Boxoffice-Febuary.18.1956

. . Hugo
. . Alan
. . Marguerite
. . Marion
BALTIMORE
•Twentieth Century-Fox demonstrated its
55mm Cinemascope process here at the
New Theatre for exhibitors, press personnel,
stockholders and friends. Martin Moskowitz,
division sales manager, addressed the audience
prior to presentation of excerpts from
"Carousel" and "The King and I." There
was prolonged and marked applause at the
finish of the showing. Jack Fruchtman, Nat
W. Hodgdon and Hal Colley were local hosts.
. . .
Lou Brown, publicist for Loew Theatres in
New England, was in town over the weekend
with his daughter, here to attend a cousin's
wedding Harry E. Welch, former Baltimorean
now with the Egyptian Theatre in
Hollywood, was here for a visit with friends
Ray Maxwell, accountant
and relatives . . .
for Rome Theatres, is recovering from a
heart attack . . . Charles E. Nolte, executive
of the Durkee Enterprises, and wife were
vacationing in Florida.
Police Commissioner James Hepbron was
an honor guest at the luncheon given for
the Lone Ranger by Stanley Theatre Manager
Rodney Collier . . . James Richards, who
resigned recently as assistant manager at
the Little, returned there as manager. The
former manager, Larry Hyatt, has been
moved to the Film Centre where he will serve
in the boxoffice for the reserved-seat showing
of "Oklahoma!" there. Willard Shoffer,
assistant at the Film Centre, has been named
manager to replace Miss Caryl Hamburger
who will devote her entire time to publicity
for that theatre and the other Rappaport
houses.
Rodney Collier, manager of the Stanley,
was a guest at the Ad Club's annual banquet
Saturday night. Jack Sidney, manager of
the Palace in Washington, came over for
the occasion. C. Elmer Nolte jr., general
manager for Durkee Enterprises, also was a
guest.
Testimony by Chesapeake
Ends in Antitrust Suit
NEW YORK—Chesapeake Industries ended
its presentation of testimony Wednesday (15)
in its $15,000,000 antitrust suit brought in
Federal Court against Loew's Theatres and
RKO Theatres. William C. MacMillen, CI
president, had testified that Eagle Lion Classics
was denied a fair share of local bookings.
ELC was a subsidiary of Pathe Industries
which has become Chesapeake Industries.
Judge Archie O. Dawson denied a motion to
dismiss.
The defendants base their defense on the
statement that in the years 1946 to 1950 they
played 111 of the 196 films released by ELC.
The first to take the stand were Robert
Miller, formerly an RKO accountant, and Sol
A. Schwartz, RKO Theatres president.
TODD-AO 10 BALTIMORE—Newspaper writers and staff members of Baltimore
radio and television stations were guests of Isador M. and M. R. Rappaport at a party
to introduce Todd-AO at the Film Center Theatre there. The gathering was in honor
of Henry S. Woodbridge, president of Todd-AO Corp.; Douglas Netter, vice-president;
Carl Warner, field installation engineer; Dr. Walter Siegmund, research assistant of
the American Optical Co.; Nils Tuxen of the Philips Co., and Harry K. McWilliams
of the Magna Theatre Corp. Nine radio and TV interviews were given and four stations
made tape recordings for later use. Left to right: Warner, Dr. Siegmund, Woodbridge,
Tuxen, Netter and I. M. Rappaport.
WASHINGTON
pd Lachman of the New York Variety Club use of his Filmrow screening room for meetings
of Local F-13 . Beavers, 20th-
attended a crew meeting of local Tent 11
last week to outline plans for the Variety Fox, resigned . . . Projectionist Frank Blake
International convention to be held May 9-12 and office manager Bob Smelzer celebrated
in New York. Orville Crouch, chief barker birthdays Thursday.
of Tent 11, appointed Jack Blank and Marshall
Walter Donohue, Columbia booker, was in
Coyne to serve as co-chairmen of the Mothers
Day Luncheon this year. Hirsh de La
the hospital . . . Sympathy to Mr. and Mrs.
Claude Ringer in the death of Mrs. Ringer's
Viez, chairman, met with the entertainment
mother . Egloff is the new
committee February 8 . . . Robert Levine,
. .
. . . Mrs.
head of the Levine circuit with theatres in
Portsmouth, Norfolk and Ocean View, has
taken over the Super 17 Drive-in, Cradock,
Va. It formerly was in the Johnson-Saunders
chain . The Keysville Drive-In, Keysville.
Va., is no longer affiliated with Independent
Theatres Service. Henry R. Nunnally now is
buying and booking.
WOMPI of Washington held a Valentine
luncheon in the Continental Hotel Tuesday
. . . Dr. Bernard Walsh, cardiologist for the
District of Columbia health department, spoke
on the causes and effects of rheumatic fever
on children and teenagers. Agnes Turner was
in charge of arrangements . . . Christine
Earisman is the new cashier at Allied Artists,
replacing Joe DeMaio resigned
Bob Grace, wife of the Paramount office manager,
was in Doctors' Hospital with the virus.
Harry Pickett, booker for Craver Theatres,
was on Filmrow . F. Cummings,
branch operations head, spent several days
Formato has offered the
at MGM .
switchboard
operator.
Turner, RKO cashier, and Mary Agnes
Sweeney, Bernheimer Theatres, are on the
committee of arrangements for the South
Atlantic regional conferences of Soroptimist
International, which will be held in Washington
Mrs. Marie Cannon, Allied
in April . . . Artists, and Guy Hancock were married February
7.
Historic Film to Be Made
For Use at Williamsburg
NEW YORK—George Seaton will direct
"The Williamsburg Story." a half-hour Vista-
Vision film, at historic Williamsburg. Va., in
May and it will be shown m two 250-seat
VistaVision theatres under construction at
the information center as a guide u> \.
It will recreate the city's 18th century atmosphere,
according to Paramount. At present
a 16mm film made up of stills and narration
is being used.
JL