opera House reporting $735.67 and
the Strand $714.
Leaders among suburban houses, drive-ins,
and neighborhoods, were the following:
Musical, Warwick, $750; Pike Drive-In, John-
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ston. $625.66: Rustic Drive-in, North Smithtield,
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Si 111 th field. $561.25, and Casino. Narragansett
Pier, $532.55.
Officials of the Cancer Research Foundation,
and others, paid tribute to Rhode Island
for their efforts in surmounting
almost impossible obstacles in setting a new
record. The results achieved were lauded
as all the more remarkable inasmuch as this
area was raked by a series of violent storms
right in the middle of the campaign. Furthermore,
several communities, particularly the
Woonsocket area, suffered terrific losses as
floodwaters virtually isolated the business
districts.
PROVIDENCE
The Majestic offered a special one-day prerelease
preview of "The Lieutenant Wore
Skirts." Taking off the current attraction,
the Washington street house set aside all day
Saturday for the presentation. Seven screenings
were given, with the last complete show
starting at midnight . . . This
city may be
included in the plan to bring the live, professional
theatre to leading communities by
the American National Theatre and Academy
1ANTA1. according to recent reports. Providence
is noted as an enthusiastic live theatre
town.
Virginia Mary Aiken, daughter of the
BOXOFFICE Rhode Island correspondent,
and William Albert Hughes of the Army exchanged
marriage vows in a ceremony at St.
Raymond's Church recently. Following a
wedding reception at the Lindsay, where some
150 relatives and friends were in attendance,
the couple left for a honeymoon in New
York. The bridegroom is attached to the
paratroopers division at Ft. Bragg, N. C. . . .
Midnight shows on both New Year's Eve
and New Year's Day at downtown first runs
and a few neighborhood houses were, for the
most part, well patronized. New Year's Day
afforded exhibitors a double opportunity to
cash in on their holiday attractions. Theatremen
are laying plans for their participation
in the March of Dimes drive. A kickoff
luncheon will be held in the Sheraton-
Biltmore Hotel when final plans will be
made for theatre audience participation and
other facets of the program Both the
Castle and Hope, Lockwood
. . .
and Gordon
neighborhood operations recently ran Mickey
Mouse cartoon carnivals, with free comicbooks
and favors for all children attending.
Ernest A. Grecula Joins
Alexander as Salesman
HARTFORD—Ernest A. Grecula, for nine
years manager of the Hartford Theatre
circuit's Colonial and also advertising-publicity
manager for the circuit, has joined
Alexander Film Co. as a Connecticut salesman.
He is working out of his home at 24
Lawrence Ave. in suburban Avon. After
leaving the HTC, Grecula worked for independent
exhibition in Connecticut.
NEW HAVEN
•The new 20th-Fox .55 millimeter film will be
demonstrated for Connecticut exhibitors
at Loews Poli here at 10 a. m. February 7
. . . Jim Darby, manager of the downtown
Paramount, was in Boston to discuss promotion
of "Dark Venture" with Bob Sternburg,
new district manager for New England
Theatres, and representatives of the
Eden Distributing Co. The jungle drama
opens at the Paramount February 15.
Cy O'Toolc, director of sound and maintenance
at the SW New England zone office,
became a grandfather for the first time when
his daughter Mrs. Kathleen Rich of Washington
became mother of a boy, named
Christopher . Shapiro, Loew's College
cashier, was hospitalized for an operation.
. . The
Al Rothschild, district manager for National
Screen Service, was in town .
Whalley Theatre has been rented for allday
showings of "Trouble Along the Way."
with proceeds to go to the Dominican nuns
whose North Guilford monastery was destroyed
in a December 23 fire. Three nuns
died in the blaze. The 39 who escaped are
planning to rebuild.
Harry Feinstein, SW zone manager, and
Jim Totman, assistant manager, spent two
days at the New York home office for policy
20th-Fox and Loew's College
meetings . . .
gave a $100 cash prize in connection with
"The Deep Blue Sea" for the best answer
to the question, "How would you have advised
Vivien Leigh to handle her personal
problems?"
Don't sit back
STRIKE BACK!
'®^
AMERICAN
Give to
CANCER SOCIETY
72 BOXOFFICE :: January 21, 1956

.
• .....
.
OuttAutef ~$&n. a£t/
The/V^W /VifKCENTURY
projector mechanism is
big news for exhibitors
%e>£^
Better than ever before (and that's going
some) this new projector reflects more than
30 years of leadership in the development
and production of cinematic equipment. It
again demonstrates CENTURY'S intent to
utilize the latest in scientific advances for
the benefit of the exhibitor.
NEW non-condensing water-cooled aperture easily
changeable for all of the new screen dimensions.
It increases screen illumination and reduces film
distortion.
NEW light shields designed to accommodate latest
high-intensity arc lamps.
NEW lens mount with adapters for all standard
lenses, large and small. The mount incorporates an
easy-focusing device for high speed lenses.
NEW enlarged observation door affording clear
view of film.
NEW main drive shaft eliminates pinion and stud
unit at soundhead coupling. Provides a more positive
trouble-free drive.
Be sure to see CENTURY'S new heavy duty film magazine.
Much more convenient to use, for they are equipped with
side viewing windows and much larger hinges to provide
better door support.
•&rfss*
Make no mistake, see CENTURY before you buy.
Century Projector Corporation, new york 19, n. t.
SOLD BY
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.':' :.;.; •• ...... •
;
.
... .. ...
BOXOFTICE January 21, 1956
73

Hj
. . Homer
. . Two
. . M.
BOSTON
Tn the realigning of district managership
duties in New England Theatres chain, the
three district manager ,
line. Bob Sternburn
and Chester Stoddard, have had their
territories altered. H> Fine now heads the
theatres in Boston, the Metropolitan, Paramount
and Fenway; two theatres in Dorer,
one in Newton and one in All-tun
Robert Sternburg has the theatres in Connecticut
and Massachusetts once
handled by Harry Browning, theatres
in Hartford and New Haven, Conn.,
and those m Springfield. Worcester, Pittsfield
and Holyoke, as well as retaining his
former theatres in Brockton and in Pawtucket.
New Bedlord and Newport, R. I.
Chester Stoddard had added houses in
Chelsea. Dover, N. H .. and Bane, Vt., in
addition to his regular theatres In Bangor,
Westbrook, Bath and Waterville, Me., and
those in Lowell and Haverhill, Mass.
Allied Artists, headed by publicist Harry
Goldstein, held a large press, radio and TV
luncheon at the Ritz Carlton Hotel to honor
Fred MacMurray and his wife June Haver.
The -star was here to plug his AA film, "At
Gunpoint." During the interview. MacMurray
said that although he has three first run
films opening simultaneously in three downtown
theatres in Boston the situation is
purely coincidental. "I made 'The Rains of
Ranchipur' for 20th-Fox several months ago
and 'There's Always Tomorrow' for Universal
before that. It just happened that my three
vehicles were released at the same time."
He admitted liking to do westerns, but also
stated that "Double Indemnity" was his
favorite role. "It was my first dramatic role
and perhaps that's the reason why," he said.
"But I would like to do a sophisticated
comedy part for my next film."
Faith Bebchick of Brookline, daughter of
Benjamin Bebchick, sales manager at MGM,
will be married in June to S. Jerome Zackin
of Waterbury, Conn. Faith is a graduate of
Jackson College. Her fiance is attending
Harvard dental school after his graduation
from Wesleyan College . . . Maurice "Bucky"
Harris, publicist, is subbing at the Universal
exchange for John McGrail, who is recovering
from a recent hospitalization. Bucky's
first film press affair was to introduce Helen
Rose, author and lecturer on family problems,
who is touring the country for U-I in connection
with "There's Always Tomorrow."
He is also working on promotional plans for
"The Benny Goodman Story" in the New
England area.
.
.
Sam Nyer, head of the Nyer circuit of
Bangor, Me., has returned to his home after
two months in New York City. He operates
three theatres and two drive-ins In the
Bangor area Ribinson has closed
the Park, Southwest Harbor, Me. I.
Ruttenberg, premium man. has .sold a dinnerware
deal to Al Lourie for his Adams, Dorchester.
American Theatres Corp. and the Walt
Disney Studios are sponsoring a "Trip to
Disneyland" for a boy and girl 12 years old
or younger. The winners, each accompanied
by a parent, will be given a five-day, allexpense
trip to California and return on a
TWA Skyliner durmg the no-school week in
April. The contest is effective at 25 ATC
suburban theatres at the Saturday afternoon
children's matinee from January 7 through
March 10. Besides the grand prizes, there
will be 22 weekly prizes and a special prize
for children attending all ten shows.
LYNN
Joseph Sandler, owner of Kiddy Ranch. Saugus,
and former manager of the Kenmore
Theatre, Boston, died January 3 at a Boston
hospital from injuries received in an auto
accident last July . E. M. Loew's managers,
Winslow Allen of the Capitol and
Henry J. Chapman of the Salem, took vacations
in January. Chapman and his wife
went to Florida.
Manager James Davis of the Paramount
was on a Kiwanis Club committee that entertained
the school home classes, and on an
Elks Club committee which was host to 2.000
underprivileged children at Christmas and
New Year's parties at his theatre.
Hartford State Closed;
To Be Reopened Soon
HARTFORD—Connecticut's only combination
motion picture-vaudeville house, the
4,200-seat State here, was closed last weekend,
with Harris Bros., operators and owners,
expecting to announce reopening plans soon.
The theatre has been running Saturday and
Sunday name vaudeville with subsequent run
films. On several occasions in past seasons,
the theatre has been forced to shutter for
several weekends because of unavailability of
name attractions.
HANDY

Pioneers io Induct 12
At Banquet on Jan. 23
TORONTO—Twelve candidates will be inducted
at the 15th annual meeting and banquet
of the Canadian Picture Pioneers January
23 at the King Edward Hotel. President
Nat A. Taylor will be toastmaster and
chairman and Dan Krendel will be ceremonial
director. The inductees:
Jack Barker, William H. Devitt. Jack
Clarke and Larry Stephens of Toronto: Harry
W. Braden and Lloyd M. Taylor, Hamilton;
Peter Jackson. Levack, Ont.: Guy Mascioli,
Sudbury; John Poole, Oakville; T. R.
Porter, Gore Bay; T. R. Tubman, Ottawa,
and Robert J. Martin, Montreal.
The business session will get under way at
4 p. m. The dinner will start at 7.
Taylor, chief of the 20th Century Theatres,
has served as CPP president for two
years, Morris Stein of Famous Players is
vice-president and Tom Daley, manager of
the University Theatre, Toronto, is secretarytreasurer
and coordinator of the annual
festivities.
During the business meeting a report will
be received from the trustees on the year's
operations of the Pioneers benevolent fund
which looks after the needy among those who
have served the film industry in Canada.
Only the fund administrators know the
identity of those who receive assistance.
'Desperate Hours' Leads
Grosses at Toronto
TORONTO—"The Desperate Hours" was
the week's leader among the major theatres,
bringing a substantial percentage to
the coffers of the Imperial. "Guys and Dolls"
stood up to a fourth week at the Odeon while
other engagements for a like period were
"Doctor at Sea" at the Hyland and "The
African Lion" at the Towne.
(Average Is 100)
Eglinton, University The Deep Blue Sea
(20th-Fox) 115
Hyland Doctor at Sea (JARO), 4th wk 105
Imperial The Desperate Hours (Para) 160
Loew's Man With the Gun (UA) 1 55
Nortown Artists and Models (Para) 110
Odeon Guys and Dolls (MGM), 4th wk 110
Shea's The Rains of Ranchipur (20th-Fox), 3rd
wk 105
Towne—The African Lion (E-U), 4th wk 1 00
Uptown The Spoilers (U-l), 2nd wk 105
'Lion'
Makes 'Excellent'
Showing at Vancouver
VANCOUVER—Business was a bit better
at downtown spots, although far from strong
generally.
Capitol The Deep Blue Sea (20th-Fox) Fair
Cinema Artists and Models (Para), 3rd d.t
wk
Good
Orpheum The Rains of Ranchipur (20th-Fox). .
.Good
Paradise Tarantula (U-l) Fair
Plaza The Spoilers (U-l), 2nd wk Fair
Strand The African Lion (Buena Vista) .... Excellent
Studio The Sheep Has Five Legs (UMPO),
3rd wk
Fair
Vogue Guys and Dolls (MGM), 3rd wk Good
Benefit at Brantford
TORONTO—The first stage-screen benefit
show of the season for the Variety Village
school was sponsored by the Brantford Theatre
Managers Ass'n at the FPC Capitol Sunday
night (15), where Bill Burke is manager.
Handling the vaudeville program was Gerald
Peters, onetime manager of the Toronto
Odeon and now producer of his own TV
show.
This Is Tax Fight Month'
For Manitoba Showmen
WINNIPEG—January has been designated
"amusement tax fight" month by President
Ben Sommers, and the Manitoba Motion
Picture Exhibitors Ass'n has stepped its
campaign into high gear for a final "big
push" just before the Manitoba legislature
convenes early in February.
Barney Brookler is touring the province
all month on behalf of the MMPEA to explain
to exhibitors how to actively aid the
campaign. Exhibitors in the following towns
were urged to give Brookler complete cooperation
if the overall campaign is to be
successful: Carman. Manitou, Morden. Pilot
Mound, Cartwright, Killarney, Boissevain,
Deloraine, Melita, Reston. Hartney, Souris,
Brandon, Wawanesa, Glenboro, Holland. Elkhorn,
Gladstone, Russell, Neepawa, Dauphin.
Ethelbert. Ste. Rose, Winnipegosis, Gilbert
Plains, Grandview, Roblin, Swan River, Dominion
City, Emerson, Altona, Winkler, St.
Pierre and Pine Falls.
MAIL OUT BROCHURES
To pave the way for the missionary work
involved, public relations chairman Harold
A. Bishop prepared, and mailed out a communication,
entitled "How Important Is the
Movie Theatre to Your Community?" This
literature was addressed personally to 2,200
retail
merchants throughout rural Manitoba,
chairmen of Retail Merchants Ass'ns, 90
Boards of Trade and Chambers of Commerce,
60 members of the legislative assembly, 80
bank managers of country banks, 50 editors
of weekly country newspapers as well as every
exhibitor in the province, with an accompanying
letter from the MMPEA president explaining
portions of the program.
AIMED AT BUSINESSMEN
Major portions of the handbill, aimed at
the business people in small communities,
reads: "'Let's go to the movies!' How often
have you heard that familiar phrase? The
movie theatre is an important cog in community
life, offering relaxation and enjoyment
to all at a lower cost than any other
form of paid entertainment. A town with a
picture show is a live town, and a motion
picture theatre, by constantly bringing people
into shopping districts acts as a vital, but
usually unrecognized contributor to local
trade. If you didn't have a movie theatre,
what kind of a town would your town be?
The existence of many movie theatres in
Manitoba is threatened by the continuation
of the amusement tax—which ranges up to
17% per cent. The Boards of Trade and
Chambers of Commerce in all communities
in Manitoba can sponsor a resolution to get
this burdensome war time tax removed!"
Illustrations accompanying this text show
the contrast on the Main street of a small
town when the theatre is in operation and
when it is closed. When the theatre is open
the street is lively, people are looking into
the hardware store windows and patronizing
the cafe nearby. With the theatre closed,
not only does the theatre suffer, but it is
quite apparent in the second illustration
that all other businesses are affected correspondingly.
Never one to mince words. MMPEA President
Sommers wrote to each individual ex-
HOW IMPORTANT
IS

. . . The
. . The
. . Wally
. .
I
forces.
. . Manager
. . Eddie
VANCOUVER
T loyd Bradley lias opened his new Lyric In
. .
Moo.-omin. Sa^k., the only house In
fanning community It replaces the old
an outdated house Four former
Odeon circuit managers Albert Mil
Rod Fisher. Tommy Cook and Denny YA
now selling cars in the Vancouver ana
Pi Paradise Valley,
Alta.. a 200-seater, v, tyed by fire.
Bob Kraser of the Odeon is West Vancouver
was placed In charge of the downtown
Paradise, subbing tor ailing Art Graburn .
jimmy Webster, former assistant at the fpc
Capitol, is now with Odeon in the same caat
the Vague . Hopp. Cinema
manager, was the winner of an electric razor
for the top sales of popcorn in the recent
t. The shaver was donated by the Harlan
Fairbanks B. C. popcorn distributors.
Dave Fairleigh, manager of Dominion
Theatre Equipment, has recently installed
Cinemascope and widescreens at Ocean
Falls. Alert Bay and Bella Coola theatres,
all upcoast from Vancouver . . . Peter Stanley
has replaced Sam Shaw as assistant at the
Studio Theatre. Shaw recently went with
TV station CBUT . Community League
of Tofield. Alta., has opened its $70,000 Community
Center which includes a 325-seat
theatre, replacing the old theatre which was
destroyed by fire last year.
Dave Borland, Dominion Theatre manager,
is now in his 33rd year with Famous Players.
He was at Regina. Prince Rupert, Nanaimo
and Victoria before becoming a fixture at
the Dominion here . . . Cecil Hughes, manager
of the FPC in Nelson, is the secretary of
the Nelson hockey team .
. . Philip Gilbert.
a local boy now making good via a seven-year
contract with JARO in London, was here on
a vacation.
Good news for exhibitors here w-as the rejection
of a plea by a number of small community
centers for a reduction in the $100
fee for social club licenses required for playing
bingo—direct competition for local theatres
With a majority of voters favoring
. . . Sunday sports, and the transfer of the Oakland
Coast League charter to Vancouver, the
city council has asked the B. C. legislature
i tar
FOR
SALE "m,*^
YES! 10,000 LATE MODEL
USED OR RECONDITIONED
Also new British-Luxury Choirs available
THEATRE
CHAIRS
Spring edge steel bottom seat cushions ond
fully upholstered backs—spring back types also.
Carpeting, asphalt, rubber, Vinyl tiles and
linoleum.
WE ARE FACTORY AGENTS-
AT BARGAIN PRICES
Drop us a line—we will give you photographs
and full information.
LA SALLE"
RECREATIONS, Ltd.
Theatre Chairs. Carpet. Linoleum and Tile Division.
945 GRANVILLE ST., VANCOUVER
MARINE 5034-5428
to amend the city charter, which comes
tedei .1 Lord's Day act.
\n exhibitor from a small B. C. corns'
-aui here recently that, though
an better than formerly, theatremen here
ill faced with too many costume picand
too many films featuring the u. S.
After all, he pointed out, this
i a British country.
B. ('. Atty-Gen. Bonner announced the app
Intment 1 Basil Nixon as B. C. fire
shal, replacing William Walker who retired
at the end of the year. Nixon joined the
fire marshal's office In 1942 as Walker's
assistant. Theatre inspection is a part of the
tire mar hal's duties under B. C. fire protection
laws ... J. J. Fitzgibbons jr., head
of Theatre Confections, said there was a
great deal of truth in a remark made by an
exhibitor at a recent convention when he
said. ' I'd be closed if it weren't for the extra
dollars I receive from sales at my confection
bar."
OTT A W A
patronage was so good for "I Am a Camera"
at the Glebe that Manager Hye Bessin
continued the film for three extra days, matinees
only, when his booking commitment
required him to open with "An Evening of
Chekov," on a reserved seat basis at $1.50
top.
When Morris Berlin, owner of the Somerset
offered 'Children of Love" and "Barefoot
Savage." which he could not play at the
Saturday matinee because of censorship
regulations, he brought in a pair of action
pictures for the juveniles, then announced:
"Adults may see four features by coming
during the matinee and remaining for our
regular program starting at 5 p. m."
Patrick J. Nolan, mayor for three terms
died last week (ID. He owned three theatres,
two of which, the Nola and Rexy, have
been closed for some time . Jim
Chalmers of the Odeon held "Guys and Dolls"
for a fourth week at $1.50 top. Ernie Warren
of the Elgin got three weeks out of "Good
Morning, Miss Dove."
. . .
George J. Tustin, exhibitor at Picton, Ont,
has been named chief whip of the Conservatives
in the House of Commons, of which he
has been a member from the Prince Edward-
Lennox riding since 1935. Milton Gregg,
minister of labor in the Liberal government,
is a former theatre owner in the maritimes
Ross McLean, the former head of the
National Film Board, has gone to Karachi to
advise the government of Pakistan on the
establishment of a film-production organization
. . . The Ottawa Philharmonic orchestra
played its third concert on the 19th at the
FPC Capitol, managed by T. R. Tubman.
MGM Week in February
TORONTO — Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Pictures
of Canada will observe Canadian MGM
Week starting February 5 as part of a worldwide
MGM drive. "Our objective for this
week is to show MGM product on every
screen in Ontario and elsewhere during that
time." read an announcement from 340 Victoria
St. E. Grant of the 16mm department
also said, "We will be releasing 16mm versions
of all Cinemascope pictures in both
Cinemascope and flat."
WINNIPEG
^ipawin Theatres of Regina has dropped its
. .
idea of building a development that
would have included a theatre at a cost of
$800,000 on city-owned land that was to be
sold for $12,000. City officials withdrew the
offer from I. Reinhorn. president of the theatre
chain, when he offered to build apartments
instead of the original proposal
Manitoba Motion Picture Exhibitors
.
Ass'n
emissary Barney Brookler, who has been
commissioned by the association to tour the
province to explain how the small exhibitor
can help fight the amusement tax case, said
he had received unqualified cooperation from
every exhibitor he had visited. He said the
exhibitors were pleased to discover an avenue
of activity for themselves in the tax campaign,
and he said his visits were making exhibitors
more aware of the fine activities of
the MMPEA and more desirous of becoming
members of the organization.
Bill Novak's advance teaser ads for "I'll
Cry Tomorrow" coming to the Capitol featured
"Prediction for '56. 'I'll Cry Tomorrow'
will be the most memorable motion picture
of the year" ... A nice break for Eddie Newman
at the Met was the first chapter of the
serialization of "The Desperate Hours" appearing
on Saturday in the Free Press coincident
with the opening of the picture at
the Met.
Frank Morriss, Free Press columnist, termed
1955 an "excellent movie year" in a recent
column, and said that "the folks who have
stayed home to play pinochle, watch TV or
paper the parlor have missed some of the
most entertaining, provocative and tuneful
films in history." He continued: "Despite
the strictures of a self-imposed code, the
cries of the people who want to bind the industry
with the chains of their own personal
convictions, films have forged ahead. As an
art form, they rank as high, and sometimes
higher, as other art forms." Morriss listed
what he considered the ten best films of the
year. They were: The Bridges at Toko-Ri,
The Country Girl, Bad Day at Black Rock.
East of Eden, The Divided Heart, Marty, Gate
of Hell, The Sheep Has Five Legs and Guys
and Dolls. Ten others were listed as runnersup:
The Golden Coach, Romeo and Juliet, A
Star is Born, Carmen Jones, Blackboard
Jungle. A Man Called Peter, Mister Roberts,
Court-Martial, Summertime and Trial.
When the Toronto Foto-Nite group paid
out $7,900 in cash to a young lady recently,
a TV crew from CBC photographed the proceedings.
Later the newsclip appeared on
the CBC TV news on every government station
across Canada, including Vancouver.
Winnipeg. Toronto and Montreal. The Ottawa
Foto-Nite group was given the same
treatment by the CBC when it made a big
award recently . Newman, to emphasize
the type story showing at the Met—"The
Deep Blue Sea"—boxed a special announcement
in his opening ads, reading: "Not for
children. Please do not bring the children.
They will not understand the delicacy of this
theme or its implications."
Manager Leno Turaldo of the Capitol, Brandon,
a Famous Players house, received the
Foto-Nite January bulletin award for his
RCAF precision drill team contest, which
created tremendous goodwill and public relations
for the theatre.
76 BOXOFTICE :: January 21, 1956

. . Sam
. . The
Stratford Festival
Adds Films Event
TORONTO—Arrangements for a film festival
to be held in conjunction with the
Stratford Shakespearean Festival starting
June 18 were announced last week by Michael
Langham, a director.
Langham said the film festival, the first
of its kind in Canada, will comprise a repertory
of the best available pictures, both entertainment
and documentary, from various
countries for the last 50 years, during the
period in which recognized motion picture
theatres had operated.
The occasion will also be marked by the
presentation of the Canadian Film Awards
for pictures produced in Canada last year.
These are now being selected by a panel of
judges.
One of the stage actors at Stratford will be
Gratien Gelinas of Montreal, known professionally
as Fridolin, who produced "Ti-
Coq," a feature that captured the aw-ard of
Canadian Film of the Year in 1952. Fridolin
will appear in "Henry V" during the stage
festival, which will run for nine weeks.
TORONTO
Arch H. Jolley, executive secretary of the
Motion Picture Theatres Ass'n of Ontario,
who underwent an operation December
1 at St. Joseph's Hospital in Hamilton, returned
to his duties in Toronto last week (11)
on a half day basis for a start . . . Also
back in the business swing is Morris Stein,
eastern division manager of Famous Players,
after an illness . . . Bill Georgas, 37, of the
Classic at Owen Sound, suffered a broken
right leg while training for the Canadian
skiing championships. An outstanding skier,
he also is a golfing star and often has been
a trophy winner in the Canadian motion
picture golf championship at St. Andrews.
While playing "The Girl in the Red Velvet
Swing," Manager Michael King of the Nortown
reports a patron wrote to the newspaper
pointing out "The Unwritten Law," also based
on the Thaw-White case, was produced by the
California Motion Picture Corp. in 1916 . . .
Sam Glasier is arranging an invitation
screening at the Imperial February 1 of excerpts
from two 20th-Fox productions, "The
King and I" and "Carousel" in 55mm.
W. C. Tyers, recently promoted to Hamilton
zone supervisor of Canadian Odeon.
started in the theatre business here in 1928
as an usher at the FPC Runnymede. He
switched to Odeon 11 years ago as manager
of the Capitol at Niagara Falls. He is married
and the father of three girls. Barry
Carnon. who succeeds Tyers as manager of
the Toronto Hyland, formerly managed theatres
in Ottawa.
Manager Don Edwards of the FPC Tivoli,
Hamilton, arranged a tie-in with Hamilton
radio station CKOC for the stage presentation
of the CROC's Homemakers Holiday, in
which aspirants made a bid for an all-expense
trip to Bermuda. Edwards had "Artists
George D.
and Models" on the screen . . .
Thompson of St. Mary's is looking for a buyer
for his Lyric, a 370-seat house at Exeter, Ont.
MONTREAL
Three film world personalities were here;
David Knight, 26. JARO star; Larry
Parks, who had the starring role in "Teahouse
of the August Moon" at Her Majesty's
Theatre, then his wife Betty Garrett, star of
"My Sister Eileen." Knight recalled his motion
picture debut for Paramount Pictures in
Hollywood and then his start with the Rank
Organization in "Chance Meeting." He likes
working in British films, feeling that U. S.
actresses, particularly the film stars, run too
much to type. Betty Garrett was welcomed
by Tom Cleary of Consolidated Theatres. She
appeared on the stage of the Palace.
"This Is Cinerama" was continuing strong
at the Imperial Theatre here in its 55th week.
Reports circulated here are that "This Is
Cinerama" may go bilingual soon with a
French-language print. The report said that
the show here has grossed better than $650,-
000 when it passed its first year on December
27 last, and that it is figured good for another
six months or more before the second
vehicle, "Cinerama Holiday," takes over. The
use of the French print would probably extend
this.
Radio City Theatre and La Scala reported
good response to fine programs offered. La
Scala was presenting Luis Mariano's "Violettes
Imperiales" and Radio City had
Gratien Gelinas,
Fernandel's "Francois I" . . .
also known as Fridolin. is preparing a
revue for local presentation . National
Film Board has a crew working at the courthouse
on a documentary film which will be
called "The Jury." It will be a damatization
of a theme exploited by French Director
Andre Cayette. Reginald Boisvert, Montreal,
has written the scenario.
Delbert Buckley, after an absence of two
and a half years, will return here late January
to become salesman in the RKO office,
succeeding the late Harry Decker. Buckley
joined RKO in Saint John in 1947 as a booker,
and later was transferred to Montreal. In
1953. he left RKO to accept a position with
Columbia at Indianapolis. Ind. . . . Paramount
here, managed by Bob Murphy, won
first prize in the Barney Balaban drive.
Romeo Goudreau is salesman and William
Young is the booker.
The newer districts in the far north of
Quebec province are attracting new motion
picture outlets, and latest reports arriving
here indicate that Robert Galichon of Chibougamau
township, a community in a new
mining district, is the owner of a theatre
there called the Vimy. At Nouvelle, also in
that general area, the Centre de Loisirs
Theatre has been opened, owned by the parish
hall.
. . Georges Champagne,
Irving Herman, publicist for Warners in
Toronto, was at the local office, accompanied
by his small son . Jacobs, AA salesman,
left on a sales trip . . . The Avenue
Theatre, a UAC unit, featured "Marty," starring
Ernest Borgnine and Betsy Blair. The
Avenue presented the 1955 winner following
JARO's "Doctor at Sea" .
manager of a theatre chain at Shaw-
inigan Falls, was the first out-of-town exhibitor
to make his appearance on Filmrow
in the new year. Guy Bachand, owner of the
Rex and Premier of Sherbrooke, followed.
Old Victoria Is Sold,
To Be Parking Site
TORONTO—Sale of the downtown Victoria
by Famous Players Canadian to City Parking,
Ltd., as the site for a parking lot has
arou.-ed nostalgic comment on all sides and
much history of the old showplace has been
recalled by oldtimers.
Built in 1910 by Jerry and Mike Shea, the
house was originally called Shea's Vaudeville
Theatre. It flourished until 1926 with a twoa-day
performance schedule, which started
off with a news weekly known as the kinetograph,
accompanied by orchestral sound
effects.
After three years with stock companies,
Shea's closed following the market crash and
then came a period in which promoters used
the theatre for a miniature golf course and
an archery gallery with varying success. Occasional
stage companies used it as well.
World War II brought a revival in the
presentation of the "Canadian Army Show"
and "Meet the Navy," spectacular shows produced
by Jack Arthur of Famous Players,
after which it was converted into a motion
picture house. A memorable reopening, after
much renovating, was the Canadian premiere
of "Samson and Delilah," which ran for
eight weeks under the direction of Manager
Russ McKibbin, now manager of the big
Imperial here.
A number of big names played Shea's in
its heyday as a vaudeville house. They included
Ethel Barrymore. Gallagher and
Shean, Burns and Allen, Van and Joe
Schenck, Ethel Waters, Bob Hope, Edgar
Bergen, Jack Benny. Sophie Tucker, Fanny
Brice, George Jessel, Bill Robinson, Lulu
McConnell, Olsen and Johnson, Houdini,
Marx Bros, and some of the variety stars of
Europe.
Child Murder Arouses
Blast at TV, Screen, Stage
TORONTO—The murder of five-year-old
Susan Cadieux at London stirred up a vigorous
campaign, headed by Father Wilfred O'-
Rourke, a Catholic priest, against screen,
stage and television presentations for alleged
corruption of morals. The protests
were taken up by officials here of the Parents
Action League and the Catholic Women's
League, but replies came quickly from exhibitors,
the Canadian Broadcasting Corp.
and even the Ontario censor board.
Speaking for the theatres, Manager Ernie
Rawley of the Royal Alexandra, said the
"real villain" was the cheap pocket novel
with its lurid cover which could be freely
bought at many cigar and drug stores and
from newsstands.
"Anybody with 25c can wade through undesirable
literature," said Rawley. "Publications
with half-dressed girls are available to
youngsters and adults alike."
An inspector of the Ontario censor board
denied that any films shown in the province
were licentious. "I doubt seriously if any
picture which has appeared in Ontario can
be classed as indecent." he .said.
Ronald Fraser. a director of the CBC. expressed
surprise that Father O'Rourke had
included television in his complaints, declaring
"there is no actual board of censorship
for CBC television but if .something isn't
in good taste it gets the axe long before it
goes into the living room."
BOXOFTICE :: January 21. 1956 77

. .
1 iimiiiii
S. Harry Decker, who started his career
in the film business at the age of 13, died
at the age of 59 at Joseph de Beauce,
Que., where he had gone in his work as a
film salesman for RKO at Montreal.
Bijou at Winnipeg
Closed by Western
WINNIPEG—George Miles, president of
Western Theatres, has shuttered the Bijou
Theatre, main street first run located near
the city hall and owned jointly by Western,
Famous Players and Robert D. Hurwitz.
Shuttering of the Bijou follows by several
months the closing of the Crescent on Corydon
avenue.
"The shutdowns are considered temporary
by the theatre chain," Miles said, "and the
houses may be reopened, depending on conditions."
Miles admitted there has been a drop
in attendance during recent months, but he
said the blame probably rests with the weather
as much as with television. During
December, local theatres in general reported
record low grosses.
Labor Board Hears Pleas
On Union for Lynn Lake
WINNIPEG—The Manitoba Labor Board
has reserved decision on an application for
projectionists Local 299 for certificiation in
the Roxy Theatre at Lynn Lake. Only one
employe is involved in the application, which
was argued for one hour before the board.
The union contended that the manager-projectionist
of the theatre was hired mainly as
a projectionist and that his management job
is only as assistant manager.
David Rothstein, general manager of
Rothstein Theatres which owns the house,
said the employe was in full charge, including
hiring and firing of other employes,
handling money and other management
functions. The union said it wanted the
certification so the theatre would be known as
a unionized business. This was desired because
Lynn Lake is "90 per cent organized,"
union spokesmen said.
The United Artists picture, "The Sharkfighters,"
will roll next March on location in
the Caribbean.
Sask. Fire Inspector Gives
Instructions to Public
WINNIPEG — D. E. Williams, chic! inspector
of the theatres branch of the Sa.slewan
fire commissioner's department.
has issued a list of common sense rules for
icgoer behavior in the event of fire m
a theatre.
The government release was made through
the bureau of publications and is available
free to the public. Some theatre owners
have expressed the hope that similar publications
will be issued by other provinces.
Williams, in a portion of the statement,
says that "a crowd of 700 people can be emptied
from a theatre in about three minutes
without rushing" provided all doors are used
and people move away quickly once they are
outside.
Williams says that most victims lose their
lives through panic and he reiterates that
there should always be at least two doors,
at front and back, and both should be
properly lighted and never locked, with panic
hardware in good working order.
He emphasizes that no-smoking rules
should be strictly observed and that parents
should visit theatres and halls first and instruct
their children on exactly what to do
in an emergency before allowing them to go
alone.
ST.
JOHN
.
. . .
"The Regent, in continuous operation over 20
years, has eliminated matinees except on
Saturdays and holidays. It is expected other
theatres in the St. John area will follow
suit. Franklin & Herschorn operates the
Regent Ernie Whelpley, manager at
Alliance Films, returned to his office after a
vacation in New York and Washington .
Mrs. V. J. McLaughlin, owner of the Uptown
and Opera theatres in Newcastle, N. B., and
also Arthur A. Fielding of Bridgewater, president
of the S.F.A. Theatre Co., were here
booking.
Following tremendous floods in parts of
the maritimes causing washouts and power
failures, many theatres were forced to close
temporarily . . . Mitchell Franklin, vicepresident
of Franklin & Herschorn Theatres,
and Peter Herschorn of Halifax, secretary,
went to Montreal to attend the Canadian
Jewish Congress gathering. Franklin is the
maritime representative on the joint public
relations committee of the congress and B'nai
B'rith.
An unidentified man who "sounded like he
spoke through his teeth," phoned a local
m. and warned a bomb was
theatre at 1:10 p.
set to explode at 2 p. m. About 100 early
patrons waiting for the show to start were
ushered outside. A squad of police and firemen
combed the theatre without finding
anything. A 3 p. m. the performance went
ahead as usual. The hoax call was taken
by the chief usher, Harold Maher, 16. who
said the voice was that of an adult. Police
Chief J. J. Oakes said a prank of that nature
is a criminal code offense and carries a heavy
penalty.
The Strand in Sussex. N. B., is closed while
workmen rebuild the ceiling and roof, which
collapsed recently after a center beam broke.
No one was in the theatre at the time.
mil ,
RESEARCH BUREAU
for
MODERN THEATRE PLANNERS
78

m
Bxofficffsi)i)iiJil^i)JJ)S
The EXHIBITOR HAS HIS SAY ABOUT PICTURES
ALLIED ARTISTS
Phenix City Story, The (AA)—John Mc-
Intire, Richard Kiley, Kathryn Grant. This
was brutal! There was a time when this type
packed 'em in. They don't anymore. If
your patrons like excessive brutality, this is
your baby. It doesn't pull any punches.
Supposedly a true story. Played Sun., Mon.
Weather: Cool.—Michael Chiaventone, Valley
Theatre, Spring Valley, 111. Population 5,000.
Davy Crockett,
BUENA VISTA
King of the Wild Frontier
(BV)—Fess Parker, Buddy Ebsen, Basil
Ruysdael. By the time I got this "flat" it
had shown three times on TV, and still they
came! The kids sang along with the picture
whenever the theme song was used. One
father told me, "I tried to talk my kids out
of coming. I've already seen it four times on
TV." It gave me a chance to say, "Yes, but
doesn't it look much better on our widescreen
in color?" He agreed. Book it if you can get
it at a fair price. Played Fri., Sat.—"Uncle
George" Marks, Grove Theatre, Beech Grove,
Ind. Population 8,000.
Living Desert, The (BV) — Documentary.
Can't describe the beauty of this picture,
either on screen or at boxoffice. An educational
show that is tops in anyone's vocabulary.
The cartoon, "Ben and Me," is very
good and it made a very fine program for
our midweek change. Played Wed., Thurs.
Weather: Cool and damp.—D. W. Trisko,
Runge Theatre, Runge, Tex. Small-town
and rural patronage.
COLUMBIA
Apache Ambush (Col) — Bill Williams,
Richard Jaeckel, Alex Montoya. Who's kidding
who with this type? It would have been okay
in color and with a singing cowboy like
Rogers or Autry, but as it was—Phew!
Played Tues. Weather: Cold.—Michael Chiaventone,
Valley Theatre, Spring Valley, 111.
Population 5,000.
Black Knight, The (Col)—Alan Ladd, Patricia
Medina, Andre Morrell. When Time
magazine takes the pains to run one down as
thoroughly as it did this feature, it's almost
a cinch to be a hit in Fruita. I guess that's
why Time can't sell more than one or two
a month on my newsstand. Certainly, it was
no great picture and I'd lots rather see Alan
Ladd in a roping saddle, but nonetheless, it
did good business the second midweek of
December, and most of the comments were
good, so who wants any more? Another raspberry
for the high-hat picture reporting of
Time magazine from the folks who know
movies best in Fruita. Played Wed., Thurs.
Weather: Snow and cold.—Bob Walker, Uintah
Theatre, Fruita, Colo. Small-town and
rural patronage.
They Rode West (Col)—Robert Francis,
Donna Reed, Phil Carey. Plenty of action,
color, scenery and story. Business off due
to Christmas shopping. Okay for a weekend
show. Only drawback was too many Indians.
We'll hit the end of them soon, I hope.
Played Sat. Weather: Okay.—D. W. Trisko,
Runge Theatre, Runge, Tex. Small-town and
rural patronage.
Three for the Show (Col)—Betty Grable,
Jack Lemmon, Marge and Gower Champion.
Another second biller, but good. It has a
very impossible story and some very, very
good dancing and singing. Marge and
Gower Champion have, without a doubt, the
limelight as far as dancing and our patrons
are concerned. The sets were lavish and the
Cinemascope and color outstanding. This is
the first time, so I have been told by my patrons,
that classical music and the modern
dance have been coupled in a motion pic-
'Man Alone' Just Has to Be
Raved About, Says Clem
have just run a motion picture that
I
has to be raved about. I leased the
Gem Theatre in Emmitsburg, Md., in
November, and I'm taking time out now
to report on an outstanding western. It
was made by Republic. The picture is
"A Man Alone." Directed by Ray Milland,
who also was the star, this picture is
without a doubt perfect for any situation.
It has excellent direction, a fresh story,
and the lighting and photography are
tops. This is, however, an adult picture.
It is what I would call an emotional picture,
because it has you spellbound by
the acting and photography. But this
would not have been possible without the
outstanding mood music that Victor Young
did for this picture. If Ray Milland can
keep on directing pictures like this one,
I will stop worrying about TV. Republic's
terms are fair and I had a Saturday
house on Friday for the first time in two
months. Don't pass up this one. The
weather was cold as you-know-what on
Friday and there was ice on the roads,
with a light snow Saturday. We had lots
of people come back to see it the second
night who told me how good they thought
it was. Emmitsburg is a small town, with
mountain trade and a Catholic college.
KENNETH CLEM
Gem Theatre
Emmitsburg, Md.
ture. Everyone enjoyed it. Played Sun.
through Tues. Weather: Cold.—F. A. Phillips,
Nortown Theatre, Flint, Mich. Industrial
patronage.
METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER
Glass Slipper, The (MGM) — Leslie
Caron, Michael Wilding, Keenan Wynn.
Thanks, Metro. Thanks to the producing team
of "Lili" for a most wonderful, charming
movie. I chose this one for the Christmas
week with an eye on the woman and child
patronage. The men were elbowing them
aside for seats. Caron is a natural in this
lovely film, with just enough ballet to make
it click. Theme song is a worthy successor
to "Lili." Sell It as a worthy successor to
the film, "Lili," and that's just what your
patrons will tell you. Packed houses every
night, and this at a time when most of our
customers are busy celebrating and consuming
barrels of liquor. This film has enough
sentiment, humor, dancing and music to appeal
to most filmgoers. Play it. You'll make
many people happy. Played Sun. through
Sat. Weather: Rain.—Dave S. Klein, Astra
Theatre. Kitwe-Nkana, Northern Rhodesia,
Africa. Mining, government and business
patronage.
Love Me or Leave Me (MGM)—Doris Day,
James Cagney, Cameron Mitchell. That Day
gal does it again. She just gets everyone in
town talking about her every time she makes
a picture anymore. All I've heard since is,
"Wasn't Doris Day wonderful?" It's a great
picture that they'll all rave about. I got
scared it wouldn't do and they would leave
me, so I pulled a day and slipped in a Spanish
night at the last minute. Think I boobooed
again. Cagney plays Cagney to perfection,
so if the Gimp was like that, he was
terrific. When they make the Cagney story,
he'll be perfect for the part. Played Sun.,
Mon. Weather: Lovely.—Bob Walker, Unitah
Theatre, Fruita, Colo. Small-town and rural
patronage.
Prodigal, The (MGM)—Lana Turner, Edmund
Purdom, Louis Calhern. Another
Biblical picture that was well-made, but
failed to draw here. Acting very good. Some
good sets, and photography was good. Best
focus of a CS to date. Played Sun., Mon.,
Tues. Weather: Cool and damp.—D. W.
Trisco, Runge Theatre, Runge, Tex. Smalltown
and rural patronage.
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (MGM) —
Jane Powell, Howard Keel, Jeff Richards.
Doubled this with "Three Coins in the Fountain"
for smash results. These were old
here, but gambled that even if people had
seen one, they could stand seeing it again to
see the other. Won and collected at the 50-
cent window. Played Thanksgiving Day.
Weather: Cold.— "Uncle George" Marks,
Grove Theatre, Beech Grove, Ind. Population
8,000.
PARAMOUNT
Hell's Island (Para)—John Payne, Mary
Murphy, Francis L. Sullivan. My cashier's
reaction to this was, "Paperback!" Yes, it was
of dime novel caliber. Some like it. So what?
Played Tues., Wed.—Frank Sabin, Majestic
Theatre, Eureka, Mont. Population 1,000.
Run for Cover (Parai —James Cagney,
Viveca Lindfors, John Derek. Good outdoor
story with good performances, but the real
star of this picture is VistaVision. Some of
the outdoor scenes are breathtaking. This is
only our third in VV ("White Christmas,"
"Three Ring Circus") and the first in which
we could see any improvement in photography,
but we thought this extra good. Hope
this is a preview of things to come. Played
Fri., Sat. Weather: ' Good.—Paul Ricketts.
Charm Theatre, Holyrood, Kas. Small-town
patronage.
and rural
Seven Little Foys, The (Para)—Bob Hope,
Milly Vitale, George Tobias. What a sweetheart
of a show, especially for this time of
the season. Our cold spell broke, the folks
from far and near got in and everyone
thought this picture, with "VistaVision Visits
Mexico," a cartoon and newsreel, a splendid
program. Played Sun., Mon., Tues. Weather:
Chinooking.—Carl W. Veseth, Villa Theatre,
Malta, Mont. Town and country patronage.
Unconqucred (Para) — Reissue. Gary
Cooper, Paulette Goddard, Boris Karloff. An
epic—in production and gross. The worst
Sunday-Monday business in years. I had to
run two and a half hours of this feature
for five adults Monday night. Played Sun.,
Mon. Weather: Cool.—Ralph Raspa, State
Theatre, Rivesville, W. Va. Small-town and
rural patronage.
We're No Angels (Para)—Humphrey Bo-
(Continued on following page)
BOXOFFICE BookinGuide :: Jan. 21, 1956

The EXHIBITOR HAS HIS SAY
(Continued from preceding page)
gart, Joan Bennett, Aldo Ray. Our patrons
really enjoyed this picture and we did average
on our best time, winch really isn't bragging
too much. Play the picture, and your
patrons will thank you for it. Kind of hard
to sell the title, but word-of-mouth will help
and you'll like to hear the comment. Played
Sun. through Tues. Weather: Nice.—Mayme
P. Musselman, Roach Theatre, Lincoln, Kas.
Small-town and rural patronage.
White Christmas (Para)—Bing Crosby,
Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney. Excellent
entertainment. Business lousy. This has been
the worst December I've ever had. P.ayed
Sun., Mon. Weather: Cool.—Ralph Raspa,
State Theatre, Rivesville, W. Va. Small-town
and rural patronage.
RKO RADIO
Americano, The (RKO)—Glenn Ford,
Frank Lovejoy, Cesar Romero. This deserved
much more attention than it received from
the folks who like good entertainment. Glenn
Ford heads a small, but competent, cast in
a western that's real strength stems from its
Technicolorfully beautiful scenes of South
America. Business didn't earn the tag RKO
put on it, but we had a lot of nice compliments
on the picture from those who took a
chance. Played Sun., Mon. Weather: Unseasonably
unseasonable. — Bob Walker,
Uintah Theatre, Fruita, Colo. Small-town
and rural patronage.
Passion (RKO)—Cornel Wilde, Yvonne De-
Carlo, Raymond Burr. As previously reported,
this was killed by the title, although we
tried to tell the folks by way of newspaper
readers what it was all about. But the picture
was plenty gory just the same. Beautiful
scenery, but it didn't bring In the money for
power, lights and film rental. Played Tues.,
Wed. Weather: Cold.—Carl W. Veseth. Villa
Theatre, Malta, Mont. Town and country
patronage.
REPUBLIC
Road to Denver, The (Rep)—John Payne,
Mona Freeman, Lee J. Cobb. John Payne
has made several good westerns lately, and
this is one of the best. Played with a Three
Stooges Comedy to poor New Year's Eve business.
Played Sun., Mon. Weather: Cool.
Ralph Raspa, State Theatre, Rivesville,
W. Va. Small-town and rural patronage.
CENTURY-FOX
20th
Egyptian, The (20th-Fox)—Jean Simmons,
Victor Mature, Gene Tierney. Because of the
background scenery, this film was probably
improved by Cinemascope. I believe it was
a fair picture, but not worth what Fox sold
it to me for. I don't know what the picture
would do under normal conditions. The
weather here was so cold and the roads so
bad that only a few were able to get out.
Those who did see it were well satisfied. I
was expecting something better because of
the price. I would say play it, but it is not
worth percentage. Played Fri., Sat. Weather:
Cold and stormy.—F. L. Murray, Strand Theatre,
Spirltwood, Sask. Small-town and rural
patronage.
How to Be Very, Very Popular (20th-Fox)—
Betty Grable, Sheree North, Bob Cummings.
A mildly entertaining bit of fluff that did
perhaps no worse than a couple dozen others
would have the weekend before Christmas.
Personally, I thought the guy shot the wrong
dancer. In Miss North's two appearances
she certainly has not added anything to the
dignity of our screen. We're no moralists,
but we think her kind of stuff Is for the
"burleyques" and the night clubs. Let's keep
motion pictures a little more wholesome. We
concur in the Legion of Decency rating on
this and think the more of this we show the
sooner the "do-gooders" are going to be on
our necks. Played Sun., Mon., Tues. Weather:
Cold.—Paul Ricketts, Charm Theatre,
Holyrood, Kas. Small-town and rural patronage.
Kid From Left Field, The

i
x
>
kn interpretive analysis of lay and tradepress reviews. The plus and minus signs indicate degree off
merit only; audience classification is not rated. Listings cover current reviews, brought up to date regularly.
This department serves also as an ALPHABETICAL INDEX to feature releases. Numeral preceding title
is Picture Guide Review page number. For listings by company, in the order off release. see Feature Chart. r
m\m mitt
H Very Good; "t Good; — Fair; — Poor; — Very Poor In the summary i& rateJ 2 pluses — as 2 m
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REVIEW DIGEST
Very Good; I Good; ' Fair; Poor; Very Poor. In the summary H is rated 2 pluses, - as 2 minuses.
2 1 S
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1763 Hell's Island (84) Ad. future- Drama Para 5-7-55+ ±
1687 Hell's Outpost (90) Western Rep 1-8-55+ *
1775 High Society (61) Comedy AA 5-21-55* ±
188S Hill 24 Doesn't Answer
(100) Drama Conn Dis. 12- 3-55 +
1722 Hit the Deck (112) Musical MGM 3-5-55++
1845 Hold Back Tomorrow (75) Melodrama U-l 9-24-55 —
1803 House of Bamboo (102) Drama 20th-Fox 7- 9-55 ++
1909 Houston Story, The (79) Melodrama Col 1- 7-56 +
1811 How to Be Very, Very Popular
(89) Comedy 20th-Fox 7-23-55 ++
1691 Hunters of the Deep (64) Documentary. DCA 1-15-55 +
* t= — o . \ *t
c
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u. ,xcc|a.z
:
iSi5S
1819 I Am
I
a Camera (95) Comedy DCA 8- 6-55 +
1758 1 Cover the Underworld (70) Crime-Drama. Rep 4-30-55 +
1860 1 Died a Thousand Times (109) Drama. WB 10-15-55 +
1835 Illegal (88) Drama WB 9- 3-55 +
1894 III Cry Tomorrow (117) Drama MGM 12-17-55++
1900 Indian Fighter, The (88) Outdoor-Drama. .UA 12-24-55 ++
1892 Inside Detroit (82) Action-Drama Col 12-10-55 +
1738 Interrupted Melody (106)
Musical-Drama MGM 3-26-55++
Invasion of the Body Snatchers
(80) Science-Fiction AA
1792 It Came From Beneath the Sea (80)
Science-Fiction Col 6-18-55 +
1831 Its a Doq's Life (88) Comedy-Drama
(Reviewed as "The Bar Sinister") .... MGM 8-27-55 +
1830 It's Always Fair Weather (102) Musical. MGM 8-27-55 +
J
Jail Busters (61) Comedy AA
Jarjuar {66) Adventure-Drama Rep
Joe Macbeth (90) Melodrama Col
1740 Jump Into Hell (90) Drama WB 3-26-55—
1744 Jungle Moon Men (69) Adv.-Drama Col 4- 2-55 ±
1698 Jupiter's Darling (95) Musical MGM 1-29-55 ++
K
1807 Kentuckian, The (104) Adv.-Drama UA 7-16-55 +
1848 Killer's Kiss (67) Mystery-Drama UA 9-24-55 ±
1854 King Dinosaur (59) Science-Fiction LP 10- 8-55 ±
King's Rhapsody (..) Musical UA
1810 King's Thief, The (79) Costume-Drama. .MGM 7-23-55 ±
1890 Kismet (113) Musical MGM 12-10-55 ++
1834 Kiss of Fire (87) Outdoor-Orama U-l 9- 3-55 ±
1755 Kiss Me Deadly (105) Mystery Drama... UA 4-23-55 ±

ff Very Good; + Good; — Fair; — Poor; — Very Poor. In the summary ff is rated 2 pluses, — as 2 minuses. Kfc V Ifctft UIGcST
* £

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time is in parentheses. Letters and combinations thereof indicate story type as follows: (C) Comedy; (D)
Drama; (AD) Adventure-Drama; (CD) Comedy-Drama;
western. Release number follows. '...- denotes
(F) Fantasy;
BOXOFFICE Blue
(M) Musical;
Ribbon
(W)
Award
Western;
Winner.
(SW) Super-
Photography:
Color; , 3-D; Wide Screen. For review dates and Picture Guidj page numbers, s**c Review Digest.
ALLIED
ARTISTS
is Las Vegos Shakedown (79) D .5516
Coloen Oriji Chas. Wlnnlngrr
HQSkobengo (61) Doc 5517
African Tribe
COLUMBIA
8 -»
£ SLi
D 739
Cell 243S, Death Row (77) .
•n Cami'lie'l. Marian I'arr Kataryn Grant
End of the Affolr, TIM (106) D 724
b Kerr. Van Johnson, John Mill*
OSeminole Uprising (74) W 74 t
oinery, Karln Booth
Tight Spot (97) D 728
: i | I Keith
(1 Bohlnson. Brian
UPPERT
(SAIr Strike (67). D. 5411
Richard Denning. l
Gloria Jean. Don
Phantom ot the Jungle (75). AD 5414
Jot. Hall. Ray Montgomery, Anne Cnvynne
M-G-M
•j ©Prodigal, The (115) D . 525
Lana Turner, Edmund Purdom. L. Calbern
lo Moroudcrs, The (81).
I'm liu ye*, Jeff Rhiurds.
W 526
Keenan Wynn
D Lard of the Jungle (69) AD. .5518
ffleld, Wayne Morris, Nanc] Bale
g| Fingermon (82) D. .5519
Frank :^U Castle. Forrest Tucker
Five Against the House (84) D . .742
Ouj Madison. Kim Novak, Brian Keith
©Priic of Gold, A (98) AD. 738
Richard Wldmark, Mai ZriterUni. N Patrick
["' King Dinosaur (59). . . .
BUI Bryant, Wanda Curtis
SF 5418
Me or Leave Me
(122) MD .527
Hurls Day, James Cagney, C Mitchell
Moonflcet (87) AD 528
hi Granger, Vlveea Llndfors, J Greenwood
.
| Cose of the Red Monkey (73). .D. .5521
N
S ©oWlchita (81) SW. .5520
i Miles. Lloyd Bridges
it] Betrayed Women (70) D..5524
Drake. Carole U
ii] Spy Chasers (61) C..5522
Leo Oorcey, Hunt! Hall, Lisa Darts
I
Chicago Syndicate (86) D. .747
'Keefe, Xavler Cinr.it. Abbe Lane
Creature With the Atom Brain
170) SF. .746
ii nnlng. Angela Stevens
Came From Beneath the Seo
It
(80) SF 732
1'oroergue. Kenneth Tobey. Ian Keith
i lonesome Trail, The (73) W..54I6
DC Morris, Margta Dean
[fl ©^Interrupted Melody ( 1 06K MD .529
II Parker, Glenn Ftrd, Roger Moore
The !I24) D 531
Charles Boyer, Lauren Bacall. Richard Wldmark
4 Phcnlx City Story, The (100) .. D .. 5525
Richard Klley. K.itJiryn (;r.int. John Mclntlre
(Bring Your Smile Along (83). . . 803
Frankle Lalne, Keefe Brasselle, Connie Towers
ficMon From Laramie, The
(104) W. .801
lames Stewart. Cathy O'Donnell, Donald Crisp
.
King's Thief, The (79) .
532
Ann Bljth. Edmund Purdom. David .Mien
i« ©Scarlet Coot (100) D. 533
WUde, Michael Hiding. Ann.
• Night Freight (79) D..5526
Forrest Tucker. Barbara Brltton. K. Larson
. 5523
g) ©oWorriors, The (85) D .
liynn. Joanne Dru, Peter Finch
vaj Jail Busters (61) C. .5529
Leo Oorcey, Hunt* Hall. Barton MacLane
1 —Return of Jack Slade, The -
(79) W. .5528
John Erlcson. Mart Blanchsrd. Neville Brand
51 Bobby Ware Is Missing 66). . . . D. .5532
Neville Brand, Arthur Franz, Jean VVIlles
Apache Ambush (67) W..804
BUI Williams, Blchard Jaeckel, Ales Montoya
©Footsteps in the Fog (90). . . .D. .802
Stewart Granger, Jean Simmons. Bill Travers
©Gun That Won the West, The
(71) W..809
Dennis Morgan, Pauls Raymond, B. Denning
Night Holds Terror, The (86). . . D. .807
Jack Kelly. Hlldy Parks, Vlnce Bdwards
Special Delivery t 86) C..806
©Count Three and Pray ( 1 02) OD .
. 8 1
Van Heflln, Joanne Woodward, Phil Carey
Devil Goddess (70) AD.. 805
Johnny Welssmuller. Angela Stevens
©Duel on the Mississippi (72).. D. . 808
Lex Baiker, Patricia Medina, Warren Stevens
W©aMy Sister Eileen (108). . .MC. .810
Janet Leigh. Jack Leromon. Betty Garrett
[S ©Slmbo—Terror of the
Mou Man (99) AD. 5421
Dirk Bogarde, Donald Binden. Virginia McKenna
gl ©alt's Always Fair Weather
(102) M. .601
Gene Kelly. Cyd Charlsse. Dolores Cray
i Svengoli (32; D. .602
Hlldegarde Serf. Donald Wolflt. Terence Morgan
S
Triol (109) D 604
Glenn Ford. Dorothy McGulre. Arthur Kennedy
2 ©oQuenfin Durword (101).... AD 607
Robert Taylor. Kay Kendall. Robert Morley
S Toughest Man Alive (72) D..5533
Dane Clark. Llta Milan, Anthony Caruso
Queen Bee (95) D..819
Joan Crawford. Barry Sullivan. John Ireland
Teen- Age Crime Wave (77). . . .D. .824
Tommy Cook, Molly McCart, Junes Bell
Three Stripes in the Sun (93). CD. .820
Aldo Ray. Phil Carey, Mltsuko Klmura
'Ai iraTender Troo, The (111) C. .608
Debbie Reynolds. Frank Sinatra. CeleM. it. 'a
S ©Paris Follies of 1956 (73) M. .5534
Forrest Tucker. Margaret & Barbara Whiting
. 5535
:a Shock Out on 101 (80) D .
Terry Moore, Frank Lovejoy. Keenan Wynn
Sudden Danger (63) D. .5546
BUI Elliott, Beverly Garland. Tom Drake
@ ©oAt Gunpoint (80) SW . . 553
Fred MacMurray, Dorothy Malone, W. Brennan
X Dig That Uranium (61) C. .5541
Leo Oorcey, Hunu Hall, Mary Beth Hughes
Crooked Web, The (77) D. .816
Frank Luvejoy, Marl Blanehard, B. Denning
Hell's Horizon (79) D. .823
John Ireland, Maria English. BUI Williams
©Lawless Street, A (78) W. .814
Randolph Scott, Angela Lansbury. Jean Parker
Inside Detroit (82) D..815
Pal O'Brien, Dennis CKeefe
©Last Frontier, The (98) W. .812
. . . .
Victor Mature, Anne Bancroft. Guy Madison
©Guys and Dolls (149) M. .614
I'r .release)
n Brando. Jean Simmons, Frank Sinatra
23©nKismet (113) M. .613
Howard Keel. Ann Blyth. Vic Danane
y c = lt's a Dog's Life (88) CD. .603
red as "The Bar Sinister'' 8-27-661
Edmund Gwenn. Jarma Lewli. Jeff Richards
S ©aDiane (110) 07.616
Una Turner. Pedro Armendarii, Marlsa Parsn
Ransom! (104) D. 617
Glenn Fur.J. Donna Reed. Leslie Nielsen
H
Deodliest Sin, The (75) D. .5601
Sydney Chaplin, Audrey Dalton. John Bentley
[sj : Invosion of the Body Snotchers
(80) SF. .5602
Kiln McCarthy, Dana Winter, King Donovan
©No Place to Hide (72) D..5603
David Brian, Marsha Hunt. Cella Flo.
.
Fury ot Gunsight Pass (68) W..817
Mr, i

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.
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D.
FEATURE
CHART
PARAMOUNT
©Hell's Islond (84) AD .. 54 11
John Payne. Mary Murphy. Francis L. Sullivan
Mombo (94) D. .5406
gilvwia Mangano. Shelley Winters. M Rennle
©Far Horizons, The (108) . .AD. .541
Chariton Heston. F. MacMurray. Donna Reed
UQoSevcn Little Foys, The
(93) M..5413
Bid Hope, Hill) Vital.-. Angela Clarke
SJOoStrotegic Air Command
(114) D..5426
James Stewart, June Allyson, Prank Lovejoy
. CD . . 541 4
©We're No Angels ( 103) . .
Bnjnpnrej Bogart, Joan Bennett, Aldo Kay
©You're Never Too Young
(102) C. .5415
Dean Martin. Jerry Lewis. Diana Lynn
RK0 RADIO
S ©Quest for the Lost City (60) .
Dana and Glnget Lamb
Doc. .510
D ©oSon of Sinbad (88) AD. .513
Dale Robertson, Sally Forrest. Lili St. Cyr
SQWokombo (65) Doc. .514
African tribe
Pearl of the South Pacific
(86) AD. .515
Virginia Mayo. Dennis Morgan. David Farrar
M Bengazi (78) AD. .516
Richard Conte, Richard Carlson, V M
REPUBLIC
T Eternal Sea, The (103) AD. 5405
Sterling llayden. Alexis Smith. Dean Jagger
i i Santa Fc Passage (90) W . . 5404
John Payne. Faith Domergue, Bod Cameron
I
fj Cover the Underworld (70). .D. .5434
Ray Mlddlcton
Jl Don Juon's Night of Love (71). D. 5435
M. P
s l...
i City of Shadows »0) D. 5436
VlctOI McLaglen, Kathleen Crowley, John Baer
ilQRood to Denver, The (90) . .W. .5406
John Pavne. Mona Freeman, R. Mlddletrm
;i Double Jeopardy (70) D..5437
Rod Cam .bins. Jack Kelly
S Loy That Rifle Down (71) C. .5438
I
Jud] James Bell
1 Green Buddha, The (64) D . . 5439
Wayne Morris, Mary Germain*
20TH
CENTURY-FOX
Adventures of Sadie, The
(88) C. 508-2
ilins, Kenneth More, George Cole
Angela (81) D. . 511-6
Dennis O'Keefe. Mara Lane, Rossano Brazil
UQaDaddy Long Legs (126) . M . .51 5-7
Fred Astaire, Leslie Caroo, Terry Moore
©That Lady (100) D. .504-1
uliiia de Uarliland, Gilbert Roland. D. Price
QoMagnificent Matador, The
(93) D.. 513-2
Maureen ollara, Anthony Qajlnn. Thos. Gomez
OcSeven Year Itch, Tho ( 1 05) . C . . 5 1 7-3
Marilyn Monroe, Tom Eaell. Evelyn Keyes
©Soldier of Fortune (96). . .0. .514-0
Clark Gable. 8 Hayvrard. Michael Benrtle
OoHouse of Bamboo (102). .D. . 516-5
Robert Stack. Robert Ryan. Shirley Tamaguchl
to Bo Vory, Very
Popular (89) M.. 518-1
Betty Grable. Robert Cunmlnp. Sberee North
Life in the Bolonce, A (75). .
.506-6
Ricardo Monta.ban, Anne Bancroft, L Marrln
©Living Swamp, The (33) Doc. 51 2-4
©Love Is a Mony-Splendorad
Thing (102) D. .521-3
Jennifer Jones, Bill Uolden, Gloria Graham*
>
©Virgin Queen, The (92) D. .519-9 CZ
liette Davis. Richard Todd. Joan Collins
C
©aGIrl Rush, The (85) M. .5501
Rosalind Russell, Fernando Lamas
©To Cotch a Thief (97) D..5502
Cary Grant. Grace Kelly, Jessie Royce Landls
©Ulysses (104) D. .5503
Kirk Douglas. Sin ana Mangano, A. Qulnn
U ©Tennessee's Portner (87) . .WD. .602
John Payne. Rhonda Fleming. Ronald Reagan
rj] ©Treasure of Pancho Villa,
The (96) D. .601
Rory Calhoun. Gilbert Roland, Shelley Winter-
fa Divided Heart, The (89) D..5408
Cornell Borcbers, Alexander Knox, Y. Mitchell
IB Headline Hunters (70) D. .5440
Julie Bishop, Ben Cooper
s Lost Command, The (1 10). .OD. .5407
iing ll.iyd.'ii. Anna Maria Alberghetti
H Cross Channel (60) D. .5441
Wayne Moiris. Yvonne Fnrncaux.
TTtwinkle in God's Eye, The (74). CD. .5444
Mickey Booney, Coleen Gray, Hugh O'Brlan
53 ©Mon Alone, A (96) WD. .5409
Bond
Ray Milland, Mary Murphy, Ward
26 Mystery of the Black Jungle
(72) AD.. 5442
Barker, Jane Maxwell
S] No Man's Woman (70) D. .5445
Maiic Windsor, John Archer
©Left Hand of God, The (87). D. .520
Humphrey Bogart. Gene Tierncy. Lee J. Cobb
oven Cities of Gold (103J.D. .522-3
Richard Kfjan, Rita Moieno. Michael llennle
OoTall Men, The (125) WD. .523-1
Clark Gable, Jane Russell, Robert Ryan
(Prelease)
©Girl In the Red Velvet Swing,
Tho (108) D. .524-9
Ray Milland. Joan Collins. Parte] Granger
Lover Boy (85) CD. .526-4
(Reviewed as "Levers, Happy Lovers" 11-13-54)
Gerard Philip*. Valerie Hobson. Joan Greenwood
m
O
Desperate Hours, The (1 12). .D. .5509
Humphrey Bogart, Fredric March, M. Scott
©Lucy Gollant (104) D . . 5504
Jane Wyman. Charlton Heston. Claire Trevor
£3 ©aTexos Lady (86) D . . 603
ClAudette Colbert. Barry Sullivan, Ray Collins
SI Secret Venture (70) D. .5443
Kenl Taylor, Jane Hylton
JJVanishing American, The (90). W. . 5501
Scott Brady. Audrey Totter. Forrest Tucker
©View From Pompey's Head,
Tho (97) D. .525-6
liirhard Bgan, Dana Wynter, C. Mitchell
.527-2
©Deep Blue Seo, The (99). .
Vivien Leigh, Kenneth More. Eric Pertman
©Good Morning, Miss Dove
(107) D.. 528-0
Jennifer Jones. Robert Suck. Klpp Ham]
BoArtbts ond Models (109) . .MC. .5510
Dean Martin. Jerry Lewis. Dorothy Malone
13 Naked Sea, The (69) Doc.
Voyage of a tuna-fishing fleet
.604
22 Track the Man Down ( . . ) D .
Kent Taylor. Ivtula Clark
©Rains of
Ronchipur, The
(104) D. .529-8
I ana Turner. Elchard Burton. Fred MaeMurray
n
oCO
o <
CO
m
^3
Rose Tottoo, The (117) CD.. 55 11
Anna Magnanl, Burt Lancaster, Marisa Pavan
©Trouble With Harry, The
(100) CD.. 5508
Edmund Qwenn, John Fursythe. M. Natwick
Court Jester, The (101) C..5512
Damn Kaye, Glynls Johns. Basil Rathtione
EOaGlory (100) D. .605
Margaret O'Brien. Walter Brennan. C. Greenwood
11 Postmark for Danger (84) D. .
hiiy Moore, Bob Realty. Wro Sylvester
Cosh on Delivery
I (82) C
Shelley VYinlers, John Grcgson, Peggy Cummins
©Conqueror, The (111) D .
John Wayne, Susan lliyward, Pedro Armendarlz
of the Islands (90). . . .D. .5502
1 ''
i
Y i« r.ii D Howard Duff. Zach.ny Scott
Fighting Chance (/u) D. .5532
Rod Canoe on, Julie London. Ben Cooper
Jaguar (66) D. .5531
Sabu. Barton MacLane. Chlqulta
^_ Lieutenant Wore Skirts, The
(101) C. .601-5
Tom Bwell, Sheree North. R1U Moreno
Bottom of the Bottle 602-3
(
Van Johnson. Ruth Roman, Joseph Cotten
©Carousel ( ) MD. 604-9
Gordon MacRae. Shirley Jones. C. Mitchell
©Mon Who Never Was, The
(..).. D 603-1
Clifton Webb Glo
cr
>
<
SI ©oSlightly Scorlct t 99) D. .
itliomla Fleming. John Payne, Irlene Dahl
(v Anything Goes M. .
Ring Crosby, Jeaninalre, Donald O'Connor
©Birds and the Bees, The. CD. .
Gobel, Mir/: Qajmor, Dark] Nlven
©Man Who Knew Too Much,
The D. .
Janes. Stewart, Doris Hay. Daniel Gelin
OcrMountoin, The AD. .
R it Wagner. Claire Trevor
ij—>Proud and Profane, The. . .
r, Wm llolden. Thelma Hitter
-Scarlet Hour, The D. .
©Ten Commandments, The .
(Virol nlim.irt. Ton Tnon. Blaine Strltch
Y Be Carlo, Lone Baxter
Thot Certain Feeling C . . -
Bob Hope, 1 |e Sanders
©Vagabond King, The (..).. M .
Kathry n Grayson, Orastc Klrkop, Rita Moreno
.
.
©Bold ond the Brave, The D. .
Mlekej B H ndeU Corey, Nicole Maurey
Brain Machine, The D. .
Patrick liarr. EUzabeUl Allan. Maxwell Reed
©Brave One, The D. .
Jol I*an-ing
©Great Day in the Morning. .
D. .
Virginia Mayo. Robert Stack, Ruth Roman
©Jet Pilot ;1 19) D. .
ne. Janet Leigh. Jaj C. I
Way Out, The D. .
''
Mons
i m. Gene Nelson
While the City Sleeps D. .
iiiing
.
Come Next Spring D. .
Ann Sheridan. Sonny Tufla
Incident D. .
rtson, John Lund
Doctor at Sea C. .
Banzle
Hidden Guns W..
Bennett, Richard Arlen. Faron Young
r Lisbon .
Ray Milland Maureen Ha a, i
Magic Fire D..
Rita Gam
©Movcrick Queen, The D. .
Bar v Bu Itru
Stranger at My Door
D
lit Medina. Skip Homeler
When Ganglond Strikes D.
G
_±
; -King and I, The MD
.
Deborah Kerr, v.. Bi UoreM
©Man in the Gray Flannel
Suit, The D..
M'.r'i
Irtl
Mohowk W.
Scott R'a.ly. PJta Gim. Neville Brand
©t^OosIs D.
Micbele Morgan, Cornell Borchers
On the Threshold of Spocc SF
Guy Madison, Jol gmla Lellh
Revolt ot Mamie Stover .
|
ORoyol Bed, The CD.
Sixth of June, The
©(Smiley
Ralph RJehardson Chilis llaff.ru
Vir.
Rrlen
D..
r-i
o
2
z
o

.
I mark.
I
:
>'
!
©oStronge
]
©aPete
. Ue
.
.
D
.Oct.
FEATURE
CHART
UNITED
ARTISTS
Kiss Me Deadly (105) D. .5513
Ralph Meeker. Clorls Uachman, Albert Dealer
C'Robbcrs' Roost (82) W. .5515
Montgomery, Bruce Bennett, It. Boone
©Tiger ond the Flome (97). .AD. . 551 4
Filmed In India with native cut
Top ot the World (90) AD.. 5516
Dale Robertson. Evelyn Keyes, Frank Uvejoy
Big Bluff, tho (70) D. .5519
John Bromfleld, Martha Vlckers, It. llutlon
Sea Shall Not Have Them,
Tho (91) AD. .5520
Michael Redgrave. Dirk Bogarde, Anthony Steel
C Summertime (99) CD. .5521
Katharine Hepburn, Rossano Brazil. Marl Aldon
Break to Freedom (88) D..5512
Anthony Steel, Jack Warner. R. Bcatty
c Man Who Loved Redheads
(89) C..5522
Molrj Shearer. John Justin, Roland Culver
Not As a Stronger (136) D. .5518
Mitchum. Olivia dr Mainland, P. Blnatra
Shadow ot the Eagle (93) D. .5523
Richard Greene, Greta Oynt, Blnnle Barnes
©Kentuckion, The (104) D. .5524
Burt Lancaster. Diana Lynn. Una Merkcl
Naked Street, The (84) D. .5526
Farley Granger. Anthony Qulnn. Anne Bancroft
©Desert Sonds (87) AD. .5529
Ralph Meeker. Maria English. J. Carrol Nakh
Night of the Hunter (90) D. .5527
Robert Mitchum. Shelley Winters. Lillian Gish
©Gentlemen Morry Brunettes
(99) M..5531
Jane Russell, Jeanne Craln, Rudy Vallee
©Fort Yuma (79) OD. .5533
Peter Graie-. Joan Vote, John Hudson
Othello (92) D. .5530
Orson Welles, Suz;inne Cloutier, Fay Compton
©Savage Princess (101) AD .. 5534
(Filmed in India with native cast)
Big Knife, The (ill)
D..5532
uice, Ida Luplno. Shelley Winters
Killer's Kiss (67) D..5525
BUrera, Jamie Smith, Irene Kane
Mon With the Gun (83) W. .5535
rt Mitchum, Jan Sterling, Henry Hull
idi ond Peter (89) D. .5538
Elsbeth Sigmund. Thomas Klametb
idion Fighter, The (88) . .OD. .5537
Kirk Douglas, Waller Matthau, Walter Abel
Top Gun (73) W..5536
Sterling Hayden. Karln Booth, Wm. Bishop
.
Mon With the Golden Arm, The
(119) D. .5540
Frank Sinatra. Eleanor Parker, Kim Novak
5539
Storm Feor '88) D .
Cornel v. Wallace, Dan Duryea
Three Bod Sisters (75) D. .5602
English, John Bromfleld, Sara Shane
Ghost Town (75) WD. .
Kent Taylor. Marian Carr, John Smith
©Alexander the Great D. .
Richard Burton, Claire Bloom. Fredrlc March
©Ambassador's Daughter,
The CD. .
le Havilland. Myrna Loy, J. Forsythe
©Beost of Hollow Mountain. . D. .
Guy M icla Medina
£ Comonche W. .
Dana Andrews, Kent Smith. Linda Cristel
©Foreign Intrigue D. .
©oKiss Before Dying, A D. .
r. Jeffrey Hunter
'
©Lucky Kid, The (96/ CD. .
Id Kns-off
©Star of India (92) D. .
©Trapeze
Jean Wallace
D .
Burt I
I.ollobrlKlda. Tony Curtis
UNIVERSAL-INT L.
Cult of tho Cobra (80) D. .523
:
chard Long, K. Hughes
Looters, Tho (87) D. .524
\'!ams, Ray Danton
\ Revenge of tho Creature (82). SF. .521
11 !-li, prod. no. 622)
John Afar, Lorl Nelson. John Bromfleld
Abbott and Costcllo Meat
the Mummy (79) C. .526
Abbott i Orjstello. Marie Windsor
©Man From Bitter Ridge, The
(80) W. .525
Lex Barker, Mara Corday, Stephen McNally
©This Island Earth (86) SF . . 527
Bel Seuon, Faith Domcrguc, Jeff Morrow
©Ain't Misbohavin' (81) MC . . 529
.uric, llory Calhoun, Jack Carson
©Foxfire (92) D. .528
lane Russell, Dan Duryea
©Purple Mask, The (82) D. .530
(Also bo standard version, prod. no. 531)
Tony Curtis. Colleen Miller. Angela Lansbury
Francis in the Navy (80) C. .534
Ikinald O'Connor. Martha Hyer, Jim Backus
OOne Desire (94) D..532
Anne Baxter. Rock Hudson. Julie Adams
©Private War of Major Benson
(105) CD.. 533
Charlton Heston, Julie Adams, Tim Hovey
Female on the Beach (97) D. .536
Joan Crawford. Jeff Chandler, Jan Sterling
Shrike, The (88) D . . 535
Jose Ferrer, June Allyson, Kendall Clark
©Kiss of Fire (87) AD . . 538
Jack I'alance. Barbara Bush, Martha Hyer
©To Hell and Back (106) D. .539
(Also in standard version, prod. no. 540)
Audie Murphy, Charles Drake, M. Thompson
Hold Back Tomorrow (75) D..5603
t'leu Moore, John Agar
©Lady Godiva (89) D..560I
Maureen O'Hara, George Nader, V. McLaglen
©Naked Dawn, The (82) D. .5602
Arthur Kennedy, Betta St. John
Running Wild (81) D. .5604
Wm. Campbell. Mamie Van Doren, Keenan Wynn
©Second Greotest Sex, The
(89) M..5606
Jeanne Crain, George Nader. Kitty Kallen
Tarantulo (80) M . . 5605
John Agar, Mara Corday, Leo G. Carroll
©All Thot Heaven Allows (89). .D. .5609
man, Rock Hudson, Conrad Nagel
Spoilers, The (84) D..5607
Anne Baxter. Jeff Chandler, Rory Calhoun
Square Jungle, The (93) D. .5608
Pat Crowley, Ernest Borgnine
©Benny Goodman Story, The
(125) M. .5611
St-»e Allen, Donna Reed. Gene Krupa
There's Always Tomorrow (79). .D. .5610
Barbara Stanwyck, F. MacMurray, Joan Bennett
Apache Agent W. .
Audie Murphy. Pat Crowley
©Awoy All Boots D. .
Jeff Chandler, Julie Adams, George Nader
©Bocklosh D .
OCongo
Donna Reed
Crossing D . .
Mayo, Peter Lorre
Kettles in the Ozarks
i r Hiiiuiinitt.
C. .
Cm Mrrkil
©Never Say Goodbye D. .
George Sanders
Pillars of the Sky D. .
Uond
Rawhide Years, The D. .
Arthur Kennedy. Colleen Miller
Red Sundown W. .
i, Martin Hyer, Dean J.igger
World in My Corner D. .
A hi M iri.hy. Htrtiir:: Rush. Jeff Morrow
WARNER BROS.
31' Jump Into Hell (93) D. .410
Jacques Sernas. Arnold Moss, Kurt Kan.er
Lady in Town (112). W . .415
Greet Gar>on, Dana Andrews, Cameron Mitchell
(SQaSeo Chose, The (118) D..416
John Wayne, Lana Turner, Tab Hunter
iOoToll Man Riding (83) W..417
h Si in. Imruthy Malone, Peggie Castle
(2 ©oLond of the Pharaohs (112J.D..419
Jack Hawkins, Joan Collins, Dewey Martin
m Dam Busters, The (101) AD.. 420
Richard Todd, Michael Redgrave
OQoMister Roberts (123) C. .418
Henry Fonda, James Cagney, William Powell
Kelly's Blues (95) M. .421
Jaek Webb. Janet Leigh, Edmond O'Brien
13 U©aMcConnell Story, The
(107) D..501
Alan Ladd, June Allyson. James Whltmore
H ©oBlood Alley (115) AD. 302
John Wayne. Lauren Bacall, Anita Ekberg
II Illegal (90) D..503
Edw. G. Robinson. Nina Foch, Hugh Marlowe
j
©cjRebel Without a Couse ( 1 1 1 ) . D . . 504
James TJean. Natalie Wood, Jim Backus
12 ©! Died o Thousand Times
(109) D. .505
Jack Palance. Shelley Winters, Lee Marvin
% g Sincerely Yours (115) M..506
Liberace, Dorothy Malone, Joanne Dru
51 Target Zero (92) D. .508
Richard Conte, Peggie Castle. Charles Bronson
. 507
21 ©Court-Mortial of Billy
Mitchell, The ( 1 00) D .
Gary Cooper. Ralph Bellamy, Cbas. Bickford
@©aHell on Frisco Boy (98) D..509
Alan Ladd. Joanne Dru, Edw, G. Robinson
©Helen of Troy (118) D..510
Rossana Podesta. Jack Sernas, C. Hardwlcke
!©Lone Ranger, The (86) W..511
Bonita Granville. Clayton Moore. Jay Sllverheels
As Long As You're Near Me. . . ,D. .
0. W. Fischer. Maria Schell
©Giant D. .
I' Taylor. James Dean, Rock Hudson
Miracle in the Rain D. .
Jane Wyman. Van Johnson, Eileen Heckart
©Moby Dick ... D .
B. Basehart, Orson u
Our Miss Brooks C. .
Bre Arden, Don Porter, Robert Rockwell
River Changes, The D. .
Bory. Harold Mai
©— Searchers, The D .
John Wayne, Vera Miles, Jeffrey Hunter
: Garland. Perry
©Serenade MD .
Mario Lanza, Joan Fontaine, Vincent Price
©Seven Men From Now W. .
Martin
Steel Jungle, The D. .
" Ahel. Beverly Lopez
.
MISCELLANEOUS a IS
AMERICAN RELEASING CORP.
©Apache Womon (83) W. .
Joan Taylor. Lance Fuller
World Ended (80). . . .SF.
Day the
I Denning, Url Nelson. Adele Jergeni
Fast ond Furious (74) AD. .
John Ireland, Dorothy Malone. Bruce Carlisle
Five Guns West (78) W. .
irothj Malone. Paul Birch
Phontom From 10,000 Leagues,
The 180) SF. .
lor, Cathy Downs, Mike Whalen
ASTOR
Moster Plan, The (77) D..Feb.-55
lliamar
Sleeping Tiger, The (89) D. .
Alexis Smith, Alexander Knox. D. Bogarde
BUENA VISTA
CjQAfrican Lion, The (73) .
Doc. .Oct.-55
©Davy Crockett, King of the
Wild Frontier (95) AD. .
Buddy Ebsen, Basil Rusydael
©Lady ond the Tramp
(76) Cart. .Apr.-55
©Littlest Outlaw, The (75). AD. .Jan. -56
Pedro Armendarlz. Joseph Callela
CARROLL
Four Ways Out [77) D..
Gina Lollobrlglda. Itenato Baldlnl. C. Greco
DISTRIBUTORS CORP. OF AMERICA
©Long John Silver (109) . . . . AD.
.
Robert .Newton. Kit Taylor. Eric Itelman
Stranger's Hand, The (86). .D. .Mar.-55
Richard Basehart, Allda Valll, Trevor Howard
I Am a Camera (95) C.
Julie Harris, Laurence narvey. Shelley Wlnteri
FILMAKERS
Croshout (90)
D. .Mar.-55
Wm. Ilcncllx, Arthur Kennedy, B. Michaels
Mad at the World (71 ). . . .D. .Mar.-55
Frank Loveioy, K. Brasselle, C. O'Donnell
LOUIS deROCHEMONT
Greot Adventure, The (75) . . . .Sept.-55
Arne Sucksdorff, Anders Norborg
I.F.E.
(American Dialog)
©Aido (95) M . .Oct.-54
Sophia Loren, Lois Maxwell. A/ro Poll
City Stonds Trial (105) D..Apr.-55
Sili ma Pampanlni, Amadeo Nazzari
©Green Mogic (85) Doc.Jun.-55
Truel Him of BrazU
©Lease of Life (93) D. .Jan.-56
Robert Donat, Kay Wal

I
5505-3
. . . Apr.-55
Short subjects, listed by company, in order of release. Running time follows title. First is national
release, second the date of review in BOXOFFICE. Symbol between dates Is rating from BOXOFFICE
review. — Very Good, -f-
Good. :± Fair. — Poor. = Very Poor. O Indicates color photography. SIJDJtti) liiJxJiir
8953 Charlie Spivak &
Orchestra (10) 12-22-55
Allied Artists
UPA .ASSORTED
(Technicolor)
Prod. No. Title Rel Dste Rating Rtv'd 7503 Four Wheels No Brakes
5590 Mighty Fortress, The (31) ft 1-1
/2 > 9- 8-55 ++ 11-19
5552 Subject J7-1 (10) 1-23-55
8502 The Rise of Duton Lang
5553 Subject J7-2 (10) 2- 6-55
5554 Subject J73 2 ) 12- 1-55
(10) 2-20-55
WORLD OF SPORTS
7807 Fishing Paradise (9) . . . 3-17-55 + 5-21
7808 Barking Champs (9) . . 4-28-55
Columbia
± 6-11
7809 Sun Play (9) 6- 2-55
7810 Danish Gym- Dandies (9). 7-14-55 + 10-22
Prod. No. Title Rel Date
(1955-56)
Rating Riv'd
8801 Stable Stakes (10) 9-29-55
ALL-STAR COMEDIES
8802 Thrilling Chills (10) 11-10-55
7415 ScratchScratch-Scratch
(16|/2 ) 4-28-55 6-11
7416 Nobody's Home 9- 1-55
W-761 The Invisible Mouse (7) 9-16-55
8602 Up 'n Atom (6) 10- 6-55
W-762 King-Size Canary (8) 10-21-55
. .
8603 Hot Foot Lights (7) 11- 7-55
W-763 Kitty Foiled (7) 11-1S-55
8604 Rippling Romance (8) ... 11-11-55 W-764 What Price Fleadom (7) 12- 2-55
...;
8605 Foxy Flatfoots (6) 12- 8-55
W-765The Truce Hurts (8) . .12-16-55
COMEDY FAVORITES
PASSING PARADES
P-771 That Mothers Might Live
(Reissues)
(10) 10- 7-55
7435 Ready. Willing But Unable
(161/2 4-21-55
P-772The Story of Dr. Jenner
)
(10) 12- 9-55
7436
+ 12-31
Training for Trouble
2 6-16-55
PETE SMITH SPECIALTIES
)
(1955-56)
S-655 Sport Trix (9) 3- 5-55 2-26
8431 Pardon My Lamb Chop
S-656 Just What I Needed (9) 4-16-55 + 2-26
(17) 10-13-55
8432 Radio Romeo (17!/2 ) .
.12- 1-55
S-659 Historical Oddities (9) 8-27
MR. MAGOO
S-660The Fall Guy (9) + 8-27
(Technicolor)
ROBERT BENCHLEYS
S-658 Animals in Action (9) ±: 8-27
7702 Magoo' s Check-Up (6|/2 ) 2-24-55
(Reissues)
.
7703Magoo Express

..Apr.-55
SHORTS
CHART
5508-7 Two- Headed Giant. The
(7) Apr. -55
5509-5 Little Roquefort in No
Sleep lor Percy (7) . + 15- 6
5501-3 Phony News Flashes (7). July-55 1 .
5511-1 Foxed by a Fox (7) . . . Aug. -55
5512-9 Last Mouse of Hamlin,
The (7) Sept. -55
TERRYTOON-CLNEMASCOPES
(Technicolor)
5531-9 Willie the Walrus in An Igloo
lor Two (7) May-55 8-20
5532-7 Good Deed Daly (7). July-55 + 12-3
5533-5 Bird Symphony (7) Aug.-55 ++ 12- 3
5534-3 The Little Red Hen (7). Sept. -55 -(- 1- 7
Universal-International
8- 6
8-27
8-27
11-19

. . Dillinger . . . and
• • '
. . She
'
'
Opinions on Current Productions
~ .... i. . « iAMBi
Anything Goes F Ratio:
2-1
Musical
(VistaVision,
Technicolor)
Paramount (513) 108 Minutes Rel. April '56
With two such tried-and-proven song-'n'-dance men as Bing
Crosby and Donald O'Connor carrying the ball, this screen
version of Cole Porter's time-honored musical appears a
certainty to be off on a financial long end run in every
theatre into which it is booked. It is, in fact, their contributions,
individually and collectively, that add the final
and determining entertainment weight to an already-impressive
load of blithesome, tuneful, laugh-laden diversion.
While the performances of both are deserving of limitless
praise, one phase thereof is worthy of chronicling. The
younger trouoer has established an understandable reputation
as an inveterate scenestealer. But with indestructible
Crosby he failed to get away with one iota of such larceny.
It is a case of give and take from opening situation to ladeout;
and if either of the duo rates a shade the best of it,
the added bow must go to
Der Bingle.
Figuring substantially in this close race for acting honors
undoubtedly are the scripting by Sidney Sheldon and the
steady, expert direction of Robert Lewis. They combined
to assure that each of the topliners was accorded ample
opportunity to display his best stock in trade, which resulted
in Bing's highlighting the singing and Donald the
dancing; while the many scenes in which they apDear together
register reasonable closeness to a 50-50 division of
thespian glories.
The distaff side ol the stellar lineup, by comparison, scores
less advantageously. They—namely Jeanmaire and Mitzi
Gaynor—are expectedly effective in their individual
terpsichorean assignments but neither one seems to be as
pulchritudinous as she has in other, earlier screen stints.
This is possibly traceable to the VistaVision photography,
which recorded several unflattering camera angles of both
femme luminaries. Other than that, the widescreen process,
combining with bright Technicolor, serves as the usual
arresting medium in accenting the feature's scope.
Mountings of the vehicle, for which producer Robert
Emmett Dolan is credited, reflect the more recent trend in
filmusicals, calling for emphasis on artistry rather than
opulence, which per se demands limitations of the breathtakingly
lush production numbers that characterized the
stratospherically-budgeted tuneiilms of yesteryear. Choreography
by Nick Castle is spotty. Some sequences display
praiseworthy originality, while others are severely stereotyped.
It goes without saying that the songs constitute one of the
photoplay's most appealing facets. Among them are many
of the widely-known hits of the Porter original "I Get a
Kick Out of You," "All Through the Night," "Anything Goes,"
"You're the Top," "It's De Lovely" and "Blow, Gabriel, Blow."
Then there are new numbers ol hit potentialities limned by
J. Van Heusen and Sammy Cahn, and including "Ya Gotta
Give the People Hoke," "A Second Hand Turban and a
Crystal Ball," and "You Can Bounce Right Back."
Obviously all of the above-mentioned ingredients — genesis,
cast, process, color arid music—are bench-tailored exploitation
fodder to which smart showmen will resort to assure the
scope
lions.
"I
,U0 s,
ueuutif
feature the capacity patronage its over-all excellence so
completely merits.
The story serves as a mere framework for the singing,
dancing and clowning. It has a double boy-meets-girl theme.
Crosby, old-time stage favorite, and O'Connor, brash new-
.
comer, decide to merge their talents in a new musical
show. Unbeknown to the other, each signs a leading lad/
which gives rise to the professional and romantic complications
that carry the yarn.
Bing Crosby, Donald O'Connor, Jeanmaire, Mitzi Gaynor,
Phil Harris. Kurt Kasznar. Richard Erdman, Walter Sande.
CATCHLrNES:
The Gayest of Cole Porter's Broadway Musical Hits Becomes
the Year's Most Glittering Screen Treat . . Here
.
Is the Delightful, Delovely Musical Smash of the Season.
1916 BOXOFFICE
screen,
seals
»ith i
ncessit
Joe Macbeth A
Ratio: Melodrama
1.85-1
Columbia (822) 90 Minutes Rel Feb. '56
Aimed at the action houses, this melodrama is Shakespeare's
famous plot modernized to the rattle ol machine
gur.s. The opening episode deals with the murder of the
No. 1 trigger man who has lost the trust of Duca, big-city
gang boss. From that initial violence to the closing scene,
the story swiftly unrolls a bloody struggle lor -power
Duca's gang iiseli and with a rival mob. Paul Douglas
turns in one of his finest performances as the gangster who
would have been content to be Duca's top trigger man and
loyal follower, but who is goaded into knifing his boss and
taking over gang leadership by his bride, Ruth Roman,
in the role of gangland's version ol Lady Macbeth.
In the telling oi the story, tension builds fast from the
outset, as the conflict develops between Duca and Macbeth
lor gang leadership. Macbeth's bride speedily convinces
Joe that all the favors Duca is bestowing on him as the
new No. 1 trigger man are merely to set him up for execution
by other members of the mob. So, egged on by his wife,
Macbeth plots the murder of Duca and takes over the gang.
Intrigue piles on intrigue as Macbeth finds himself opposed
by Lennie, sullen young member ol the gang who thinks
his father Banky should have succeeded Duca. The father,
Lennie's wile and Macbeth's wife herself are victims as
the jittery Macbeth seeks to maintain his position and
in the end Joe goes, too, as Lennie gets his revenge.
Miss Roman adds to her laurels with the gun moll portrayal
in the M. J. Frankovich production, which was filmed in
England, although the setting is modern America. Expert
performances also are turned in by Bonar Colleano as
Lennie; Minerva Pious as the fortune-telling flower-seller;
Walter Crisham, butler, and Harry Green, comedian ol 20
years ago who returns to the screen as rival gang-leader.
Paul Douglas. Ruth Roman. Bonar Colleano, Gregoire
Asian, Minerva Pious. Walter Crisham. Harry Green.
CATCHLrNES:
Scarface . Now—Joe Macbeth) The
Knife Knows Where to Go—Just Follow It . . . She Pulled the
Strings, He Pulled the Trigger—Together They Ruled the Mob.
Too Bad She's Bad A
Ratio: Comedy
Standard
Getz-Kingsley 95 Minutes Rel. Feb. 56
What "Bread, Love and Dreams" and its sequel, "Frisky,"
did for Gina Lollobrigida, this Italian-language comedy romp
might well do for the luscious, well-proportioned Sophia
Loren, who recently has been receiving as many magazine
cover breaks as Gina. Seen previously only in the somber
dramatics of "Aida," this gives her a chance to show "her
outstanding assets," as the ads say, in a scanty bathing
suit and a tight-fitting dress and also demonstrates she is
a clever comedienne.
Vittorio De Sica, in another of his delightful comedy
characterizations, is already a name draw, particularly in
the art houses, and the personable Marcello Mastroianni
gives an appealing portrayal of a naive, harassed taxidriver.
None ol the actors seem to take the proceedings
too seriously, which aids Director Alessandro Blasetti in
giving it all a rowdy comic touch. However, it's somewhat
racy and best suited to adults.
A minor drawback, which some patrons may find annoying,
is the brief titles while the actors are spouting torrents
of words from the sound track. The story is by Alberto
Moravia, author ol several best-sellers. A Documento Film.
Getz-Kingsley is "at 1501 Broadway, New York City.
In the story, Marcello Mastroianni, handsome young taxi
driver, is approached by two young men to drive them to
a nearby beach. A girl, Sophia Loren, joins them and, when
Marcello is persuaded to join her in the water, the boys
try to make oil with his taxi. The boys escape, but Marcello
takes the girl to the police, where she lies her way out ant.
he takes her home. There he learns that her lather, Vittorio
De Sica, is an accomplished baggage thief and Sophia even
gives him a stolen cigaret case. Later, De Sica, fleeing
Irom a victim, gets into Marcello's taxi, which speed,
a limousine. De Sica then picks a pocket on a bus, to give
the proceeds to Marcello. All hands land in the police
station, but De Sica and his daughter twist the facts and
get off. Sophia realizes she loves the taxi driver and he
reluctantly falls into her arms.
Sophia Loron. Vittorio De Sica. Marcello Mastroianni.
Walter Bartoletti. Umberto Melnatti. Margherita Bagni.
CATCHLrNES:
Italy's Most Luscious Beauty, Sophia Loren, in a Mad and
Merry Comedy . . . Vittorio De Sica Teams With the Lovely
Sophia Loren, Italy's Cover Girl . Was Bad But Oh
So Good.
January 21, 1956 1917
•

. . Czar
I
. any
I which
|
,
delight
REVIEWS
Adlines for Newspaper and Programs
Wiretapper A £*
Fac,ual Drama
Embassy Pictures (Stale rights) 80 Minutes Rel. Feb. '56
An independently made and distributed film with two
highly exploitable angles—wiretapping, which has been
much in the news headlines lately, and the evangelist
Billy Graham, who has attracted thousands wherever he held
a meeting. Except for Bill Williams, who has starred in
several program pictures and is currently "Kit Carson" on
TV, marquee names are lacking, but the picture is a natural
for a sensational lobby display and radio-TV campaigns.
key city downtown spots, frequented by adults
Best suited to
in the main.
Produced by Continental Pictures and adapted from Jim
Vaus' book, "Why I Quit Syndicated Crime," the picture
purports to tell the true-life story of this long-time associate
of the notorious Mickey Cohn. As directed by Dick Ross in
uneven fashion, the early scenes are in the typical gangster
film mold and deal with Vaus' wiretapping tieup with the
Los Angeles underworld. Much too abruptly for credibility,
the film switches to Vaus' conversion while listening to
Graham preach. Graham makes a brief dynamic appearance
at one of his actual evangelistic meetings.
Williams does a good acting job even if he can't make
Vaus' sudden conversion very believable. Stanley Clements,
who has been playing jockeys or tough gangsters for years,
'and Paul Picerni, are the most familiar supporting players
as members of the underworld and both are capable here.
Georgia Lee is attractive, if little else, as Vaus' worried
young wife.
In the film, Jim Vaus (Bill Williams) is a hard-working and
ambitious electrician who is given a huge sum by Douglas
Kennedy, gangster, for repairing some wiretapping machinery.
Later, Kennedy persuades Vaus to join his underworld gang
and install wiretapping equipment for him. Vaus' fiancee
(Georgia Lee) is worried about the change in him, but
she marries him hoping to reform him. Vaus then devises
a system for tapping racetrack results while his underworld
cronies place bets on horses which have already won.
Georgia almost persuades Vaus to quit the racket, but it is
not until she brings him to hear Billy Graham preach that
he reveals the gang's activities to the police. Vaus is now
said to be an evangelist himself. Embassy is at 19 Winchester
St.,
Boston.
. . .
Bill Williams, Georgia Lee, Douglas Kennedy, Paul Picerni,
Stanley Clements, Ric Roman, Richard Benedict.
CATCHLINES:
Torn From Today's Headlines—the True-Life Story of Jim
Vaus, Ex-Gang WireTapper . of Hollywood Gangland
Explodes
Captured
Across the Screen
The Expose of Wiretapping
Gang War Massacre.
. . .
SHORTS
REVIEWS
The Heart of England
British Inf. Services (Documentary) 20 Mins.
Good. Technicolor scenes of the Cotswold countryside of
England during all seasons of the year. Some of them are of
extraordinary beauty and all have appeal for those who are
interested in the rustic life. This has been sheep-raising and
farming country for years, with mechanical devices such as
tractors replacing hand labor, and it is also Shakespeare
country and is so shown. The autumn foliage is particularly
striking, and the stone structures are picturesque.
The Rocket
British Inl. Services (Documentary) 17 Mins.
Good. This has general appeal and should interest children
particularly going in for science-fiction in a big way. It
illustrates strictly along scientific lines the development of the
rocket from the days of the first Chinese firecracker to plans
for space travel. The backgrounds are research laboratories
in Britain. Also shown are the deadly German V-2 weapon
at Peenemunde, American experiments and amazing shots of
the earth taken from a rocket ninety miles in the sky. In
black and white.
Pantomimes
Go Pictures (Special) 13 Mins.
Very Good. Here George K. Arthur presents in Eastman
Color the great French mime, Marcel Marceau, with an
introduction by Jean Cocteau. There are three episodes, all
directed by Paul Paviot. They are "David and Goliath,"
"The Butterfly Chase" and "The Lion Tamer." Marceau is
without question a great mime. He is now appearing in
the U. S. on stage and television, and receiving rave reviews.
While of outstanding appeal to art theatre audiences,
it should also capture the interest of conventional audiences.
It has the quality of being a distinctly different type of entertainment.
Go Pictures is located at 340 East 57th St., New
York City.
-55
•55 f
o5
-55
55
j,
X
SHORTS REVIEWS
Wonders of Manhattan
Columbia (CinemaScope Featurette) 16 Mins.
Very Good. Any one who has ever lived in Manhattan or
of the millions who want to pay the city a visit will
in this splendidly photographed CinemaScope short,
covers a day in the life of New York from sunrise to
sunset. Each of the film's three segments is introduced by
George Jessel, but the actual descriptions of the many scenes
of city life, from the Bowery to Park Avenue, are "narrated"
in song by Bill Hayes, well-known stage and TV crooner,
and a supporting chorus. The entire subject is similar to
"Manhattan Towers," that 6utstanding song-poem, which has
been a big record seller. This rates marquee mention.
Animals a La Carte
Paramount (Topper) 10 Mins.
Fair. This serves chiefly as a vehicle for showing animals
and birds at play and at meals in zoological gardens and
in the wilds. Their preferred foods and their diets are explained.
The best part is toward the end where there are
scenes of a hungry pelican stealing from the catch of a
fisherman. Those scenes are amusing.
Boo Kind to Animals
Paramount (Casper, the Friendly Ghost) 6 Mins.
Good. A new cartoon character, Spunky, a cute little mule,
is introduced. He has trouble holding a job although sponsored
by Casper. He is too small for draft work and for the
army, and fails in a circus job. Then, with the aid of Casper,
Spunky becomes a hero by saving an army officer from a
mine field during maneuvers and joins the army after all as a
stretcher bearer. It's neatly done.
Cops Is Tops
Paramount (Popeye Cartoon) 7 Mins.
Good. Another amusing cartoon in the long-popular series.
This time, Olive Oyl is a lady cop, who' refuses Popeye's
offers to protect her. But when she finds herself in the
clutches of a masher, she reverts to type and calls for
Popeye. With Herculanean strength, provided by his can
of spinach, he rescues Olive and is made an officer of the law.
Hillbilling and Cooing
Paramount (Popeye the Sailor) 6 Mins.
Good. Here Popeye instead of pursuing Olive Oyl is himself
pursued by a hefty hillbilly girl with Olive trying to
save him. Time after time he escapes only to be recaptured,
embraced, crooned to and taken before a justice of the
peace. Then, invigorated by the usual spinach, with Olive
helping, the gal is sent flying into the sky where the man
in the moon flies in terror before her.
A Job for a Gob
Paramount (Popeye the Sailor) 6 Mins.
Good. This has several very amusing moments. Olive Oyl
tries out Popeye and Bluto for a job on her ranch with the
usual rough-and-tumble competition resulting. Wild horses
are ridden cowboy-style, wild steers are released and the
ranch is set afire by Bluto in a fit of jealousy. Popeye with
the aid of his spinach wins out after Olive has recourse to
the vegetable, too.
Kitty Cornered
Paramount (Noveltoon) 6 Mins.
Good. An appealing new cartoon character, Kitty Cuddles,
is presented. She has inherited a huge estate from an
eccentric old woman and lives in luxury with a butler. He
discovers a will bequeathing the estate to
him on her death
and sets about killing her. She is shot at and pianos fall
on her, but proves to have more than the usual nine lives.
At last, tired of it all, she fires the butler.
3
Mousieur Herman
Paramount (Herman and Eatnip) 6 Mins.
Good. This time the scene is a French art studio where
the mice draw satirical portraits of the cat as he sleeps. On
awakening, he and the mice succeed in wrecking the place
in furious chases, with Herman ingeniously extricating himself
from a series of serious predicaments. In the end,
Katnip is molded into a statute in the ceramics oven and
serves as a permanent model for the artistic mice.
1918 BOXOFFICE January 21, 1956 1915

; exploitation,
,
'
Houston
HATES: 15c per word, minimum $1.50, cash with copy. Four consecutive insertions for price
of three. CLOSING DATE: Monday noon preceding publication daie. Send copy and
• answers to Box Numbers to BOXOFFICE. 825 Van Brunt Blvd.. Kansas City 24, Mo. •
CLfflfilRG HOUSE
HELP WANTED
GENERAL EQUIPMENT—NEW
THEATRES FOR SALE
THEATRES WANTED
Salesmen, agents make extra money sell nationally
advertised automatic Sno-ball Sno-cone ma-
95c; constant
Bargains galore! Holmes parts! Condenser lenses, West coast theatres for sale. Write for list. Theatres
speed motors $12.50;
and drive-ins
shutter shafts Theatre Exchange,
wanted! Texas, Colorado.
260 Kearny St., San Francisco
il easy terms. Sno-Master Mfg. Co., 124 $1.25; sound
Oklahoma, Missouri,
optical lenses $9.95; Intermittent
Kansas,
8, Calif.
An.
BC-Hopklns Place. Baltimore 1, Md
Erwin,
$24.50; Slai-sprocket assembly
Broker.
$10.00; EE-14070
1443 South Trenton, Tulsa.
vertical drive-shaft w/5 gears, bearings $9.75; Theatres. Texas, Colorado. Missouri, Kansas
Wanted aggressive drive-in manager
Will lease
with
or
exploitation
experience for established
1000W T-20C-13 Mogul prefocus lamps $25.00 and
buy theatres
Aikansas.
suitable for
Ralph "Art"
Erwill, Broker, 144:i South operation. Write:
drive-in
Heights
located dozen ($3.95 each). Dept. cc, S.O.S. Cinema Tienton,
Art
Tulsa.
Theatre. I
2781 icll
In the midwest. Year round position.
Heights Blvd..
Write Supply Corp.,
Cleveland,
002 W. 52nd St, New Ohio.
York 19.
ill resume, state salary requirements and
Only theatre In town of 4,000, modern Cinemascope,
widescreen. Must sell, have other obliga-
enclose photo with Wanted.
letter. Applications will be Holmes
Movie
projectors,
theatres
amplifier, speaker,
and driie Ins in
etc., the
all
confidentially.
state of Florida.
Boxoffice. 7017.
new,
Boxoff.ce.
$750 pair; Strong 50 ampere 3 phase
7028
tions. 326 seats. .Morton Theatre. Mortun, 111.
rectifiers $325 pair; Anaroorphics $345 pair; 14" Phone 5671.
House manager or experienced
Experienced
assistant
manager-projectionist
that metal reflectors $24.75; Simplex
team wants
type intermittents
$62.50; Century intermittents
knows theatre operation
small town
for llichmund,
or sub-run theaLe In
Virginia
northern
$89.50;
Ohio or
Ur mail
Dissolving
special
partnership.
delivery Drive-in
full qualifications, Thousands
Theatres,
sensational savings! What do you need?
Longmont,
southern Michigan. Will consldei closed or
small pholo, references,
Colurado and
salary expected, McCook,
draft Star Cinema Supply, 621 West 55th
Nebraska. Sell
St., New
one problem theatres. Boxoffice. 7(i:S2
stains and
or
marital
both.
details. M.
All replies kept
M. Swank. Stockton.
strictly York. 19.
Kansas.
confidential. Boxolfice, 7022.
Best Cinemascope Buy! Cinematic IV adjustable Tocnotch auto theatre, 506 speakers, 400 indoor
Manager, must know projection emergency. Give anamurphics $375 pair. Metallic seamless screens.
seats. Excellent return. South, near permanent THEATRE SEATING
full detail and salary. Palo Theatre, Lowell, ind. 75c sq. ft. Buy on time. Dept cc, S.O.S. Cinema arm; post. Cinemascope. Undisputed proot ol
Supply Corp., 602 W. 52nd St, New York 19. profit. Terms. Boxoffice. 7006
Chair supplies, parts for all chairs. Fensin Seating.
Chicago 5
Need good assistant manager for downtown theatre.
Texas
Prepare for "Kismet."
Theatre.
Lowest prices, prompt
Jasper, 820 car de luxe
Teias.
drive-in theatre. One of the
deliveries on Foxhole sprockets for Standard and must profitable in eastern Pennsylvania 100 foot Repairing and reupholstering In your theatre
Wanted, two managers Super Simplex, E-7, X-L. Century
for
projectors: also Cinemascope
first run
screen.
theatres
RCA equipment thioughout. Fensin Seating, Chicago 5.
in cities of medium most soundheads Including
size, situated RCA PS24. Ml 1040.
in eastern
playground,
part
moonlight lighting etc.
of
Net ticket and
Must be thoroughly
1050, 1060, 9030, 9050; ff. E. 206, 208. TA
experienced
refreshment sales
and
approximate $145,000 per year New spring seats for all chairs, Fensin Seating.
definitely interested 7400; Simplex 4 Star and Ballantyne
in Dept. cc,
exploitation,
on last run p.oduct.
lieply, Price in
giving
full resume S.O.S.
excess of $200,000. Chicagu 5.
of employment,
Cinema Supply Corp., 602 W. 52nd St. Boxotfice,
salary
7011.
requirements,
references, and New York, 19.
availability for Patch-o-seat
Interview
cement, permastone anchor cement.
Boxotfice. 7025.
330 car drive-in New England will net more Fensin Seating. Chicago 5.
than 10% on investment after owner's salary.
Manager. Showman experienced in medium sized
Each year shown increase. Good year's income for Seat coverings, sewed combination, all styles
town operation. $5,200 minimum.
GENERAL
Family
EQUIPMENT—USED
group
six months work. Boxoffice, 7012.
Fensin Seating, Chicago 5.
and hospital insurance. North central location.
Give full information
Excellent coated projection lenses, many brand
first letter. References not
For sale or trade. Two theatres in
used unless
new!
deal. Wollensak "Sunray" series I: 2", 3",
Texas panhandle
town growing 1,500 people per
Plastic leatherette, all colors, send sample.
3%".
Boxoffice, 7027.
3%". 5", 5%", 5H". 6",
month. Fensin Seating. Chicago 5.
7%"— $35.00 pair.
Also one theatre in
Outdoor and conventional theatre managers Super Snaplite fl. 9-2" -2%"
New Mexico. Write or wire
$170 pair; Superlite
2%" -3". -31,4" $150 pair; Superlite 3%"
Bosoffice. 7013.
Upholstery fabrics, all types, send sample.
needed. All year round position with aggressive
Fensin Seating. Chicago 5.
young circuit, upper midwest area. Wiite Boxoffice,
7035, state references, experience, ace and today. Kept, cc, S.O.S. Cinema Supply Corp, atre in trade area of 7,500, Western Kansas. New and used reouilt opera chairs. Write for
$90 pair. Trades taken. Wire or telephone order Theatre, grossing $20,000 annually, only the-
photo.
602 W. 52nd St., New York 19.
Built new from the ground up in 1948, modern photos, state Incline and quality. Parts for all
Manager wanted by
and immaculate In
progressive.
every way.
Independent
Wonderful opportunity
and
chairs, send sample for quotation. Patch-A-Seat
Lenses for sale or trade. Pair Ross series II
midwest circuit operating drive-ins
for couple, indoor
real quick pay-out assured, to repair torn seats, $6 complete kit. specify color.
theatres.
Good starting salary,
F5.75. Wanted F5.25 in series II coated. Park information and
excellent
free
chance
photos mailed, no obligation Flrmastone to anchor loose chairs, $5 carton
for Theatre. Columbia Falls. Mont.
advancement. Write giving
whatsoever on your
full
part.
information C-5691 Continental, 804 FOB. Chicago, General Chair Co., 1308 Elston
to
Boxoffice. 7033.
Complete booth equipment with new pent house Grand, Kansas City, Mo.
Ave.. Chicago 22. 111. Phone ARmltage 6-0022.
type XL stereophonic sound and CmemaScope
Managers, indoor ano drive-in, central Connecticut.
Send personal history. Boxoffice. 7029. heads. Z. M. LaPrade. profitable
lenses. De Luxe four way
For sale or lease.
bases with rebuilt
In the Charlotte area. Very Professional reupholstering Factory trained
Box 294. Coronado,
small
Calif.
drive-in. Priced at less than a crew. Free estimate anywhere. For sale: 5.000
year's gross.
Wanted young
Lease advance can be applied on good used chairs, all types. OGLESBY BQUIPalert
drive-in or conventional
purchase price.
theatre
Boxoffice,
managers
7018.
MENT CO.. 20356 Grand River, Detroit. KEnwood
by recognized independent circuit
3-8740.
Must be exploitation-minded. Salary open Write EQUIPMENT WANTED
Excellent opportunity for anyone Interested
Boxof/ice.
In
7030.
drive-in theatre business In Fort Lauderdale, Fla. 2800 used theatre chairs. New chairs. Lone
Wanted Single phase rectifiers. aggressive
6 bulb. Crescent Theatre,
Galena,
drive-in manager
400 speakers with excellent
with
equipment. Good lease, Star Seating Co.. Box 1734. Dallas. Texas.
exploitation
experience
Kas.
for beautiful
a new concession stand, excellent
900-car location.
drive-in
located within 25 miles
Price
of Boston. Year round Used sound
$25,000. half cash, half In
heads. Ultraphone
three
or
years.
For sale: 1G00 used spring cushion Insert back
Western
position Write giving Theatre
full resume,
presently closed,
stating salary Electric,
reason,
any condition.
interests elsewhere
chairs. George Watson. Aztec Theatre, San
Will pay cash. Write
requirements-, etc. Enclose photo
and ill partner.
with letter Applications-
will be treated confidentially. Address
Boxoffice. 7034. Kansas
Write, Boxoffice.
City, Mo.
7021.
Antonio. Texas.
letter to Charles Auditore, Georgetown
Wanted, Stoner candy machines. Give Realty Inc
model 350 seat. Central Arkansas. RCA-Simplex, Rebuilt upholstered chairs, 25"l26" plastic
•- I'ar k St.. SnmiTiille. Mass
number. Ohio Vending Co.. Box 201.
Family
Coshocton,
operation, bargain. Boxoffice. 7024. leatherette. 55c each Chicago Used Oiaii Mail.
Ohio.
829 So. State St.. Chicago, III
Drive-In
Arkansas. 412 speaker drive-in. Over
theatre
seven acres
manager wanted, central
lotk New
land, room for
state
expansion.
area. Good
Cinemascope, excellent
opportunity for right
calibre man.
equipment, modern concession. Yearly
State
operation,
age. experience in all phases
will
"management. stand inspection.
Reference required. Boxoffice
DRIVE-IN
Wonderful one or
THEATRE
two family
EQUIPMENT
REPAIRING
operation or will profit with hired help. Boxoffice,
Drive-ln 7026.
theatre tickets. Send for samples
Door closers, one day service. Like new guaianteed.
of our
special printed stub rod
Minnesota
tickets
Fire Extinguisher
for
Co.. Inc.,
drive-ins. 650 seats. Cinemascope, brick building. 4,000
Sate, distinctive, easy to check. Kansas Cltv 2480 University Avenue, St.
Ticket
Paul 11. Minn.
people radius six miles. 50 miles from Dallas,
POSITIONS WANTED
Co., Dept 10, 109 W. 18th St.. Film Row." $25,000 for everything, or $15,000 fur theatre,
Kansas City 8. Mo.
Your speakers (cones), mlcrophont
half down. Roy DeVlney. Mt. Vernon. I.
Manager available, two weeks
(horns) complete]! reoulll notice.
Western Electronics
Age 48
expeilence all phases theatre management'
Two modern theatres, fully equipped, Cinema- Co., 3311 Houston An .
i, Teias
promotion, buying
Scoped, widescreens. Personal
and
and real estate.
Mount- BUSINESS
Excellent
STIMULATORS
references. Southwest Central Wisconsin towns
only
Write to Lake Real
Boxoffice, 7008.
Estate Agency. Green I.ake. Wis
Bingo, more action! $4.50M cards. Other
Manager, games available,
experienced,
on-off screen. Novelty Games Co., Private deal. In tremendous industrious pay
qualified. Age 38 At 106 Rogers Ave.,
'
lant Brooklyn.
general
N.
manager,
Y
roll ana. theatre with 16,000 population potential.
450 seats, life-time Trout, masonry
small circuit
• refer Georgia. Florida.
construction.
Only theatre in town ol 7. I. Cine-
BUY! SELL! TRADE!
Louisiana. Boxoffice'
Build attendance with real Hawaiian orchids
Few cents each. Write Flowers of Hawaii. 670 mascope equipped with modern 4-room apartment
Projectionist. S.
15 years
Lafayette
experience.
Park Place. Los
Prefer
Angeles
Siro-
5. Calif.
attached. Full price $36,000. or half down and
I
small will carry mortgage. Write. Roxv
FIND
city. Arthur
Theatre. 1017
Toldness.
HELP OR POSITION
Mellen,
Biuno-die-cut cards. Increase your boxoffice. State St.. Lockport. III.
n
75 to 100 numbers. $4.50 per M. Best Cards
'!
«,Sl' n „ , y' M,re ma" a Premium 0er. Products.
Aggressive and
339 West 44th St., New York No television, town IO.OOii people Modern.
ei-
Salary commensurate 36. N. with
Y.
Cinemascope, building, equipment,
Through
netting $22.-
ability plus
bonus on gross. 000. Will
All
pay
replies
out four yens $50,000 down.
confidential. Write
resume to Last Hartford Drive-In Theatre.
Roadshow Attractions! %Atty
Films
Brochure.
and flesh. Guaranteed
P McAdam. Livingston. Mont.
K Francis. U07 New Britain A„.
money -getters!
, Elm-
State wants. Can use good
(
booker, toj> place for top man! Write Jim Trlppe
215^4
BOXOFFICE
Feiry St.. Decatur. Ala.
THEATRE TICKETS
Give away genuine red cedar chests!
STUDIO
Cost low.
AND
Prompt Service. Special printed roll tickets
PRODUCTION
boxoffice Impact great! Direct from factory to 100.000. $28.75; 10,000. $8.95; 2.00n
EQUIPMENT
Classified Advertising
you Free details. Box 341, Decattir, Ala. Each change In admission price, including change
r }.? ??"" 3 """" lenses 2
'
magazines.
Movie Sweepstakes. In Worlds color.
mu-t $3.50 extra. Double exciting audience
numbering extra
I' II
$2,095; 10- Title animation
11
stand
participation game. Horse racing on Kami! i in. Mo Cash with order. Kansis
film
n'-''"i.v,l zoom, stopmotlon. $2. run) value. United
$975:
Productions, 20S F Hi. i'm at} Ticket Co
. Depl II. lim H ISMi Si Greatest Coverage in the
Bids
*}"

...of 1956 boxoffice!
*
You can cut-out the guess work. Washington's
made it official. Read the U. S. Commerce
Dept. release and you'll see Secretary
Weeks says $1.3 billion for motion pictures
in 1956!
-^ he
1955 vre partic
s,
rfth more *e greased
—
"**
pr oduCtio» thea-
3t mamtam
m°ecteS
to ^ the atre me le vel a» l^
about*^ at 1.3
b*»o»
„o. estimated
dollars-
A share of that big profit-packed pie is yours.
The size of your slice will be as big as your
showmanship can make it!
Your N.S.S. office can give you a lot of help
... so call 'em, today!
nATionai Sctem
SERVICE
V7 PRIZfBOBr ior THf //rousmr
P^