Boxoffice-April.28.1956

APRIL 28. 1956
"^ TuAe ei iAe
C. V. Whitney, right, industrialist and public servant, who has entered motion picture
production on a grand scale through the formation ot C. V. Whitney Pictures,
Inc ,
discusses his plans for filmmaking in an article on Page 18. He is shown
with Merian C. Cooper, who is vice-president and executive producer ot the company.
'NATIONAL EXECUTIVE EDITION
ling tht Swtional Ntwl Pagii of All Edltioni

^^
* iji^lliiii
V^
SEEING IS
WORTH A
THOUSAND WORDS!

When we showed "THE CATERED
AFFAIR" in a New York neighborhood
theatre exhibitors said: "If only
showmen throughout the nation could
be here to witness the electrifying
BETTE
DAVIS
Triumphant
response!" The audience applauded,
cried, laughed and just plain loved
it.
The Film Research Surveys poll
equalled famed "Blackboard Jungle."
That's why we're showing it in
ERNEST
BORGNINE
Star of " Marty"
Exchange cities
nationwide. Seeing is
believing. Circuit heads, bring your
Managers. Local press and opinion
makers will be there too.
One of the many
Big Ones from M-G-M,
The Hottest Company!
DEBBIE
REYNOLDS
Her Greatest
Screen Play ty
GORE VIDAL
Hrom A PUy ty PADDY CHAYEF5KY
Producea Ly
SAM ZIMBALIST
{Available in Perspicia Stereophonic or 1 -Channel SounJ)
Directea ty
RICHARD BROOKS

I i\^' J.
ii£?
"THE BEST WESTERN EVER MADE!-. FOR THE MOST EXCITING

U!>.
^m^
^
nor
Warner Bros.
C.V.Whitney picture
THE SEARCHERS'
vistaVision
VISTAyiSION AND COLOR byTECHNICOLOR
CO-STARRiNG
JEFFREYHUNTER VFSA MILES
^'
WARD BOND -NATALIE WOOD
SCREEN PLAY BY EXECUTIVE PRODUCER ASSOCIATE PRODUCER
FRANK S.NUGENT
- MERiAN C.COOPER -PATRICK FORD
. niPECTED BY 4-TIME ACADEMY AWARD WINNER J^OHNFORD
PRESENTED BY Warner Bros. 155^^
CORATION DAY ATTRACTION YOU EVER PLAYED!

BoX(#cfc
Chm>
April 18th

I
I
l
Patrick.
, Executive
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^^/^ (^t!4e l/lc^/itm ^/'cli^^ //idtiSh//
THE NATIONAL FILM WEEKLY
Published in Nine Sectional Editions
BEN
SHLYEN
Editor-in-Chief and Publisher
DONALD M. MERSEREAU .
Associote
Publisher & General Manager
JAMES M. JERAULD Editor
NATHAN COHEN .
Editor
JESSE SHLYEN. .. Managing Editor
HUGH FRAZE Field Editor
IVAN SPEAR Western Editor
LARRY GOODMAN Promotion Editor
I. L. THATCHER. .Equipment Editor
MORRIS SCHLOZMAN Business Mgr
Editorial Offices: 45 Rockefeller Plaza. New
York 20, N. Y. Donald M. Mersereau.
Associate Publisher & General Manager;
James .M. Jerauld. Editor; l-arry Coodman,
Editor Promotion-Sllowmandiser Section;
.V. J. Stocker. Equipment Advertising.
Telephone COlumbus 5-6370.
Central Offices: Editorial—920 No. Michigan
Ave., Chicago 11, III., Frances B.
Clou. Telephone Superior 7-3972. Advertising—35
East Wacker Drive. Chicago 1.
111,. E«lng llutfliis.in and B. E. Yeck.
T,-lfph(>:w .V.\M.n.T :)-:iM2.
Western Offices: ftlitorial and Film Adverli^ing—ii404
lloU.vMood Blvd.. Hollywood
Offici
eluded in tht^ n i. .: i
28. Calif. Ivan Spear, manager. Telephone
HOUjTvood 5-llSt>- Exiuipment and
Non-Kilm Advertising—H72 S. Lafayette
Park Place, Los Ansele.s. r.ilif. Rob Wettir
lirnlatre-goers and for the industry," he states.
"This great new product is the most telling testimony
that the men within the industry could
offer of their confidence in
the future."
In 1946 Johnston, then newly-elected as president
of MPAA, said the industry was on the
threshold of a "decisive decade." In the latest
report he says there is "a new and decisive
\italit\ and renewed hope for the fuliire."
Good Suggestion
Arthiu 11. Cole.

RECORD TOTAL OF GREAT FILMS
FROM HOLLYWOOD: JOHNSTON
His Annual MPAA Report
Says Pictures Stimulate
Trade in Whole World
NEW YORK—Hollywood will produce
more fine motion pictures in 1956 than at
any other time in its history. The statement
was made Tuesday
(24) by Eric
Johnston, president of
the Motion Picture
Ass'n of America, in
his annual report
issued in connection
with the annual meeting
of the association.
Johnston stressed
Eric
Johnston
that never within his
memory had new product
promised so much
for theatregoers and
the industry.
Thi.s great new product," he said, "is the
most telling testimony that the men within
the industry could offer of their confidence in
the future."
Discussing a freer world trade in all fields,
which he always has advocated, Johnston
called the American motion picture "one of
the most effective business builders ever
known." He said that in country after country
it has been apparent that American films
"create the stimulus that builds newer and
better theatres" and that "theatres stimulate
business wherever they draw customers."
"We have shown," he said, "that American
motion pictures create demand for new equipment
and new construction, but most of all
our pictures build in the audiences of the
world the kind of desires for better living upon
which the gi-owth of modern industry is
based."
Johnston noted that a complete victory over
cen.sorship is .still to be won. He pledged a
"persistent and relentless" campaign "until
all prior censorship of motion pictures is
elim-
Senate Sets May 21 Date
For Testimony by Majors
WASHINGTON—May 21 has been selected
a,s the date for distribution to appear
before the Senate Small Business
Committee and reply to charges of unfair
and onerou.s trade practices made by
exhibition.
Plans call for distribution to present
its complete ca.se in one day. A tentative
limit of eight hours has been set.
Jack Flynn, committee coun.sel, said
that distribution is drawing up a list of
witnesses to submit to the committee. He
said he did not know yet their identities.
He believed there would be about six
headed by Adolph Schimel of Universal-
International, chairman of the legal comnittee
of the Motion Picture A.ss'n of
FEATURE-LENGTH PICTURES AND SHORT SUBJECTS (INCLUDING SCRIALS)
APPROVED BY THE PRODUCTION CODE ADMINISTRATION: 1945-1955
FEATURE-LENGTH FILMS: 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955
Domestic:
Member Companies 230 254 229 229 252 272 282 259 241 187 210
Non-member Companies 128 143 141 165 109 107 87 58 49 45 31
Foreign:
Member Companies 14 16 16 25 21 22 31 21 32 41 45
Non-member Companies 17 12 18 16 37 28 32 30 32 30 19
Total New Features 389 425 404 435 419 429 432 368 354 303 305
Reissues 1 — — — 2 — — — — — —
Total All Features 390 425 404 435 421 429 432 368 354 303 305
SHORTS Including Serials:
Member Companies U. S. 466 487 448 465 479 409 450 429 413 368 325
U. S. Non-member Companies 55 62 96 44 22 37 2 3 1 2 7
Foreign Companies — — — 2 — 1 — — 1 — 2
Total Shorts 521 549 544 511 501 447 452~^ 432 415 370 334
Total Films Approved 911 974 948 946 922 876 884 800 769 673 639
inated everywhere in the U. S."
He reported that during 1955 the Pi-oduction
Code Administration approved 305 features,
compared with 303 in 1954, and 334
short subjects, compared with 370 in 1954.
"The administration ha.s continued over the
past ten years its successful efforts to assure
decency and good taste in motion pictures,"
Johnston said. "Inevitably in the course of
this task it has faced difficulties and criticisms.
But whenever the code activity has come
under fire, the overwhelming bulk of the industry
has been quick to rally to the support
of the code."
He also noted that several other countries
have used the code as a basis for their own
systems of self-regulation, thus testifying to
its effectiveness.
The Advertising Code Administration
reached the highest annual figure in more
than a decade, due chiefly to an increase in
the number of stills handled in its Los Angeles
office. Slight increases were noted in
other categories, notably advertisements,
posters and trailers.
The percentage of all advertising and publicity
items which were disapproved or revised
in 1955 showed a small increase over 1954
2.55 per cent compared with 2.15 for the preceding
year.
Stills totaling 132,975 were reviewed and
3,410 rejected or revised.
There were 10.037 advertisements reviewed,
of which 523 were rejected or revised.
The Title Registration Bureau observed its
30th anniversary September 7. During 1955,
it enrolled 46 new members A total of 4,587
titles was submitted for registration, of which
about 52 per cent came from non-members.
A total of 4,323 was accepted for registration.
Only 14 titles of the total submitted were considered
objectionable.
The Community Relations Department continued
to demonstrate its worth. It was responsible
for a continually growing recognition
of the constructive values in motion
pictures beyond their essential function of
entertamment, particularly for exceptional
films which might not otherwise attain boxoffice
success.
It had the close cooperation of
the Federation of Motion Picture Councils,
consisting of many local, state and national
organizations.
The department cooperated with national
organizations in planning more than 350 programs
devoted to film subjects, and members
of the staff addressed some 150 conventions
and state and city meetings. More than 500.-
000 printed brochures and letters endorsing
outstanding films were mailed to motion
picture chairmen of the organizations and to
schools and libraries.
Additional cooperation was furnished by the
Film Estimate Board of National Organizations
which twice a month issues reviews
In 1955 FEBNO reviewed 242 features, of
57 were
of films to educational institutions and civic
groups representing well over 3,000.000 readers.
which 31 received the highest rating,
classified as suitable for the entire family
Meeting Is Set for May 15
On Production Code
NEW YORK—Initial steps toward revisions
in the production code will be
taken at a May 15 meeting to be attended
by Eric Johnston, president of the Motion
Picture Ass'n of America and chairman of
the code committee; Abe Schneider of
Columbia and Daniel I. O'Neil of RKO
Radio Pictures, the other committee members.
Kenneth Clark, MPAA vice-president,
will attend as secretary.
Tlie date was decided on at a one-halfhour
exploratory meeting Tuesday f24i
of the committee members after the regular
quarterly meeting of the MPAA. Between
now and May 15 they will formulate
their individual opinions for discussion
at the meeting.
BOXOFFICE

I
Johnston Re-elected
MPAA President
NEW YORK— Erie Johnston, piesideiit,
and all incumbent officers of the Motion
Picture Ass'n of America were re-elected
at its first quarterly meeting Tuesday (24 1
The other officers ar-e: Ralph Hetzel,
Kenneth Clark. G. Griffith Johnson and
Geoffrey Shurlock, vice-presidents: Sidney
Schreiber. secretary: Stanley R.
Weber, treasurer: Thomas J. McNamara,
assistant treasurer, and James S. Howie,
assistant
secretary-treavsurer.
All present directors were elected at the
annual meeting of members of the association
which preceded the board meeting.
Missing from the board, however, were
Arthur B. Krim. president, and Robert S.
Benjamin, board chairman. United Artists,
which resigned from MPAA.
and 76 were classified as suitable for adults
and young people.
The Childi-ens Film Library is in the
process of reorganization, the MPAA president
noted. It is hoped that additional films
will be provided from recent releases which
have completed their general runs, as well as
more prints of famous classics.
Johnston noted a sharp reduction In the
market for short subjects due to widespread
use of double bill programs, and called it "an
unfortunate situation." Production declined
in ten years from the peak of 549 films to 334
in 1955. Newsreels, however, presented 520
issues plus ten special issues, and complete
reels dealing with important news items as
the Salk polio vaccine, the New England
floods and football games were released. The
five newsreels carried a total of 3,673 clips in
1955 compared to 3,940 In 1954. They gave
strong support to humanitarian and charitable
drives.
Teaching Film Custodians, another MPAA
service, supplied schools with valuable educational
films supplied by the MPAA. The
Technical Services Department continued a
clo.se association with the Society of Motion
Picture and Television Engineers, the Motion
Picture Research Council and the technical
staffs of the member companies. It has just
concluded a decade of safety effectiveness in
which thei-e was no reported fire loss to release
film inventories in current distribution.
There has been an average annual fire
loss of only $178 for the 29-year period since
the program's inception, due in large part to
constant exchange safety inspections.
Johnston mentioned trends in television.
"TV station income in the U. S. will continue
to mount," he said. "No major expansion
of commercial television broadcasting is
expected in many foreign countries, and electronics
manufacturing is well on its way to
becoming a $10,000,000,000 industry.
"The use of film TV programming has been
rising constantly. During the 1955-56 season,
the three TV networks will originate 1,474
hours of film, compared to 1,294 hours of live
programs. Local station programming relies
even more heavily on film."
He predicted that the number of TV stations
in the U. S. will not go above 500 because
an adequate TV signal now can be received
by about 97 per cent of all American homes.
Johnston also described the assistance given
foreign producers and distributors in the U. S.
by the Foreign Film Advisory Unit.
An Old Pattern Is Reversed
More Men Than Women
Now Make Up Audiences
RIDLEY PARK. PA Tlicrc ha.-, bci-n a
steady drop in movie attendance by women
since last November, and patronage at U. S.
theatres today is 60 per cent male and 40
per cent female—just the opposite of the
normal male-female ratio of attendance.
This unexpected statistic comes from
Sindlinger & Co., research firm which has
been conducting motion picture industry
studies for a number of years. Female attendance
during Holy Week and Easter Week
this year reached the lowest point ever recorded
since the company started conducting
industry research in 1941.
The company gave no explanation for the
shift in the male-female ratio, but said that
the attendance decline since last October
is primarily due to the fall-off in female
patronage. Men, however, have kept up their
movie attendance, and little change was
noted in male frequency.
Business diu-ing the Easter season was 20.1
per cent under the same period a year ago.
The average weekly attendance for the threeweek
period ending April 14. 1956 was 35.760.000
compared to 44.750.000 in the 1955 Easter season.
Sindlinger estimated theatres sold 29.567,-
000 admissions to indoor houses and 6,193.000
admissions at drive-ins.
The analysis was broken down by days of
the week to show which days were good
moviegoing days and which were poor. Comparing
this year's Easter season figures with
last, the greatest variance was on Wednesday
nights. A year ago, 10 per cent of the week's
attendance was recorded Wednesday night.
This year the figure dropped to 7.4 per cent
Total Movie Admissions by Day of the Week
of the total. The implication, Sindlinger
points out, is that Wednesday night throughout
most ot the country is now the night
Hollywood "goes living room in a big way."
and such programs as Disneyland, MGM
Parade and the 20th Century-Fox Hour on
alternate weeks are credited with keeping
prospective moviegoers home.
Sindlinger says his statistics show that
many individuals, particularly former moviegoers,
have been watching these programs
for the past 26 weeks rather than go to the
movies during midweek, as they formerly did.
Weekends are still the big days for theatres,
with 50 per cent of the week's admissioas
concentrated on Saturdays and Sundays, Friday
is a 14 per cent day, with the Mondays
through Thursdays segment the low point.
The motion picture is in a transition stage
that is bringing about revolutionary changes.
Al Sindlinger, head of the company, said.
There is danger, he adds, that one of the
industry's greatest assets, its optimism, may
become a fatal weakness.
"Optimism—which is an innate characteristic
of showmen—has always played a large
part in building this motion picture industry,"
he stated. "Indeed, since the principal values
of our business—the appeal of personalities
and the entertainment content of pictures,
have always been a matter of opinion, our
optimism has its basis in economics. It has
paid to be optimistic,"
Today, he says, this is not enough. Knowledge
of the swift changes in public entertainment
tastes and habits also is necessary.
He has explained his weekly national Audience
Action Index coverage to 39 states where
87.9 per cent of the population resides, and he
now is planning to issue special gross index
figures to apply to 1,705 key theatres.
(.Average for the three weeks ending .Vpril 14. 1956 and similar period of last yean
'-, Of
Change
Day of Week
Last Year Easter Season This Year Easter Season From Last Yr.
SuAday 13,275.000 29.7% 8.968,000 25.2% -32.5%
Monday 4,028,000 9.0% 3,481,000 9.7%.. -13.6%..
Tuesday 4,027,000 9.0% 3,013,000 8.4%., -25.2%..
Wednesday 4,475,000 10.0% 2,654,000 7.4%. -40.7%..
Thursday 4,475,000 10.0% 3,342,000 9.3%. -25.3%..
Fiiday 5,370,000 12.0%> 5,162,000 14.4%.
- 3.9%..
Saturday 9,100,000 20.3% 9,140,000 25.6% + •*% •
TOTAL 44,750.000.. 100.0^ 35,760,( 10070%. -20.1%..
Day
Movie Admissions by Type of Theatre and Day of Week
(.Average for the three weeks ending .April 14, 19561

uUe Se^aU
Small Business Hearings
To Draw Many Leaders
iJu^tributors still silent on who will go along
with Adolph Schimel for May 21 testimony,
but it is reported both Allied and Theatre
Owners of Amen be strongly represented.
Outlook for Taxes Is Again
Clouded by the President
Tf'lLs |.)ii',^ cnrilevfnce he can see no logical
reason loi- cui and doesn'r, thinli it would be
in the pubhi; juiciest at present; Treasury
Secretary Humplney also holds this viewpoint.
*
MPAA Votes $40,000 Fund
To Help Finance COMPO
Previously had allocated $50,000; COMPO
anticipates $100,000 from exhibitor sources
by June 30, the end of its fiscal year, which
would mean another distributor contribution
of $10,000.
*
No Al Lichtman Successor
On COMPO Board As Yet
MPAA says it will first decide if it will go
along with COMPO for another year, and
that the decision for distributor representative
will be reached at an early meeting.
•
Toll TV Ruling May Come
Soon, Says Arthur Levey
Skiatron president also predicts there will
be no monopoly and that Skiatron, Telemeter
and Zenith systen^s will work without
danger of interference or crackhig of codes.
*
20th-Fox Cut of 100,000
Shares Up for Approval
Proposal to be presented at annual meeting
of stockholders May 15; restoration of cumulative
voting for directors to be proposed by
Lewis D. and John J. Gilbert, but management
opposes proposal.
•
Foreign Licensing Formula
Now Officially Operative
i-;iir .iolin:-,tnii, MPEA president, says niasliT
plan liir iIivlskhi of import permits will be
lir.it applied to Japan, France. Italy, Bel-
!-',ium,
Spain, Indonesia, Formosa and Bolivia,
-jiily countries imposing government re-
.-trictions.
•
Bell & Howell Develops
Automatic Movie Camera
Loew^'s Planning Theatrr
In V/es? Gcrnian Cities
four-wall
ip.ars coma
40,000 CScope Screens
By End of the Year
NEW YORK—By the end of the year Cinemascope
installations will total 40,000, a substantial
satm-ation of the world mai-ket,
Spyros P. Skouras reported to 20th Century-
Fox stockholders in his message to stockholders
accompanying the annual report this
week.
At present there ai-e 35,000 installations, of
which 17,000 are in the United States and
Canada out of a total of 23,500 theatres in the
two countries. Abroad there are 18,000 installations,
and Skouras estimates that 17,500
are required to achieve the fullest distribution
possible abroad. Many of the theatres
not yet equipped operate on a part-time basis,
he added,
•CAROUSEL' IN 35MM
"Carousel," fhst production to use the 55mm.
Cinemascope process, now is being distributed
in 35mm in this country. It opened in London
April 17 and will open at Sydney, Australia,
about May 31, followed by openings in Europe,
Asia and the free world generally. These
openings will popularize Cinemascope as the
•world standai-d of motion picture entertainment
in this country and abroad," Skouras
predicts.
Two more Cinemascope 55 productions,
Cole Porter's "Can-Can," and "Boy on a
ai-e Dolphin," plamied for 1957. The former,
to be photographed in Paris, will be released
during the Christmas and New Year holiday
.season.
Skom-as also discussed 20th-Fox TV production.
Four or five subjects will be added
to the "My Friend Fllcka" series and the
20th Centui-y-Fox Horn- on CBS. Skouras
says this work will expand the company's income
and help in exploiting theatre product.
A total of $1,026,000 has been spent on conversion
of the Western avenue lot in Hollywood.
The entire program, with equipment,
will be increased by $4,525,000 after deducting
depreciation for the year of $1,702,000.
There can be no indication at present on
whether the company will sell its backlog of
product to television, Skouras stated, or
whether it will distribute the library to television
stations or spin-off these assets. This
will depend on the cash requii'ements of the
company for healthy expansion, Skouras reported.
The inventory is valued at $48,120,218.
BIG OIL PRODUCTION
He also touched on oil production and said
the company now is producing 4,700,000 cubic
feet of gas and 3,000 barrels of oil per day.
The production is valued in excess of $8,500 a
day. or more than a quarter of a million
riollai-s per month.
The products ai-e being distributed through
two pipe luies to the Union Oil Co. and the
Pacific Lightmg Gas Co. Well No. 8 now is
being completed and No. 9 now is being drilled
at 8,680 feet. About $810,920 has been advanced
against total drilling and production
costs of $3,512,397. Wells also may be drilled
on adjoining property.
Skouras also reported the company expects
to be able to take over operation of the 140
theatres of African Tlieatres, Ltd., in June.
The closing of the deal is contingent on ac-
Foreign Rentals Almost
Equal
Domestic Total
New York—Foreign film rentals of 2(Hh
Century-Fox in 1955 were almost equal to
the domestic gross, indicating the rising
importance of the overseas market to the
company. Rentals reached $53,221,020,
just $3,124,811 under the domestic gross
for the year. Domestic rentals dropped
$8,662,580 in 1955 whereas foreign rentals
were boosted by $11,884,363.
In the over-all picture, consolidated
earnings for the company for the 53
weeks ending Dec. 31, 1955 were $6,025,-
039 compared to $8,044,524 for the previous
year. Earnings were at the rate of
$2.28 a share, down from the $3.04 per
share netted in 1954.
Spyros Skouras, president, in his report
to stockholders also revealed that dollar
remittances from abroad, excluding
Canada, totaled $26,902,000, and that
expenditures abroad for film productions,
theatre acquisitions, taxes and the like
were equivalent to an additional $4,166,000.
ceptance by 100 per cent of the stockholders,
but no hitch is expected.
Ai-rangements for closing the deal are Hearing
the finish. The company plans to build
several drive-ins to add to the holdings, as
the climate in South Africa is ideal for them.
Blumenstock Resigns
WBAd-PublicilyPost
NEW YORK— Mort Blumenstock, vicepresident
in charge of advertising, publicity
and exploitation for
Warner Bros., a post
he has held since 1945,
; ^ " ^^^^
^^^H
«_ _i
from the
resigned
company this week,
with the resignation to
4.
take effect May
The resignation
terminates a 25-year
association with the
company. He said;
"As my wife's health
requires us to return to
Mort Blumenstock California as soon as
possible, I have asked
for release from my contract, and Warner
Bros, graciously consented.'' have Blumenstock
recently returned to New York after
having directed the company's advertising
and promotional program from coast headquarters
for several years.
Blumenstock, who is a native of New York
City, entered the film industry as a writer
and film editor for First National Pictures
shortly after attending Columbia University.
He was in charge of Warner Bros, advertising
and publicity in the east for 15 years
before becoming head of the department.
BOXOFFICE
:
: April 28, 1956

IF
ALERTING
ALL
SHOWM
PARAMOUNT has a
heap of boxoffice
ingredients will reap a
to place it
top grossers. Hold plenty
of time for it— start your
planning now. Its profit is
sure . . . and the bigger the
planning, the bigger
the profit
/
HERE
I
1
TURN
picture that ranks with the biggest! Its
boxoffice pay-off that's certain
among I956's

IF YOU UKE BIG GROSSES, YOU'LL LIKE WHAT THIS ONE'S GOT-TO GET THEM!
^^BBSBBHI

Arthur Interests Slice
Prices at 3 Theatres
ST. LOUIS—Admission prices at three
neighborhood theatres this week were
shced from 51 cents to 40 cents by the
Fanchon & Marco-St. Louis Amusement
Co. circuit, in line with the recently pronounced
policy of Harry C. Arthur Jr.
to place theatre prices on a mass attendance
basis and within the budget requirement's
of the family of average means.
The new price schedule went into effect
at the Avalon, Shenandoah and Tower
theatres. The admission price is in effect
all day, and children under 12 when accompanied
by parents or guardian will
be admitted free.
Meanwhile, one drlve-ln theatre, the
Skyline, operated by Ray Parker and
associates, abandoned Buck Nite—$1 a
carload with no limit on the number of
occupants. This policy, on an everyday
basis, was introduced by the Arthur interests
this season, and was followed by
most of the other drive-ins in the vicinity.
Five outdoor theatres now operate on
this basis, and there has been no indication
that they will abandon It.
Loew's Quarter Net
Set at $1,641,682
NEW YORK—Loew's, Inc., and subsidiaries,
including theatre units, had a consolidated
net profit after taxes of $1,641,682 for the 16-
week period ended March 15. This was at the
rate of 31 cents per share. Last year in the
corresponding period the net was $1,753,102,
equivalent to 34 cents per share.
Gross sales and operating revenues for the
period ending March 15 were $52,837,000, compared
with $52,613,000 for the same period the
previous year.
Net profit for the 28 weeks ending March 15
was $1,889,843, equivalent to 36 cents per
share, compared with $3,274,451, or 64 cent,s
per share, in the same period the previou.'^
year.
Gross sales and operating revenues for this
period were $87,439,000, compared with $92.-
399.000 tor the same period the previous year.
Arthur M. Loew, president, said the second
quarter results were an improvement in earnings
over the first quarter of 1955.
In a letter to stockholders Loew said that
shares of the company had recently been purchased
in accord with stock option agreements
approved by the stockholders as follows:
Arthur M. Loew, 33,000 shares: Charles C.
Moskowitz, 15,000 shares: Dore Schary, 50,000;
Louis K. Sidney, 18,332; Benjamin Thau,
22,000, and Joseph R. Vogel, 22,500.
Gael Sullivan Appointed
To Magna P. R. Division
NEW YORK—Gael Sullivan has returned
to the industry as a member of the public
relations department of Magna Theatre
Corp. He was executive director of Theatre
Owners of America from 1948 to 1952. He
conducted the campaign of Sen. Estes Kefauver
for the presidency in 1952. Recently
he has been associated with Funk & WagnalLs,
publishing firm.
Big Neglect of Comedies,
Says Norman Krasna
NEW YORK—"Comedy, the most neglected
of all fields in motion picture production
today, is the biggest challenge to a producer,"
according to Norman Krasna, producer-director
of "The Amba.ssador'.s Daughter,"
which United Artists will relea.se this summer.
The picture is the only romantic comedy on
UA's forthcoming release list because, to an
independent producer, "comedy Ls a lonely
assignment and must be planned by one individual,"
Krasna said.
Krasna feels that while a drama may
thrill all types of audiences, what is funny
to one per.son may not amuse another. The
day of the great film comedians, Chaplin,
Lloyd and Keaton, is gone and, even on TV
today, "being funny is a tremendous task,"
he said.
"The Ambassador's Daughter," which was
filmed in its entirety in France, using Cinemascope
and Technicolor and with a complete
crew of French technicians, cost approximately
$1,250,000 and would have cost
more than double that amount if filmed in
Hollywood. The filming received wonderful
cooperation from the French technicians because
Krasna actually used them to do their
own work instead of letting them "stand by"
NOH.M.W KR.ASNA
for American technicians, as so many American
companies do when filming in Fi'ance.
A few scenes of "The Amba.ssador's Daughter"
had to be amended slightly to conform
to the U. S. production code. A few lines
and scenes which will be perfectly acceptable
to French audiences would not be permitted
here, but, despite this, Krasna is violently
against abolishing the code, although he says
it is out-dated. However, he feels it is nowbeing
modernized and amended. "The pressure
for a production code was enormous
years ago and, if it were abolished today, individual
religious groups would be formed
in all cities and towns and would demand individual
censoring of films."
Commenting on Otto Preminger's "The
Man With the Golden Arm," also a UA release,
which was denied a code seal, Krasna
says that independent producers are often
forced to look for sensational subject matter
that will replace a star name to get the attention
of newspapers and audiences. A
picture starring Clark Gable or Grace Kelly
"doesn't need a .sensational subject,"
Krasna, who will publicize and promote his
picture through its release date In August,
has no immediate plans for his next production,
which will probably be "Kind Sir,"
film version of his Broadway stage success
of two seasons ago, which starred Mary Martin
and Charles Boyer. He may start this
late in 1956 after he signs two star names.
"Like the current Broadway stage, the film
business is becoming an industry where you
either have a smash hit or a fast flop, there
are very few In-between films which make
a modest profit, as there were in the war
years."
The American cast of "The Ambassador's
Daughter" is headed by Olivia de Havilland,
Myrna Loy, John Porsythe, Edward Arnold,
Adolphe Menjou and Tommy Noonan.
Many of Nation's Clocks
Get Moved Ahead Sunday
NEW YORK—Daylight saving time will
become effective at 2 a.m. Sunday (29i.
forcing operating changes in the motion
picture industry, radio and television programming,
the transportation services and
many other businesses.
It will go into operation in Maine, New
Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut,
Rhode Island, New York, New
Jersey,
Pennsylvania, Maryland, the District
of Columbia, Delaware, Indiana, Illinois,
Nevada and California. Most of them will
continue daylight time until the last Saturday
in October. Nevada and the District of
Columbia will .switch back to standard time
at the end of September.
Some Indiana cities switched April 2.
Others like Elkhart observe daylight saving
time the entire year. Still others will switch
Sunday when Chicago does. Other cities to
follow suit will include Cleveland, Akron and
Youngstown, Ohio; Louisville, Ky.; St. Louis,
Mo.; Los Alamos, N. M.; Anaconda and Butte,
Mont., and Richland, Wash. Most large
Canadian cities will do likewise.
Act on Arbitration,
Says Allied of N. J.
NEW YORK Tlir ciily in(< lir'ri;' way
to handle the liisiiiiir sm r i!i oi-l^i! • ii ion
system is tor both .-.ulo.-. l^> li :
:' 'her
and talk it over. Tiiat wa.> tlie coli.^tlL'^us
of members of New Jersey Allied at a
meeting Tuesday i24i which devoted
much time to arbitration.
There was general agreement that arbitration
must be all-inclusive and that it
must be a two-way street, affording equal
rights to distribution. Some exhibitors
have argued it should be a one-way street.
A meeting of exhibition with distribution
as represented by the major company
presidents was urged.
BOXOFFICE
April

Film Councils in Stand
Against Censorship
Officers of the Federatimi ol Motion Picture Councils, Inc., with two of the guest
speakers at the recently held annual convention at the Jefferson Hotel in St. Louis,
are shown here. Left to right, standing: .Arthur DeBra, New York, director Community
Relations Department of MP.\A; Mrs. W. Lashley Nelson jr., Philadelphia, recording
secretary; Mrs. Arretus F. Burt, St. Louis, first vice-president; Geoffrey M. Shurlock,
Hollywood, MPAA vice-president and director of the Production Code administration.
Seated: Mrs. Edward K, Hass, Springfield, Mass., second vice-president; Mrs. Max
Williams, Detroit, president; Mrs. Philip A. Ley, Youngstown, Ohio, treasurer.
ST. LOUTS—The Federation of Film Councils,
which represents 47 film groups and
more than 2,000,000 members of women's organizations,
took a solid stand against political
censorship of motion pictures at the Federation's
second annual convention here April
19, 20.
Instead, the organization expressed its intent
of "encouraging, supporting and cooperating
with the Motion Picture Ass'n of America
in a program of voluntary self-regulation."
Representing 47 film councils, in various
section.s of the country, the Federation declared
it intends to pursue a program of
boosting the good pictures, rather than condemning
those with which it may find
fault. To accomplish this aim, the organization
plans to: (1) Work closely with exhibitors
on the local level in promoting good
pictures; (2) set up telephone chain committees
.so that every member of a council can
be alerted within a 48-hour period when top
product appears at a local theatre; (3) organize
junior film councils wherever a community
film council exi.sts; (4) discii.ss every current
picture, so that information on the better
films can be passed on to the community at
large.
Local councils were urged by Mrs. Max Williams,
national president, to adopt the "Have
you seen? Have you heard?" techniques in
creating word-of-mouth promotions for worthwhile
films.
"To develop a taste for motion pictures,
development must be by tasting," Mrs. Williams
told the delegates. "People must be
encouraged to attend motion picture theatres
regularly to develop the proper taste for good
pictures. Councils should discuss every current
picture and pass the information along
to the rest of the community. Movies are, Indeed,
better than ever, and they need us."
The action of the Federation against film
censorship by legislative action followed a
lengthy discussion of the whole subject of
prior censorship, including an address by
Geoffrey Shurlock, head of the Production
Code Administration. The resolution expressed
confidence in the ability of the board
of directors of the MPAA "to determine if and
when changes in the production and advertising
codes are desirable to meet changes in
public tastes in the concept of right living."
Shurlock told the convention that only a
half-dozen areas of subject matter are totally
forbidden by the Code, purely on the grounds
of expediency and "this phase of the Code
Western Still a Favorite
With Foreign Film
Fans
St. Louis—Production of the bread-andbutter
westerns may have died out in
Hollywood studios, but the cowboy and
Indian movie is still a big favorite
outside the confines of the United
States, according to Mrs. Ma.x Williams,
president of the Federation of
Film Councils, which met here last week.
Reporting on her recent travels to
Caribbean countries and Europe, she said
that wherever she went, residents expressed
a desire to see more of our west-
"When I asked 'Why?' the universal
reply was that they like our wide open
spaces, the cowboys and Indians since
they have none in their own countries.
Tliey are condensed geographically and in
area, and the hills and vast landscapes
of our western movies have a special
appeal," Mrs. Williams said.
can be amended at any time the organized
industry so chooses."
"What cannot be amended, however," he
declared, "is the basic approach of the Code
that all subject matter must be treated
morally, first and foremost; and secondarily,
within the confines of decency and reasonable
good taste."
BASED ON SOUP^fD MORALS
The motion picture screen should never be
used to try to make what is basically wrong
and the Code is
appear to be right, he said,
based on sound morals, common to all peoples
and all rehgions.
"To put it simply, the Code assumes that
all
the tenets of the Ten Commandments are
as applicable in the field of imagination as
they are in real life." he said. "Morality means
money in the bank, to put it in terms of its
lowest denominator." he declared.
The proof of this is that in a country like
France, only 30 per cent of that coimtry's
films were rated for family entertainment
last year in comparison with 70 per cent of
the American imports.
"The movies have often been accused of
naivete, in hammering home so persistently
that virtue gets Its due reward, and showing
that morality pays dividends, sometimes in
cash. But the industry has proof of it, not
only here at home, but abroad."
Shurlock also discussed the Kefauver report
on juvenile delinquency and the movies.
"It would not be candid of me to pass over
in silence the charges of excessive emphasis
on violence and brutality on the screen in
recent years," Shurlock commented. "We otorselves
were aware of this even before the
Committee got to work."
Actually, he pointed out, the Industry had
discussed the problem in November 1954, some
months before the Senate study got under
way. The results are Just beginning to show,
he added.
"We must, however, distinguish between
violence and brutality. Violence is a valid
element of drama. Brutality, on the other
hand, is an over-emphasis on Individual personalized
scenes, showing details in.serted for
their shock value, which are not valid
to the
basic theme of the story.
"Producers have learned their lesson, and
slowly this over-emphasis on brutality is being
dispensed with."
Nevertheless, the convention adopted a
resolution asking for less violence and brutality
in films.
LIST OF SPEAKERS
Other Industry figures who spoke at the
two-day convention were Arthur DeBra and
Ralph D. Hetzel Jr. of the Motion Picture
Ass'n: Arthur L. Mayer and Maxwell Hamilton,
who are engaged In special handling of
DeMille's "The Ten Commandments," and
Velma West Sykes, member of BOXOFFICE
staff and chairman of the National Screen
Council which picks the monthly winners of
the BOXOFFICE Blue Ribbon Award.
DeBra discussed new screen techniques and
Hetzel spoke of the growing foreign market
for U. S. films. In addition to participating
in several panel discussions on film evaluaton.
Mrs. Sykes spoke on the Natonal Screen
Council and its role in "accentuating the positive"
in motion pictures—stimulating attendance
for good films—rather than condemning
pictures which are not acceptable in part for
one reason or another. She urged the Federation
to organize film councils In towns of
less than 10,000, where wide dissemination
of information on motion pictures is needed.
BOXOFFICE :: April 28, 1956

:
April
Arthur Interests Slice
Prices at 3 Theatres
ST. LOUIS—Admission prices at three
neighborhood theatres this week were
sliced from 51 cents to 40 cents by the
Fanchon & Marco-St. Louis Amusement
Co. circuit, in line with the recently pronounced
policy of Harry C. Arthur Jr.
to place theatre prices on a mass attendance
basis and within the budget requirements
of the family of average means.
Tlie new price schedule went into effect
at the Avalon, Shenandoah and Tower
theatres. The admission price is in effect
all day, and children under 12 when accompanied
by parents or guardian will
be admitted free.
Meanwhile, one drive-in theatre, the
Skyline, operated by Ray Parker and
associates, abandoned Buck Nite—$1 a
carload with no limit on the number of
occupants. This policy, on an everyday
basis, was introduced by the Arthur Interests
this .season, and was followed by
most of the other drive-ins in the vicinity.
Five outdoor theatres now operate on
this basis, and there has been no indication
that they will abandon it.
Loew's Quarter Net
Set at $1641,682
NEW YORK—Loew's, Inc., and subsidiaries.
including theatre units, had a consolidated
net profit after taxes of $1,641,682 for the 16-
week period ended March 15. This was at the
rate of 31 cents per share. Last year in the
corresponding period the net was $1,753,102.
equivalent to 34 cents per share.
Gross sales and operating revenues for the
period ending March 15 were $52,837,000, compared
with $52,613,000 for the same period the
previous year.
Net profit for the 28 weeks ending March 15
was $1,889,843, equivalent to 36 cents per
share, compared with $3,274,451. or 64 cent-'^
per share, in the same period the previous
year.
Gross sales and operating revenues for this
period were $87,439,000, compared with $92,-
399.000 for the same period the previous year.
Arthiu- M. Loew. president, said the second
quarter results were an improvement in earnings
over the first quarter of 1955.
In a letter to stockholders Loew said that
shares of the company had recently been purchased
in accord with stock option agreements
approved by the stockholders as follows:
Arthur M. Loew, 33.000 shares: Charles C.
Moskowitz, 15,000 shares; Dore Schary, 50,000:
Louis K. Sidney, 18,332; Benjamin Thau,
22,000, and Joseph R. Vogel, 22,500.
Gael Sullivan Appointed
To Magna P. R. Division
NEW YORK—Gael Sullivan has returned
to the industry as a member of the public
relations department of Magna Theatre
Corp. He was executive director of Theatre
Owners of America from 1948 to 1952. He
conducted the campaign of Sen. Estes Kefauver
for the presidency in 1952. Recently
he has been associated with Funk & WagnalLs,
publishing firm.
Big Neglect of Comedies,
Says Norman Krasna
NEW YORK—"Comedy, the most neglected
of all fields in motion picture production
today, is the biggest challenge to a producer,"
according to Norman Krasna. producer-director
of "Tile Ambassador's Daughter,"
which United Artists will release this summer.
The picture is the only romantic comedy on
UA's forthcoming release list because, to an
independent producer, "comedy is a lonely
assignment and must be planned by one individual,"
Krasna said.
Krasna feels that while a drama may
thrill all types of audiences, what is funny
to one person may not amuse another. The
day of the great film comedians, Chaplin,
Lloyd and Keaton, is gone and. even on TV
today, "being funny Is a tremendous task,"
he said.
"The Ambassador's Daughter," which was
filmed in its entirety in France, using Cinemascope
and Technicolor and with a complete
crew of French technicians, cost approximately
$1,250,000 and would have cost
more than double that amount if filmed in
Hollywood. The filming received wonderful
cooperation from the French technicians because
Krasna actually used them to do their
own work instead of letting them "stand by"
MAN KHASN.A
for American teclinicians, as so many American
companies do when filming in FYance.
A few scenes of "The Aniba.ssador's Daughter"
had to be amended slightly to conform
to the U. S. production code. A few lines
and .scenes which will be perfectly acceptable
to French audiences would not be permitted
here, but, despite this, Krasna is violently
against abolishing the code, although he says
it is it is out-dated. However, he feels now
being modernized and amended. "The pressure
for a production code was enormous
years ago and, if it were abolished today, individual
religious groups would be formed
in all cities and towns and would demand individual
censoring of films."
Commenting on Otto Preminger's "Tlie
Man With the Golden Arm," also a UA release,
which was denied a code seal, Krasna
says that independent producers are often
forced to look for sensational subject matter
that will replace a star name to get the attention
of newspapers and audiences. A
picture starring Clark Gable or Grace Kelly
"doesn't need a .sensational subject."
Krasna. who will publicize and promote his
picture through its release date In August,
has no immediate plans for his next production,
which win probably be "Kind Sir."
film version of hLs Broadway stage success
of two seasons ago. which starred Mary Martin
and Charles Boyer. He may start this
late in 1956 after he signs two star names.
"Like the current Broadway stage, the film
business is becoming an industry where you
either have a smash hit or a fast flop, there
are very few In-between films which make
a modest profit, as there were in the war
years."
The American cast of 'TTie Ambassador's
Daughter" is headed by Olivia de Havilland.
Myrna Loy, John Forsythe, Edward Arnold,
Adolphe Menjou and Tommy Noonan.
Many of Nation's Clocks
Get Moved Ahead Sunday
NEW YORK—Daylight saving time will
become effective at 2 a.m. Sunday (29i.
forcing operating changes in the motion
picture industry, radio and television programming,
the transportation services and
many other businesses.
It will go into operation in Maine, New
Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts. Connecticut,
Rhode Island, New York, New
Jersey, Pennsylvania. Maryland, the District
of Columbia, Delaware, Indiana. Illinois.
Nevada and California. Most of them will
continue daylight time until the last Saturday
in October. Nevada and the District of
Columbia will switch back to standard time
at the end of September.
Some Indiana cities switched April 2.
Others like Elkhart observe daylight saving
time the entire year. Still others will switch
Sunday when Chicago does. Other cities to
follow suit will include Cleveland, Akron and
Youngstown, Ohio; Louisville. Ky.; St. Louis.
Mo.; Los Alamos. N. M.; Anaconda and Butte.
Mont., and Richland. Wash. Most large
Canadian cities will do likewise.
Act on Arbitration,
Says Allied of N. J.
NEW YORK Tlir only intelligent way
to handle the (iisputr m-er an arbitration
system is for both .-.uics to get together
and talk it over. Tnat was the consensus
of members of New Jersey Allied at a
meeting Tue.sday (24> which devoted
much time to arbitration.
There was general agreement that arbitration
must be all-inclusive and that it
must be a two-way street, affording equal
rights to distribution. Some exhibitors
have argued it should be a one-way street.
A meeting of exhibition with distribution
as represented by the major company
presidents was urged.
BOXOFFICE :
28, 1956

: AprO
^€t4j^iH^lto*t
TN this day when motion picture exhibitors
are keeping wet fingers in the air, trying
to find a trend running in any direction, it's
a good thing to keep in mind a factor that
Rep. Sidney R. Yates (D.-Ill.) has underscored
in a statement issued here.
"The fastest growing population group in
oui- country consists of the men and women,
age 65 and over," he pointed out. "Today,
there are 13.5 million of them. With 1,000
more joining theii- ranks daily, their number
is expected to increase to 20 million by 1975."
Actually, as Rep. Yates (one of the more
alert and thoughtful legislators, incidentally)
would agi-ee, there are many other millions
who would be counted as "elderly"—60 or over.
The total 60 and over is close to 17.5 million, a
.iizable
figure.
It is amazing to many surveyors to learn
that these millions of elderly people, many of
them on pensions or living off annuities or
trust funds, are considered so slightly in
many mai-keting circles. Even if they attended
the movies only one time a month—
or once a year—they would add appreciably
to the boxoffice receipts.
Once upon a time, when an elderly person
who had never seen a motion picture would
go to a theatre, there would be newspaper
stories about "the first time." Why not some
.•itories on the first time a lot of these
elderly people see Cinerama, or VistaVision,
or other motion pictures with real impact?
It would be wrong to imply that a lot of
the elderly are weU-heeled and can go to the
theatre when they wish. The opposite is true.
Many of them get pensions of less than $1,000
a year, which leaves them little "extra" money.
But some millions of them can afford to go
to the theatre. Remember them, and remember
that they ai-e increasing at the rate
of 1,000 a day.
-0-0-0-
fl T the same time, the U. S. Bureau of the
Census here has pointed out that about
.seven million more persons, 5 to 29 years old,
are enrolled in schools and colleges now than
were enrolled five years ago. There are about
37.2 million persons 5 to 29 years old, a 23
Ijer cent gain over the 30.2 million enrolled
five yeai-s ago.
Kindergarten enrollment increased very
rapidly (by 82 per cent) between 1950 and
1955. Elementary school enrollment went up
24 per cent, and high school enrollment 19
IJer cent.
These percentages, however, do not show
which grade levels have had the greatest numerical
gains. In 1955, kindergartens accommodated
700,000 more children than in 1950,
whercius elementary school facilities had expanded
to take care of 4.9 million more
pupils, and the high schools, 1.2 million more.
College enrollment declined during the
early
years of this decade, but by 1955 it had increased
to a level above that of 1950.
These figures could indicate that the best
years are yet to be for motion picture theatres,
for there will be a new crop of youngt.ers
in a few years to occupy the balcony
cats and to thrill to the great pictures ahead,
i'lieres no deai-th of a market a-building, if
the producers and exhibitors can get 'em to
come in.
^eficnt
By LARSTON D. FARRAR
•THE forecast by the staff of the Congressional
Joint Committee on the Economic
Report seemed to offer some hope that if
Congress passed an admissions tax reduction
or elimination bill, it would meet with White
House approval, but President Dwight D.
Eisenhower made it clear that he doesn't think
that any tax reduction would be wise during
this session.
However, he still might approve a tax reduction
measure for motion picture theatres,
if Congress were to pass it.
The subcommittee headed by Rep. Aime
Forand (D.-R. I.) of the House Committee on
Ways and Means has proposed that the "continuing
problems besetting the theatre industi-y"
be weighed when the excise tax law
is rewritten this year.
"The Ways and Means Conmiittee, in view
of the continuing problems besetting the theatre
industry arising primarily from competition
from the television industry, may also
wish to consider further relief in the admissions
tax field," the subcommittee stated in
its report.
The group already had mentioned the necessity
of revising the cabaret excise tax by cutting
the levy from 20 to 10 p>er cent. Similar
relief was mentioned, but not specifically
recommended, for night clubs and admissions
to horse and dog racetracks. In substance, the
subconunittee came out for downward revision
of selected excise taxes, despite the
White House appeal to hold the line.
The Ways and Means Committee promised
to consider the subcommittee's report "as
soon as possible." The subcommittee was
barred by the fuU committee from making
firm recommendations on changes in tax rates
and was empowered only to recommend technical
changes.
-0-0-0-
THE Small Business Administi-ation, headquartered
here, is boasting about the
"prosperity" among small businessmen, but
the Democrats dispute the claim, pointing to
record-breaking bankruptcy rates reflected in
Dun & Bradstreet reports. Oddly enough, the
SBA is reporting, while talking of the "prosperity,"
a record number of loan applications,
and of loans granted, which makes you wonder,
for no loan can be approved by SBA until
at least two bankers have turned down the
prospect.
At any rate, SBA is ladling out advice to
businessmen, too, and some of it could be
most helpful.
"Why Small Business Owners Need Sound
Wills," No. 7 in SBA's Marketers' Aids series,
has been released here. It points out that a
sound will may avoid forced liquidation of a
small company, may help obviate many management
problems and thus help to perpetuate
the business. The leaflet is free, from any
SBA field office.
-0-0-0-
gUSINESS Briefs; The proposed merger of
RKO Pictures Corp. and foior other companies
into Atlas Coi-p. has been approved by
the Securities and Exchange Commission and
now will go to the stockholders of the companies
for their approval. Besides RKO Pictures,
Atlas plans to merge Wasatch Corp.,
Airfleets, Inc., Albuquerque Associated Oil Co.
and the San Diego Corp.
Senate Asked to Act
On Subscription TV
WASHINGTON—An appeal for help in
getting action for formulation of a program
for pay-as-you-see television has been made
to the Senate Interstate and Foreign Commerce
Committee by James M. Landis, former
SEC chairman and now special counsel for
the Skiatron Electronics & Television Corp.
Immediate authorization was asked by
Paul Raibomn, board chairman of International
Telemeter Corp. and vice-president of
Paramount, which has an 80 per cent interest
in Telemeter. He estimated a $2 top for
its programs and cost of between $30 and
a
$50 for its decoder and coin box. He said the
programs would be aimed at specialized and
not mass audiences.
Testifying before the committee, Landis
said that as long as the decision on subscription
television remains pending before
the Federal Communications Commission the
economic plight of many UHF and VHF
stations will become more serious. Landis
presented a brief in which he contended that
the Federal Communications Commission has
full authority to make a decision on petitions.
Morris Lefko Joins Para.
For 2 Special Pictures
NEW YORK—Morris Lefko, Detroit district
manager for RKO, will resign May 1 to take
over the post of special representative for
The Ten Commandments"
and "War and
Peace" for Paramount
Pictm-es, working directly
under Charles
Boasberg.
Lefko will operate
out of the New York
home office of Paramount.
"War and
Peace" has been booked
for the New York
Capitol Theatre in late
summer and "The Ten
Morris Lefko
Commandments" has
been set to open at the New York Criterion in
late November.
Edward Arnold, Veteran
Star. Dies Suddenly
HOLLYWOOD—Edward Arnold, veteran
film star who appeared in his first motion
pictiu-e in 1915 at the Essanay studios, died
Thursday (26) of a cerebral hemorrhage. He
was 66 years old. He recently returned from
France where he had made "The Ambassador's
Daughter" with Olivia de Havilland.
Among the talking pictures era films in
which Arnold appeared are: "Rasputin,"
"Diamond Jim Brady," "Idiot's Delight,"
"Dear Ruth," "The Hucksters," "John Loves
Mary," "Command Decision," "Tlie Yellow
Cab Man," "Annie Get Your Gun" and "Dear
Wife." He was a stage star before 1915.
He helped organize the USO in World War
II, helped organize various bond drives, was
a co-founder of "I Am an American" Foundation
and helped bring about establishment
of "I Am an American Day." He also had
served as executive vice-president of the industry's
permanent charities committee. Last
week the Edward Arnold chapter of the San
Fernando Youth Foundation was dedicated
at Encino, Calif.
BOXOFFICE :
28, 1956

produced
I
henry
HATHAWAY
ONLY HE KNEW
/j:r in / I
WHAT WAS GOING
TO HAPPEN....
His only clues ... r^/-,ii
mwi mmmmmmmmmi/M
a scent of perfume...
a cry in the dark!
His only weapon...
l^estoBaiKeicSlireet
COLOR by DE LUXE
r\^ r\\\ r^Ar^l/rr^
>
by
CECIL PARKER henry \
Based on a Novel by PHILIP MacDONALD EPHRON i
Directed by
Screenplay by
NIGEL
BALCHIN
i

C V.
Whitney Outlines
Film Production Plans
NEW YORK—C. V. Whitney, the distinguished
industrialist and public servant, who
has plunged headlong into motion picture
production with the formation of C. V.
Whitney Pictures, Inc., intends to provide
the moviegoing public with a steady supply
of topgrade, high-budget films.
PLANS THREE TYPES OF FILMS
He supplied some of the reasons why he
decided to step into the motion picture field
at a luncheon he gave for the tradepress
Friday (20) at the Stork Club. He also discussed
the plans which already have been
drawn for upcoming product, and his general
ideas about the making of motion pictures.
His purpo.se. he said, is
to make three types
of pictures: (1) The American Series; (2)
Nature Dramas, and (3) Films of Fantasy.
Whitney's initial production, "The Searchers,"
falls into the first category and is
being released by Warner Bros. The second
will be "The Missouri Traveler." It, too, will
be in the American Series. It will be started
in August. Another will be "The Valiant
Virginians," a story by James Warner
Bellah, which will be directed by John Ford.
Preparations for this are now actively mider
way. Whitney, with Merian C. Cooper, vicepresident
and executive producer, left Monday
(23) for Lexington. Va.. to confer with
Maj. Gen. William H. Milton, superintendent
of the Virginia Military Institute, on plans
for the film which will be made in authentic
locales of the Civil War. It will go before
the cameras in the fall of 1957.
Whitney predicts this picture will rate with
"Gone With the Wind." Bellah, the author,
is a foremost historical novelist and John
Ford is a student of the Civil War.
Two other properties have been acquired
for the American Series. One is "William
Liberty," an unpublished novel by Frank
Clemensen, a land.scape painter and school
teacher, who spent six years writing the
story. Whitney described a it as "masterpiece."
Another story is about Major Chuck Yeager.
the army test pilot who was the first to break
the sound barrier. be incorporated
It will
into a picture "with larger scope than the
life of any one man," said Whitney.
TO START THREE THIS YEAR
At least three pictures will be started this
year.
In the Nature Drama Series will be "Chang,"
an adventure film made originally by Cooper
in the jungles of Siam and released by Paramount
in 1927. It was produced on a modest
budget, but tiu-ned out to be one of the important
grossers of that period.
"The third kind of subject which I shall
occasionally make will be 'Films of Fantasy,' "
Whitney stated. "Here I will utiUze the
unique talents and imagination of Merian C.
Cooper, who. together with Ernest B. Schoedsack,
produced and directed 'King Kong'."
Whitney was asked about budgets for pictures
he already has in mind. He turned to
Cooper for the answer.
"I never know a budget in advance," Cooper
replied. "I can't figure one out until I have
worked out a script, have lined up the
Man of
Many Interests
New York—For those who may not
know, perhaps it should be stated that
the C. V. in C. V. Whitney's name stands
for Cornelius Vanderbilt, and his interests
range afar. After distinguished service as
a pilot in World War I, he went into mining
and became chairman of the board
of the Hudson Bay Mining and Smelting
Co. He was one of the founders of Pan
American Airways. He is president of
Whitney Industries, Inc.; C. V. Whitney
Farms; trustee of the American Museum
of National History; director of the
Whitney Museum of Art and the Metropolitan
Opera Co.; clubman; former international
polo player. He was intelligence
officer on a Flying Fortress bound
to bomb Tokyo. He served in India, at
the battle of Alameine in North Africa,
and the invasion of Iwo Jima. He was assistant
secretary of the V. S. Air Force
in the Truman cabinet and later undersecretary
of commerce.
principal talent, and made other estimates.
My orders from Mr. Whitney are to get the
best. If I don't get it, it will be up to me
to explain."
Whitney declared earnestly that he will not
make a picture that will ever "misrepresent
or paint a false picture of the United States
or its people."
This country is being watched as a leader
of world opinion, he said, and we must
present true pictures of our life. Where the
characters are rough they will be presented
that way for the sake of authenticity, he
said. This was done in "The Searchers."
because, he explained, it "shows the West's
reality, its grimness, its humor, and, above
all, its warmth. This, therefore, is a realistic
picture of that era, and its has been so proclaimed
by motion picture critics."
Neither Whitney nor Cooper discussed their
Films of Fantasy plans. "We can't give away
any of our ideas now," Cooper explained.
The association of Whitney and Cooper in
production enterprises is not new. Both were
World War I and n aviators. Schoedsack
was an aerial cameraman with Cooper.
They both emphasize that their new company
aims to be a permanent influence in
film production with the full intention of
competing in the world market for story
material and talent.
An agreement has been made with Dr.
Herbert T. Kalmus. head of Technicolor
Corp., for six films in that process. Incidentally,
Whitney was one of the earliest investors
in Technicolor when the going was
rough in 1930 during the depression.
Whitney and Cooper also were early investors
in "Gone With the Wind" and Whitney
still retains his interest in that classic.
He says two of the greatest pictures ever
made, "The Birth of a Nation" and "Gone
With the Wind," were based on Civil War
themes, and this is one of the reasons he
has high hopes for "The Valiant Virginians."
Todd-AO Projector
For All Systems
NEW YORK—Standardization of its motion
picture equipment so that all eight presentation
processes can now be shown on the
Todd-AO projector from any angle in any
theatre on screens that can be adapted to ajiy
house, was made known Tuesday (24) by
George Skouras, president of Magna Theatre
Corp., at a tradepress luncheon.
Skouras said that the problem of distortion
had been eliminated and that it will be possible
to supply this all-purpose equipment at
a price of about $7,500 for the projector and
about $2,700 for the adjustable screen. The
original projector used for the opening at
the Rivoli Theatre was made by the Philips
Works of Eindhoven, Netherlands, after many
experiments and disappointments and is said
to have cost $45,000.
70MM STOCK, 65MM PICTURE
That projector uses 70mm stock with a
picture 65mm wide and with six sound tracks
in a 2 to 1 ratio. The three lenses used
were designed by Dr. Brian O'Brien, director
of the Institute of Optics at the University
of Rochester and vice-president of the American
Optical Co. It used special lenses ranging
from 128 degrees down through 64, 48 and 37
degrees. These lenses can be used Interchangeably.
Skouras returned recently from Europe
where he started plans for ,showing "Oklahoma!"
in the Todd-AO process in Paris,
Berlin. Rome. Milan and Dusseldorf sometime
in the early autumn.
A special printer has been developed which
corrects a Todd-AO print to the necessary
degree so that projection can be done from
existing booths, no matter what the projection
angle may be, without distortion.
The new type adjustable screen can be adjusted
from a flat to a curved screen and
vice versa. Skouras said. The size of the
screen will be determined by the size of the
theatre in which It is Installed.
Skouras also stated that an added advantage
of the all-purpose screen would be the
elimination of the "colossal" type where the
actors appear as giant figures. The screens
will be kept within the area of the proscenium.
The new projector can show Cinemascope
as well as the Todd-AO 70mm film. It will
be possible to project six-track, four-track and
optical sound.
CANNOT BE USED FOR TV
"The advent of the Todd-AO process marks
the separation of home entertainment from
motion picture theatre entertainment. Because
of the revolutionary concept of the
Todd-AO process, it is mechanically impossible
for television to make use of any motion picture
produced in Todd-AO." Skouras said.
The pace of openings of "Oklahoma 1" will
be stepped up in key cities.
In this country the "Oklahoma!" showings
will continue to be on a roadshow basis using
the 70mm stock. In London it will be shown
in the Cinemascope process. In other large
European cities the Todd-AO 70mm stock will
be used, and in smaller places it will be shown
on 35mm film. When 35mm film is used
with the multiple-trsick sound the actual picture
is 22 H mms.
The U. S. premiere of the picture was held
October 13 at the Rivoli Theatre here. It is
now in its 30th week.
BOXOFFICE
:
; April 28, 1956

Entertainment Package: $1.75
Chicago Drive-In Ups
Capacity to 12,500
CHICAGO—Now in coiismk-tion at SUmford
Kohlberg's Starlite Drive-In axe steel
bleachers 35 feet high, which will encircle the
stage, increasing the ozoner's seating capacity
to 5.000. With its 1,875-car ramp capacity
and parlung space for 900 cais of walk-in pa-
U-ons, tlie Starlite will be able to accommodate
around 12.500 patrons in cars and
bleachers.
Stage shows were inaugurated at the Starlite
Friday (27). Kohlberg said that Starlite
patrons will be able to dance, see a stage
show and two motion pictures for $1.75. This
price also includes free milk for the children,
free diaper service, free candy and souvenirs.
"Films." Kohlberg pointed out, "will always
be top product and stage attractions will be
put on only by big names."
In line with this policy, Kohlberg has signed
Roy Rogers, Gene Autry and Pinky Lee. He
is completing negotiation.s with Dean Martin
and Jerry Lewis, Spike Jones, the McGuire
Sisters and like p>ersonalities. Tliere wUl be
a new show each weekend until May 18, when
stage shows will be run seven nights a week
for the rest of the summer. Starting August
17, Kohlberg has an ice show scheduled with
a cast of 30. As an added attraction for kids,
there will be circus aerial acts at each show.
The program is scheduled to start at 5
o'clock with dancing, followed by the stage
show at 7:30 or 8. Then the two film features
will be shown and the stage show repeated
about midnight. Closing time is
4 a.m.
Kohlberg plans to issue credit cards to
patrons who want to charge their admissions.
He also is selling what he calls "Happiness
Books" containing $5 in coupons.
Jacksonville to Become
33rd UA Exchange City
NEW YORK—United Artists this summer
will open an exchange office in Jacksonville
to service the Florida area, according to
James R. Velde, general sales manager. It
will be the 33rd UA exchange in the U. S.
and Canada.
ByTon Adams will head it. He has been UA
branch manager at Atlanta since 1951 and
formerly was Charlotte branch manager. Bill
Hames will take over at Atlanta. He managed
the UA Dallas branch until he entered other
business in 1954. He had previously been
Indianapolis branch manager.
UA has had a booking office in Jacksonville
for three years. The exchange will be
in new quarters. It will be a part of the
southern district under Milton E. Cohen,
eastern and southern division manager, and
George Pabst, southern district manager.
Other southern district branches are located
in Atlanta, Charlotte. Dallas and New
Orleans.
'Chose' Dated for June 20
NEW YORK—"The Great Locomotive
Chase" will be released nationally by Buena
Vista June 20. The world premiere has been
.set at Atlanta June 8. Two other Disney
films will be booked along with "Chase,"
both at the Atlanta premiere and in national
release. They are: "Men Against the Arctic"
and "Jack and Old Mac."
Film Rentals, Regulation
Telecaster Problems, Too
CHICAGO—You would have thought you
were at an exhibitor convention if you had
attended the 34th annual convention of the
National Ass'n of Radio and Television Broadcasters
here last week.
What were some of the principal problems
aii-ed? High film prices for the smaller TV
stations ajid the need of jxiUcing of film
rentals. In addition, there was a plea for the
establishment of a trade association of producers
and distributors of TV film to enable
broadcasters and suppliers to get together on
common problems.
Film was the dominating subject and motion
pictures "at a price we can afford to
p>ay was a cry of protest and hope from the
'
small TV station operators, just as it is at
some of the exhibitor association conventions.
George Shupart. head of the film syndication
division of ABC-TV, called for greater
cooperation between the "packagers" or distributors
of television film and station operators.
He cautioned the broadcasters to stop
criticizing all TV film distributors because
a few failed to adhere to then- rate cards.
'I wish there were some way to police our
industry so that price problems wouldn't arise,
but there isn't," he declared.
"I hope," he also said, "that some way can
be found to enable syndicators to supply
films to even the smallest markets at a price
they can afford to pay." Joseph L. Floyd of
KELO-TV, Sioux Falls, S. D.. also called for
better treatment of stations in small and
medium situations. Film distributors, he declared,
must learn to differentiate between
the small and medium stations and the large
operations—the size of the station, studio and
audience and "the size of the check received
from our advertisers." To equalize this economic
bridge, he warned, the smaller stations
must have film at lower cost.
Broadcasters have a problem with films
containing sequences which they believe are
objectionable. In an attempt to meet regulatioiis
of the TV code— to which many adhere—
the stations often act as then- own censors
and edit out the questionable parts. With
Actively Fight Pay TV,
Telecasters Are Warned
Chicago—Clair McCollough of VVGAL-
TV, Lancaster, Pa., chairman of the television
board of directors of the National
Ass'n of Radio and Television Broadcasters,
at the organization's 34th annual
convention here last week warned that
pay-TV "affecting the very philosophy of
American free broadcasting must be actively
opposed by every thinking broadcaster."
He emphasized the importance of making
known the facts regarding pay-TV
"so that when the Lssue is resolved, the
decision will be made on the basis of
these facts and of the true public interest
involved," and he warned that the TV
industry must "wage a constant fight to
prevent further government regulation."
telecasters all through the country acting as
their own film editors, the problem of keeping
prints in good condition has become a
serious one—and appeals were made by film
syndicators to handle prints with care.
The fly-by-night distributor of film is another
headache to telecasters, and Shupart
wai-ned that all syndicators "are not reliable"
and station film buyers should be p>artlcular
from whom they buy their films and the
types of films selected.
Michael Sillerman of Television Programs of
America told the convention that Hollywood
now is turning out four times as many films
for television as it is for the motion picture
theatre. Filmed programs are mounting In
importance, he said, and now provide more
than half the TV programming in the United
States, adding that production for television
is by far Hollywood's major effort today.
Outside of the film problems, the broadcasters
heard about RCA's plan for mass production
of color receivers which it will make
available to other manufacturers, and saw a
demonstration of a new television tape recorder
developed by the Ampex Corp., which
is said to produce such high pictorial fidelity
the viewers cannot tell whether a program
is alive or taped. The obvious initial benefits
to the TV industry will be in providing delayed
telecasts in various time zones because
the time lapse usually required for film
processing now is eliminated.
Times Film Corp. Rentals
Hit $1 Million in 1955
NEW YORK—Times Film Corp., distributor
of foreign films, grossed more than one million
dollars in film rentals for 1955, according
to WilUam C. Shelton, vice-president in
charge of distribution. The three features
credited with eai-ning the largest grosses
were: "Naked Amazon," produced in Brazil;
"Game of Love," a Fiench film, and "One
Summer of Happiness," a Swedish-made picture,
all of these still getting playdates in art
houses and drive-ins in the U. S., Shelton
said.
Times Films has acquired eight foreign
productions for U. S. release in 1956, representing
a total negative cost of $3,200,000.
They are "The Naked Night," Swedish film
written and directed by Ingmar Bergman, now
playing at the Little Carnegie Theatre, New
York: "Dark River." produced in Argentina,
which recently clased a New York run at the
World Theatre; "Don Juan." made in Austria
in Agfacolor, based on the opera, "Don Giovanni";
"Nana," Fi-ench film version of the
Emile Zola classic in Eastman Color, starring
Charles Boyer and Martine Carol: "Royal
Affairs in Versailles," written, produced and
directed in Versailles by Sacha Gultxy in
Eastman Color, starring Orson Welles, Claudette
Colbert. Jean Pierre Aumont. Gerard
Philipe. Edith Piaf and Guitry; "The Respectful
Prostitute," produced in France and based
on the Jean-Paul Sartre play starring Barbara
Laage and Ivan Desny, and "Desperate
Decision," dubbed into English, starring the
French stars, Daniele Delorme and Henri
Vidal.
BOXOFFICE ;
: April 28, 1956
19

|
Circuit Adopts a Line of Light Ridicule
To Sell Superiority of Movies Over TV
V6BV BAD CASE Of STAY
ISl TAKE
016 SHOW ON A TXEATRf Cl«E(N
UAST 0MC6 A WE6KI
MflrS^jcovisfc/
mummm^
DAT! IVEBT SPECTACULARS on o CIANT THEAmE SCHEEN
The Set of Light-barbed Frontier Circuit Ads Kidding TV Entertainment.
DALLAS—If you want to fight television
as a competitor, don't be evasive about it.
That's the idea behind a frontal attack
planned by Frontier Theatres, Inc. during
May, to sell the public on the fact that entertainment
is much better on the widescreen
in the movie theatre than it is on the television
screen.
"Our company feels it is time to take off
the kid gloves and put on the bra.ss knuckles,
in dealing with the epidemic spread of
television,"
says L. E. Forester, director of advertising
and publicity. "We think that TV's
claim to the 'color spectacle' is not only
highway robbery of the movie industry, but
ridiculoiLs as well.
"As any sensible person must concede, a
one-hour assortment of one and two-reel
comedies and short subjects, in Technicolor,
presented on a theatre's widescreen, exceeds
in entertainment value any spectacular presentation
that television has so far been able
to offer. And shorts are but a prelude to our
really 'spectacular' features."
To make its point. Frontier Theatres are to
introduce a barbed but good-natured sort of
ridicule in a cartoon series to be used in May
in conjunction with the regular advertising
progi'am. In addition to the ad copy, a
•mecial door knob hanger has been created
which will be left at homes with TV antoiinae.
Frontier Theatres, with offices in the
Tower Petroleum Building here, will make
the entire series of mats, as reproduced above,
available to any theatres desiring to join in
the campaign. The price is $4, which is just
about enough to cover the cost of production
and having the mat company address and
maU the packages postpaid. Forester said.
Gennan Industry Seeking
Showcase in New York
HAMBURG, GERMANY — A New York
showcase for its pictures is being sought by
the Real Film Co., a leading west German
producing-distributing company. It is negotiating
with Munio Podhorzer, New York
film importer and president of the Casino
Film Exchange and United German Film
Enterprises. Podhorzer has recommended that
Export Union, German film industry promotion
agency, be given additional money for
promotion in the U. S.
Honolulu Opening Set
NEW YORK — "The Revolt of Mamie
Stover," 20th Century-Fox film, will have
its world premiere Friday (4) in Honolulu.
It was photographed on location there earlier
in the year. It will be the next attraction
at the Capitol Theatre in New York.
Many Sessions on TV
On SMPTE Agenda
NEW YORK—Television will be discussed
exclusively in more than half of the 20 technical
sessions of the 79th semiannual convention
of the Society of Motion Picture and
Television Engineers which will open Monday
(30) at the Hotel Statler. An attendance
exceeding 1,000 was seen as assured.
More than 35 exhibits wOl feature new developments
in motion picture and TV equipment,
designed to improve quality while reducing
costs. Among the new equipment will
be a 16mm projector with interchangeable
optical and magnetic soimd mechanisms and
separate magnetic sound luiit for recording
and playback on sprocketed tape.
This innovation, which SMPTE says permits
high-quality sound, is useful for adding
sound track in different languages or particular
sales messages aimed at specialized
audiences.
Another development will be a combination
16mm-35mm process camera for use in animation
and optical printer work. It can be
readily changed from 35mm to 16mm by
switching the lens, shuttle, sprocket assembly
and magazine without having to realign as
when two cameras are employed.
Technical sessions will stai't at 9:30 a.m.
Monday and continue through Friday afternoon.
Social activities will be highlighted by
the annual banquet Thursday evening in the
Statler ballroom.
Companies that will exhibit equipment are:
Akeley Camera & Instrument Corp., Andre Debrie
of America, Animation Equipment Corp., Audio Instrument
Co., Bell & Howell, Byron, Inc., Camero
Equipment Co., Camera Mart, Capitol Film Laborotories,
Cinekad Engineering Co., Fairchild Camera &
Instrument Corp., Florman & Babb, General Precision
Laboratory, Hanimex, Inc., Harwald Co., Hollywood
Film Co., Houston Fearless, Kling Photo Corp., Motion
Picture Printing Equipment Co., Neumode Products
Corp., Peerless Film Processing Corp., Precision Laboratories,
Prestoseal Mfg. Corp., Radio Corp. of America,
Rangertone, Inc., Reeves Soundcroft Corp., S.O.S.
Cinema Supply Corp., Strong Electric Corp., W. M.
Welch Mfg. Co., Westrex Corp. and Zoomar, Inc.
Charles MacArthur Rites;
Playwright, Screenwriter
NEW YORK—Funeral services for Charles
MacAi'thur, playwright and screenplay writer,
were held at the Frank E. Campbell Funeral
Church Monday (23). MacArthur, who was
60, died in New York Hospital April 21 after
a brief illness.
MacArthur, who became famous as coauthor
with Ben Hecht of "The Front Page"
in 1928, also collaborated with Hecht on "The
Scoundrel" and "Crime Without Passion" for
Paramount in 1934-35 and the plays, "Jumbo,"
"Ladies and Gentlemen" and "Swan Song."
In collaboration with Hecht, he also wrote
the screenplays for "Gunga Din" and
"Wuthering Heights" in 1939. His best known
solo writing job was "The Sin of Madelon
Claudet," which he WTOte for his wife, Helen
Hayes, in 1931, for which she won an Academy
Award.
Gus Eyssell to Receive
Horatio Alger Award
NEW YORK—Gus S. Eyssell, president of
Rockefeller Center and a director of Radio
City Music Hall, has been named to receive
the 1956 Horatio Alger Award which goes
to men gaining mfluence and affluence after
a lowly beginning. He started as a theatre
usher. The award will also go to seven other
business men.
BOXOFFICE
:
: April 28, 1956

. .Watch
The BOXOFFICE and
The CRITICS .
Big openings and solid day-by-day
business in every early date-
Detroit and the entire Butterfield
Circuit, Michigan . the
multi-theatre run in Los Angeles.
..the openings in San Francisco,
Pittsburgh, and more
and more key cities throughout
the country soon!
JOHN SMIIH RAGE
HAL [ CHESTER p.«^...o..«.«>, LEWIS R FOSTER
s--,,.

. . RKO
. . Charles
: AprU
l^oUcfdMKid *RefiMt
U-I Purchases Three Yarns
During the Past Week
It was Universal-International all the way
in the literary market, that studio having
embarked on a story-buying spree which accounted
for all three of the purchases recorded
during last week.
Albert Zugsmith drew the production reins
on two of the acquired properties—"Badge of
Whit Masterson. and "The
Evil." a novel by
Man Who Rocked the Boat." the autobiography
of William J. Keating, former New
York City assistant district attorney. By coincidence,
"Badge" also deals with an assistant
d. a.—of the fictional variety, however—who
uncovers the fact that a retired
police captain had manufactured evidence
used to convict suspected criminals. "Boat"
traces Keating's career during a nine-year
fight again.st waterfront criminals and corruption.
Also added to the U-I stockpile was "Alone
Together," a psychological drama by Barry
Trivers, the screenplay for which will be prepared
by Dorothy Cooper. Assigned to Robert
Arthur to produce, the opus concerns a neurotic
youngster whose problems are straightened
out by hLs widowed mother and the man
she loves.
Bel-Air Productions. Robert C. Dennis is
penning "Border Patrol," due for a June
start for United Artists release . . . Scriptpolishing
chores were the order of the day
at RKO Radio for Earl Felton and Robert
Carson, a-ssigned respectively to "Underdog"
and "Bundle of Joy" ... In the directorial
field, Allied Artists inked Francis Lyon to
pilot the upcoming Joel McCrea starrer, "The
Oklahoman," while George Blair was handed
the reins on the 42nd Bowery Boys comedy,
"Chasing Trouble" . . . Out at 20th Century-
Fox, Henry Koster will meg "Fraulein," a
Samuel G. Engel production, when he has
concluded his loanout assignment to MGM,
where he is directing "The Power and the
Prize."
Joseph Gotten Will Star
In "The HalUday Brand'
Gleanings along the casting beat: Collier
Young tagged Joseph Cotten to star in "The
Halliday Brand," a galloper about Texas in
the 1870s, which Young will send before the
cameras next month for United Artists release
. . . Under the name of Robert Reed,
the 15-year-old brother of Tony Curtis will
make his film debut in Universal-International's
"The Great Man" . Radio
booked Kim Hunter to portray the mother
.md James Gregory for the role of a police
rrgeant in its upcoming drama of adolescent
'c.b"ie-tr>s, "Strike a Blow" . . . Producer Hal
By
IVAN SPEAR
Wallis signed Earl Holliman for a lead with
Katharine Hepburn and Burt Lancaster in
"The Rainmaker" and cast Tracey Roberts
as Dean Martin's gal friend in "Hollywood or
.
Bust," both of which Wallis is turning out for
Paramount Laughton drew a
stellar spot in "The Bridge Over the River
Kwai," the Sam Spiegel venture for Columbia,
which rolls on location in Ceylon
next fall . . . Bel-Air Productions, the busy
independent unit headed by Aubrey Schenck
and Howard W. Koch, tagged Diane Brewster,
Don Gordon and Cain Mason for
featured roles in "Port Laramie," which
begins filming at month's end for UA.
Stewart Granger, Ava Gardner
To Co-Star in The Little Hut'
Here and there in the Hollywoodlands:
Stewart Granger and Ava Gardner, a romantic
duo in MGM's soon-to-be-released
"Bhowani Junction." will be teamed romantically
again in "The Little Hut," a Mark
Robson-F. Hugh Herbert production, which
MGM will distribute . . . Continuing his association
with Hecht-Lancaster, in whose
Oscar-winning "Marty" he also captured an
Academy statuette, Ernest Borgnine was
inked by H-L to co-star with Itahan glamor
gal Sophia Loren in "Bandoola," due to be
lensed on location late this year in Ceylon
Scriveners and Directors
Maintain Busy Pace
Reflecting the continuing upbeat in studio
production plans, several scriveners drew assignments
to attend the Cannes film festival, tor which
her MGM starrer, "I'll Cry Tomorrow," was
to forthcoming scripts. Frank selected as an entry. Lawrence Weingarten,
Penton is warming up his typewriter on who produced it, also headed for France to be
"The Mystery of Misty Creek," based on a on hand for the festival. Another MGM personality,
Cyd Charisse, planed to New Yc
Saturday Evening Post novelette by Marvin
DeVries. which MGM will produce ... At and Washington for personal appearances
and interviews to plug "Meet Me in Las
Vegas" and was a guest of honor at the
yearly Apple Blossom Festival in Winchester,
for United Artists release ... On the barnstorming
beat, Susan Hayward checked out
Va.
Paramount Has New High
In Studio Employment
Dispensers of gloom anent the Hollywood
scene had a bit of the wind taken out of
their sails when Paramount pointed out employment
at the studio has reached a peak
of more than 2.700, engaged in the making
of six pictures, for the highest payroll total
in more than a year. Furthermore, the same
high level is expected to continue for some
weeks.
It was about a year ago, when Cecil B.
DeMille was using hundreds of extras for
"The Ten Commandments." that approximately
the same figure was reached. With
that exception, the present mark is the highest
in many years.
First Song-and-Dance Role
Set for Burt Lancaster
Short takes from the sound stages: Burt
Lancaster is going to essay his first songand-dance
role in "The Ballad of Cat Ballou,"
a musical western scheduled by the Hecht-
Lancaster organization to co-star Lancaster
and Tony Curtis. For United Artists release,
it's based on a recently published sagebrush
William Bloom to Make
Space Story at RKO
That William Bloom, who recently
joined RKO Radio as a producer after a
tenure of some years in the same capacity
at 20th Centui-y-Fox, is regarded as a
specialist in the subject of super-scientific
high-altitude research was indicated
when he drew, as his first assignment,
an as-yet untitled opus concerned with
U. S. -launched space satellites.
Bloom, it will be recalled, functioned
as producer on 20th-Fox's current release,
"On the Threshold of Space," in
which the topic of the stratosphere also
was explored.
The RKO venture will carry one of
three titles just registered by the company—"Space
Satellite," "Operation Vanguard"
or "Around the World in 90 Minutes."
Story research will be done by writers
assigned to work with scientists at Patrick
Air Force base in Florida and the
plot, according to production chief William
Dozier, will be a combination of the
fictional with the documentary, inasmuch
as camera crews will be dispatched to
rocket sites to photograph attempts to
launch the man-made planet.
novel by Roy Chanslor . . . Producer William
Goetz and director Joshua Logan will
plane to Japan in July to explore location
sites for their forthcoming "Sayonara," from
the James Michener tome, which Warners will
Independent filmmaker Al
distribute . .
Gannaway is
.
preparing a galloper, "Badge
of Marshal Brennan," for a late May start
on location in Utah.
MGM Plans June Start
For 'Little Leaguer'
With a weather eye cocked toward the
1956 baseball season, which has just gotten
under way, MGM is speeding preparations for
the launching of "The Little Leaguer," which
has been set for a June starting date and
should be completed in time for release before
national interest in the pastime is
whetted to the peak as the annual World
Series is staged this fall.
Herman Hoffman has been assigned to
direct the comedy, penned by Nathaniel
Benchley—son of the late humorist, Robert
Benchley—and which deals with the entanglements
of a well-intentioned father who
tries to help his son by managing a Little
League horsehide squad. It's a Henry Berman
production.
George R. Batcheller Jr.
Back As a Filmmaker
Absent from the production scene for
several years, George R. Batcheller jr., who
at one time was in charge of production for
Producers Releasing Corp., is re-entering the
field through the formation of the Pelham
Corp., which will be active in both theatrical
and telefilm lensing.
Batcheller is the son of the founder of
Chesterfield and Invincible Pictures, which
were well-known independent units in years
gone by. The younger Batcheller withdrew
from his Hollywood connections in 1942 when
he entered the armed forces.
BOXOFFICE
:
28, 1956

proudly announces
that the long-run
VICTORIA THEATRE
NEW YORK
BORN YESTERDAY
HE MOON IS
BLUE
THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN ARM
r- has selected
W/ JMS 1I10R[ • JOHN CASSMIES • SAL MINEO.JAI m.«.
•
jMf A VINCENl M. FtNNtliy PRODUCIION Duecleil by OONAID SlfGU - Sloiy a(w) Screenpljy by HfGINAlO «OSf Music ty \nu WAXMAN

Rothafel Explains
Roxy Operation
To Eager N.Y. Student Editors
CALENDARiEVENTS
MAY
T W T F S
12 3 4 5
S M
6 7 8 9 10 H 12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
27 28 29 30 31

NOW
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LETTERS
FILM SALES TO TV HURT
Every year and almost every month exhibitors
are plagued by pleas from one fUm
exchange or another to submit dates and
cooperate in drives to honor the great men of
distribution. Most of this assortment of executives
we are asked to honor are either
those who are noted for their complete indifference
to the difficulties of operating a
theatre in these troubled times, or have never
been heard of outside their own offices.
In appreciation of the past cooperation of
the theatres in the numerous drives, distribution
seems now to be entering a race to see
who can hand the most to television at the
lowest price. In one recent slash at the exhibitors'
throats, a large block of pictures was
handed over to TV at a price which I believe
comes to about $20,000 a picture. At the
same time many exhibitors are complaining
of a shortage of product. A large percentage
of the films going to TV on this deal would be
suitable for reissue over the next few years.
Reissues can make money for both distribution
and exhibition. But, now, these pictures
no longer have that possibility. They are
in gone, a complete sell-out to a medium
which will now use them in a way that will
further reduce theatre attendance.
How many of the key figures of this industry
who put over such deals are really
showmen? It seems to me that many of them
are not showmen at all, but instead are financiers
who prefer a quick million, even if it
helps put out of business many of the little
people who helped buUd the movie industry.
I have read and heard most of the arguments
presented to justify turning over films
to TV. Not one of them makes sense. Writers
of television columns in the daily papers
frequently refer to these films and the public
is coming more and more to beUeve that all
the pictures now being shown in theatres will
soon be available on theii- home flickerboxes.
One thing is indisputable. The reasoning
behind it may be far above the mentality of
some movie industry big-wigs, but certainly
hundreds of exhibitors who are fighting to
keep theii- theatres open know it to be a
fact. While Mr. and Mrs. John Citizen and
the kids are parked in front of the living
room TV, they are not buying tickets at the
theatre boxoffice.
It is unfortunate that when the first rumors
of sales to TV were heard, the exhibitor
organizations did not call off their squabbling
and begging for government interference long
enough to organize a boycott of those distributors
who want to collect fat film rentals
with one hand while cutting the exhibitors'
throats with the other. There would have
been very few sales to television and many
more dollars coming into the theatres.
Manager,
Roxy Theatre,
Coulterville,
III.
I'M ON
MY WAY.
FRANK R. MCLEAN
SHOE ON OTHER FOOT
jxjkie: X to 30
ttUbfale-JlimtSIOIllll
IHtniBf'S
'WHAT IS PROFIT?" MONTH
. DfSTHmuTOR, Mr. Produce WIN THE FUN!
i^
We exhibitors are always confronted with
some kind of a "Week," "Month" or "Drive"
by the distributors and are asked to bend
over backwards to help make them a success.
If they aren't honoring the company president,
then it's the branch manager; if it
isn't some official, then it's the company.
After listening to aU this producer-distributor
promotion for years, I figured it was time
for an exhibitor to come up with a drive and.
business being what it is. the above is the
result. I doubt if I'll get any concessions but,
at least, the tables are turned and it might
inject a laugh among the sobs.
Manager,
Jamestown Theatres,
Jamestown, N. D.
BURR W. CLINE
Thomas Flies to India
For 4th Cinerama Film
NEW YORK—Lowell Thomas has left by
air for London to start production of the
fourth Cinerama adventure spectacle. Otto
Lang, director, left with him in a Globemaster
flying the equipment and the Cinerama crew.
They are heading for New Delhi, India,
where they will begin a trek into the remote
valleys beyond the mountains amid wild
tribesmen into what has been called the "roof
of the world."
They plan a story of the search for an
earthly paradise.
Harry Squu-e, cameraman for the first two
Cinerama features and "Seven Wonders of
the World," will be assisted by Jack Priestley
and Fred Pordham. In charge of the stereophonic
Cinerama sound system will be Fred
Bosch and Ray Sharpies. Edward R. Evans is
unit manager.
...to one of the 6,000 theatres ALTEC is proud
to number among its satisfied customers.
"In that bag I carry are numerous special
instruments expressly designed by ALTEC to
assure the best possible sound service
procedures.
"In the trunk of my car are ALTEC instruments,
tools, and test films to achieve maximum quality
performance of all types of sound systems.
"200 other ALTEC field engineers are similarly
equipped.
"Accompanying us every step of the way are the
resources, technical-know-how and reputation
of ALTEC SERVICE CORPORATION, the finest
sound service organization in the motion
picture industry.
"Are YOU on my call list?"
MO QUESTION ABOUT /r/
WIKOOW CARDS
•HERALDS' CALENDARS
/p.s. we also have AD MATS
ii.iiiiiiiii.ii.i.iiaiim.i«.Liiimi.ii.i.iJiiii.).il.l.l
BLOWERS
ALTEC^
SPECIALISTS IN MOTION PICTURE SOUND

PROBLEMS AND HOW TO END
THEM AT D.C, AREA SESSION
250 Exhibitors Attend;
Gehring. Braunagel
Guest Speakers
WASHINGTON—The Wasliington area
exhibitors convention held here last week
drew some 250 theatremen from Delaware,
Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia
and the District of Columbia, who mingled
serious business discussions with social activities
in the three-day conclave.
Seymour Hoffman, president, and other
officers were re-elected by the Virginia Motion
Picture Theatre Ass'n at its joint session.
Robert Johnson was added to the board of
directors,
A stellar list of industry executives addressed
the area meetings, held in the Shoreham
Hotel here. Those attending used such
adjectives as "outstanding," "wonderful,"
"real instructive and interesting" to describe
the program,
GEHRING ADDRESSES GROUP
William C. Gehring, vice-president of 20th-
Fox, apparently with an eye to the current
hearings of the subcommittee of the Senate
small business subcommittee, told the group
that the industry ought not to wash its
dh-ty
linen in public. He urged both producei-s
and exhibitors to stop fighting each other
and instead to "join forces against our common
enemy—declining boxoffice."
Gehring came out .strongly against federal
regulation of the industry in any way. "There
is not a legislator who can make or sell a
picture better than the producers can or who
can promote a picture better than the exhibitors,"
he maintained. "It is foolish to ask
for outside help when none is as qualified
as we to handle our own affairs."
He said Allied States Ass'n and the Theatre
Owners of America are more closely
united now than ever and that he would
welcome one large exhibitor organization
such as there is in Great Britain. He added
that producers have many difficulties now
that they did not have five years ago such
as competition from television for stories and
talent, the high taxes talent workers must
pay (making higher salaries neceisary) , and
the demands of agents. He invited the exhibitors
to send a committee to Hollj'wood
to see first hand the problems of the producers
and to make suggestions for solving
these' problem.s.
of its gross take.
Jack Braunagel, of the United Theatre
Corp., Little Rock, Ark,, an exhibitor who has
been reversing the trend on poor attendance,
urged his listeners to adopt a recruitment
program to build the professional level of
N.J. Allied Withholds
Tax Drive Approval
NEW YORK—New Jersey Allied will go
along "100 per cent" with the position of
National Allied in opposition to the campaign
for elimination of the federal admissions tax.
At a well attended meeting Tuesday (24) the
members decided against approval of the
drive at this time. Sidney Stern, president,
presided.
It was pointed out that the matter will be
thoroughly discussed at a May meeting of the
National Allied board. That possibly could
result in belated approval of the drive. Members
said after the meeting that they were
free, if they wished, to write their senators
and congressmen as individuals in support of
the drive. As a unit, however, the national
organization was upheld in its position.
Howard Herman, chairman of a television
research committee, reported that there was
plenty of evidence that major company use
of TV for promotion was harmful to exhibitors.
Members praised his report, which
will be the basis for a letter to major company
presidents. It will be made public when
mailed.
Members were told that reservations for
the convention May 27-29 at the Concord
Hotel, Kiamesha Lake, N. Y., were coming in
at a record rate. To date there have been
100 doubles and 41 singles, or better than
50 per cent of capacity.
There was criticism of MGM and Samuel
Goldwyn for the terms on "Guys and Dolls"
and of National Screen Service for late deliveries
of material.
management and operation. While stressing
the lack of good film product, he nevertheless
emphasized that not all the troubles of the
exhibitor stems from this source.
He said that one answer to the exhibitor
problem is promotion—not necessarily vast
and spectacular promotion, but a personalized
type of work by which each person in the industry
takes it upon himself to evangelize for
the business.
Braunagel, who said that his house grossed
three times as much as the average comparable
exhibitor on "A Man Called Peter,"
said that this was due to many factors,
not the least of which was good exploitation
of the pictme in every way. He emphasized
such points as having doormen and ticket-
•SMALL EXHIBITORS NEEDED'
Gehring denied that distributors are neglecting
takers trained to point out the concession
small theatres, a charge heard often stand to those going into the theatre; havtakers
ing these, and other management representatives,
in the recent exhibitor phase of the Senate
committee hearings. He said 6'-.: per cent
contacting persons leaving the
theatre to emphasize stars in the next feature
of the total film rental in the U. S. and
Canada comes from the bottom 5,000 theatres
attraction to come. He said that ex-
and that "no company is in such a good hibitors are going to have to come to grips
with the fact that they are in a highly competitive
position" that it can neglect 6"i. per cent
show situation and that the only way
it is to beat to strip for action in every phase
of their operations.
In travels about the country, Braunagel
said, he has seen much evidence of a lack
of training manpower in the motion picture
business. He contrasted the sometimes haphazard
manner In which theatre owners staff
their houses with that of .some other lines of
business which specialize in going to college
campu.ses to get the highest type of g:-aduate
as likely candidates for future advancement.
He said the typical theatre's training program
Ls sadly neglected. In his opinion, the
junior staffers are not being fitted for management
and other executive roles. He lamented
the lack of recognition of the potential
of industry conventions, meetings and
gatherings for exchanges of ideas, and
pointed out that there probably were more
than 200 motion picture theatres within an
hour's drive of the Shoreham, where the
meeting was held, which were not represented
at the convention by a house manager.
He said this was an unconscionable failure
to grasp opportunity to learn more phases
of a complex business.
Ralph Plies of Berlo (ABC Vending) emphasized
the profit-producing pcssibilities of
closer attention to commodity merchandising
within the film house. He dealt mostly
with the selection, placement and serving
of vending machines and the packaging of
confections and refreshments.
A. Julian Brylawski, MPTO of Metropolitan
Washington, a recognized spokesman
for the industry in national affairs,
while shying away from the word "lobbying,"
emphasized that it is important that the exhibitor.s
make their wants and needs known
to congressmen and tliat they present their
points militantly.
Carlton Duffus of Richmond, executive
secretary of the Virginia MPTA, was credited
generally with the excellence of the program.
Wade Pearson was general chauman and
Morton Gerljer was co-ordinator.
Gov. Harriman Vetoes
Film License Act
ALBANY—Gov. Averell Harriman has
vetoed the Noonan-Zaretzki act, w-hich provided
for an increase from three to four
dollars per thousand feet of original film
licensed by the State Education Department
and for a decrease from two dollars per
thousand feet to four dollars for each additional
entire copy.
In a three-sentence memorandum, the
governor said the bill changes the license
fees now charged by the motion picture
division "with the result that the state will
lose $285,000 per yeai- in fees." Because "this
loss of revenue is not taken care of in the
budget enacted by the legislatuie," he vetoed
the measure.
The measure was the subject of acrimony
and misunderstanding during the 1955 and
1956 sessions of the legislature. The original
assumption by a number of lawmakers was
that it increased the fees collected by the
motion picture division. However, a clarifying
amendment, made after Senator Moritt
publicly criticized the first draft, added the
word "entire" before "copy," to show that
the print charge was actually being reduced.
BOXOFFICE ;
: April 28, 1956 27

.
.
.
Spring Weather. Many Holdovers Hit ^o-J^IZTruiTd Drive""*
Broadway First Runs; Art Films Big
NEW YORK—Springlike weather and a
dearth of new films, except in
the art houses,
resulted in a falling-off of business in the
inajority of Broadway first runs. "The Birds
and the Bees," the only Broadway opening,
at the Paramount Theatre, Sunday (22) had
a big opening day, with George Gobel making
four personal appearances on the stage, but
was no smash thereafter.
Three new art films, "French Can-Can,"
which had a sensational opening week at
the Fine Ai'ts, following the 20-week run of
"Diabolique," "A Kid for Two Farthings," in
a strong first week at the Plaza, and "Lovers
and Lollipops," which had a very good opening
week at the Normandie, were the other
entries.
Best among the many holdovers was "The
Man in the Gray Flannel Suit," which had a
big second week at the Roxy, and "Serenade,"
which was still good in its fifth and final
week at the Radio City Music Hall. Others
which held up well included: "The Man Who
Never Was," in its third week at the Victoria:
"Alexander the Great," in its fourth week
at the Capital, and "The Conqueror," in its
fourth week at the Criterion, all of those
staying on longer. But "Patterns," "Miracle
in the Rain" and "On the Threshhold of
Space" were way down in their final weeks
at the Mayfair, Loew's State and Globe, respectively.
"Seven Wonders of the World" attracted
capacity business in its second week of twoa-day
performances at the Warner Theatre,
and "Oklahoma!" in its 28th week at the
Rivoli and "Richard III" in its seventh at the
Bijou were near sellouts.
"The Swan" opened at the Radio City
Music Hall Thursday (26), just one week
after the Grace Kelly wedding. "Jubal" and
two monster films, "The Creature Walks
Among Us" and "Godzilla, King of the
Monsters," also opened during the week.
(Average Is 100)
Aslor Meet Me in Las Vegas (MGM), 6th wk.. .110
Bi|ou Richard III (Lopert), 7th wk, of two-a-day . 100
Capitol— Alexander the Great (UA), 4th wk 1 25
Criterion—The Conqueror (RKO), 4th wk 1 25
Fine Arts— French Can-Can (UMPO) 1 75
55th St. Citiien Kone (RKO), reissue, 9th wk....l05
Globe On the Threshold ot Space (20th-Fox), 4th
Loew's State Mirocle
Moyfair PaHerns (UA
the Rain (WB),
2nd
-Bocklosh (U-l), plus vaudeville 1
Jilt The Birds and the Bees (Para) 1
The Ballet ot Romeo ond Juliet (Tohon),
iZG A Kid for Two
idio City Music Hall— S.
show, 5th wk
vol! Oklohomol (Mogno), 28th wk
YOUft ORDERS rOR
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QUALITY mm
Roxy The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit (20th-
Fox), plus ice revue, 2nd wk
Sutton—The Ladykillers (Continental), 9th wk.
.
Trans-Lux 52nd ^Doctor at Seo (Rep), 8th wk..
.
Victorio The Mon Who Never Was (20th-Fox),
Wo ner—Seven Wonders of the World (5W), 2nd
Id—The Last Ten Days (Col), 2nd wk 1
'Jubal' and 'Swan' Open
Firm at Buffalo
BUFFALO—Business quiet all along the
line, "The Swan." with Grace Kelly, attracted
125 per cent business at Shea's Buffalo.
"Serenade," with Mario Lanza, was only good
for a 115 at the Paramount. "The Man in
the Gray Flannel Suit" held up to 125 in its
fourth week in the Center and was held for
a fifth stanza. "Jubal" was good for a 135
in the Lafayette.
Buffalo—The Swan (MGM) 125
Center The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit (20thcentury—Corousel
(20th-Fox),
Cinema Doctor at Sea (Rep).
Lafayette Jubal (U-l)
Paramount Serenade (WB). .
'Gray Flannel' Scores 175
In Baltimore Opening
BALTIMORE—The best boxoffice business
for the week went to "The Man in the Gray
Flannel Suit," one of five newcomers.
"Serenade" drew fairly well, but the holdovers
seemed to have outstayed their welcome.
Century The Man in the Groy Flannel Suit (20th-
Fox) 175
Film Centre Oklohoma! (Magna), 7fh wk 175
Hippodrome Hot Blood (Col) 95
Little—Samurai (Fine Aras) 90
Mayfair—The Conqueror (RKO), 4th wk 100
New—Alexander the Greot (UA), 4th wk 90
Town—The Swon (MGM) 100
Playhouse— Doctor ot Sea (Rep), 2nd wk 100
Stanley—Serenade (WB) 1 00
The Cinema Hill 24 Doesn't Answer (Confl), 3rd
wk 85
Holdovers Continue Big
On Pittsburgh Rialto
PITTSBURGH—Holdover offerings at the
Fulton and Harris tapered off and juvenile
shows at the Penn and Stanley flopped.
Fulton Corousel (20th-Fox), 4th wk 100
Horns The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit (20fh-
Funeral Rites Are Held
For Paul Benjamin, 59
MIAMI—Funeral services were held Thursday
(26) for Paul J. Benjamin, 59, who retired
several years ago as production manager of
National Screen Service. He started with NSS
in 1919 as an office boy. He was a member
of the Motion Picture Pioneers, a former
president of the Associated Motion Picture
Advertisers and its treasurer for ten years.
He leaves his wife, Hazel: a son, William, and
a brother. William.
Chevalier Film Retitled
NEW YORK—"My Seven Little Sins" will
be the American release title for Maurice
Chevalier's French-language feature, originally
titled "My Seven Daughters." Kingsley
International is distributing the picture in
the U. S.. where it will open at the Guild
Theatre May 1.
NEW YORK—Max E. Youngstein, United
Ai-tists vice-president, received the first annual
"Joey" award of the Asthma Medical
Actor Dane Clark presents first annual
'Joey' award of the Asthma Medical
Center to Max E. Youngstein.
Center April 21
at a "Parade of Stars" show
in Town Hall here. He was honored for his
leadership in the national "Attack on
Asthma" campaign. The entertainment benefited
the Jewish National Home for Asthmatic
Children at Denver, which sponsors the drive.
Youngstein is national chairman of the
campaign and was general chairman of the
"Pai-ade of Stars," which featured 23 headliners
in the theatrical world. Tlie awai'd
commemorated a Jersey City youngster who
arrived at the home too late for treatment.
The boy's parents have set up a special
memorial fund. President Eisenhower wired
Youngstein his congratulations.
Special fund drives were .sponsored by disk
jockey Martin Block and columnist Dan
Parker. Receipts from the Block drive were
presented by Sammy Davis jr., and those from
the Parker drive by Al Schacht.
Morey Amsterdam, Block, Davis and Henry
Morgan were master of ceremonies. Other
entertainers included Dane Clark. Herb
Shriner, Bobby Hackett and his orchestra.
Cab Calloway, Jack Carter, Eileen Barton, Al
Hibbler, Pi-ed Robbins, Carmen McCrae, Lu
Ann Simms, Lanny Ro.ss, Arnold Stang, Jill
Corey, the Bell sisters, Jimmy Karmack,
Josephine Pi-emice, Leo De Lion, Enzo Stuarti
and Bas Sheva.
Publicists 65 Vote Pact
With Four Major Firms
NEW YORK—The membership of the
Screen Publicists Guild No. 65 Tuesday voted
on a new two-year pact covering advertising,
publicity and exploitation personnel at Columbia,
20th-Fox, Universal and Warner
Bros.
The new two-year agreement will expire
in April 1958 and will cover some 140 persons
at these four major companies. The contract
provides for an average $10 weeky increase,
an average $5 increase in minimum wages,
plus reductions in tolerances at 20th-Fox and
Universal and three-week vacations for those
with 15 years of service. A senior publicist
is raised from $135 to $140.50 a week and a
publicist from $96.25 to $101.75 a week.
Contract negotiations between SPG and
of representatives United Artists were held
April 25 with MGM April 26.
BOXOFFICE
;
:
April 28, 1956

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BOXOFFICE :
28. 1956 29

. . Attending
. . Jack
. . Sarah
. . Len
. . Baltimoreans
. . The
. .
. .
. .
. . William
. . Amy
. .
LBANY
\risitors to Gloversville reported that Louis
W. Schine was bronzed and looked well
after his recuperation in Florida from an operation
performed in New York . . . Harry
Lamont offered free magnifier dialers to the
first 200 cars at the reopening of the Sunset
Drive-In. Kingston . . . Jim Tobin. Stanley
Warner district manager, trained back
to Boston after a local visit. On a previous
trip here. Tobin went to the Albany airport
for a return flight, stayed there for hours
while a storm grounded planes, then finally
took a bus back.
"Guys and Dolls" played to holdouts at the
Strand Saturday night, and to capacity on
Sunday, according to Strand Manager Al
LaFlamme. who set up a tieup with Whitney's
department store, with the store captioning a
half-page newspaper ad on opening day,
"Guys Like Dolls in Sports Fashions From
Whitneys'." The ad also carried a slug suggesting
that readers .see the picture at the
Strand.
Joe Miller described drive-in business
this spring as "way off" in comparison with
last year. The Menands operator said the
combination of late snows, low temperatures
and rains shredded gi-osses. Miller believes
that drive-in openings are set too early for
the uncertain weather which often prevails
in this area . a B'nai B'rith installation
dance at the Sheraton-Ten Eyck
were Aaron Winig, Variety Club property
master, and his wife; Leonard L. Rosenthal,
counsel and adviser on film buying for Upstate
Theatres, and his wife, and Joe Miller,
Menands Drive-In. and his wife.
Adam "Chick" Mlinarick, Columbia head
shipper and president-business agent of Local
B-43. was married to Louise Cavotta of
Mechanicville Sunday (22). The couple left
on a three-week honeymoon in Florida.
is Mlinarick. resident of Watervliet, a World
War n veteran. His bride owns a beauty shop
in Mechanicville . Torre, 20th-Pox
biller, was to be married to Ronald Houghtaling
at the St. John's Catholic Church here
Saturday afternoon (28). He is in the Army,
stationed at Ft. Monmouth, N. J. The Fox
Family Club held a party at Keane's Restaurant
for Miss Torre and for Mrs. Venora
Genevese, who is taking a maternity leave.
Leon Duva, Morris, Morrisville, and Ben
Coleman, buyer-booker for the Carman Drive-
In, Guilderland, were exchange visitors . . .
Kinglsey Ryan. Little Theatre. Plattsburg.
said that con.struction of an Air Force bomber
ba.se at Plattsburg will mean a $2,000,000
monthly payroll. The project is expected
to bring in an additional 20.000 people, including
Air Force pei-sonnel.
Schine's Strand in Carthage adverti.sed a
Wednesday Family night at $1 group rate . . .
"A quiet theatre" is the description which
Val Ritchey has been using for the Scotia,
Scotia, in newspaper copy of late. Scotia
is a Schenectady suburb.
The Saratoga, second of the Fabian area
drive-ins, reopened April 20. George Lourinia
manages the house, built in 1942 as the
district's .second . . . The Times-Union's Music
Festival drew more than 2,000 persons to
the Palace . Byrne, eastern division
manager for MGM, and Jack Goldberg, local
r^3,;ias'er, visited Schine circuit headquarters
in Gloversville for talks with Louis W. Schine
and others . . . Fabian's Saratoga Drive-In,
Latham, gave free chamois skins to the first
100 cars on opening night. The next 200
cars admitted received roses for the women
and cigars for the men. Children were remembered
with candy.
Moe Bitman's Dix Di-ive-In. Hudson Falls,
reopened for the season as did William H.
Aust's Open-Air Theatre. South Glen Falls;
Lou Goldstein's Skyler, between Utica and
Herkimer, and the West Rome Drive-In .
The Stanley Warner Corp. and lATSE Local
12 signed a contract for Albany. Contact
Manager Jim Bracken from the New Haven,
Conn., zone office and District Manager Jim
Tobin, Boston, represented SW. Jim Blackburn,
' president of the union, and Buster
Foley, represented the stagehands.
.
Morris Smaltzbach, 20th-Fox traveling
.
auditor, checked into the local exchange
Francis Keefe is joining 20th-Fox as student
booker . . Attending a screening of "The
Proud and the Profane" at the Fox studio
Monday afternoon were Elias Schlenger.
Fabian division manager; Irene Econome.
Fabian division booker; Kingsley Ryan.
Plattsburg exhibitor; Phil Baroudi. Northwood.
North Creek: Dan Houlihan. Paramount
manager; Ed Wall, Paramount field
representative for Albany and Buffalo, and
Howard Smidt, salesman.
BALTIMORE
/^scar Kantor, Baltimore representative for
Warner Bros., and his wife Shirley
boarded a plane for a Virgin Islands vacation.
They also will visit Martego Bay for
sports fishing . . . Louis Shector. owner of
the Times, Roslyn and Rex Theatres, says
his son Mark will be confirmed in May .
Maynard Madden is now representing Republic
in this territory, succeeding the late
Sam Tabor. Madden comes from Washington
.
Silver of Columbia was in town
for about ten days in advance of "The Harder
They Fall.'" at the Hippodrome.
Mark Silver, Allied Artists salesman here.
is busy placing first run attractions for several
drive-ins to be shown during June . . . Baltimore
Variety Tent 19 has booked "The Icecapades"
in Memorial Stadium July 27-August
5. The ice show last year netted the club
a profit for charity of between $65,000 and
$70,000.
Milton Schwaber, owner of the Playhouse
and Cinema, has given to the city of Baltimore
a lot upon which will be erected a new
branch of the public library to serve the
Northwood area . late Frank Durkee.
who was head of the Dm-kee Enterprises and
a pioneer in the industry here, left an estate
of $388,888, according to an inventory filed
orphans court.
Herbert Gillis, Paramount Washington
manager, was visiting here with Charles
Boasberg, Paramount vice-president from
New York .
attending the
Washington Area Exhibitors convention last
week were Leon Back, Rome Theatre; Jack
Little, owner of the Avenue; Jack Fruchtman,
head of the Fruchtman Theatres; Henry
Dusman and Clay Hafele of National Theatre
Supply; Lou Seiber, projectionists' union
president; Clay Langlotz and Mildred Wolsh.
Charles Grimes, Silver Springs, also attended.
He is district manager for Stanley Warner.
in
WASHINGTON
lUTartin Moskowitz, recently promoted to
supervise the newly formed eastern division
for 20th-Fox. held a series of sales
meetings at the Washington branch. With
him were Abe Dickstein, who was promoted
from New York manager to Atlantic district
manager, and Seymour Cohen . . . Variety
Barker Gerald Wagner, general manager of
Lopert Washington Theatres, was married
April 7 to Ruth Shumaker, a reporter on the
Washington Post and Times-Herald . . . The
following men were approved for associate
membership in the Variety Club by the
board of governors: Paul Cooper and Jack
Cooper, partners, Capitol Equipment Co.;
Dr. Milton F. Weingarten, surgeon, and Alan
R. Klompus. executive vice-president. Food
Town, Inc. . . . The next board of governors
meeting will be May 7 in the executive room
of the Willard Hotel.
Co-Chairmen of the teenage Juke Box
Dance in the Variety Club Friday night (20)
were Joel Margolis, Herman Paris, Norman
Kal, Bill Hoyle and Hirsh de La Viez .
The following people have made reservations
for the Variety Clubs International convention
in New York May 9-12: Jake Flax, delegate;
Alvin Q. Ehrlich, delegate, and Mrs.
Ehrlich; Marvin Goldman, international
canvasman, and Mrs. Goldman; Morton Gerber.
chairman of the welfare committee, and
Mrs. Gerber. Mr. and Mrs. Fred S. Kogod.
Mr. and Mrs. Han-y Bernstein. Mr. and Mrs.
I. A. Hofberg. William E. Jasper, Max Podietz,
Mr. and Mrs. Francis Storty. Mr. and
Mrs. Joseph Kinsky. Joseph B. Walsh. Nathan
D. Golden, international heart chairman,
and his wife; Gertrude Flax and Mrs.
Hattie Briskman, sisters of Jake Flax;
Robert Blitz, son of Barker Albert Blitz, and
Herndon Edmond, friend of William Jasper.
Universal salesman Stan Taylor. 42. died
of a heart attack while attending a dance
with his wife last Friday night. He is sur-
vived by his wife Loretta and three small
children Carrier says that Independent
Theatres Services will do the buying
and booking for the Shore Drive-In,
Ocean City, Md.. as of May 2 . .
Filmrow
.
bookers, salesmen and managers were guests
of the Sidney Lust Theatres at the opening
ball game Tuesday.
William Zoellner, MGM short subject sales
manager, visited the local exchange . . .
Manager Herb Bennin had a birthday on
Tuesday and the office staff joined the celebration
by giving him a party .
Rohde.
home office print department, who is vacationing
in Washington, came into the exchange
to meet the folks.
Out-of-town exhibitors .seen on Filmrow
uicluded Mike Leventhal. "Doc" Westfall,
M. K. Murphy, Reese Harrington. Doug Connellee
. . . Gray Barker. Maryland and West
Virginia exhibitor, just had a book published.
Title is "They Knew Too Much About Flying
Saucers," the story of what happened to
certain researchers and investigators who
found out where the saucers came from.
Barker has been head of an English department
in a Maryland school system, and
audio-visual education consultant for a
large school supplier, theatre manager and
motion picture projection technician and now
operates a buying and booking firm out of
Clarksburg. W. Va.
BOXOFFICE
:
: April 28, 1956

. . . The
. . "Picnic"
: April
. . Joseph
. .
Norman
. . Norbert
. . AA's
. . Memorial
. . Connie
NEWARK
por Friday the IStli, drivers of cars with lUiy
combination of 13 on their hcense plates
were awarded prizes at the Totowa, New
BrunsW'ick, Paramus and Shore driveins. As
special Friday the 13th attractions, the
Totowa, Union and Mon-is Plains drive-ins
showed "Black Friday." in addition to the
regular bills. "Tlie Ghost of Frankenstein"
was added to the program at the Paramus.
Shore and New Brunswick drive-ins . . . Kay
Baker, ca.shier of the Lyric, is back at work
after a long illness . . . Matiuel Lima, manager
of the Newark Di-ive-In, annoimced that
his playground is open.
Harold Flannery, assistant manager at the
Newsreel, is enjoying a vacation in Virginia
Newsreel cashier, Henrietta Baron,
IS convalescing at the Beth Israel Hospital . .
Charles Henry, manager of the Park, was recuperating
following an eye operation. The
acting manager is Ralph Hanison ... Ed
Steinberg, owner of the Chancellor in Irvington,
reports a successful run of "Hill 24
Doesn't Answer."
The West End, Newark, and the Cameo
m Jersey City are installing new carpeting
and air conditioning . Geller. recently
connected with the Pix in Jersey City
and former manager of various Warner
houses in this area, is now managing the
Ridgway at Stamford, Conn. ... A two-week
vacation was being enjoyed by Mun-ay
Scharf. manager of Loew's State in Newark.
Danny Oliner, operator at Loew's, was
maiTied to nurse Helen Kulka the first part
of April . . . The new relief cashier at Loew's
is Mary Modestino ... At the Roosevelt,
Gregory Ma-sessa is the new assistant manager—transferred
from the Hollyw'ood in
East Orange. He is replacing Thomas Hannigan.
who resigned due to illness . . . The
Roosevelt ran a Mickey Mouse giveaway for
the Saturday matinee.
Frank Flohn, manager of the Colony in
Livingston, ran kiddy matinees diu-ing spring
vacation .
was doing spectacularly
at the Regent in Elizabeth, on authority of
Manager Ed Kane. It was in its second week.
Warner at Erie Observes
Its 25th Anniversary
ERIE, PA.—The Warner Theatre celebrated
its 25th anniversary this week with a record
of four managers in all that time: Jim Totman,
Ken Grimes, Henry Rastetter and Bob
Bowman.
Members of the industry recall that "everybody
who was anybody" in Erie attended
the grand opening as guests of the Harry M..
Major Albert and Jack L. Warner, back in
1931. John H. Harris, at that time zone
manager for the Warner circuit, was present
as were Dan Michalove, Thomas J. Fordham
and Lou Brager. circuit executives. The
opening program featured Bernie Armstrong,
from the Pittsburgh Warner Theatre, as
guest organist, and the film offering was "The
Millionaire,"
The Warner Theatre, center of Erie's entertainment
life for 25 years, has staged
dances in its lobby, basketball has been
played on its stage. Cinemascope and stereophonic
sound were innovations of recent
years, many famous stage personalities have
appeared here in person. The theatre, which
cost $l'j million dollars, seats 3,000.
PL.^QIIE TO ROSEN—Samuel Ro.sen,
left, executive vice-president of Stanley
Warner Cinerama Corp., receives a plaque
from Col. Malcolm C. Hay, president of
the United Nations Ass'n of Pittsburffh,
which sponsored the premiere of the
third Cinerama production, "Seven Wonders
of the World," at the Warner Theatre,
April 19. SW Cinerama executives
from New York were B. F. Kranze, Lester
B. Isaac, Clifford E. Giesseman, Harry
Goldberg and Everett C. Callow.
Piltsburgh 20lh-Fox
Opens New Home
PITTSBURGH—The newly constructed one
and a half story 20th-Pox building was opened
this week at 1723-25 Boulevard of the Allies,
immediately next door to the quarters this
company had occupied for many years.
Executive and sales offices are in the front,
facing the booking counters in the general
office. In the rear is the shipping and inspection
departments. On the second floor
is a large screening room, not as yet equipped,
which will feature a 22-foot widescreen and
stereophonic sound with nine spaced speakers.
Restrooms are on the second floor. The
building is air conditioned.
Nat C. Rosen, branch manager, hosted
friends in the industry this week and he invites
inspection of the new film exchange
building. Visitors included Martin Moskowitz,
eastern sales manager, and his assistant Seymour
Cohen; Abe Dickstein, Atlantic district
manager, and Clarence A. Hill, manager of
exchange operations.
PHILADELPHIA
publicists for "The Man in the Gray Flannel
Suit" got a break in newspaper promotion
when District Attorney Victor H.
Blanc's photograph appeared in print to help
promote a show of men's fashions at the
Green Valley Country Club .
J.
Kasser, owner of Norman Automatic Vending
Co.. became an "extra" in "The Harder They
Fall" when he attended a national convention
in Chicago last November. Some
scenes for the picture were being filmed In
and around the Conrad Hilton Hotel, where
he was staying. He played the pai-t of a
newspaper reporter. Kasser donated his
check to charity.
George Beattie, William Goldman Theatres'
executive, was in Florida recuperating from
ulcer
trouble.
PITTSBURGH
"phe city of McKcpsporl collected only $15,-
583.28 in amusement taxes dtu'ing 1955 . . .
Joe Birocco, Clarion exhibitor, is in his second
year as a student at Clarion State Teachers
College ... Eli Lagoze, formerly of the
Philadelphia branch, is the new main line
salesman here for 20th-Fox .
Mae,
daughter of the Joe Freemans iSW Johnstown
manager), and naval Lt. Edward Barr
Uhler, Annapolis graduate from Baton Rouge,
La., were married in New York . . . Harry
Martin, Oakland district confection store
owner, recently leased and reopened the Penn
Theatre, West Tarentum, formerly operated
by Tom Zaimes, Homestead restaurant owner.
.
.
Bill Manscll, Warner district manager, held
down the exchange here for several days
while Jack Kalmenson vacationed in Las
Vegas. The company's May drive honors
Mansell .
Stern, head of As.sociated
circuit, hospitalized for several months, was
expected home soon Theatre.
McKeesport, presented a midnight rock and
roll stage show April 19 . .
Stanley Warner
circuit entered protests with the PUC here
regarding ESCO's proposed increase in film
delivery
rates.
Mrs. Ernest Stern, whose husband is general
manager of the Associated circuit, appeared
in the Rodef Shalom Sisterhood Templayers'
annual show^ Thursday evening in J. Leonard
Levy Hall here .
"The Come On" and
"The Toughest Man Alive" went out to a
number of indoor and outdoor theatres in
first run multiple exhibitions ... We previewed
the new^ concession building at the
Maple Drive-In on Route 30. It is four times
larger than the original building and a
marked improvement in appearance, accommodations
and service, now cafeteriadesigned
for two lanes of traffic.
Kay Boyle, 65, ticket salesman at the
Gardens since 1935 and at Forbes Field since
1939. died at his East End home after suffering
a heart attack . . . Harry Thomas announced
that the Police Circus will return to
Forbes Field July 12-14 . . . Jefferson Borough.
Allegheny County, collected $14,945.27 in
amusement taxes during 1955 . . .
John
Groves, Duquesne popcorn and concession distributor,
looks to a record year as drive-in
theatre owners and his other accounts are
optimistic regarding the outdoor season.
Pittsburgh Shop District
To Be Built Near Airers
PITTSBURGH—North Versailles Township
commissioners gave the green light to a $5,-
000,000 shopping center on Route 30, a halfmile
east of the Westinghouse bridge, near
the Greater Pittsburgh Drive-In, where a
second outdoor theatre is in construction for
Joe Wan-en.
There will be about 35 shops and parking
faculties for about 1.50O autos.
Bttttf Th.r E.w
SAM FINEBERG
TOM McCLEARY
JIM ALEXANDER
84 Von Broom Street
PITTSBURGH 19, PA.
Phone EXpfBM 1-0777
• Htw". Your E«tHp«Mt
BOXOFFICE
:
28, 1956

. . Louis
:
April
B/?04DW>\y
•yhomas F. O'Neil, chairman of the board of
directors of RKO Teleradio Pictures, went to
the coast April 24 for a brief visit to the RKO
Studio and the Mutual Don Lee Broadcasting
System, both divisions of the company.
He returned to New York Friday (27).
William Nutt, RKO west coast story editor,
al.so went to Hollywood April 23 after home
office conferences with Don Moore, eastern
story head . . . James R, Velde, general sales
manager of United Artists, got back, to the
home office April 23 from Toronto and left
again April 25 for Philadelphia with Milton
E. Cohen, eastern and southern division manager,
for a two-day meeting . . . Sanford
Weiner, general sales manager of Continental
Distributing, went to Chicago April 24 to set
up openings of "The Ladykillers" . . . Seymour
Schussel, eastern division manager for IFE,
went to Washington the same day for meetings
with exhibitors.
Alex Harrison, 20th Century-Fox general
sales manager, got back from a Toronto visit.
Also at 20th-Fox, Earl Wingart, merchandising
manager, returned from a two-week trip
to Florida and Harold Rand, trade press
contact, went to Bermuda for a short vacation.
Harold's a.ssistant, Claude Baruch, will
be married Sunday (29) to Susan Kaufman at
the Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun Synagogue
after which the couple will honeymoon
in Florida. Another wedding the same day
will be that of Mary Price, secretary to Mort
Nathanson, United Artist.s publicity manager,
who will be married to Samuel Greenblatt at
the Ambassador Hotel. The couple will honeymoon
in Bermuda. Alan Bader, tradepress
contact for RKO, accompanied Nicole Maurey,
star of "The Bold and the Brave," to Canada
to publicize the Montreal openings next week.
Max E. Youngstein, vice-president of
United Ai-tists, flew to Europe to conduct a
series of conferences in Paris. Rome and
Madrid. He will meet with Charles Smadja,
vice-president in charge of European production;
Francis M. Winikus, executive assistant
to Youngstein, and Ben Halpern,
manager of advertising and publicity for
Europe and the Middle East . Lober,
general manager of UA's foreign department,
flew to Bogota as the first stop on a tour of
the Central and South America offices , . .
Others departing for Europe: Philip Gerard,
Universal eastern publicity manager, on
publicity plans for "Interlude," which will be
made in Munich in June, and Lillian Gerard,
vice-pre.sident of the Paris Theatre, who left
the same day to attend the Cannes Film
Festival.
Also Europe-bound: Mark Robson, who will
direct "The Little Hut" starring Ava Gardner,
for MGM; Charles Boyer, William Perlberg,
Paramount producer-director of "The Proud
and Profane," and Elsa Maxwell, who sailed
on the United States: Lowell Thomas, to
London to start production of the fourth
Cinerama feature, accompanied by Otto
Lang, who will direct; J. J. Cohn, MGM
studio executive, to London; William Snyder,
pr&sident of Rembrandt Films, to Paris and
Catuies: Henry Henig.son, to London on
special assignment for MGM, and Lawrence
Weingarten, MGM studio executive and producer,
to Paris.
Arrivals in New York from Hollywood:
William Wylo.-, producer-director of Allied
Artists "Friendly Persuasion": Robert Swink,
film editor on the picture, and Gary Cooper,
star of the AA film, who will promote the
picture in the East before leaving for Europe
April 30 to make a picture for Billy Wilder;
Henry Ginsberg, producer of "Giant" for
Warner Bros., who came in for preliminary
exploitation and advertising plans; Sal Mineo,
starred in Allied Artists' "Crime in the
Streets," who returned to his home in New
York: Gigi Perreau, featured in "The Man
in the Gray Flannel Suit," here for a visit,
and Hedda Hopper.
Delegates of 55 Countries
To Attend U-I Meeting
NEW YORK—Delegates from 55
home office
countries,
sales heads and studio executives
will take part in the five-day Universal-International
"Global Conference" to start at the
Studio May 7 with 72 delegates present.
Overseas visitors will observe operations and
hear discussions of the company's distribution
policies as well as learning about production.
Alfred E. Daff, executive vice-president and
president of the foreign subsidiary, Universal-
International Films, will preside at the conference,
while sales meetings will be conducted
by Americo Aboaf, foreign general
manager.
Plans for further expansion of the foreign
mai-kets will be outlined. Tom-s of the studio
are included in the itinerary and the latest
product will be screened.
Nate J. Blumberg, chairman of the board;
Milton R. Rackmil, president; Edward Muhl.
vice-president in charge of production;
Chai-les J. Feldman, general sales manager
and vice-president, and Vice-President David
Lipton are scheduled to speak.
Attending from the foreign department in New York
will be Ben M, Cohn, assistant foreign manager
Felix Sommer, vice-president; Fortunat Baronat, director
of foreign publicity; Joseph Mazer, head of
the 16mm department; Norman Glucic, vice-president,
Charles Simonelli, eastern advertising and publicity
manager; Clark Romsay, executive assistant to Lip-
Gordon, production code odministrotor; Louis Blame,
head of the studio foreign department and Maurice
Myron, head of foreign transportation.
Foreign executives will include: K. N. Hargreaves,
loint ossistant managing director of JARFID, U-1
distributor in the United Kingdom; A. W. Perry, president
of Empire Universol Films, Ltd., U-I distributor
in Canada; Here Mclntyre, Australasian supervisor;
American super-visor; Arthur Doyle, Far East super-
Jordan, continental sales manager, and
rsholl. Middle Eurc and Scandir
Trans-Lux Stockholders
Re-elect All Directors
NEW YORK—The management's slate of
directors was re-elected without opposition at
the annual meeting Tlaursday (26) of Ti-ans-
Lux Corp. The board then re-elected all
officers.
The directors are: Chester Bland, Harry
Brandt, who owns 26.3 per cent of the 559,900
shares of common stock outstanding; Richard
Brandt, Robert Daine, Jay Emanuel, Percival
E. Furber. Aquila Giles, Eklison Rice, Jacob
Starr, Ralph Wiener and Milton C. Weisman.
The officers are: Furber, board chairman
and president; Albert D. Erickson, vice-president,
secretary and treasurer; Giles, vicepresident;
Herbert S. Keller and Raymond G.
Pugh, assistant secretaries and a.ssistant
treasurers.
Robert Mulligan, TV director, will pilot the
Alan Pakula production, "The Jim Piersall
Story," for Paramount.
Phillips Will Supervise
MGM Play Production
NEW YORK—MGM will enter the field
of theatrical production this fall and has
named Sidney Phillips
supervisor of its play- p'"
producing department W^
at the home office in
New York. Phillips ha.s
been with MGM for
many years as a contact
between the com-
pany and theatrical
producers.
Eighteen years ago,
MGM backed productions
of Sam Harris
and Max Gordon and
recently the company Sidney Phillips
acquired the film rights to "The Teahouse
of the August Moon" in a pre-production
deal. Affiliation with other producers will be
sought, according to Phillips, who said that
MGM has an arrangement with Gilbert
Miller for the New York production of the
London stage success, "The Reluctant Debutante,"
which will open at the Henry Miller
Theatre October 10.
Loew's Names Silverstein
Liaison With Producers
NEW YORK—Maurice Silversteni, m
chame cil tii^tiitaution for Central and South
^)BftP»4 "
.
^ ^ America for Loew's
International Co., has
•
] \, been named to act as
liaison with the independent
producers
whose pictures will be
released by MGM, according
to Arthur M.
Loew, president of
Loew's MGM.
who will
Silverstein.
headquarter at 1540
A
Broadway. New York
Maurice Silverstein
Qj^y^ ^.^^^ initiate new
package deals with independent producers
as well as supervise those contracts already
entered
into.
Nat Rudich Named As Aide
To Mort Nathanson at UA
NEW YORK—Nat Rudich has been named
assistant publicity manager of United Artists
by Roger H. Lewis,
national director of
advertising, publicity
and exploitation. He
has been radio-TV
contact for the com- '^. —
pany since 1953.
Rudich will work
with Mort Nathanson.
publicity manager, on
national supervision of
magazine, newspaper,
television and syndicate
^A
planting.
From 1944 to 1946 ^at Rudich
Rudich staged shows for WABD. DuMont
station. He also was TV consultant for Columbia
Pictures and program director for
WNYC.
Gene Kelly has the male starring role
Sol C. Siegel's production, "Les Girls," i
MGM film.
jt
BOXOFFICE
;
28, 1956

: April
. . Two
. . . Jack
. . Tap
BUFFALO
Xl/ith more than 10,000 tickeUs sold and -six
organizations signed as sponsors of Melody
Fair's forthcoming musical tent shows in
Wurlitzer Park, North Tonawanda, Pi-oducer
Lewis T. Fisher says: "Tlie western New York
theatre isn't dead or even ailing. Audiences
are not only available, they ai-e foresighted
and energetic. It will be necessary to open
permanent offices at the theatre early in May
though our premiere date is June 16 when
the curtain rises on 'Plain and Fancy.'
Melody Fair has temporai-y quarters now handling
ticket sales and reservations in the Tiemont
building. North Tonawanda. The six
arena-style musical comedies to be presented
this summer will include "The King and I,"
"Wish you Were Here," "Call Me Madam,"
"Kismet" and "South Pacific."
White Cloud. Mohawk Indian stuntman in
Hollywood for many years, and Lili, Iroquois
maiden and his assistant in a ballyhoo tour
in western New York in behalf of "Mohawk,"
which is having a simultaneous world premiere
in many cities and towns of New York state,
got a lot of radio, TV and newspaper publicity
for the 20th-Fox opus while they were in
Buffalo. In the course of an interview w'ith
.\i-dis Smith, drama editor of the Buffalo
Evening New.s, White Cloud declared that he
entered motion pictm-es as stuntman as a
blond, named Pauline. In closeups Pauline
was Pearl White, but her slim cliff-hanging
or airplane dangling figure very often was
White Cloud in a blonde wig. Whitecloud,
who has been risking his neck as a stuntman
for some 40 years, is staging a knife-throwing
act on his present tour in behalf of "Mohawk,"
outlining the figure of Lili with knives thrown
at her as she stands against an oak boai-d.
The Buffalo Scholastic Legion of Decency
has awarded a film citation to "Carousel." now
in its fourth week at the Centm-y Theatre.
The picture is being promoted in all Catholic
schools of the diocese, according to Grace
Downing, legion secretary, and much to the
satisfaction of General Manager Robert T.
Mur-phy of the Century.
Dipson Theatres of Batavia. N. Y., has taken
over the operation of the Hornell Drive-In
on a lease from the company headed by Harry
Berkson of Buffalo. The Avenue Drive-In
Theatre Corp. of Buffalo, of which Berkson is
the head, has taken over the Boulevard Drive-
In on the Niagara Falls boulevard in Wheatfield
. . . Schine Theatres has given up the
lease on the Rialto Theatre in East Rochester
and Harold Dykert. owner of the building,
has leased the hoase to James L. Russell.
Following a run of 16 weeks of "Guys and
Dolls." the Cinema in downtown Buffalo has
gone back to its regular policy of showing imusual
pictures from this country and abroad.
The house also has gone back to its regular
admission scale, matinees, 60 cents and evenings
90 cents. The current attraction is
"Doctor at Sea" .
firefighters were
felled by smoke while battling a two-alarm
fire at the Roxy Theatre. The fii-e caused
$20,000 damage to the balcony, projection
booth and second floor of the Basil circuit
community house. The cause of the blaze
was not determined, but the arson .squad speculated
that a cigaret might have been discarded
in the balcony. The fii'st alarm was
sent in at 12:16 a.m.. about three-quaiters
of an hour after the theatre's last show ended.
Foundation Organizers
Peter (J. Becker. William Kaikin and
Mrs. Harvey Kice who have organized
Foundation Theatre Co. and leased the
Krlanger. Buffalo's famed legitimate theatre.
The Foundation Theatre Co., which will
the local operate Erlanger, legitimate house
recently sold by Dipson Theatres to Ike Gordon
of Rochester, has put 5.000 shares of
nonvoting stock on sale. Incorporation papers
have been signed by Peter G. Becker, who
will manage the theatre; William R. Raikin.
general counsel, and Mrs. Harvey M. Rice,
director. They will hold the 100 voting shares
in the nonprofit foundation. Money from
selling nonvoting stock at $75 a share will
go into a fund for guarantees to producers of
plays and musical comedies and for improving
the Erlanger, they said. Only one share
will be sold to a person. Stockholders will
have preference in choice of seats when subscriptions
for plays are opened. Organization
of the foundation began when Dipson sold
the house to Gordon, who planned to raze it
for a parking lot.
Deputy Commissioner William C. Sclu-eiber
estimated damage at $15,000 to the two-story
brick building and $5,000 to the contents.
Flames, starting in the balcony seats, swept
upwai-d to a storage room, raced next to the
projection booth and then into an office. Firefighters
had to rip out a metal ceiling to
reach them.
Bill Shirley, exploiteer. is in Canada working
on the advance campaign for "Oklahoma!"
which started this week at the Tivoli in
ChUdren in Buffalo and the
Toronto . . .
suburbs are watching more than 85 different
television programs each week which run
from 8 a.m. until 11 p.m. This information
was compiled, says the Buffalo Evening News,
as the result of questionnaires sent in by 200
area pai-ents regarding their children's T'V
viewing habits. The progi-ams listed most
often as "good" and "excellent" by the parents
are Captain Kangaroo. Lassie. Robin Hood,
Disneyland and Mickey Mouse Club. The
parents praised all five for their educational
value and in respect to Captain Kangaroo,
they also expressed approval of "the nice
language." The parents also had praise for
I Remember Mama and its pictm-e of family
life.
Monty Schwam of the 20th-Fox home office
exploitation forces was in Buffalo and western
New York with White Cloud and Lili, the two
Indians touring the state in behalf of "Mohawk."
Monty is a compai-ative newcomer
in the industry . . . Billy Keaton, past chief
barker of Variety Tent 7. and his wife Reggie
have started their tenth year on a highly
successful Mr. and Mrs. radio show. They now
broadcast each morning at 9 from WXRA
in Kenmore . Taplln has wound up
his .seven-year career as a disk Jockey on
WEBR, the Buffalo Courler-Expre.ss station,
and has started his own advertising agency
downstate in the Ithaca-Blnghamton-Elmlra
area.
In connection with "The Swan" at Shea's
Buffalo. Eddie Meade, ad-pub chief, put over
a striking beauty ad, featuring "the coiffure
of a princess," as worn by Grace Kelly in
. . . Phil Todaro, former
the MGM opus
Buffalo theatre manager and now known as
WXRA's Hernando, the teenagers DeeJee.
presented his Hideaway Horror Show the
other night in the Kenmore, using no other
advertising than his 2:30-4:30 radio stint.
Phil is booking a number of "horror" films,
including "The Ape," "Revenge of the Zombies"
and "Fear."
The board of directors of Foundation Theatre,
which was formed to retain legitimate
attractions in Buffalo on the stage of the
Erlanger Theatre, has appointed four additional
members to the foundation's advisory
council. They are Mrs. Winifred E. Corey,
Darwin R. Martin, Mi-s. Brayman Pomeroy
and F. Hammond Kirk. The directors will
meet soon to map plans for a fund campaign
Mundstuk. chaii-man of the Vai'iety
Club's raffle book campaign, has sent out a
communication jacking up the guys and dolls
of Tent 7 to get more action on the disposal
of the books. Assisting Jack in the campaign
are Mrs. Nina Lux, wife of
the chief barker,
Elmer F. Lux; Jack Chinell, manager of RKO;
Mrs. Gert Bleich and Clint LaFlamme, major
domo of Tent 7.
SYRACUSE
The North, DeWitt and Kallet drive-ins are
open following a winter which set an alltime
snow record. Only the Southside Salina
Drive-In still is closed. Herbie Slotnick, who
has set the opening of the new Lakeshore
Drive-In. is having trouble with flood waters
at the site. Jokesters offer him rowboats for
a row-in theatre.
Ralph Stitt
of Schine's Eckel has a miniature
log cabin built in the theatre lobby in
preparation for the world premiere May 2 of
"Mohawk." about the Indians of the Mohawk
Valley. Chief 'Whitecloud and Lih. members
of the cast, will be in Syracu.se for a ceremonial
at the Onondaga Indian Reservation
Sunday . . . Sam Oilman, manager of Loew's
State, has given a white sw-an to the Burnet
Park Zoo and was pictured in the new.spaper
with Parks Commissioner William Barry. He
was inspii-ed. of course, by "The Swan." which
opened at Loew's right after the Kelly-
Rainier wedding.
A Grace Kelly (Princess Alexandra) hairdo,
like hers in "The Swan," is being featured at
local beauty salons. Promoting interest in the
film is Steve Perozzi of the MGM Buffalo
office.
Bach Joins IFE in Buffalo
NEW YORK—Rudolf Bach has been named
sales representative for IFE Releasing Corp.
in Buffalo and Pittsburgh with headquaiters
in Buffalo by Marmy Reiner, general sales
manager. Bach succeeds Lou Lieser, who resigned.
Bach has been sales representative for
Allied Artists in Buffalo and Albany.
BOXOFFICE
:
28, 1956
33

. . Halas
^(mcUm ^e^iMt
/"•hanceUaor Harold MacMillan turned
down the trade's case for a substantial
cut in the entertainment tax by eschewing
any reference to tax in his budget statement.
The All Industries Tax Committee,
which was responsible for the tax relief campaign,
is preparing plans to secure some concessions
during the Committee stage of the
finance bill. The task will not be easy.
Treasury statistics show that the Chancellor
anticipates no less than £39.250,000 from tax
revenue during 1956-57 compared with £39,-
518,000 for the current year. These figm-es are
significant. As long as the Industry can produce
this amount of revenue Chancellor Mac-
Millan will hang on tight to his veritable
milch cow.
The Minister may, however, allow the industry
to secure some relief provided that the
public is prepared to pay for it by an increase
in seat prices. It would not be impossible
for MacMillan to follow his silence
on entertainment tax with some undercover
talks with the industry whereby in exchange
for putting up seat prices by one penny the
exhibitors would get say a halfpenny, the producei-s
a farthing and the Ti-easury a farthing.
This is the only way the trade is
likely to get any relief, even if in doing so
MacMillan would hit the small independent
exhibitor, whose case for relief is strongest.
On the other hand, students of the Treasury
policy will recall that these same tactics:
silence on tax in the 1950-51 budget speech
followed by an increase in seat prices negotiated
during the last days of the Committee
stage of the finance bill, ultimately led the
exhibitors to "voluntarily" accepting the Eady
scheme. They were in fact, panicked into
endorsing an increase in seat prices after
Chancellor Gaitskill had prepared the way
by appearing to turn down all other requests
for tax relief.
The British trade last week had the opportunity
of viewing Republic's anamorphic
lens system, Naturama. A demonstration held
at the Hammer Theatre using Vidoscope lens
was attended by leading exhibitors throughout
the country—the date had been fixed to
tie in with the monthly general meeting of
the Cinematograph Exhibitors Ass'n. Tlie
high spot of the demonstration was a pilot
film introduced by Herbert J. Yates, giving
advanced details of .some of the company's
productions available in this 2.35 ratio. Tliey
included "The Maverick Queen," starring Barbara
Stanwyck and Scott Brady, and "Lisbon,"
starring Ray Milland and Maureen
O'Hara. On hand to answer questions was
Reggie Ai'mour, Republic's executive vicepresident
in charge of foreign operations.
all
General verdict; Naturama is a dual
lens system compatible with other widescreen
presentation methods. The color and
clarity of background detail was quite impressive
and the over-all picture quality equal
to anything the trade has seen prior to Cinemascope
55.
By ANTHONY GRUNER
The Kine Weekly last week published an
interesting survey on the percentage of films
made in Britain with American money. The
journal analyzed 83 feature films in the
editing stage or on the studio floor. Twentysix
of them had been made with British
money and 17 partly or wholly with American
finance. Sixteen companies were involved
in the survey. Five of them—Columbia,
MGM, RKO, Fox and Warners—were responsible
for 12 out of the 17 Anglo U. S.
productions. The remaining five productions
were divided as follows: Independent British
Lion, one partly financed by America; Eros
and Exclusive, two each. Among the 26
J. British productions Arthur Rank had
eight: British Lion, six: Anglo Amalgamated,
two: Eros, two; Grand National, one; Independent
British Film Distributors, two,
and Renown, one. What did the survey
prove? The amount of American influence
and money in U. K. film industry has not
hindered, but increased the production targets
of British film companies.
Stephen Bosustow, president of United
Productions of America, and Ernest Scan-
Ion, vice-president and treasurer, have announced
plans to set up a London office for
UPA. A new company wiil be formed, UPA
Pictures, Ltd.. and will be staffed almost entirely
with British personnel. Bosustow said
that he intended making advertising films
over here for cinemas and television. UPA
Pictures also will go in for music publishing
and merchandising on the lines already
started in the U. S. To begin with, his company
was not looking for big profits, but
merely a chance to break even.
Betty Box and Ralph Thomas have signed
a conU-act to produce and direct ten films
for the Rank Organization. This follows
the success of the team responsible for some
of the most popular boxoffice British films,
including "Doctor in the House" and "Doctor
at Sea." Their first film under the new contract
will be "Checkpoint" with Anthony
Steel, Stanley Baker and James Robertson
Justice. Meanwhile, in Britain at least, the
ever-faithful supporters of the "Doctor" series
will be pleased to know that Betty Box
and Ralph Thomas will make "Doctor at
Large," starring Dirk
News in brief; Two Hollywood artists appeared
live before a paying audience last
week—Dorothy Dandridge and Howard Keel.
Keel, the MGM singing star, who held the
stage at the London Palladium for 40 minutes,
wowed everyone with his artistry, received
ecstatic reviews from the press and
played to packed house during all his performances.
Dorothy Dandridge, appearing at
the Savoy Hotel, drew poor reviews and only
fair audiences despite excellent publicity
coverage prior to her debut. Unfortunately
most people had forgotten that the star of
the 20th-Fox picture, "Carmen Jones," had
had her voice dubbed by Marilyn Home and
the general verdict was "a disappointing performance"
. and Batchelor have been
chosen to represent the British cartoon industry
at the Cannes Film Festival with these
five cartoons; "Animal Farm," George Orwell's
story; "To Your Health." a film made
for the World Health Organization; "Power
to Fly"; "Moving Spirit," stories dealing with
the histories of flying and horseless carriages
respectively, and "Down a Long Way."
Goldenson Sees Business
Good in Second Quarter
NEW YORK—Consolidated net earnings
of American Broadcasting-Paramount Theatres
were up 34 per cent to $2,570,000 for
the first quarter and Leonard H. Goldenson
predicts good boxoffice receipts for theatres
during the next four months as a result of
release of a number of high quality pictures.
Among these he names "The Searchers,"
with John Wayne, Alfred Hitchcock's "The
Man Who Knew Too Much," with James
Stewart; "The Swan," with Grace Kelly and
Alec Guinness; "The Man in the Gray
Flannel Suit," with Gregory Peck; "The King
and I." with Yul Brynner; "The Proud and
the Profane," starring William Holden and
Deborah Kerr; "Alexander the Great," with
Richard Burton and Fredric March; "The
Eddie Duchm Story," with Tyrone Power and
Kim Novak; "Moby Dick," with Gregory Peck
and "Ti-apeze," starring Burt Lancaster.
Goldenson says there is increasing evidence
of progress toward an even flow of releases
and this should help theatre business, particularly
in the second quarter.
New York, Buffalo, Omaha
Lead in UA Sales Drive
NEW YORK—New York, Buffalo and
Omaha exchanges were the leaders when the
first lap of the United Artists fifth anniversary
sales drive ended Wednesday (25).
according to William J. Heineman, distribution
vice-president, and James R. Velde,
general sales manager, co-captains of the
drive.
The exchanges are headed, respectively, by
Joseph Sugar, Stanley Kositsky and David
McLucas. They were being hard pressed by
San Francisco, Cleveland and Montreal as
the second lap got under way.
The drive was launched to honor the
present UA management. Since its inception,
they have become sole owners of the company.
Cash awards total $50,000.
Denmark Yields to MPEA,
Then Revives Dispute
NEW YORK—The Motion Picture
Export
Ass'n dispute with Danish exhibitors was on
an off-again-on-again basis Tuesday (24). G.
Griffith Johnson. MPEA vice-president,
arrived then from Copenhagen with a signed
agreement making all American imports
freely negotiable. A few hours later he received
a cable saying that some members of
the exhibitor group had repudiated it.
The MPEA stopped member company film
shipments to Denmark about a year ago because
of a 30 per cent ceiling on film rentals.
The embargo will continue.
Oscar Neu, William DeVry
On a Trip to Europe
NEW YORK—Oscar F. Neu. president of
Neumade Products Corp.. and William C.
DeVry, president of Paromel Electronics
CoiTJ. of Chicago, sailed on the Queen Mary
April 25 for a European business trip.
Neu and DeVry will visit England, Belgium,
Holland, Pi-ance, Germany, Switzerland, Italy,
Spain and Portugal to renew contacts with
dealer representatives in those areas. They
also will attend the Cannes Film Festival
and return to the U. S. in mid-June.
34 BOXOFFICE
:
: April 28, IS

HOLLYWOOD
HolWwood Office—Suite 219 at 6404 Holly i
PRODUCTION
ivcn Svcar, Western Manaoeri
CENTER
Pakistan-Made Film
To Premiere in Frisco
HOLLYWOOD—The first American film to
be made in Pakistan. MGM's "Bhowani
Junction," will be world-premiered May 17
at the Warfield in San Francisco. Starring
Ava Gardner and Stewart Granger, the romantic
drama was filmed in Cinemascope
and Eastman Color with Pandro S. Herman
producing and George Cukor as director. It
is based on a novel by John Masters.
Meantime another MGM entry, "Invitation
to the Dance." bowed Monday (16)
in Zurich,
Switzerland, with Gene Kelly, star and director,
present.
"Magic Fire," Republic's film biography of
composer Richard Wagner, was given its
U. S. premiere Fi-iday (27i at the Monroe
Theatre in Chicago. Produced and directed
by William Dieterle. and lensed on location
in Europe, it toplines Yvonne DeCarlo. Carlos
Thompson. Rita Gam and Alan Badel.
Beginning Monday (30). MGM will stage
all-industry screenings of "The Catered
Affair," starring Bette Davis. Ernest Borgnine
and Debbie Reynolds, at theatres in
exchange centers throughout the country.
Exhibitors, film buyers and bookers, circuit
operators and branch managers of all companies,
as well as press, TV and radio contacts,
are being invited to the showings.
"Mohawk," produced by Edward L. Alperson
for release through 20th-Fox. w'as worldpremiered
Tuesday (24) at the Mohawk Theatre
in Amsterdam, N. Y.
To Exchange With USC
HOLLYWOOD — A series of exchange
seminars between U-Ts talent workshop and
the drama department of the University of
Southern California has been formulated.
Under the plan, six members of the USC
group will be enrolled in the studio's talent
program, while at the same time six U-I
contractees will attend drama classes at the
university.
WB to Make UJA Film
HOLLYWOOD—Warner studio facilities
were made available for lensing of "The Last
Stop." a short subject for the upcoming
United Jewish Appeal. Produced by Jack M.
Warner and megged by Tom Gries. it features
George Montgomery, John Barrymore jr.,
Mala Powers. Fay Wray. James Dunn. Robert
Horton. Tommy Cook, Peter Leeds and
Tracey Roberts.
V-l Rushes Filming
Reincarnation Film
Hollywood— With a scheduled starting
date of IMonday (301, U-I is rushing into
production "I've Been Here Before,"
which capitalizes on the current widespread
interest in reincarnation. Jock
Mahoney has been set to star in the film,
to be produced by Howard Christie and
directed by Richard Bartlett. It concerns
a man who believes he is the reincarnation
of a World War I
fiver.
Ranger, Inc.. Distributes
$10,000 to Radio-TV Men
HOLLYWOOD — Results of the Lone
Ranger's 23rd anniversary $10,000 cash award
contest for radio-TV station promotion managers
were disclosed by Jack Wrather, president
of The Lone Ranger. Inc. The three
top whinners were Jack W. Schumacher of
WICU-TV in Erie, Pa., Don Beedle, KVTV.
Sioux City, Iowa, and Chuck Olson, WREX-
TV, Rockford, 111.
The contest, which began January 10 and
ended March 15, was staged in conjunction
with the release of Warners' film, "The Lone
Ranger." It was sponsored by Warners,
General Mills, American Bakeries and the
Wrather organization.
Technicolor By Mail
HOLLYWOOD — Direct mail processing
service for amateur users of 35mm Kodachrome
film will be offered by Technicolor,
t>eginning next month, at which time the
company will begin processing such .stock. Dr.
Herbert T. Kalmus, president and general
manager, said the service will be available
through retail dealers and, in addition to
direct mail, a pickup .sei-vice will be offered for
customers who so prefer. Both direct mall
and pickup orders will be distributed to retailers
by photo finishers.
MGM Will Release Four
During May and June
HollvTvood—MGM will release four new
features and one reissue during May and
June.
Slated for May are "Gaby. " with Leslie
Caron, and "The Rack." starring Paul
Newman. In June the list includes
"Bhowani Junction," with .\va Gardner
and Stewart Granger; "The Catered .Affair,"
toplining Bette Davis, Ernest Borgnine
and Debbie Reynolds, and the rerelease.
".Vnnie Get Your Gun," starring
Betty Button and Howard Keel.
More Pay to TV Writers
In New Guild Compact
HOLLYWOOD — Increased minimum fees
and a higher percentage of rerun payments
are called for in a new basic agreement covering
freelance and staff writers in the telefilm
field, negotiations for which have been
concluded by Writers Guild of America with
the Alliance of Television Film Producers.
The pact, subject to final approval at an
east-west membership session of the WGA
May 17. is retroactive to Saturday (21 1 and
runs until Jan. 15, 1960. It is similar in most
respects to the WGA's recently inked basic
contract with the major companies' TV film
subsidiaries.
Members of ATFP have already approved
the contract. Meantime Independent TV
producers are being notified that the new
terms and provisions are being made effective
for them as well.
With the resignation of Harry Ackerman,
who has been in charge of -special projects,
the executive structure of CBS-TV has undergone
personnel changes headed by the
appointment of Jack Rayel, a program director
for the network, as Ackerman's succe.ssor.
Ackerman is organizing Ticonderoga
Productions, the output of which will become
the exclasive property of CBS.
Guy Delia Cioppa. vice-president in charge
of west coast programming for CBS radio,
has been switched to the TV branch as aide
to Alfred J. Scalpone, in chajge of network
programming emanating from Hollywood.
Pine-Thomas Productions will launch its
initial video venture Monday (30) when
filming begins on the pilot for a new series.
Outpost, based on operations of the U. S.
cavaU-y in frontier territory. Teleplay for the
first film was written by Martin Berkeley.
Screen Gems, Columbia's TV subsidiary,
inked William Bendix for the topline in
Four Yards, an entry in the Ford Theatre
series, produced by Joseph Hoffman.
A F&M Video Venture
HOLLYWOOD—Fanchon & Marco, theatre
circuit operator, has organized Fanchon &
Marco TV Co. in association with Judson Cox.
First series on the docket is Police Woman,
the pilot for which was penned by Norman
Reilly Raine, story editor for the new organization.
It is based on an idea by Frank
Butler and will go before the cajneras before
the month's end.
Japan gives promise of becoming one of
the biggest overseas markets for United States
films.
BOXOFFICE April 1956
35

:
'
: April
STUDIO PERSONNEUTIES
Blurbers
RKO Radio
staff promotions m Mervin Houser's department
found MILT HOWE named assrstant publicity director
and PHIL GERSDORF drawing the post of editorial
Cleffers
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
RKO Radio
Choreographer NICK CASTLE will stage
jutines in "Bundle of Joy."
Loanouts
Universal-International
»ith in Debbie Reynolds "Tammy," Technicol'
ImemaScope production which Joseph Pevney
negging for Producer Ross Hunter.
Meggers
Allied Artists
Executive Producer Walter Mirisch bool

:
April
appointed head of the studio mokoup
deportment.
WALTER HOLSCHER was ossigned <
lit art
director on the Edmund Grainger product Bundle
Universal-International
from MGM, ARTHUR E. ARLING
d
photograph Tammy "
Title
Changes
Allied Artists
Mother Sir to NAVY WIFE.
Hall Barllett Joins
Jeff Chandler Unit
HOLLYWOOD—Pioduccr-writ^T Hall Bartlett
has become associated with Jeff Chandler
in the latter's independent, unit, Earlmar Productions,
for which he has scripted and will
produce "Drango." a post-Civil War action
drama, as a Chandler starrer. Details of the
project, first in a group of six Earlmar features
for United Artists release, were discussed
by Bartlett and Chandler at a Wednesday i25i
press conference.
"Drango." based on an original by Bartlett,
will be directed by Jules Bricken. active heretofore
as a stage and TV megaphonist. The
cinematographer will be James Wong Howe
and the musicaJ score will be written by Elmer
Benistein. Location shooting in Louisiana is
.slated to begin in June.
Chandler said the pictiu-e will be completed
in time to go into distribution before the end
of the year and that he will undertake personal
appearance tours in connection with its
bookings. It will be in Technicolor and in
.some widescreen process not yet selected. The
actor, who formed Earlmar in association with
his agent. Meyer Mishkin, also is under nonexclusive
contract to Universal-International,
for which studio he recently completed "Toy
Tiger" and "Away All Boats."
It was indicated that the Bartlett-Chandler
association, at present limited to "Drango,"
may be extended to include other pictures.
Also on the Earlmar docket is "Lincoln Mc-
Keever," to be made from a Maxwell Shane
screenplay based on the book by Eleazar
Lipsky about a frontier lawyer. Rights to
this property were recently acquired from
Pine-Thomas-Shane Productions.
Trial to Be in July
HOLLYWOOD—A mid-July trial
date was
scheduled in superior court for the $250,000
breach of contract suit lodged by UTiter
David Chandler against telefilm producer Hal
Roach jr. The litigation involves rights,
monies and damages which the plaintiff
alleges are due him In connection with the
Public Defender TV series produced by Roach.
At Chicago NCCJ Parley
HOLLYWOOD — Robert Young, star of
Screen Gems' Father Knows Best telefilm
series, was emcee at the annual meeting of
the National Conference of Christians and
Jews, beginning Friday (20) in Chicago. Also
there was Eugene B. Rodney, who produces
the series for Columbia's TV subsidiary.
Use German and Russian Rawstock
The West German motion picture industry
used about 27.500.000 meters of rawstock film
supplied by her manufacturers in 1954 and
about 20.000.000 meters from the Soviet zone
of Germany.
MANGING
from 10 to 13
millions of dollars
is the estimated final cast of
Cecil B. DeMille's forthcoming "The
Ten Commandments," While filmdom's railbirds
thus are at variance regarding what
the ultimate investment will entail—give or
take a mere three millions—there can be no
doubt on one point: The picture will finish
as the most costly ever produced.
Assuming, as most everyone does, that it
to be C. B.'s all-time greatest—and that covers
a multitude of milestone accomplishments
a plethora of smart and intense preselling is
going to be necessary for the opus to enjoy, in
today's uncertain market, grosses of sufficient
vastness to assure the desired and deserved
return of profits on so astronomical an investment.
That DeMille is cognizant of such need and
is prepared to meet it head-on is indicated
by the recent announcement that special
"news bureaus" have been established on
both the east and west coasts, fully staffed
to service every conceivable outlet with news,
art, features and what-have-you? as a means
of bringing attention to the upcoming Paramount
release. On the Hollywood front, the
"news bureau" is being staffed by Al Finestone.
Ann del Valle, Frank Friedrichsen and
Paul Simqu, all veterans of the spacesnatching
field, and is headquartered on the Paramount
lot—whence a steady stream of material
already is emanating.
Apparently, then, if every possible medium
for the dissemination of news about the movie
doesn't know all about "TTC" before it goes
into release this November, it won't be because
sufficient data and detail are not available.
And with Finestone masterminding the
operation, the details are especially certain.
A recent trade story from the "bureau," which
rated no more than a stick of type anywhere,
devoted approximately 700 words to the announcement
that De>IiUe Is planning, as his
next for Paramount, a musical version of "The
Buccaneer," which he filmed first in the
late
'SOs.
Another probable result of the "bureau's"
activities will be the launching of a head-tohead
contest between C. B. and Y. Frank
Freeman as to which w'ill win the doubtful
distinction of being Hollywood's mostphotographed
executive during 1956.
Ciu-rently. Spring St. bookies are making
C. B. an 8-to-5 favorite.
From the publicity director of Woman's
Home Companion, advance tearsheets of the
initial installment of still another profile of
Frank Sinatra, described as "the personal
story of the tender, tough guy who won't
" behave. .\bly written by Isabella Taves, the
is biographical material considerably more
flattering to Frankie Boy than any of the
many recently printed scries dealing with
his life, loves, vagaries, genesis and talents.
Nonetheless there is one passage therein that
Is
accords pause for thought, to wit: "And he
will carry to the grave a blind prejudice
against 'finks,' cops and newspapermen."
Which doesn't exactly square with the fa

Little Indian Detectives Help SE ATTLE
utb Vandalism at Tucson Alter
By AUDREY MAC HUNTER
rucsON, ARIZ.—-If you can't beat 'em,
Join 'em." This is one theatre manager's
;in.swer to the vandalism problem that is
plaguing drive-ins. The Biltmore Motor-Vu
is here conveniently located near a motel
center, which means extra dollars from
travelers, but a few blocks in another direction
there is a settlement of Yaqui Indians,
whose economy does not provide for
many theatre tickets. However, with the
theatre screen in plain sight of most of their
homes, there are always plenty of would-be
customers to crawl over the Motor-Vu fences.
This was the situation as Ralph Bradshaw
found it when he took over the management
three years ago. This, added to the usual
break-ins and speaker vandalism, was enough
to drive a good theatreman to another business,
pronto.
Before Bradshaw came to the Biltmore,
an armed guard had been kept on duty at all
times to patrol the grounds, with orders to
do what was necessary to scare the vandals
away. But Bradshaw changed all that in
one night when he saw the guard fire his
guii while chasing a small boy over a fence.
On the other side the boy's voice was heard
to call back:
"Shoot again, Meester, you meesed."
Needless to say Bradshaw got rid of the
guard and began working out a plan. He
patched all the weak places in the fences
except one. Next night he waited behind his
trap for his first visitor to appear. Soon a
small Yaqui crawled through the opening.
Bradshaw told the trapped youngster that he
was welcome to come in the front gate, but if
he persisted in breaking in the back, he was
in for trouble.
Next, Bradshaw provided a bench that
would hold 30 watchers, that is if they didn't
squirm too much. It did not take long for
the word to get around that there was a new
deal at the Motor-Vu. As in all groups, there
was a leader. Bradshaw would seek him out
whenever there were odd jobs around the
drive-in that the youngsters could do. He
found his little charges to be good workers
and appreciative as they cut and trimmed
grass or raked and picked up trash for muchneeded
spending money.
Soon Bradshaw's loyal little helpers saw
an opportunity to help their friend by being
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BOXOFFICE :
: April 28. 1956

:
April
Roundabout the Rockies
BV BOB WALKER.
rd Lebby, Warner Bros, salesman and a nice
little guy, was in western Colorado this
week on his first trip since he was hospitalized
last November. Ed had an ulcer
burst and it necessitated three major operations
and dozens of blood transfusions before
they finally got him on his feet. He was
£0 seriously ill that they gave him up for
some time, but he fooled them.
Melba and I had wanted to go see him last
time we were in Denver, but they said he was
too serious and there was little hope for him.
It made us just sick. Tuesday was Melba's
bii-thday and we were headed for Grand
Junction to buy her a new sewing machine.
Just as we were about to leave, the phone
rang and it was Ed. We were so tickled to
;ee him that we forgot about the trip and
spent the afternoon with him.
He sold film for 30 years and then retired
thinking he had enough in an annuity to
live on comfortably. Whamo! The inflation
trend took him in its backwater and he had
to go back to work. Now, he's been trying to
keep going with a gnawing ulcer until he
could get in another year and a half and be
eligible for social security. He dang near
got cheated out of the whole works, but God
wa.sn't ready for him yet. so he's all patched
up and says he can eat anything he wants
to fly low to make it quick.
Found the slump that has had me chewing
my nails was nothing to some of the stories
I heard along the route.
Much of what is wrong, I still think, is
due to idiocy in the ranks of exhibition.
Stopped in one isolated town where counting
chipmunks and everything else they can't
muster 800 souls. Albeit, there's nothing
else for folks to do but go to bed. always
I
wondered how the exhibitor there, who was
a friend of mine, ever made the nice showcase
he had pay its investment. Now there's
a nice little drive-in there, too, and if either
of them can make their overhead then he's
discovered a new formula for business that
should be universally shared.
Stopped in Price, Utah, a town of maybe
10,000, and that should give them an edge,
and had a short chat with Bill Webb and his
lovely little lady. They have a nice downtown
house and the town's original drive-in.
They were playing a couple of the biggest
marquee pinups of the year and I remarked
about how much such a combination would
cost me. Mrs. Bill said they were getting so
used to fantastic terms that they wouldn't
know what to do with anything priced less.
Then they told be about some terms that
left me gasping. Seemed impo.ssible for a
guy from Fruita to live with them.
They have a three-way bid going on that
would seem like suicide to most folks and
though Bill said it hurt plenty, he wasn't
down in the dumps like most folks would be.
He said that they had discovered they were
setting •nore h'j.ssnes.a out of product in the
r;-e.-or.t .Mrair-;„-le thin they'd ever believed
possible to drain out of the town.
Most of the drive-ins in the Salt Lake area
were having Easter openings, though there
were several we noticed still in mothballs,
and a few in the process of widening towers.
In some areas it would seem there are drivein
subdivisions in Ueu of housing projects,
as the cow farms just darn near take up all
the space that houses for patrons should be
occupying. Guess it's nice having it that way
if you can spread folks thin enough, but I
can't help thinking something's been overdone.
There were too many towns with shuttered
houses all along the route to make a guy
with a marginal operation, like mine has always
been, enjoy the travel as much as he
should. Anyway, since Fruita has become
almost solidly dotted with antennas I no
longer get those strange qualms in the solar
plexis as I ride through the forests of crazy
aluminum frameworks that have dotted the
Utah countryside these many years.
Idaho has many sections where I think the
populace must really be addle-brained, as
you see hundreds of houses that have monster
aerials atop lovely homes, and they have
more guywires and props on top of the
dwellings than you will find in a power sub-
for the first time in years, and that his eyes station.
Some of the tiny houses have aerials that
are about twice the size of his cut-down
stomach.
Melba and I made a fast trip up into Idaho
the first of the month to see her parents. I
must go 50 feet in the air and which are so
anchored that it is a wonder a good wind
with
doesn't take the entire roof off, along
thought I'd stop off oftener than I did and the TV enticer. What folks won't do to try
talk .shop, but weather was bad and we had to keep an honest man from eating as regularly
as he'd like!
Just had a couple of minutes to spend with
my friend George Fuller, who owns houses
in Wilder, Marsing and leases in Homedale,
Ida. George was most optimistic the last
time I visited him, but this time he was
feeling lower than I did when I left home.
Business in the area is largely dependent on
agriculture and livestock, and boy, it is on
the rocks, but real! George has a lovely
house in Marsing and had it closed, with
Wilder and Homedale holding classes only
part of the week. He said he'd lock them up
before he'd put in another winter businesswise
like last. He has a big transient labor
supply come in from below the border and
was looking forward to recouping his losses
when they arrived.
I came back to the grind feeling like I
didn't have all the troubles in the world and
ready to go to work again. A guy gets too
low once in a while and needs to get off
where he can get a better view of his own
situation.
Things picked up a little last weekend.
Had "The Creature With Atom Brain" doubled
with a pretty western that they forgot
to use a director on, and the combo was that
lost something I had been groping for to
break my jinx.
Popped 'em right back with "Tribute to a
Bad Man," filmed in God's country, Sunday,
Monday and Tuesday and it did good solid
business. Nothing like it would have done if
the TV station got bombed and the farmers
had some money instead of mortgages, but
I'd be content to settle for the kind of business
it did every week from here on until
the sheriff has his sale.
Gave them "Billy the Kid" as a followup
last night. Poor booking, but "Tribute" was
a hurry-up, as MGM dropped it in my lap
at the last minute, and who can say poor
booking either, when the "Kid," old as he
is. dragged in more business than we had
Sunday night with Mr. Cagney's newest.
Anyway, for a few days I can settle back
down and quit feeling mean and miserly.
Sure would like to see this national poll of
exhibitors come off and see them all answer.
Two-thirds of the guys that write me don't
belong to anything. So it seems to me like
we still need one organization that represents
the majority. If all the companies
would treat me like MGM does when it
comes to pricing and would do the same by all
exhibitors, and if the exhibitors would be as
fair in return, you'd about be out of anything
to
write editorials about.
I, for one, still don't want government
regulation. I can see where a fair trade law
would be good to stop ridiculous double-billing,
to stop 50-cent and buck nights and all
such suicidal pricing, to prohibit suggestive
and lewd art, but, looking it over, most of
the regulating would be on us and sometimes
I think most of our troubles are of our own
making.
I've been reading Rick Ricketson's book on
Theatre Management and, while much of it
is now out of date, I marvel at .some of the
things he said were so and that have now
been proven. He said if divorcement came,
we'd be in a muddle and describes just what
happened as being what would happen. No
sir, we don't need government regulation,
we just need to—all of us on both sides of
the fence—start practicing the Golden Rule
as though our lives depended on it. And, believe
me, I think they do if this business is
going to stay important.
Well, I've done it again, and this time without
even waiting for an answer. If your luck
holds, though, I can't possibly hold out more
than a couple more years at the rate my
overhead is eating up the profit, so you'll
be rid of me maybe sooner than you think.
Improved Motor-Vu Opens
BLACKFOOT, IDA.—Al Barott has opened
the Motor-Vu outdoor theatre here, with
several major improvements greeting the
new season's crowds. The snack bar has been
remodeled for self-service to speed up between-pictures
patrons. New seven-inch
speakers will give clearer voice tones and
new lighting will enable drivers to find their
parking places with greater ease.
C'Scope to Mountain Home, Ida.
MOUNTAIN HOME, IDA.—Expecting to
open the Motor Vu Drive-In here soon. Manager
J. A.
Devlin said that the con-
struction of an 86-foot CinemaScope screen
has made the open-air theatre completely
modern.
Academy PR Firm Quits
HOLLYWOOD—Mayer & O'Brien, public
relations counsel for the Academy of Motion
Picture Ai-ts and Sciences the last nine years,
has ended the contract. Howie Mayer said
the Academy turned down his request for a
doubling of his fee.
In South American theatres chiefly single
bills are played, with a few shorts to make
a two-hour program.
BOXOFFICE
:
28, 1956

. . . "The
. . . Charlie
. . Robert
. . Filmrow
. . Roy
. . Jack
Bakersfield Showman
James Banducci Dies
BAKERSFIELD, CALIF.—James Banducci,
owner of the River Theatre in North Balcersfield
and the Arvin and the Rancho theatres
in Arvin, 20 miles south of here, died
of a heart attack in a North Bakersfield
doctor's office recently. He was 56 years old.
He retired as an exhibitor and leased all
his theatres last March to relax and rest
on his extensive raiiching properties in nearby
Buttonwillow, where he was born June
3, 1899. He spent hi.s early life in the farming
community until 1939 w'hen he became
a partner in the Banducci-Lemucchi Theatre
Enterprises, which included the Granada,
Tejon, River and Rancho theatres. About
five years ago this partner.ship was dissolved
and Jim retained the River and Rancho, and
later built the Arvin. He operated all three
until last March.
He is survived by his wife Mary, a son
James jr., a daughter Doris, a brother Fred,
two grandchildren and his mother Teresa.
Among his many business interests. Banducci
was a partner in the development of
the Bakersfield Speed Bowl, a hotrod racetrack,
and in the development of the Northchester
Shopping Center near his home.
PORTLAND
n theatre party for school safety patron
members, teacher.s, parents and advisors
was held Wednesday (25) by Jack Harroun of
the 30th Avenue Theatre. He arranged a program
of a good feature, cartoons and an educational
short and had Johnny Carpenter,
member of the Portland traffic commission,
give a short address.
Guy Cherney, San Francisco singer and
Mercury recording star, is appearing at the
Amatos Supper Club. He sang the title tune
of "The Kentuckian," the Burt Lancaster
picture released last summer by United
Artists, and is being considered for the title
role in "The Buddy Clark Story," to be produced
by Armand Deutsch.
Martin M. Foster, Guild managing director,
flew in from San Francisco to check details
on the opening of the Guild Theatre, which
is being modernized. The theatre, an offthe-beaten
path located house, has what
might be considered an up-side-down setup,
but architects have turned this condition into
an advantage. A new entrance will lead into
a spacious behind-the-screen entrance and
lounge. Sound-proofed and decorated, the
new lounge will provide ample space for exhibits
and the between-program gathering
of patrons. The auditorium has undergone a
complete renovation, including a widescreen,
new carpeting and luxury seats, new overhead
fixtures and complete repainting. The
exterior of the theatre, still under construction,
will have a new boxoffice and outer
lobby and a huge marquee. Poster estimates
it will be at least three weeks before opening,
probably on May 18 with MGM's
"Gaby."
Buys at Orderville, Utah
ORDERVILLE. UTAH—The Valley Theatre
here recently changed hands when Mr. and
Mrs. Herber Covington sold out to William C.
Heaton of Orderville.
SAN FRANCISCO
Tohn K. .Suusa bou^lU nearly a block of undeveloped
property in downtown Oakland
for an estimated $900,000. The property is
located between Broadway and F^-anklin and
19th and 20th streets. It was sold to Sousa
by Fox West Coast Theatres . . . Richard
Egan served as honorary grand marshal of
the parade which climaxed the Festival of
Progress Week in commemoration of San
Francisco's 50th annivei-sary of the 1906 fire
and earthquake.
Lew Maren, Columbia exploiteer, was In
town working on "The Harder They Fall"
and "Jubal," scheduled for the Paramount
Swan," which opened at the Loew's
Warfield on Grace Kelly's wedding day, had
many well-wishers Billy Pardini, for
many years
. .
associated
.
with George Mann
theatres and more recently in the insiu-ance
business, died April 15. He was well known
to Filmi-owers and will be greatly missed.
Dudley Jorgenson, husband of Raye Telford
Jorgenson, secretary to Herman Wobber
of 20th-Fox, was recovering at St.
Luke's
hospital from a recent heart attack and expects
to be home shortly . . . Eddie Reed and
Gene Newman of 20th-Fox were out in the
territory, working like beavers to put the
next 13 weeks drive over successfully . . . Jack
Erickson, general manager at 20th-Fox, appeared
at the office one day with a very red
face, reports are it could have been Las
Vegas.
Naomi Spring, United Artists, was 111 for a
few days . Mitchum, movie actor,
w'as in town for prepublicity work on his nevv'
film, "Foreign Intrigue" . bachelor
Murray Gerson, sales manager of U-I, has
thrown in the tow-el. Murray will marry
Nancy Lachtman, U-I employe, on June 24
Gray, booker at United Ai'tists,
has acquired a cabin in the mountains. Every
weekend, where does Charlie go? To the cabin
in the mountains . . . Kenneth Sturgis, of
Walter G. Pi-eddey Co., has resigned . . . The
El Rancho at Sparks is installing magnetic
.sound.
Vern Sandow has leased from T&D the
Cedars Theatre at Nevada City. Sandow is
installing a widescreen and will run his theatre
seven nights a week . . . Visitors to the
Row included R. E. Degner, Winters, Winters;
Vic Carlson, Lux, North Sacramento; Rudy
Buchanan. Lakeside, Stalellne; B. B. Byard.
Garberville. GarbervlUe; R. B. Smith. Chowchilla,
ChowchlUa; Mrs. James Lemos. State,
Benicia . Cooper Theatres has taken
over the booking and buying for the Gait
at Gait as of May 1. The owner is Albert
Schauer.
The Showboat, Tracy. Principal Theatres,
will reopen following its winter closedown on
May 25 . . . The Vallejo at Gustine closes indefinitely
as of April 30. It Is a Roy Cooper
theatre . Allen, genial manager of
the Stage Door, once again has done a tremendously
fine job on promotion for the
opening of "Richard III" on April 26. Allen
arranged for a display in conjunction with
Sherman-Clay and in addition commLssioned
the Bay area artist &ni Young to do drawings
of the principals in the film. 'Young's
di-awlngs are now hanging in the theatre
lobby.
Directors Nominate Four
For Top Megging Honor
HOLLYWOOD—Four pictiffes have been
nominated by members of the Screen Directors
Guild for honors a.s the best-megged feature
in release dm-ing the fir.st quarter of 1956.
The candidates: "Alexander the Great," directed
by Robert Ro.s.sen, released by United
Artists; "Carousel," Henry King, 20th-Fox;
"Meet Me in Las Vegas," Roy Rowland, MGM;
"The Ti-ouble With Harry," Alfred Hitchcock.
Paramount.
Florence C of C Asks Long
To Rebuild Isis Theatre
FLORENCE. ARIZ.— Earl Crofford, pre.sident
of the Chamber of Commerce, has circulated
a petition addressed to Long Theatres,
requesting that the Isis Theatre which
burned recently be rebuilt in preference to
construction of a drive-in theatre. The petition,
bearing 61 signatures, has been submitted
to Louis Long who heads the theatre
corporation. Long has indicated he will attend
a meeting of the chamber in the near
future to discuss hLs plans.
FETE UA EXECUTIVES—James K. Velde, receiitlv appointed United Artists
general sales manager, and .\I Fitter, newly named western division manager, were
honored at an industry luncheon recently in San Francisco. Shown above, left to right:
Milie Naify, United California Theatres; Velde; George Mann, Mann Theatres; Fitter;
August Panero, Panero Theatre Co.; John C. Bowles, Bowles Theatres, and Ralph
Clark, UA west coast district manager.
BOXOFFICE
.
: April 28, 1956

. . . Happy
. . . Hugh
. . Leo
. .
. .
sparkling 200 Turned
Inby'JubarinLA
LOS ANGELES—Doldrum business was
pretty much the order of things on the local
first run rialto, the only sparkling trade being
done by "Jubal," with a strong 200 per cent in
its opening stanza, and which figure was
matched by the second week of "The Man in
Gray Flannel Suit."
(Average Is 100)
Chinese—The Man in the Groy Flonnel Suit
(20th-Fox), 2nd wk 200
Downtown Paramount ^Meet Me in Los Vegos
(MGM), 4th wk 85
Egyption United Artists Oklahoma! (Magna),
23rd '50
wk
Rey—Doctor 80
ot Seo (Rep), 3rd wk
Fine Potterns (UA), 4th
El
Arts— wk 60
Four Stor Goby (MGM), 3rd wk 130
Fox Wilshire Alexander the Great (UA), 4th wk.. 90
Hawaii, 1
Stole—The Swan (MGM) 20
Hillstreet Iris, Fox Beverly Never Soy Goodbye
(U-i); The World in My Corner (U-l) 90
Pontages The Seorlet Hour (Para), Jaguar
(Rep) 30
Paramount Hollywood The Court Jester (Para),
6th wk 90
Beverly—Picnic Warners 90
(Col), 9th wk
Warners Downtown, Wiltern, Fox Hollywood
(Col), Jubol Timetable (UA) 200
Warners Hollywood Cineroma Holiday (Cinerama),
23rd wk 150
'Gray Flannel Suit' A Hit
In Frisco Debut With 225
SAN FRANCISCO—The Fox walked away
with top honors with its opening 225 per cent
of "The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit." The
rest of the first run theatres rated average.
Fox The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit (20th-
Fox) 225
Golden Gate—The World in My Corner (U-l); Red
Sundown (U-l) 100
Poramount Anything 100
Goes (Poro), 2nd wk
St, Francis— Picnic (Col), 5th wk 100
United Artists—Alexonder the Great (UA), 3rd
wk 100
Worfield Meet Me in Los Vegas (MGM), 3rd wk,. 68
'Alexander' Shows Strength
In Seattle Opening
SEATTLE—"Alexander the Great" opened
at the Music Hall with a first week's gross of
190. Holding up well through its sixth week
at the Blue Mouse wa.s "I'll Cry Tomorrow,"
which chalked up a healthy 140.
Blue Mouse I'll Cry Tomorrow (MGM), 6th wk. 140
Music Box Diobolique (UMPO), 2nd wk 105
Music Hall Alexander the Great (UA) 190
Orpheum The Swon (MGM) 05
1
Lester Sansom Named
HOLLYWOOD — Allied Artists has appointed
Lester Samom, head of its editorial
department, to fill the company's post on the
board of directors of the Motion Picture Re-
,se;irrh Council. The berth was vacated
through the resignation of Richard HeernrM>ce.
AA executive, because of hus increased
uciiv'itif.s ;.t the studio.
LOS ANGELES Basin Circuit Is Sold
lyjel Wasserman, formerly with U-I in San
Francisco, joined the branch as a booker
and Lew Elman transferred from Milwaukee
as a salesman. Mel's dad, incidentally, is
Bill Wasserman, the United Artists salesman
birthday to Mrs. Lou (Martha)
Lindley, wife of the Acorn Press head man,
and to George Bowser, onetime Fox West
Coast general manager, now on an extended
leave.
Celebrating their 30th anniversary were Mr.
and Mrs. Newt Jacobs—he heads Favorite
Films . . . Clint Glenny of the Twin-View
Drive-In headed out for a Hawaiian holiday
Thomas, former Florida crrcuit
operator and more recently an associate of
producer Hal Makelim, has purchased the
Carlton Theatre here from Fred Dee .
Charles Kranz of Kranz-Levin Pictures took
off on a swing around the western territory.
. . . Booking-buying
. . .
. . William Mcllwain, heads
Tent 25, Variety Club of Southern California,
hold a bon voyage party Monday
will (30) to bid adieu to members trekking to New
York early in May for the Variety International
"Swan' Leads Denver
convention
But Is Not Held
visitors included Hizzoner Manuel Carnakas,
DENVER—Even though "The Swan" led mayor of Bakersfield and operator of the
Vista and Virginia theatres there; Lloyd
the town, it did not hold at the Orpheum.
Holding over were "Heartbreak Ridge" at the
Romeo and
Katz, in from Las Vegas, and Bert Ki-amer of
the Village in Coronado.
Aladdin: "Ballet of Juliet" at
the Esquire. "The Ladykillers" finished a
good five-week run at the Vogue.
George Strebe, Palm Springs exhibitor and
restauranteur, was seriously injured when his
Aladdin— Heartbreok Ridge (Tudor) 1 00
the road while he was en route back
car left
Centre On the Threshold of Spoce (20th-Fox),
2nd wk 75 to his headquarters after a trip to nearby
Denhom
Denver
Our Miss Brooks (WB)
Jubol (Col); Battle Stotions
85
Cathedral City ... A local visitor was Joe
(Col),
Zangrilli, Warner salesman in San Francisco,
2nd wk 100
1
who previously was a booker at the Warner
who
Esquire ^Ballet ot Romeo and Juliet (Tohan). 20
Orpheum The Swan (MGM) 1 50
Poramount—The Creoture Walks Among Us (U-l); branch here .
Red Sundown (U-i) 1 20
west coast operations for Cinerama, took off
Vogue The Ladykillers (Cont'l), 5th wk 100
for Oklahoma City to supervise installation
of the widescreen equipment at the Warner
Theatre
there.
Returning from a business junket to New
York and Chicago were Robert Kronenberg
and Lester Tobias of Manhattan Films .
Frank Reimer is back in town, having resigned
his post with Warners in Denver. Once
a member of the local Wai-ner staff, he later
was transferred to the company's Milwaukee
branch, thence to Denver . Jenson,
onetime RKO booker, joined Columbia in the
same capacity . . . Jack Berman of the
Eastland circuit and wife returned from a
New York holiday.
Summer Start on 'Stage'
HOLLYWOOD—RKO Radio has advanced
its starting date on "Stage Struck" from
October until early siunmer and resultantly
Jean Simmons, who had been set for the starring
spot, has relinquished the assigrmient.
Her approaching motherhood will prevent her
from undertaking the part.
Dine for Brotherhood
HOLLYWOOD—The eighth annual Brotherhood
testimonial dinner was held Thursday
(26) at the Beverly Hills Hotel, with Jerry
Lewis as emcee. Dore Schary, MGM studio
head, and John West, NBC vice-president,
were among the vice-chairmen in charge of
arrangements.
To Texan Peler Barnes
EPHRATA, WASH.—Columbia Basin Theatres,
an organization comprising 15 theatre
houses and drive-ins in Grant and Adams
counties, has been sold to Texan Peter
Barnes, it was announced by owner John
Lee of Ephrata.
This acquisition reportedly makes Barnes
the owner of the largest independent theatre
chain in Washington. Houses in this immediate
area involved in the transaction
were the Lee and Marjo theatres and Park
In outdoor theatre here; the Lake and Ritz
theatre and Basin Drive-In in Moses Lake;
Lake Theatre in Soap Lake; Basin Theatre
in Othello and Warden Theatre in Warden.
The purchase price was undisclosed, but
Lee announced he will retain ownership of the
theatre buildings.
A resident of San Angelo, Tex., Barnes has
many commercial investments in Canada and
the U. S. Besides operating theatres in Oroville,
Chelan, Mason and Okanogan, Barnes
owns farms in California and Texas, a motel
in Chelan, and a farm, department store,
hotel and theatres in Canada. Barnes also
is a land developer and home-builder in Vancouver,
B. C. A bachelor, he is 48.
Change Airer Name
TEMPE. ARIZ.—The College Drive-In Theatre
here has changed its name. Now
that Arizona State College is called Arizona
State University, the drive-in changed its
name to University Drive-In.
New Airer at Taos, N. M.
TAOS, N. M.—H. F. Taylor is building a
300-car drive-in and hopes to have it ready
for a May 10 opening. Arch Boardman wUl
do the booking and buying.
Appear at "Roughnecks' Preview
HOLLYWOOD—With proceeds going to the
cerebral palsy fund, Jack Carson and Myron
Healey, featured in Allied Ai'tists' "Magnificent
Roughnecks," made personal appearances
Wednesday (25) at the Hastings Drive-
In in Pasadena, where the film was given a
special
screening.
D^^
BE A LONESOME
SHOWMAN
WARM THOSE EMPTY SEATS
WITH PATRONS
Sock PROMOTION IKAS USING
sr^TRAILERS
WILL KEEP EM COMIN
fflil?i)tllfflill
"CALIFORNIA THEATRE"
Owner soys 1955 gross over
S35,000. Terms. Write for
THEATRE EXCHANGE
BOXOFFICE
:
: April 28, 1956

Assoc.
'Swan Chicago Debut
/T//^^ C^sf in High Role
Scores 250 Per Cenl
.,-.. -
i n
-
" ^^ii«^^«i«IIW«« ^i^-W.^ | f I I |T|
^^ I I »^ ^*
^OlJlId
t t
I
W. ^% f* f* M ^> »^
OCr3Z>ICJfl
'^
Loop Theatre were both productive new-
"
comers. A double bill of "Comanche" and
"The Killer Is Loose" at the Roosevelt also
did well in the opening week. Other Loop
was good, and particularly so "Alexander
bu.'iiness
the Great" in its third week at the
Chicago. "The Man in the Gray Flannel
Suit" at the Oriental, also in a third week,
and "The Harder They Fall" in a .second week
at the Woods. "Too Bad She's Bad" in its
second week at the World Playhouse did okay.
"Diabolique," in its 18th week at the Ziegfeld,
has held up .so well that its run will continue
indefinitely.
(Average Is 100)
Court Jester (Para)
Alexonder the Greot (UA),
(SR)
Carneqie— The 200
Chicago— wk...260
3rd
Cinema— Rapture 190
Eirel s Poloce- Cineroma Holidoy {Cinerama),
48th
Grand—
wk
Forbidden
350
Planet (MGM); Doy of Fury
(U-l) 2nd wk 200
Loop—Meet Me in Las Vegos (MGM) 245
McVickers—Oklohomo! (Magna), 17th wk
Monroe—Come Next Spring (Rep)
Qriental—The Man in the Gray Flannel
275
195
Suit
i20th-Fox), 3rd wk 230 Snapped at the Federation of Film Councils conference at St. Louis were these
speakers with Mrs. Max Williams, federation president. Left to right: .\rthur Mayer,
Roosevelt— Comanche (UAJ; The Killer Is Loose
^^^
State Lake—Anything Goes (Parai, 2'nd wk.! !!!' 195 Mrs. Williams, Arthur DeBra and Mrs. Mayer, and at extreme right, Ralph I). Hetzrl
DeBra and Hetzel are from the Motion Picture Ass'n of America.
Surf— Citizen Kane (RKO). reissue, 2nd wk 190
j^
United Artists—The Swan (MGM) 250
Woods-The Harder They Fall (Col), 2nd wk 225
'''°K!ngsiiyr°2"nd%l°°..^°''..^.''.*.''.^'"'..'.^^."".200 ST. LOUIS-Film Councils, in their work
Ziegfeld— Diabolique (UMPO), I's'fh wk 200 y^nh motion pictures, can participate in one
of the greatest tasks of the modern world
_ ,. . . . the increa.se of understanding and sympa-
Kansas City Grosses Oil;
^^^ among nations and racial groups.
'Swan' a Weak 110 This inspiring theme was presented to
KANSAS CITY—With holdovers doing as members of the 41 councils from 14 states
well or better than opening pictures, theatre and the District of Columbia at the second
business here was down in first run houses to annual conference of the Federation of Moa
discouraging low. "The Swan" was dis- tion Picture Councils at the Jefferson Hotel
appointing at the Midland in view of the here Thursday and Friday by Mrs. An-etus
playdat* coinciding with the wedding of its -p. Burt of St. Louis, founder of the St. Louis
star, Grace Kelly, to a prince. "Rock Around council and vice-president of the national
the Clock" at the Paramount failed to "send" group.
the hep-cats and the general attendance pic- The motion picture was described as a
ture was poor. The Athletics were in town major medium in spreading international
and the w^eather was unseasonably cold for understanding and the ideals of world citimuch
of the past week, so the drive-in oper- zenship.
ators were not happy, either. "Let us lift our eyes and get a larger vis-
:,ion—Componions of the Night (Arlan), 2nd wk.. 90 ion of our responsibilities to supply worthy
- :— Dioboiique UMPO), 5th wk 120 efficient citizcns for the ncxt generation, who
will follow our American way of life and to
:;;:.::-;h: %Z SeivvB);- -The- -Rive;""
Changes nVB) 80 Create world citizens who can solve the prob-
Poramount— Rock Around the Clock (Col); Over- ]ejns of war by providing better understand-
the grand prize at the southeast Asia film
Festival in Tokyo, was screened for the delegates.
Mrs. E. J. Riley of California, membership
chaij-man, reported 11 new councils had
joined the federation in the last year, an increase
of 33':, per cent.
DeBra distributed film clips to all the delegate
tables in the various processes—Cinemascope,
Cinerama, Todd-AO. VistaVision,
55mm, etc. He made an appeal for "intelligent
people, such as members of your councils,
to get out the people and prevail on
them to see the better motion pictures now
being made available for their entertainment."
Mayer and his wife, who had attended a
preview of "War and Peace" in Rome, discussed
the film. Hamilton, aide to DeMille,
talked about "The Ten Commandments."
Vice-President Hetzel of the MPAA
pointed to the worldwide acceptance of U. S.
films, which now account for 70 per cent of
the playing time on foreign screens and
about half of the revenue realized by Hollywood
producers.
"The great acceptance of American films
among the free peoples of the world," he
"is said, a remarkable example of the great
:::;::;::::: 75 ^g among people,- she said "We belleve
Tower, Fairway and Granada—There's Always IS
RoxT-clrous"^' ,20th:Fox); ^th wk.
the great WOrk of Which this federation a
Tomorrow u-l); Red Sundown (U-i) large part is one of the most significant of
75
Uptown—The Mon in the Gray Flannel Suit
oui nipspnt piesent. aee age.
"
(20th-Fox), 2nd wk 110
Vogue—The Intruder (Assoc. Artists); An Inspector Althur DeBra, director of community rela-
Coiis Artists) 100
jg^. (.j^g Motion Picture Ass'n of America;
similarity in the aims, aspirations and emotions
^^^^^^
Arthur Mayer, producer, distributor and
of the thinking of the peoples of the
/^ C 1 T Dlrrn importer of films, and his wife Lillie: Geof- world. The American motion picture possesses
wide influence. The peoples in for-
UOUnty bales laX Irian
freyM.Shurlock. MPAA vice-president; Max-
PronO

. . The
.
films in High Role
At Council Session
(Continued from preceding page)
democracy or communism shall prevail."
In country after country, however, we are
facing pressure for the restrictions on the
use of American films. We are undertaking
to meet that problem by trying to
persuade our foreign customers that the continued
use of American films is for then' own
economic benefit and expansion . . . The expansion
of theatres in Italy, Spam, France,
Britain and Germany has come through
American films. Those theatres could not
be successfully operated if it were not for the
help of American pictures at the boxoffice
Our pictures make people want and need
things and this gives great impetus to the
economic growth that results for the industries
meeting those wants and needs."
He said he did not think that Hollywood,
by gearing its production to the world market,
was losing something in its appeal to domestic
viewers, "because most Hollywood
films are truly international in character."
Mrs. Max Williams, federation president,
emphasized that the average motion picture
council believes in the Pi-oduction Code and
that self-regulation is the democratic way.
Mrs. Sykes noted that the National Screen
Council, of which she is chairman, is in its
24th year. She pointed out that Ben SWyen,
editor-in-chief of BOXOFFICE, differs from
many in Hollywood who hold a family-type
picture is for the kids. Shlyen believes that
adult pictures made in good taste also are
family pictures, pointing out there are millions
of husband-wife-only families who have
no children. Commenting on sex in pictures,
Mrs. Sykes said sex is like garlic and should
be used in the proper proportions to get the
desired results.
Geoffrey Shurlock of the MPAA spoke on
the Production Code and its administration
at the closing banquet Friday night.
ON 'UNKOWN' SET—Exhibitor Abbott
J. Sher and Mrs. Sher visited Lloyd Nolan
(center) on the set of "Toward the Unknown"
at Warner Bros, studio. The picture,
in WarnerColor, stars William Holden,
Lloyd Nolan and Virginia Leith. Mervyn
LeRoy is producer-director of the film.
Sher is co-owner of the Jayhawk Amusement
Co., which includes the Jayhawk
and Midway theatres in Kansas City,
Kas., and the Friendly Theatres which
includes the Vogrue Theatre and Terrace
Drive-In in Lees Summit, Mo.
Son of Drive-In Owner
Barney Holt Killed
ELKHART. KAS.—Aiiman second class
Barney Holt jr.. 21-year-old .son of Mr. and
Mrs. Barney Holt sr. of the Sands Drive-In
Theatre here, was killed in an automobile
accident north of Texhoma, Okla., Sunday
(151.
The airman was stationed at the Amarillo
Air Force Base. The funeral was held at
the Agent Funeral Home in Muskogee, with
the Rev. Lloyd McMillan, pastor of the Boulevard
Christian Church, officiating. Burial was
in Memorial Park cemetery, with full military
honors by Air Force units from Tinker Field
in Oklahoma City.
His younger brother. Airman Jack W. Holt,
and Barney's wife Betty Sue, who were with
him at the time of the accident, were not
injured. Besides his wife, his parents and his
brother, Barney is siu-vived by another brother
Donald, a sergeant in the Marine Corps,
and his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. W. R.
Casey of Mon-is, Okla.
Warrenton Theatre Owner
Files for Legislature
WARRENTON, MO.—William T.
Zimmerman
has announced his candidacy as representative
in the state legislature on the Republican
ticket for Warren County. Zimmerman
is owner and manager of Radio Station
KWRE and owner and manager of the Vita
and Moto-Vu theatres here. He has been in
business locally for 30 years.
If nominated at the primary election in
August and elected, Zimmerman has pledged
to serve the best interests of all of Warren
County in the state legislature.
New Manager at Outdoorer
FRANKFORT, IND.—Jim Partington, 28, is
the new manager of the Frankfort Outdoor
Theatre, which opened recently for the
summer season. Partington has been with
the Alliance Amusement Corp. for five and a
half years working at circuit units in Indiana
and Illinois. He is moving here from Kokomo.
He is married and has two children.
CHICAGO
n braham Gomez, head of Gomez Enterprises
Corp., has made some drastic changes at
the Plaza, now the Teatro Plaza, since he
assumed ownership recently. The theatre was
completely remodeled and the first of a
series of stage programs introduced . . . Atlas
Theatre Corp., new owner of the Wicker Park,
renamed it the Sine-Atlas and is showing
Spanish fUms exclusively. The manager is
Frank Rojas. Phil Bland was former owner
and operator.
Whiteway Sign Co. completed a $4,000
canopy for B&K's Coronet in Evanston . . Al
.
Golden of U-I is hospitalized following ea\
automobile accident. He considers himself
very fortimate. despite his hospital stint, for
his car was demolished.
Tom Dowd, midwest representative for
UMPO, and George Sarathain, Ziegfeld Theatre
manag;er, said that the end of the
"Diabolique" run is as yet nowhere in sight.
The attendance record at the 434-seat Ziegfeld
has been broken. On Friday (20), which
started the 19th week for the picture. Gov.
William Stratton and his wife were among
the patrons.
Mary O'Leary of the U-I staff here, was
married to Joe Callahan . . . Faye Chazdon
is a new employe at Allied Artists . . .
Les
Weiru'ott, CBS-TV production chief here, resigned
to become executive vice-president at
Kluig Fihn Studios ... Ed Wolk, head of Ed
Wolk Supply Co., entered Columbus Memorial
Hospital for a checkup.
Herb Wheeler of Stanley Warner Tlieatres
went to Florida on a vacation . Crawford
Theatre helped to plug Cleanup Week
by encouraging childi-en to be interested in
the citywide movement. Bonus to the kids
were gifts from the Crawford management .
Robert Young flew in to take over as emcee
for the nth annual women's spring luncheon
of the National Conference of Christians and
Jews.
The Carnegie Theatre's FM station, WNIB,
operating after being inactive for eight
is
months. Located in the theatre lobby area,
it a claims great deal of interest among
Carnegie patrons, mo.st of whom visit the
theatre week after week. Dick Buckley, wellknown
disk jockey, opened with a program
of pop music, jazz and classics. He will be
followed with special FM musical programs by
Tom Hill, Bob and Bonnie, and Errol Vieaux.
Stuart Brent, book dealer in the neighborhood,
will present book reviews.
Filmack Trailer Co. announced that loss
and damage to loud-speakers, considered the
biggest problem facing outdoor theatre owners,
is being effectively combated by a new trailer
produced by their studios. The animated cai--
toon pictures a careless patron who breaks
his car window by pulling away from a ramp
with the speaker still attached to the window.
The closing sequence shows the proper method
of replacing the speaker upon its post before
leaving. According to Filmack, the film is
the most effective method to date of fighting
the speaker damage problem.
Vivian Blaine made a fast visit before going
on to New York for preliminary work in her
next movie with Red Skelton . . . "Magic
(Continued on next news page)

anish
your troubles
The simple, dependable design of CENTURY projection and
sound systems assures minimum maintenance cost and maximum
capacity for satisfactory performance.
At CENTURY, research to improve projection and sound
equipment is going on continuously. This, plus genuine quality
control of all parts that make up CENTURY components explains
why the major exhibitors depend on CENTURY. It is
common knowledge that CENTURY was given the responsi
bility to develop and produce practically all of the new techniques
of cinematic projection.
Records from exhibitors the world over prove the high
quality, low maintenance and trouble-free operation of CEN-
TURY installations.
To find out how you can get better projection and
sound at lower cost see your CENTURY dealer.
Century Projector Corporation new york. n
SOLO BY
y
An-Lee Inc.
2831-33 North Clark St.
Chicaqo 14, Illinois
McCarty Theatre Supply Co.
Shreve Theatre Supply Co.
217 West 18th St.
Konsos City 8, Mo.
Movie Supply Company
BOXOFFICE :
: April 28, 1956

.
. . Radiant
:
April
CHICAGO
(Continued from last
news page)
Fire" had its American premiere at the Monroe
on April 27 . . . With the opening of
"Ladykillers" at the E.squire rn May, the English
Speaking Union will take over the theatre
for a benefit to further the interests of
then- orgamzation . . . The Sui-f will be the
site of a benefit sponsored by the Ballet Guild
of Chicago, in connection with "Ballet of
Romeo and Juliet."
HAPPY ABOUT THEATRE REOPENING—F. L. "Doc" Lowe has reopened his
Royal Theatre at Sterling, Kas.. which had been closed since December 1. Lowe, left,
also operates the Star at Lebanon, Mo., and the Civic at Brookfield. Leaning on the
concessions counter is Mrs. Ward Blackhall, who is concessions manager; Blackhall,
manager; Phyllis Richardson, Lowes daughter, and Bill Richardson, manager of the
Star at Lebanon and the husband of Phyllis. The photo was taken at the reopening.
Cat Awakens Theatreman
To Warn of Fire Hazard
GRANT CITY. MO.— A Siamese cat named
Keda was credited with saving the Uves of
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Robison, owners of the
Grant City Theatre, recently when flames
damaged their apartment here.
The Roblsons were awakened by the cat
jumping on their bed, meowing and scratching
at their faces. The room was filled with
heavy smoke, originating from a fire in a pile
of coal in the basement. The building also
houses the theatre and a cafe. Damage to the
structure and its contents was estimated at
from $15,000 to $20,000.
A new screen, recently in.stalled, was ruined
and the theatre will not be reopened for at
least two months.
Closing at Crystal City, Mo.
CRYSTAL CITY, MO.—Harry Miller of
Festus plans to close his Highway Theatre
here, probably for the summer season. He
will continue to operate his Miller Theatre
at Festus. The Roxy here and the Gem in
Festus both have been closed for many
months.
Robert Mitchum arrived Sunday night (22)
for tlii-ee days of advance publicity in connection
with "Foreign Intrigue" ... In mid-
May Sir Carroll Reed will be here for advance
plugging for "Ti-apeze." At the opening
on June 15, Gina Lollobrigida. Burt Lancaster
and Tony Curtis are to make personal
appearances . ManufactiU'ing Corp.
has introduced a complete line of portable
tripod, wall-hanging and frame-type projection
screens designed to give highest quality
reflection in all aspect ratios from the normal
ratio of 1.33 to 1, to a full ratio of 2.66 to 1.
Loge 9 to Meet May 12
ST. LOUIS—The regular meeting of the
St. Louis Loge 9, Colo.sseum of Motion Picture
Salesmen of America, at the Melbourne
Hotel on May 12, will include a dutch treat
luncheon and business meeting. All active
members, honorary members, friends and
national officers of the Colosseum have been
ited.
IF
YOUR FILLUM RENTAL IS . . UP
YOUR EXPENSE IS
YOUR MORTGAGE IS
YOUR TAXES ARE
YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE IS
UP
UP
UP
UP
AND YOUR GROSS IS . . .
AND YOUR PROFITS ....
AND YOUR BANK BALANCE
AND YOUR PROSPECTS .
AND YOUR MORALE
DOWN
DOWN
DOWN
DOWN
DOWN
/
There Is Nothing Wrong With You . . . You're Just a Typical Exhibitor
However . . . Don't commit suicide . . . Don't plan to end it all
. . . There is still hope . . . There is an Allied Convention . . .
A convention in which problems just like yours will be discussed
and you will have an opportunity to join in the discussions
and help form conclusions for possible action and cures.
On hand to help in these discussions will be men such as:
BENNY BERGER-Vice-President of Allied from IWinneapolis.
AL SINDLINGER— Nationally known business analyst, to give
you trends.
WM. C. GEHRING-Vice-President, assistant to Mr. Skouras of
20th Century-Fox.
SENN LAWLER-Area Chairman CONIPO, progress report on
Tax Repeal.
AND OTHER NATIONAL AND LOCAL FIGURES WHO CAN HELP
YOU WITH YOUR PROBLEMS.
THE DATE IS TUESDAY, MAY 8th AT THE ALADDIN HOTEL,
KANSAS CITY, MO. -ALL DAY
•Registration 9 a. m. • Meeting 10 a. m. • All industry
luncheon 12:15. (What a day!)
• Cocktail Party 5:00 p. m and the Famous Rathskeller Party
Muehlebach Brewery 6:30.
This is your convention ... YOU SHOULD ATTEND ... YOU
CAN'T AFFORD TO MISS IT . . . ALL EXHIBITORS INVITED AND
THERE IS NO REGISTRATION CHARGE WHATSOEVER. BE ON
HAND FOR A VERY CONSTRUCTIVE CONVENTION AND HAVE
SOME FUN AFTER BUSINESS.
Fnrr
•^ t C
confidential information which can be worth thousands
of dollars to you.
To all exhibitors attending a real choice piece of
Nuff said.
PRIZES! PRIZES! MANY VALUABLE DOOR PRIZES
^° '"^^-'v
Birds, That Is.)
ALLIED INDEPENDENT THEATRE OWNERS OF KANSAS & MO., Inc.
BOXOFFICE :
28, 1956

. . . The
. Charles
. . Tommy
. . William
. . Mr.
. . Regal
. . Mrs.
. .
Howard Kinser Observes
20th Year on Same Job
KANSAS CITY Exliibitors in we.stcni ;iiul
niiiluTii Kansas aie lioiiuring the 20th anniversary
in that same
territory of Howard
'^ ^^
Kinser, 20th-Fox
salesman, in practical
fashion — with playdates.
Kinser has been
f 28 years with the company,
starting in 1928
with the old Fox Film
CoiTD. in Dallas.
"Out.side of technical
perfections and increase
in quality, there
is not much change in
Howard Kinser the type of pictures,"
Kinser said recently. "The roads are a lot
better since I started traveling my territory,
but they had dust storms in 1936 just like
they're having today. I think I've made a
lot of friends the past 20 years among exhibitors—just
how many I'll learn from my
amiiversary campaign."
Asked if he found the same territory, same
job, same company monotonous, Kinser
answered, "No, I've enjoyed it."
Greenfield, Ill» Theatre
Building Sold at Auction
GREENFIELD. ILL.—The Lyric Theatre
building, west side of the square, was sold
at public auction recently for $4,100 to a
local business group that included L. E.
Middleton, J. Russell Shields. Claude Sousley
and Stan Ei'thal. The building will be used
for recreational purposes, including roller
skating.
The 428-seat Lyric was closed April 13, 1955.
COMPLETE LINE OF CONCESSIONS
EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES
& L POPCORN CO. \
iL
114 West 18th St. Kansas City, Mo. k
ATTENTION, EXHIBITORS!
We hove sevcrol drink mochines, Sno-Cone
mochincs and syrup dispensers we are offering
of sole price before inventory, April 30.
SHREVE THEATRE SUPPLY CO. '
T1
217 W. ISth SI. HA 1-7S49 Kansas City, Mo.
FIRST IN CONCESSIONS
SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT
Midwest Popcorn Co.
25th & Porollcl
Kansas City, Kans. DR. 1-8067
BOXOFFICE
KANSAS CITY
T^rs. EdRar 1). Krdfeiirn was in town arranging
for the reopening of the Redfearn
Theatre at Bronson, Kas. There will
be two changes . . . J. E. Pennington's Cozy
Theatre at Topeka, which has been dark the
first three days of the week, is now going full
time with two changes per week . . . About 75
local people and exhibitors from surrounding
towns attended the demonstration of Cinemascope
'55 in the Orpheum Theatre at
Neosho, Mo., Friday i20i. Ed Harris, local
manager, and Ray McKitrick, 20th-Fox salesman,
acted as hosts . . . Harry Hixon, manager
of the Orpheum at Atchison, reports his
father-in-law, E. Van Hyning, is now home
from the hospital and in good spii-its, having
come through major surgery in remarkable
shape.
Jack Braunagel, former drive-in manager
for Commonwealth Theatres and now an
executive of United Theatres of Little Rock,
Ark., was in town over the weekend and
visited Filmrow friends Monday (23> . . . Tom
Smith of Urbana, Mo., helped with the
electrical work for the reopening of the drivein
at Rolla .
Fulton, owner of the
Avenue Theatre and operator of the Electric
Theatre, Kansas City, Kas., is on a trip
around the world. From Honolulu he postcards:
"It's a long way around the world—
you can prove it by me. And I'll be just as
glad to get back as to get going."
M. A. Levy, 20th-Fox midwest division manager,
was in town to confer with Manager
Joe Neger and talk to circuit heads. Neger
made a trip to Manhattan where he called on
Mid-Central executives. A saturation booking
of "The Proud Ones," film about Kansas, is
reported by Jack Cohan, sales manager, as
starting in this area around May 30 . . .
Don
Walker, Warner Bros, publicist, is on a trip
to St. Louis. He is w'orking with theatre men
on "The Searchers" and "Serenade." Hall
Walsh, district manager, was in from St. Louis
last week conferring with Russ Borg, manager.
Dwight Borin, salesman, has been in
St. Margaret's hospital for a checkup.
Ted Mann, who has theatres in the Minneapolis
and Iowa areas, stopped off between
planes on his way to Hot Springs for a vacation
Thompson, Buena Vista
.
representative, spent last week in St. Louis
Kline was in town and said his
Plug-Hat Drive-In was scheduled to open this
last week at Oakley. Kas. .
Poppers
report the sale of a hot-dog steamer to Sol
Frank's Rocket Drive-In at Salina . . . Capitol
Flag & Banner Co. reports its business barometer
shows these favorites: "The Swan,"
"Meet Me In Las Vegas," "The Man in the
Gray Flannel Suit."
The Ed Hartman Motion Picture Booking
Agency is now buying and booking for the
Center Theatre at Oakley, Kas. Mary Jane
Hartman (Mrs. Ed), who worked in the office
before Claudia (9) was born, is now back
helping out .
and Mrs. Herbert Miller
of the 50 Hi-Way Drive-In at Jefferson City,
visited their son Carl at Colorado Springs
who is completing his primary training at
Camp Carson . . . National Theatre Supply
furnished Shelby Ai'mstrong new backup
lenses for his Hi-Five Drive-In at Milan, Mo.
Columbia office force held a party at
the Blue Hills Barbecue.
J. W. Shreve of the Shreve Theatre Supply
uol out into the territory hnn.scU' a few days
last week, in central Mls.sourl .
Clara
Harding Jordan, mother of Mrs. Prank Weary
sr. of Richmond. Mo., died Wednesday (18i
at a nursing home in Kansas City. She was
a former teacher and would have been 105
years old this coming July ... A roll containing
about 1.000 tickets was removed from the
unlocked cage of the Vogue Theatre recently
by .several teen-age boys. Police recovered the
tickets after the boys tried to use some of
them. Ed Golden, who operates the art house,
said he would not pro-secute since the boys
would have to report to the police.
Clark Rhoden, business manager of the
Rhoden Enterprises, flew to Los Angeles to
confer with his father, E. C. Rhoden sr.. and
to visit over the weekend with his parents .
Dickinson Theatres is air conditioning the
stand of the Shawnee Di-ive-In.
BOWLING
KANSAS CITY—The Filmrow Bowling
League sea.son is drawing to a close, although
the men's teams will play two more games.
Standings at the close of the gam&s Friday
(20) were:
MEN'S
Team Won Lost Team Won Lost
Ent. 77
67
Shreve's 73
Alley Rots 57
Manley Ppcrn 68 Mode O'Ooy 56
Thriftway .61
United Film 47 77
WOMEN'S
Team Won Lost Team Won Lost
Finton Jones 66 30 Hortmon's 48 48
Manley Ppprs 57 39 Borg & Kim .45 51
Manley, Inc. 52 44 Mode O'Doy 38'/i 57

COLITMBIA HOSTS KMTA LEADEKS—KMTA Iward members attended a gettagether
in the Kansas City Columbia exchange's recreation room recently to honor
the Jack Cohn drive. Above, left to right: Marty landau, Horton, Kas.; Tom Baldwin,
Columbia manager; Dale Danielson. Russell, Kas.; Ben Marcus, Columbia division
manager, and Ed Harris, Neosho, Mo. Below: Hank Doering, Garnett, Kas.; Richard
Brous, president of Fox Midwest, Kansas City; Doc Cook, Maryville, Mo.; Elmer Bills,
Salisbury, and Don Burnett, Larned. Kas., KMTA president.
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Editorial Pays Tribute
To Star Jennifer Jones
IRONTON, MO.—When the
State Theatre
here played "Good Morning. Miss Dove," the
editor of the Iron County Register printed an
editorial praising actress Jennifer Jones and
the picture.
"Those of you who failed to see this picture
missed genuine pleasure in motion pictures,
which seems in many ways to be passing
toward the curtain call," the editorial read.
"Your writer has followed Miss Jones' colorful,
versatile and unparalleled career, probably
the greatest in Hollywood at the present
time. People who live today and are still
here 75 years from now, will remember the
name of Miss Jennifer Jones when it is
mentioned.
"In possession of many attainments that
come to few individuals, her name will remain
as immortal as Lincoln, Wa-shington,
Thomas Jefferson and others. In these
few lines we endeavor in a very meager way
to honor her and pay homage to one of
America's greats."
The editorial, according to Melvin K.
Dinzer, who has managed the State for the
Edwards & Plumlee circuit for 20 years, came
on the heels of poor business with the picture.
"It's a wonderful picture," Dinzer said. "I
know the type of pictures that attracts the
different age groups, but it is a shame something
like 'Good Morning. Miss Dove' was a
flop at the boxoffice, at least as far as we
were concerned."
Richard Wilson has been signed by Producer
Lewis Blumberg to pilot UA's "The Big
Boodle."
ST. LOUIS
/"•onsiderable interest among Mi.ssouri-Illinois
Theatre Owners and others in the
film industry here has been shown in the
June meeting of MITO. It will be held at
the Lebanon Country Club, Lebanon, 111., on
June 12, with Bernard Temborius as host
exhibitor. Ed Peters of Confection Cabinet
and Jimmie James of St. Louis are working
up some pleasant surprises for those who attend.
Myra Stroud, managing secretary of
MITO, can give the details, including the
surprisingly low cost. A nine-hole golf course
and an outdoor swimming pool are among
the attractions.
Vincent Price appeared on the Fox stage
April 24 as a feature of the St. Louis premiere
of "Serenade," a benefit for the Villa
Duchesne chapel fund. Price also appears
in the film. Also on the stage were Irene
Jovanivich, ballerina, and her partner Richard
Gain, dancing to music by Jack Field's
orchestra. A fashion show was staged by
Leppert-Roos, furriers.
Jesse Chinich, western division manager
for Buena Vista, was a visitor . . . Bad news
for Jimmy Frisina of Taylorville, 111., buyer
for the Fi-isina Amusement Co., came out
of Washington April 20, when Taylorville's
hopes of being selected as the site of a new
Alcatraz-type prison were sidetracked indefinitely
by the House appropriations committee
which rejected a $9,500,000 request
for the project. Jimmy headed the committee
working on behalf of Taylorville.
Roman Advertising Co. has been appointed
advertising agency for National Rejectors,
Inc., with Festus J. Krebs as the account executive.
Roman handles advertising for
Star Manufacturing Co. and Angelica Uniforms,
both well known to motion picture
theatre folk . . . The B-1 Bottling Co. has appointed
Padco Advertising Co. as its agency.
Padco also has acquired the Rothlan Corp.
advertising account.
More tough competition for local theatres
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BOXOFFICE :
: April 28, 1956

. . . The
I perhaps),
. . The
and drive-ins—the 1956 police circus with 35
acts opened Friday (27) to run through Sunday,
May 6. Proceeds go to the St. Louis Police
Relief Ass'n for dependents of police disabled
or killed in the line of duty . . . Frankie
Laine will sing at the High C luncheon concert
of the women's division. Jewish Federation
welfare fund campaign, on May 4 at the
Chase hotel. It is a $100-a-plate affair.
Frankie is donating his services. The Jewish
Federation seeks to raise $1,524,450 as the
National United Jewish appeal quota and
$442,500 for the special national United Jewish
Appeal Emergency Fund.
Milton F. Napier, attorney and a vicepresident
of the Better Films Council of
Greater St. Louis, has filed for the Republican
nomination for State Senator from the
First District. He has served several terms
m the Senate but was defeated four years
ago . . . Tlie midwest premiere of "The Seven
Wonders of the World" in Cinerama was
held at the Ambassador Thursday under
ters office this week.
What's in a name? A lot of headaches, if
it happens to be "Jubal." So found a certain
very clever chap who was given an assignment
by Columbia Pictures to go to Lambert-
St. Louis Municipal Airport to meet Valerie
French, Columbia's most recent discovery.
He wanted to come up with something
special, such as someone named Jubal on the
local reception committee. But the city directory,
the county directory and latest telephone
books were no help. So Bob Goddard
took along a salesman named George. Valerie
was worth the trip, being most easy on
the
eyes.
Kansas-Missouri ITO
Ready for Convention
KANSAS CITY—The board of Allied Independent
Theatre Owners of Kansas-Mis-
.souri Tuesday i24i completed plans for the
William Gehring
Senn Lawler
Jake Sullivan, morals squad head, said that
after receiving "numerous complaints," he
and three other policemen and a policewoman
witnessed a performance. He asserted they
found it "just as bad as the complaints had
pictured it."
Dancers were accused of appearing on the
stage and "making indecent exposure of their
per.sons" and of being guilty of "certain
obscene and filthy acts and lewd, indecent,
immoral and insulting conduct and behavior."
The men were charged with permitting and
consenting to such violations.
Each of those arrested was released on
$200 bail and the .show went on again later the
same day. Among the dancers arrested were
Elenor Rushing (Gayla Loving), 28; Rose
Martin (Kandy Kane), 24, and Sandra Evans
(Kitty KaiT) of Kansas City, Mo.
Telephone Quiz Is Used
To Promote Programs
HK1)I-()i;d, IOWA—Mr. and Mrs. Dutch
Youni;, (nviicrs and operatoi's of the Hardin
Theatre here, have started a "telephone
game." Here's how it works:
They select a telephone number at random,
call it and ask the name of the show that
will be at the theatre on a certain day. It
already has been advertised. The per.son
telephoned wins two free tickets and two
free meals at the Skylark if he answers correctly.
DLS Time Extension Plan
ST. LOUIS—A bill to keep dayUght .saving
time in effect here one month longer than an
existing city ordinance permits was presented
to the Board of Aldermen on April 17. If
the bill passes, the fast time schedule will
continue until the last Sunday in October.
Daylight saving time starts here Sunday i29).
auspices of the Knights of Columbus to benefit
its charity fund. It was put on with spotlights,
red carpeting, radio and TV inter-
buffet luncheon at noon, an all-industry af-
Raymond R. Tucker impose the month ex-
convention May 8 in the Aladdin Hotel. A It is expected that if the aldermen and Mayor
views of celebs, songs by the Santa Cruz fair, will be sponsored by Coca-Cola.
tension on local residents, a number of the
choral group, the Knights of Columbus Speakers added since last week's announcement
include William Gehi-ing, 20th-Fox vice-
Mississippi River will take steps to follow the
adjacent communities on both sides of the
Zouaves in fancy drills and the 4th Degree
Knights of Columbus Color Guard, "Cinerama
Holiday" ended its spectacular year P. Skouras, and Senn Lawler, Fox Midwest
president and executive assistant to Spyros St. Louis lead.
plus run April 24.
division manager and area chairman of the
tax repeal committee.
Reopening at Winchester, 111.
It pays to get to the Cinderella early on Reports will be made on how certain localities
licked the daylight saving threat, and on Route 106 between here and ALsey. near
WINCHESTER. ILL.—The Green Drive-In
week nights. In the first 30 minutes the
bargain price for adults is 25 cents. The Cinderella
is a unit of the Wehrenberg circuit party following the afternoon meeting will son on Friday (13). It is owned and operated
on the Senate hearing on EDC. The cocktail Barrows Station, reopened for the 1956 .sea-
St. Charles Drive-In has joined be sponsored by United Film Service, and the by Paul Stehman and Tom Danner.
the Buck night parade, apparently to meet Rathskeller at 6; 30 at the Muehlebach Brewery
will be sponsored by Exhibitors Film
competition at that rate from various driveins
in St. Louis County.
Delivery, A. V. Cauger Service Co., and Dixie
Enterprises. It will be emceed by Charley
TOP QUALITY POPCORN
Homer Hisey, Warner Bros, salesman, was Stark, son of Joe Stark of Stark Enterprises.
to return to his home in Nashville, 111., April Wichita, who gained considerable experience
In 50-lb. or 100-lb. bags
25. Homer has been hospitalized at Sikeston along this line at Southern Methodist University
at Dallas and on television and radio $fi50 P""- 100 lbs.
for three weeks . headquarters of Fi'isina
Amusement Co. needed a traffic cop stations there.
there being so many film salesmen,
etc, about. Callers from St. Louis in-
F.O.B. St. Louis
cluded Hall Walsh, southern prairie district
manager; Lester Bona, Warner Bros. St.
Police Raid Girl Show
[r|o)72z?v^^ Compcmy
sas City.
morals squad raided the Alvin four
days after it had been resumed following an
Out-of-town exhibitors seen along Filmrow
included: Mr. and Mrs. L. J. Williams, the show-house was used as an evangeUstic
interim of nearly three years dm-ing which
Union; Paul Musser, Casey, 111.: Eddie Clark, tabernacle.
A.A. THEATRE CONCESSION
Metropolis, 111.; Adolph Meier, Cuba; Judge Disorderly conduct charges were preferred
Frank X. Reller. Wentzville; Charley Beninati,
Carlyle, 111.; Bernard Temborius, Leb-
and Manager Alfred Krikorian of Kansas
against seven stripteasers and lessee Ed Ross
SUPPLY CO.
anon, 111.; A. B. Magarian, East St. Louis, City, Mo.
111.; Tom Bloomer, Belleville, 111 . . . John
Meinardi, district manager of Fox Midwest
Theatres, visited the Kansas City headquar-
Louis manager: Gordon Halloran, 20th-Fox At Twin Cities Alvin
manager; Tommy Williamson, manager, MINNEAPOLIS—Roadshow burlesque encountered
a roadblock here when the
RKO. Walsh later in the week visited Kan-
Theatre
police

. . .This
1. This is the story of an ordinary man
.. . worked frotn 9:00 to 5:00. . .raised
hamsters in his spare time . . .
steered
clear of doctors.
2. Oliver did twenty push-ups every
morning . . . took long bracing walks
in the fresh air . . . made sparing use of
condiments and stimulants.
3. Then one day while he was shaving,
he noticed a small lump. An icy hand
reached out and clutched at his heart
was it-CANCER!
4. Overnight Oliver became a changed
man. Hegave his hamsters to a neighbor,
bought a small harp and a booklet entitled
"Harp-playing for Beginners."
5. Instead of taking long bracing walks,
he tottered into his lawyer's office, cut
two nephews out of his will and hastily
added a couple of codicils.
6. His lawyer, a man of real intuition,
knew that where there's a will there's a
way, and firmly bullied Dancer into
seeing a doctor.
AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY
¥
D Enclosed is
my
7. A complete checkup showed he was
in perfect health, except for a minor
tone deafness that would preclude much
skill with the harp.
8. Dancer was so overjoyed he promptly
went home and made out a very large
check to the American Cancer Society,
and that's what you should do, too.
9. (MAIL TO: CANCER, c/o your
town's Postmaster.) Help others and
help yourself. Fight Cancer with a
checkup and a Check.
Through the Courtesy of
BOXOFFICE
BOXOFFICE
:
: April 28, 1956

Normandy Airer Suit
Dismissed by Court
the release of films to any other theatre in
Duval County for seven days after exhibit
at the Normandy. As a result, the complaint
said, persons living in the north, south and
east parts of the county were denied the
privilege of seeing the films in their areas
until seven days after they had been shown
at the Normandy, which is w-est of town.
The Main Street charges said there was no
"substantial competition" between the theatres.
It claimed that patronage at each was
'almost exclusively" from the area surrounding
it. All parties to the suit, including Judge
Simpson, agreed that the sole question to
determine was whether the contending theatres
were in "substantial" competition. The
judge ruled that both theatres drew substantial
patronage from areas other than
their own neighborhoods, and also "considerable"
patronage from the opposing theatre's
general neighborhood.
He ruled tliat "clearances" between film
showings, such as the seven-day interval, "are
not illegal, per se. but to the contrary, are a
vital and necessary feature of the motion picture
distribution system."
French 'Sins of Borgias'
Is Banned at Memphis
MEMPHIS—The Memphis and Shelby
County board of censors has banned "Sins of
the Borgias." a French film. It is the first
film banned here this year. Although the
law specifies that there shall be five censors,
the board has consisted of only three—Mrs.
B. F. Edwards, Mrs. Walter Gray and Mrs.
St. Elmo Newton sr.—since the resignations
of Lloyd T. Binford and Avery Blakeney.
The film will open May 1 at the Sunset
Drive-In in West Memphis. Manager Bob
Kilgore said. The English-subtitled Fi-ench
picture has been denied the Hollywood Motion
Picture Producers Ass'n's seal of approval,
has been condemned by the Roman Catholic
Legion of Etecency, and is advertised as "so
.sensational even the French censored it."
Albert G. Weber to Build
$150,000 Donelson Airer
n(lNKI,.S(lN. TENN. Construction of ii
$150,000 dnvc-in on a 30-acre U'act on the
JACKSOm'ILLE—A long-pending $450,000 Lebiuion road, two miles from here, has been
suit, which charged that the Normandy Twin announced by Albert G. Weber, part owner
Outdoor Theatre monopolized second run of the Colonial Drive-In. Weber has resigned
films in Duval County (Jacksonville^ In restraint
of trade, was dismissed here by Fedsale
jewelers firm, to give full time u, in
as secretary-ti-easurer of Morris & Co v. lioli-
.
eral Court Judge Bryan Simpson.
drive-ln interests.
The complaint was filed early in 1955 by An innovation at the new drive-in will be
owners of the Main Street Drive-In. one of
a device to transmit sound from the film
fom- theatres operated by the Jaek.sonville
track directly to radios on cai-s farthest from
Theatres Co.. which is headed by F^ed Kent, the screen. A widescreen will be installed
prominent attorney and showman. The Normandy
and Main Street are approximately from fried chicken to popcorn."
The concessions menu will include "everythint;
ten miles apart.
Joseph Hart jr.. associated in ownership of
At the time the suit wa« filed, the Normandy
was operated by the Tropical Drive-In
the Colonial, as well as the Bel-Air and New
Warner Park facilities, will give technical
Corp.. but it came under the ownership of
assistance to the Tri-State Theatre Supply
Loews Theatres on July 6. 1955.
Co., which is furnishing equipment and service
to the new theati-e project.
The complaint charged that the Normandy's
contract terms with distributors prohibited
Memphis 'Bears Down'
On Sunday Tax Law
MEMPHIS—The Memphis and Shelby
County administrations have announced that
they will begin "bearing down" on theatre
owners in an effort to collect a special assessment
levied on Sunday motion picture
performances.
The assessment, based on the seating
capacity of the theatre, ranges from $8.50 for
small theatres to $75 for a large theatre per
Sunday, It has been in effect since the late
1930's when Sunday films became legal here.
Mayor Orgill said the move to collect the
assessment is aimed at bolstering sagging
finances of the Memphis and Shelby County
welfare department, which has been flooded
with pleas for aid. The Sunday film money
is paid to the welfare department in addition
to regularly budgeted tax funds supplied by
the city and county.
Some theatres, officials said, are in arrears
on the assessment and a better method of
collecting the money is being sought.
There is talk that the theatre owners may
get together in an effort to have the assessment,
which some feel is unfair, eliminated.
Promote Jesse White
To District Manager
COLUMBUS. GA— Je.sso White, member of
the Martin Theatres of Alabama. Florida,
Ocort'ia and Tennessee orKanlzatlon for
Laird
nearly 20 years, has been named district
manager for the company in central Georgia
and central Alabama. White has been city
manager here for Martin Theatres since 1951.
T. C. Laird, member of the Martin organization
for the last ten years, will succeed
White in his city post, according to C. L.
Patrick, general manager for the four-state
chain.
White started his career with Martin Theatres
in 1937 in Opelika, Ala. In July 1942 he
became manager of the Martin at LaFayette.
Ala., and the next year he was transferred
to Manchester. Ga.. as manager of the President
Tlieatre. He remained there until 1949,
when he was named city manager of Martin
houses in Americus, Ga. After 18 months
there, he was moved to Griffin, Ga., where
he held the same position.
White, who has three sons, has been very
active in civic affairs here. He will continue
to make Columbus his home.
Laird, in the industry since 1931. has experience
which includes booking and buying
for a circuit of theatres in Florida and booking
for a film exchange in Atlanta. He joined
the Martin circuit in 1945 and since then
has managed theatres at Atmore, Ala., and
Fitzgerald and Americus, Ga. Father of four
children, he has moved to Columbus, which
is headquarters for the Martin circuit.
Kipp Hamilton will play a supporting role
\ 20th-Fox's "One in a Million."
Airer Adds Talent Shows
LEBANON. TENN.—The Cedar Drive-In
Theatre here is presenting a new talent show
each Wednesday night through May 9. Recently
opening on a fulltime basis, the outdoor
theatre is offering the Wednesday night
attraction along with the film feature at
no increase in price. The talent shows are
sponsored jointly by Lebanon merchants, the
theatre and the Milkman Band.
rnu: to relax—Employes of the Florida Theatre. Jacksonville, have learned
that they can have their fun together after working hours. Here is a group ready to
take off for a Saturday midnight swim and steak fry under the Florida moon at
Jacksonville Beach after closing the theatre. Standing at far left are the men who
frequently devote their after-work hours to bettering relations with employes. Left,
Robert Heekin, FST district manager; Florida Manager Jim Levine and assistant
Hoyt Yarbrough. Other employes were already at the beach preparing the st«aks.
BOXOFFICE

Luxurious $300,000 Showpiace
In Hollywood, Flo., to Open in Fall
MIAMI
HOLLYWOOD, PLA.—Construction of
the
luxiu-ious Hollywood Theatre by J. Clai-ke
Williams is scheduled for completion by early
this fall. Cost of the project, including land,
equipment and building, will be approximately
$300,000. The indoor theatre is being built
for the Claughton Theatres, designed by local
architects Stai't and Mceller.
The marquee will be a softly lighted panel
set high and flush with the building. A delicate
fixed canopy will extend from boxoffice
to curb. Tlie front of the foyer and lobby is
to be finished in glass, approximately 18 feet
high: the finish of the boxoffice, marble.
There will be extensive use of Formica inside
the foyer.
Blue will be dominant in foyer and lobby,
where use will be made of grass cloth, wood
finishes and wallpaper panels. Foyer plans
include a television viewing axea and space for
a modern refreshments concessions. The
women's lounge and powder room are finished
with Marlite walls. The manager's office will
be on the mezzanine, which will have a rail
of continental design.
A spacious cii-cular ramp is to lead from the
lobby to the auditorium standby area. The
125x75-foot auditorium will seat 1,000. A
smoking loge on the main floor will be
elevated, offering the latest in seating comfort.
The 19x45-foot screen, according to Wil-
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BOXOFFICE

. . Tlie
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ATLANTA
Oerinan Abrams of the Lumpkin (Ga.)
Theatre has taken over the Richland
'Ga.i Theatre from C. R. Gowart, who ha*
moved to Jacksonville, Fla. . . . Crescent
Amusement Co., has equipped the Elite at
Nashville for Cinemascope . city of
Atlanta has purchased the property on which
the Tenth Street Theatre was located at a
reported price of $120,000. and April 26 marked
the last day of operation. Pi-operty will be
used in an expansive midtown expressway
program. The Tenth Street was operated by
Georgia Theatre circuit.
.
Henry G. Krumm, former film man here,
was on the Row. The Ki-umms now live in
San Antonio Atco Drive-In at
Pearson was opened recently by C. A. Drake,
who also operates the Drake Theatre .
J. H. Thompson, president of Georgia The-
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atre Owners and Operators Ass'n, and head
of Martin-Thompson Theatres, met with his
executive committee for lunch at the Variety
Club. President R. M. "Dick" Kennedy of the
Alabama Theatre Owners Ass'n was also
present. They discussed the joint Georgia-
Alabama Theatre Owners convention to be
held May 27-29 at the Dinkler-Plaza Hotel.
Martha Chandler, United Ai'tists, was invited
to discu.ss WOMPI participation in the
convention.
During a recent windstorm, the screen
tower of the Skyway Drive-In at Fitzgerald
was blown down. E. G. Johnson, ABC bookoffice,
agent for the theatre, announced a
probable reopening date of May 13 ... A
spring meeting of managers was held by
Crescent Amusement Co. April 17, 18 in Nash-
Alfred Starr, Bijou Amusement Co. and
ville.
NATO executive, spoke on "Current Showmanship
Problems": George Doyne, Doyne
Advertising Agency, Nashville, spoke on
"How to Get the Most Out of the Advertising
Dollar," and Mike Simons, customer relations
director, MGM, spoke on "Relationship
of the Theatre to Community."
Owen Vaughn, Buena Vista office manager,
met with the Tallulah Falls Young Matrons
Circle at the Piedmont Driving Club to discuss
plans for the premiere of "The Great
Locomotive Chase" which the circle will
sponsor June 8 at Loew's Grand here in Atlanta.
Ken Laird, Buena Vista district manager,
returned from Montgomery where he
conferred with Doug Desch, Midwestern district
manager . L. Patrick, general manager
of Martin Theatres, Columbus, made a
short visit to the Atlanta booking office . . .
Bob Moscow of the local Rialto Theatre and
his family returned from a vacation at
Daytona Beach.
Another drive-in that "went with the wind"
was the Athens (Ga.) Drive-In during a
recent storm. The screen tower was blown
down, part of the concession stand roof was
CIMEMASCOPE cXnV wide screen
CONCESSION EQUIPMENT
& SUPPLIES
ASHCRAR ARC LAMPS
& RECTIFIERS
MOTIOGRAPH
"AAA" PROJECTORS
HEYWOOD-WAKEFIELD
THEATRE CHAIRS .
MOTIOGRAPH SOUND SYSTEMS
OFFICE EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES
"o^rV STEREOPHONIC SOUND
LOBBY EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES
ADLER « WAGNER
MARQUEE LEHERS
CRETORS POPCORN
MACHINES
IMPERIAL
MOTOR GENERATORS
SEALUXE DISPLAY
FRAMES
---^
torn off and loudspeakers uprooted. Georgia
Theatres will erect a new screen and reopen
shortly . . . Dan W. Hill, former film man
in Athens, died recently at his home in Asheville,
N. C. He served as city manager for
all the theatres in Athens when operated by
Georgia Theatres, and later as city manager
for Wilby-Kincey operating the Georgia Theatre.
Exhibitors on Filmrow the past week were
Preston Henn, Henn Theatres, Murphy, N. C;
Gordon Stonecypher, Cornelia Drive-In, Cornelia:
J. W. Peck, Pex Theatre, Sparta: Milton
Moore, Coosa Theatre, Gadsden. Ala.;
Herman Abrams, Lumpkin and Richland; Mr.
and Mrs. A. L. Sheppard, Grand and Waynesboro
Drive-In, Waynesboro: Jay Solomon,
Independent Theatres, Chattanooga: Tom
Miller, Park-Vue Drive-In, Muscle Shoals,
Ala., and Joe Hart, Bel-Air and Colonial
drive-ins,
Nashville.
Jack Weiner, MGM publicist, resigned,
effective April 27. Weiner expected to leave
immediately for Paris, France, to visit his
The Columbia exchange was
burglarized recently, but nothing of consequence
was taken and the only damage was a
broken skylight Wallace of
National Screen Service returned from a vacation
in West Palm Beach , L. M. Dabney
has closed his Lincoln
. .
Theatre at New
The Melody Drive-In
Smyrna Beach, Fla. . . .
is the new name of the old Twin City at
Sandersville, which was opened April 20 by
Clyde Nihiser . Kenny, UA, spent
the weekend in Greenville, S. C, with her son
and his family.
WOMPI news: President Stella Poulnot
presided at the luncheon meeting at the
Variety Club April 25. Highlights of the
meeting was discussion of WOMPI participation
in Old Newsboy Day, jointly sponsored
by Atlanta newspapers and Variety Tent 21
for the benefit of the Cerebral Palsy School
on May 18. Last year $75,000 was collected
for the school. Also discussed were club plans
for participation in the joint Georgia-Alabama
Theatre Owners convention. Atlanta
saluted the Jacksonville, Fla., WOMPI on
its birthday last week. The Atlanta club was
very proud of this as it was instrumental
in starting the club in Jacksonville, and the
Toronto, Canada, club, which held its first
anniversary dinner last week.
Hazard Reeves, president of Cinerama and
native Atlantan, was principal speaker at the
spring meeting of the Society of Motion Picture
and TV Engineers recently at the
Georgia Tech Architecture building. Reeves
showed one of the cameras used in Cinerama.
He is a graduate of Georgia Tech .
Stars of the Georgia-filmed "Goodbye, My
Lady" were in Atlanta the day following the
film's world premiere in Albany, Ga. Brandon
DeWilde. Walter Brennan and William Hopper,
son of Hedda, were here for a series of
personal appearances at the Paramount Theatre
where the picture was shown.
The Fulton County unit of the Cancer fund
of which John H. Stembler, Atlanta showman,
is local chairman, kicked off a fund raising
campaign recently. Stembler was given a
check for $5,000 by Mrs. Eula Morett, president
of the Women's Allied Beverages Industries,
at the annual ball held at the
Dinkler-Plaza Hotel . visiting
the Row recently were Paul Engler, Engler
Theatres, Birmingham: Leroy Rollins, Rogers,
Montgomery: Louis Rosenbaum, Muscle
Shoals Theatres, Florence; Mrs. Ruby Howell,
BOXOFFICE

. . . On
Oscar
:
. .
Top Drive-In. Samson: R. M. Kennedy. Kennedy
Theatres. Birmingham, all from Alabama;
Oscar Howell jr.. Belmont Hills.
Smyi-na: Hugh Prince, Co- At -Co Theatres.
Toccoa: W W. Fincher. Fincher Theatres.
Chat.sworth and Tommie Lam. Lam
Amusements. Rome, and Moon Corker. Alps
Road Drive-In. Athens, all from Georgia.
K&B Soda Co., popular Filmrovv gathering
place for many yeai-s. changed hands when
Mrs. Abe Brown, widow of Abe Brown, .sold
the business to Emory Stanford. Stanford
was formerly with Electric Sales Co.. also
. Sara Masden,
located near Filmrow
former employe of United Artists, has returned
to work, replacing Betty Landers,
who accepted a pasition with Georgia Theatres
United Artists employes enjoyed
. . . a barbecue at the home of Bob Tarwater.
sales manager, Saturday (14i
. . . Frank
Lowery. Columbia salesman, has resigned to
join the staff of "Snake" Richardson at Astor
Pictures.
Joe Johnson, MGM booker, recently promoted
to publicist with headquarters in New
Orleans, has resigned. His future plans were
not announced . . . W. B. Zoellner, onetime
manager of MGM in Atlanta and now head
of the short subjects department in the home
office, visited the Atlanta exchange . . .
Byron Adams, United Artists manager,' was
in Jacksonville, meeting with W. J. Heineman,
vice-president in charge of distribution.
.Applications for WOMPI membership
for the following were approved at the
April board meeting of Women of the Motion
Picture Industry: Opal Tate, Wil-Kin:
Dorothy Eller. MGM. and Joyce Stokes, Republic.
"Snake" Richardson of Astor pictures,
got a new desk and donated his old one, plus
six chairs, to WOMPI for use in the new
meeting room. WOMPI's are delighted that
Nell Allen, former president, will soon be
back at work and in the swing of things.
Frankie English, the first Atlanta WOMPI to
receive her insignia pin. is proudly showing
it to friends.
The Clayton. Clayton, and Brundidge. Brundidee.
both in Alabama, have been taken
over by McLendon Theatres from Olin Evans
of Florala. Ala., according to Phil Richardson,
McLendon booker, recently on the Row
March 31 the Palace. Monterey. Tenn..
was sold by D. A. Darwin of Cookeville.
Tenn., to Dooley Sims, operator of the Ball,
Grlmsley, Tenn.
SERVICE
and
COURTESY
For over 20 irMri
OUR WATCH WORD
•CENTURY rN?.^|'o{.°N"D'
STRONG laTps
CONCESSION EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES
STANDARD THEATRE SUPPLY CO,
Tenth McElroy Airer
In Shreveport Area
SHREVEPORT—Thomas E. McElroy assumed
operation of the Sunset Drive-In
Thursday (19i, bringing to ten the number of
theatres he is operating in Greater Shreveport.
G. H. Mercer of Shreveport was owner
and operator of the Sun.set, McElroy said
that no change will be made in operating
policy or personnel at the drlve-in. McElroy
added that the equipment from the Kings
Drive-In. which he purchased earlier this
year and dismantled, has been moved to
Agurs for possible future opening of a theatre
there if one i.s warranted.
MEMPHIS
John Eaton, owner of the Normal Theatre
here, also has taken over operation of the
Rialto Theatre from James Augustine . . .
Mrs. Nate Evans. 52, whose husband has an
interest in the Idlewild and W. C. Handy
theatres here, died . . . Mo.ses SUman has
bought the Delta Drive-In at Osceola from
Mrs. Violet Martiji. He also owns the Murr
at Osceola and the Lux at Luxora.
Grady Cook, owner of the Joy Theatre at
Pontotoc. Miss., and a newspaper publisher
there, died . . . Exhibitors visiting Filmrow
included J. M. Mounger. Mart, Calhoun City:
Mrs. J. C. Noble. Temple, Leland, and R. B.
Cox, Eureka. Batesville, all from Mississippi:
R. L. Norman, Kentucky Lake Drive-In.
Benton, Ky., and Missourians Lyle Richmond,
Richmond, Senath, and John P. Ray, Palace,
Kennett.
From Tennessee came E. S. Pollock. Strand.
Hohenwald: Amelia Ellis, Frayser Drive-In,
Millington, and W. F. Ruffin, Ruffin, Covington,
and from Arkansas were Robert Carpenter,
Sunset Drive-In, Hamburg: W. C. Sumpter.
Strand, Lepanto: J. A. McWilliams. Rialto
and Majestic, El Dorado; Don Landers, Radio.
Harrlsburg, and William Ellas, Murr, Osceola.
Glen Lambert Is Named
To Shamrock Co. Post
WINTER PARK, FLA.—Glen Lambert,
formerly with Walt Disney and Warner Bros.,
has been named the new production manager
for Shamrock Pictures, according to
Thomas Casey, president.
Lambert, who has spent
his lifetime in the
film industry, has produced more than 60
feature films and over 400 short subjects.
He has worked as producer-director for Paramount,
20th-Fox and Universal. He also
wrote and directed many films for Hal Roach
Studios and MGM.
Shamrock Studios recently constructed a
large studio operation containing three sound
stages, full recording facilities, film laboratories,
apartment and restaurant facilities.
Stateline Drive-In Opens
ELIZABETHTON. TENN.— Earl Boiling has
opened the Stateline Drivc-In here for the
season. The first show begins at 7 p.m.. with
a -second
feature shown at 9:05 p.m.
ftttllMeUltltA...
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The comfort of international
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Extra long backs of International's
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Maintenance is reduced, as scuffing
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When planning your seating or re*
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Airer Holds Birthday Fete
MOBILE, ALA.—Free balloons for kiddies,
free gum and prizes w-ere features of the
fifth anniversary celebration at the Air-Sho
Drive-In Theatre. All tots under 12 also were
given a free ride on the ferris wheel or the
electric pony merry-go-round which are features
of the new playground.
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BOXOFFICE

. . , The
Fkm Set of Rules, Rigidly Enforced,
Eliminates His Teenage Problems
MIAMI—The teenager problem in theatres,
now more or less in the national spotlight,
is
a controversial situation handled variously
by managers in this locality. Free discussion
of common problems brings out interesting
fn BOOKIOG OfflCE
Experience — Industry — Integrity
ALBERT E. ROOK, Owne
160 Walton st. n.w
tel. alpine 8314
p.o. box 1422
atlanta,
ga.
YOUR ORDERS FOR
SPECIAL
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SNOWBALL
SYRUPS & CUPS
ROY SMITH CO.
TAMPA
JACKSONVILLE
viewpoints. As Dana Bradford, manager of
Wometco's Rosetta Theatre, expresses it, "If
you're managing a neighborhood house running
kid shows, you've fii-st of all got to
like kids well enough to understand them a
little bit and keep a sympathetic attitude."
A few bad ones can make all the rest look
bad, too. unless they're seen as individuals,
not in a mass.
Bradford, who feels
he's only carrying out
circuit policies and following methods of his
fellow managers, says the youngsters catch on
very fast. A manager should set a certain
behavior pattern for his theatre and then
see that it's enforced. Be friendly, but also
be firm as a rock. The trouble-making teenager,
the one who won't conform to the rules
—keep him out. Far from getting a manager
roundly disliked, it gets him respected!
Bradford kept one boy out of the theatre
a year and a half, at the end of which time
the boy came, figuratively, with his hat in
his hand and a voluntary promise, "I was
sure wrong. I won't give you any more
trouble." Bradford says he's far from being
the only manager in town who's had the
.same experience under similar circumstances.
••You'll never lose," he says, "by keeping
an orderly theatre on matinee days." It's a
bad attitude, he believes, for a theatreman to
set himself against the teenager as a class.
It's
not constructive and there's no future in
it. There's always that bad minority, it's true.
There are bad ringleaders. Deal with these
and don't give an inch. Instead of losing
customers you'll gain—and chances are the
bad ones will come back chastened. Bradford
says he doesn't feel he's doing anything different
from other of the circuit's managing
staff.
His attitude on that is: That's what the
company pays us for—to run an orderly theatre
for everyone. It's part of the job.
Proof of the pudding lies in the fact that
for special pictures, the Rosetta draws 300 on
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JOHN WAYNE - RANDOLPH SCOTT
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JACKSONVILLE
NEW ORLEANS
a Saturday afternoon, and has a high average
attendance on any ordinary occasion. Admission
is
15 cents up to 12 years, and 30 cents for
students. For Saturdays the theatre is
divided
into sections—adults to the left, children in
another section, teenagers in another.
There are always two to three ushers on
the floor, and one stays only in the teenage
section.
The staff has been well trained and
follows instructions as laid out in the circuit's
manual to cover almost any situation that
may arise.
Ushers are constantly going up and down
the aisles and nothing out of line is
tolerated.
"It's a funny thing," says Bradford, "but
being firm seems to pay off every way. We
find that when you put out one bad one
you gain about ten good ones. Authority is
respected by the teenager, we have found,
when he knows it's his individual bad behavior
you're against, not the fact he's a
teenager and you're against him on principle.
They may not show it at the time, but most
of them respect the firm hand and come
around later in a different frame of mind.
"All the boys," says Bradford, meaning his
fellow circuit managers, "work hard at this
problem. You've got to if you run matinees."
Being on the job, never relaxing vigilance,
having a specific set of do's and don'ts and
absolutely enforcing them (no whispering
together, no arm acro-ss the back of the next
seat, no moving around from one section
to etc.), another, these are things that must
be done as a matter of course by the manager
whose job it is to cater to the filmgoing
public of which the teenager is a part just
like anyone else.
SAVANNAH
•The Palms Drive-In, dark for several
months, has been reopened by the Dixie
Drive-In Co., with Lewis Hickman as manager,
transferred from the downtown State.
Andrew Sullivan is city manager for Dixie
Drive-In, and also recently reopened the
Circle . . . Area exhibitors are watching results
in Washington of efforts to get the
federal tax on admissions eliminated. Several
have written their representatives. Congressman
Prince Preston has indicated full support.
After a court battle, wrestling has been
resumed at the new Sports Arena. The local
promotor, denied use of the new facility,
had claimed a verbal contract with the
owners which was upheld in a court ruling.
••Ice Follies of 1956," the first show to go
into the Arena, drew good crowds during its
week run ... A three-week revival meeting
has been scheduled for the City Auditorium,
which is expected to cut into the
boxoffices of drive-ins and some of the indoor
theatres.
Exec'tive offices for the Weis Theatres
have been moved from upstairs at the Weis
Theatre to a suite on the ground floor adjoining
the main entrance to the theatre
Kirma mind-reading act was presented
at the Highway 80 Drive-In . . .
The
Avon offered one of the southern premieres
of ••Goodbye. My Lady" which was filmed
just 125 miles from here.
Senator Walter F. George has advised all
Georgia exhibitors that he will work for
repeal of the tax on admissions.
BOXOFFICE :
: April 28, 1956

we
. . Max
. . Recent
Film Column Written
By Lillian Claughton
Invited by Miami Herald amusement
editor George Bourke to sub for liim
071 one day of his vacation, Mrs. Lillian
Claughton. president of Claughton
Theatres, turned in a column headlined.
"How Movies Met Challenge of
TV." and subheaded, "But Now High
Costs Pose a Neiv Threat." The column
is reprinted here.
Several years ago. whenever group conversation
turned to the movies, invariably, predominantly,
you heard. "I NEVER go to the
movies anymore."
This was foreboding conversation to those
of us who make a living from those of you
who used to go to the movies. People were
staying home, people of all ages.
GROSSES CONFIRMED FACT
Our boxoffice confirmed this fact with
cold, cruel, indisputable figures. What with
entertainment in their own living rooms via
television, encompassng in its appeal the
Lone Ranger set through the intelligentsia
following of Omnibus, why leave home?
As time passed, television became a permanent,
welcomed part in our new way of life
and as such iwhen time payments had been
completed
I restless human beings began
to look around for somewhere to go. But
and alack—during these years just past,
alas
servants had practically disappeared from the
average household. Grandmothers and old
maid aunts are no longer old ladies who sit
at home.
There was just no one to leave with the
children. After all, most of the movies offered
were not good enough to warrant the extra
cost of a baby sitter, plus parking charges
and last but not least, the effort to dress and
go to town. Drive-ins began to flourish and
what could be more natural? Drive-ins were
the answer to the three problems which the
downtown indoor theatre could not solve:
babysitting, parking and "dressing up."
This was all very well for the drive-ins,
but indoor theatres were apparently heading
slowly but surely for oblivion unless something
could be done to save them. There was
an epidemic of indoor theatre doldrums, but
all of those affected have not died.
OFFERED GREAT FILMS
The motion picture producers got busy and
very soon came forth with motion pictures so
boro: Mrs. Margaret Smith, Benson: V. L.
great, that, presented through the media of
Hill. High Point: Ben Allen, Greensboro: Joe
large screens, they caused people once again
to stand in line tor a seat to the movies. We
Accardi, Morganton, all of North Carolina.
also found that these very good movies, on
the very large screens, could stay in their
On Filmrow from South Carolina were J. L.
Hyatta, Midway, Lancaster: Everett Olsen,
temporary theatre homes for weeks, even
Windy Hill Beach: H. E. Wessinger, Lexington:
months, where in the past a movie happily
C. B. Andrews, Sumter: Pat Patterson.
stayed a few days or a week at the longest and
Rock Hill: Sam Bogo. Batesburg, and Harold
was merrily on its way, having been replaced
Armistead, Easley.
with "our next coming attraction."
Mrs. Rosaline Hutton, chief inspector at
Is the patient cured? Well, no, not fullyalive,
Columbia and business agent of Local B-33, is
yes, but cured? No!
The producers of motion pictures are charging
Mrs. Elsie
such high film rentals that in many in-
a
Duncan, mother of Myrtle Parker, president
stances, the indoor theatre exhibitor finds
himself feeling much like the money changer,
with costs so high that the money is received
in the boxoffice and passed through
make a profit on his investment. Either the
producers will find a way to deliver their
product with less cost to the exhibitor or the
exhibitor must pass this cost on to you, dear
public.
If there is a $1 admission to be found hereabouts
land there is) you better hurry and
buy your ticket, for methinks you'll find
your.'ielf paying $2, $3 and maybe mortv
CHARLOTTE
A II North Carolimi theatre owners are cooperating
with the safety division of the
North Carolina State Highway Department
by playing three specially prepared traffic
safety films. Actor Jmimy Stewart stars in
the first film to be released, to be followed
by Jack Webb and Dick Powell in the other
two. The reels were filmed in Hollywood
especially for the governor's traffic safety
council. Theatre owners in North Carolina
is feel that this a vital public service which
they can render. Showings began Sunday
(22).
High winds blew down the screens of the
Sunset Drive-In, Hobgood. N. C. and the
Badin Road Drive-In, Albemarle. Plans are
under way for rebuilding. Considerable damage
was reported to screen towers throughout
North and South Carolina ... A. Fuller Sams
jr., Statesville Theatre Corp. general manager,
is a grandfather for the fii'st time. The
new baby is the child of Sam's daughter and
son-in-law.
A scroll of commendation was presented to
the directors of Theatre Owners of North and
South Carolina at the recent regular meeting
by Robert Jones, state director of the National
Foundation for Infantile Paralysis. The scroll
was an expression of appreciation by the
foundation to all theatres who participated in
"Popcorn for Polio" day January 19, when
popcorn receipts were turned over to the
local chapters as donations to the polio fund.
Frank Harris, industry representative for thi.s
area, also was present for the scroll presentation.
Max Reinhardt of Reinhardt Enterprises,
booking agency, has been hospitalized for
more than a week . Filmrow visitors
included T. Y. Walker. State Theatre, Greenville:
Sam D. Trincher, Charlotte: Howard
B. McNally, Fayetteville; H. E. Buchanan.
Hendersonville: R. A. Howell, Smithfield:
Sam L. Irvin. Asheville: H. Fin Lee, Warsaw:
Roy Rowe, Burgaw; O. T. Kii-by, Rox-
of WOMPI, has been seriously ill, but is
recovering . Price, booker at Paramount,
has moved to his new home on
Albemarle road.
the exhibitor's hands to the distributing
source and thence to the producer.
Walter Lord's unpublished book, "East
There still is the serious problem of the Wind, Rain," may be filmed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
exhibitor's survival and to survive he must
CS at Bushnell Victory
BUSHNELL, PLA. — CinemaScope equipment
has been installed at the Victory.
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BOXOFFICE April 1956

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READ BOXOFHCE WANT ADS!
JACKSONVILLE
T aMar Sarra, Florida State Theatres vicepresident,
said the 1,200-seat downtown
Palace, closed indefinitely the night of > April
1. will be demolished within the next 100
days. FST will use the ground space, he said,
as a parking lot for the remaining four FST
houses in the nearby downtown section. The
Florida Times-Union, morning newspaper,
printed a nostalgic editorial about the Palace
which paid tribute to the theatre's important
role in the city's development.
Tubby Watson's Oceanway Drive-In made
a generous donation to the Oceanway School
in the form of a benefit performance . . .
The first run of "Rock Around the Clock" at
the Imperial was marked by the erection of
a complete false front for the theatre, the
first it had had in many years . . . Cohen
Bros, department store ran big newspaper
ads to announce its two fashion shows held
on stage at the Florida on the opening day
1 of "The Swan" in cooperation with the
Patricia Stevens Modeling School and Jim
Levine, Florida manager . . . Independent
booker Jack Rigg has moved into a newoffice
at 901 Lynch Bldg. . . . Roy Smith,
theatre supplier, spent several days visiting
exhibitors in south Georgia.
WOMPI members celebrated the first anniversary
of the local club the night of April
20 in Fred Abood's Steer Room, with Sarah
Keller. MGM, presiding at the speakers' table.
Edith Prescott. Paramount, was given a
number of gifts in appreciation for the extensive
club work she had done during the
past year. Making the presentation was
Janice Claxton. eastern regional director. A
talk on WOMPI aims was given by Marjorie
Edenfield, MGM. It was announced that Ida
Bell Levy, UA, has been added to the board
of directors following the resignation of
Marian Stowe, Parainount. Special guests at 350-Car Airer Is Planned
the banquet, bosses of WOMPI members, included
By Mid-Tenn. Amusement
Carl Carter. Fred Hull, Ed Chumley,
Walter Mock, Cam Price, Gene Hudgens, Jack
Rigg, Marty Kutner, Max Stepkin, Earl Tur-
in this area, has announced plans to build a
byfil and Walter Johnson. Several congratulatory
350-.car drive-in theatre near Cowan. Ernest
wires were received from other
WOMPI groups and from Variety clubmen.
An informal party at Variety headquarters
Martin, of Winchester, vice-president of the
company, said his firm has purchased a 24-
Highway acre tract of land on 41-A, near
in the Hotel Roosevelt followed the banquet.
the city limits, as the site for the amusement
Showmen here on business were Jimmy center. Martin said construction is expected
Biddle, Jasper: Bob Skaggs, St. Augustine:
A. H. Gawthrop, Palatka: Harold Popel, West
Palm Beach and Gainesville; Lee Henry,
ZephyrhilLs: Ed Roberts, Gainesville: Harry
Dale, Lake Butler: R. C. Mullis, High Springs,
and Ray F. Mackes, Okeechobee . . . Dave
Prince, RKO district manager in Atlanta,
wa.s in town for a few days . P.
Tidwell. 20th-Fox manager, postponed a trip
to Miami to await the arrival of Alex Harrison,
new 20th-Fox general sales manager,
who is making a tour of branch offices.
Phyllis McCutcheon, Harvey Garland's
secretary at FST, became the bride of William
Haley at a nuptial mass in a Catholic chapel
of the local Naval Air Station on April 21.
They left for a week's honeymoon, destination
unknown, after which Mrs. Haley planned to
return to her FST post.
CS at Gold Coast Ozoner
DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.—The Gold
Coast Drive-In has been equipped with a new
Cinemascope .screen and projection machine.
WOMPI OF YEAK—Seen above at left
is Mrs. Stella Poulnot. receiving the
trophy for Atlanta WOMPI of the Year,
from Mrs. Laura Kenny. This is the
Laura Kenny annual award based on
service, loyalty, interest and attendance.
Mrs. Poulnot is president of the Atlanta
Club of Women of the Motion Picture
Industry.
Memphis Gives 'Suit'
150 in Second Week
MEMPHIS—"The Man ui the Gray Flannel
Suit." at the State, did 150 per cent of
average business in its second week and was
held for a third week. "Anything Goes," at
the Strand, scored 125.
(Average Is 100)
Maico Hot Blood (Col) 85
Palace—The Killer Is Loose 90
(UA)
State The Mon in the Gray Flannel Suit (20th-
Fox), 2nd wk 150
Strand Anything I 25
Goes (Para)
Warner Serenade (WB) 90
COWAN, TENN.—Mid-Tennessee Amusement
Co., which operates a chain of theatres
to start in
the near future and completion of
the drive-in is anticipated later this spring.
Mid-Tennessee Amusement now- operates
theatres at Winchester. Tullahoma, McMinnville,
Sparta, Dayton, Smithville, Lawrenceburg
and Dickson. Officers of the firm, in
addition to Martin, are Mrs. R. T. Hill, Tullahoma,
president, and James Cardwell. Sparta,
secretary-treasurer.
Combats Slow Business
With Extra Promotions
ZEPHYRHILLS. FLA.—The Home Theatre,
owned and operated by Lee Henry, is running
a bargain night program once a week. Another
idea he has for boosting attendance
is to offer a special price for elderly people.
The little town has a number of retired people,
and the lower price is an inducement
for them to visit
the theatre.
Henry states that something has to be
done to keep up attendance, as busine.ss is
off about 25 per cent this year.
BOXOFFICE

25th Anniversary Is
Celebrafed With a Birthday Week
Texas Theatre in Dallas Offers Special Entertainment and Prizes
DALLAS—Oak differs have been exposed
to a week-long birthday party the past week
as the Texas Theatre
celebrated its silver anniversary.
Special display
signs on each side
of the entrance proclaimed
"A Solid Week
of Hit Shows," while
an e n t r a n c e-\v i d e
herald under the marquee
carried an anniversary
medallion and
the words "Silver Anniversary"
in gigantic
letters. A ten-foot Bill Samuels
high standing sign announced
free door prizes daily, five double
orchid corsages and one Duncan Hines barbecue
grill.
Under a headline reading "Salute to Texas
Theatre," an editorial in the Oak Cliff
Tribune had these words of praise for the
showhouse
NINE THEATRES IN CIRCUIT
"It is
a privilege to salute one of our neighbors
on its 25th birthday this week. Exactly
25 years ago, the Texas Theatre threw open
its door to the people of Oak Cliff.
Since that
time, the attractive theatre has served the
community continuously. It is still the top
Cliff showhouse of the nine-house chain operated
in our community by Rowley United
Theatres.
"The Texas has been more than an amusement
enterprise for profit. Frequently, year
in and year out, the 1,900-seat cinema house
has been used for fund-raising shows of the
leading service clubs, for special religious
services, for community meetings and a host
of other civic activities. The men in this
organization have frequently been associated
with projects and di'ives which deserve support.
From President John Rowley through
City Manager John Callahan, Texas Manager
Bill Samuels, Projectionist Jasper Barron and
Publicist George Henger there have been
many examples of interest in the welfare of
our community shown.
A GOOD NTIIGHBOK
The Texas Theatre has been a good neighbor
and we wish it continued success during
the next 25 years."
Shown during the birthday week were
"Backlash," "The Littlest Outlaw." and
"Picnic." During the entire celebration a
nostalgic sound was heard—the theatre organ
broke its silence as Earl Kay played between
shows.
The first customers of the theatre on its
opening day in 1931 were the children of Oak
Chff. This special opening matinee was the
idea of C. R. "Uncle Mack" McHem-y, partner
and managing director of the Hughes-Franklin
circuit house. Uncle Mack was a showman
known for his interest in children anci
he had repeatedly said that if and when he
opened a new theatre the first performance
would be reserved for the youngsters. So
large were the crowds for the Texas that two
additional programs had to be shown on the
first day.
In the projection booth that day was Jasper
BOXOFFICE :
: April 28. 1956
Barron, who f
Buster Kealon i
John A. Callahan
first sequences of
Jedroom and Bath"
John Rowley
on the new screen. Since that time with only
vacation intervals Barron, now assisted by
his brother Lawrence, has averaged projecting
five feature pictures weekly in addition to
half a dozen cartoons, newsreels and kindred
short subjects. How much film have the
Barron brothers run through the projector at
the Texas? Jasper's conservative estimate
is approximately 70.000 miles of film.
Two years after the Texas opened, the late
Uncle Mack McHenry retired, selling his
interest to Robb and Rowley Theatre, the
predece.ssor company of Rowley United, which
now operates the house.
This Rowley United house, second
largest theatre in Dallas, was the scene
of a week-long birthday party on the
occasion of its 25th year of continuous
operation.
SW
A factor in the perennial popularity of the
Texas with its patrons has been lUs policy of
continued improvements which have kept it
abreast with— and often ahead of— its competition.
Several years ago the house was clo.sed
for ten days while the entire house was
given a new decor treatment by interior
decorators. At the same time the lower floor
was reseated, with the new chairs placed
farther apart to insure maximum comfort.
The theatre's parking area on Sun.set .street
was hard topped for better parking and the
cooling system was stepped up to 200-ton
capacity. The huge curved screen, largest of
the suburban theatres, was one of the first
installations of its type. Stereophonic sound
with around-theatre speakers accompanied
the newer projection processes.
On hand during anniversary week was John
A. Callahan, city manager of the Rowley
United Oak Cliff theatres. Before coming to
Oak Cliff, Callahan was city manager of the
Waxahachie theatres and has also served the
company in Palestine. He recently was
honored by his firm for 20 years of service.
Only two other city managers have guided the
destinies of the Texas since its opening. W.
Lloyd Pullen held the post for 14 years,
beginning in 1936 and ending when he was
elevated to the post of manager director at
Little Rock. Ark. Two years ago Pullen again
was promoted to district manager for the
Rowley Theatres of North Texas. Oklahoma
and Arkansas. Pi'ior to PuUen's arrival in
Oak Cliff in 1936. George Spence served as
city manager for tw^o years.
Texas Theatre Manager W. S. Samuels, a
good-natured 230-pound resident of these
parts, grew up in the theatre business and
knows every facet of the operation from running
the big 1.900-seat house to popping the
corn or designing the art work.
While he has been at the Texas only a few
years, his managerial experience extends over
the state of Texas from Beaumont. Longview
and other spots to Memphis where for several
years he handled big first run houses for the
Malco operation.
Son of Drive-In Owner
Barney Holt Killed
ELKHART. KAS.—Airman second class
Barney Holt jr.. 21-yeaj--old son of Mr. and
Mrs. Barney Holt sr. of the Sands Drive-In
Theatre here, was kiUed in an automobile
accident north of Texhoma, Okla., Sunday
(15).
The au-man was stationed at the Amaxillo
.•\ir Force Base. The funeral was held at the
Auent Funeral Home in Muskogee, with the
Rev. Lloyd McMillan, pastor of the Boulevard
christian Church, officiating. Burial was in
Memorial Pai-k cemetery, with full military
honors by Air Force units from 'nnker Field
in Oklahoma City.
His younger brother, Airman Jack W. Holt,
and Barney's wife Betty Sue, who were with
him at the time of the accident, were not injured.
Besides his wife, his parents and his
brother Jack. Barney is survived by another
brother Donald, a sergeant in the Marine
Corps, and his grandparents. Mr. and Mrs.
W. R. Casey of Morris. Okla.
59

. . . Herman
. . Jimmy
. . W.
DALLAS
pviin Lawson. president, explained the sign in
the Associated Popcorn Distributors window
which reads: "For rent, apply within."
"We are going to move within the next nine
months to our new location in which our
office and warehouse will be in the same
building. We shall be able to service our
customers better and reduce our overhead at
the same time. We can actually move into
our new quarters immediately, but we are
obligated at this address for the next nine
months. We can pass on a very substantial
saving, which will include a loss on our part,
to anyone who can use such space as we
now occupy at 308 South Harwood."
Loia Cheaney, a WAVE in the Naval Reserve,
returned from a two-week tour which
included the Alameda and Coronado naval
air stations at San Diego and Alameda. Calif.
Beiersdorf of the Beiersdorf Distributing
Co. left on a trip to Kansas City,
Chicago and other midwestern cities. Natalie
Beiersdorf is in Mexico City on vacation. Ben
Cammer was on a sales trip through south
Texas and San Antonio . Boyle,
who has been working on "Guys and Dolls,"
returned from Paris, Tex., and then left for
Denison and Big Spring.
John Calvert, president of First National
Distributors, was here negotiating a release
deal with Herman Beiersdorf for "Dark Venture"
. . . Kyle Rorex, executive director, and
Sue Bemiingfield have been hard at work the
last ten days answering mail and telephone
calls from exhibitors about the grassroots
tax elimination campaign of which R. J.
O'Donnell is national chairman . . . The
WOMPI was to hold its annual election Thursday
(26). The new officers will be installed
in June.
Drue Wolfe is the new secretary and clerk
in the Weisenbiu-g Theatres office . . . Fire
destroyed the Rio Theatre in Frisco last week
at an estimated loss of $15,000. The theatre
was not occupied at the time of the fire. It
is owned by C. E. Barnes . W. Lewis and
Milt Overman. Cinerama Corp., have been
arranging for the opening of "Seven Wonders
of the World" the week of April 30. Monday
night there will be a press and trade preview,
with the fiist showing to the public Tuesday
featuring an array of bands, searchlights and
radio interviews. Wednesday performances
will be sponsored by the Dallas Symphony
Society to benefit its operating fund. Early
Saturday morning a special screening has
been arranged for Catholic priests and nuns.
The monthly meeting of the Variety Club,
originally called for April 30, has been called
off on account of the Variety International
convention. Members ai-e reminded again of
the golf tournament which will be held at
Glen Lakes Country Club May 21 . . . Jan
Baldwin and Don Mcllhenry, SMU students
who will be maiTied in June, were the first
couple to sign the special scroll in the Palace
Theatre lobby wishing Grace Kelly and Prince
Rainier happiness and a successful marriage.
The scroll was to remain during the run of
"The Swan," then be mailed to the couple.
BOWLING
DALLAS—Bill Bond, MGM, took the single
and three-game highs with 220 and 602.
Helen Davidson, Tower, took the women's
high single and three-game series with 192
and 511.
MGM took single game and three-game
high with 695 and 1,955. Team standings are:
Teom
Won Lost
65 59

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. banish your troubles
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why the major exhibitors depend on CENTURY. It is
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Records from exhibitors the world over prove the high
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To find out how you can get belter projection and
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BOXOFFICE

MOSE-ING
THROUGH
When the Stanley Warner Cinerama Corp.
announced plans to sublease the 1,872-seat
Dallas Melba from Trans-Texas more than
two years ago for the
year and three days of performances. The 22
months of operation have run up a total of
more than 700,000 paid admissions.
William W. Lewis, managing director of
the Texas Cinerama Corp., premieres "The
Seven Wonders of the World" Tuesday night
(1). "It should have been titled 'The Seventy
Wonders of the World,' " he said, "and it has
o««^
Central & West Texas
BE A LONESOME
SHOWMAN
.By EARL MOSELEY.
WARM THOSE EMPTY SEATS
WITH PATRONS
Sock PROMOnOM IDfAS IftING
seiTRAILERI
WILL KEEP 'EM COMIN
four times more selling possibilities than the
former production."
Bill Lewis has been with Cinerama in Dallas
13th installation of the
since its opening in 1954. He began as public
p.ew screen phenomenon,
the general con-
relations supervisor, which included promoting
group sales for schools, clubs, etc. Eight
census throughout the
trade area was
months later he assumed his present title.
that it
Lewis is from Kansas City where, in 1927, he
would do well to last six
months. However, the
began his show business career as treasurer
in
Elm street showcase
a legitimate playbill theatre. But, since
has ali-eady completed
such
a ten-month run of
"Tills Is Cinerama"
g,M
theatres were operated seasonally and
he had to eat all year, he decided to get into
the motion picture theatre, which he did.
and will end
With his education at the University of Kansas
"Cinerama
Holiday" Sunday
and the University of Oklahoma behind
William W. Lewis night i29> after one
him. Bill went to New York with Paramount
Publix and worked ai-ound theatres in
Yonkers and Poughkeepsie until he was
transferred to the Metropolitan in Houston
in 1929. Later he came to Dallas for the circuit
and managed the Old Mill; the Aztec in
San Antonio was his next assignment, then
back to Dallas to the Old Mill again, as well
as the Melba, the site of his present assignment.
Departing from the theatre for a time he
did not actually take leave of show business.
He did freelance publicity, which included
promotion for the de luxe Baker and Adolphus
hotels in Dallas. When the Texas Centennial
was in progress, he handled the publicity for
"The Black Forest."
After three years of exploitation for Wai'-
ner Bros, out of the Dallas exchange Lewis
went nito the Aii- Force dm'ing World War
II. When he was discharged, he became
drumbeater for United Ai-tists for five yeai-s.
He took charge of the Dallas Capitan in 1948
and he remained there until 1953.
Lewis then handled promotion for Uniersal
on "The Glenn Miller Story," and followed
that with the roadshow campaign for
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70 Jennings Avenue—Phone EDison 3351
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302 S. HARWOOD
Co.
MGM's "Julius Caesar."
Cinerama.
After that he joined
Bill has had newspaper experience, too
tin-owing them! Before he was 10 he had such
a job in Kansas City for $1.75-$2 per week
with Ben Snlyen. While Bill Lewis went on to
Cinerama, Shlyen now is editor-in-chief and
publisher of BOXOFFICE.
Speaking of newspapers, Texas Cinerama
places ads in 82 dailies. This is handled by
Milton L. Overman, the public relations man,
and he .sets into the Fort Worth papers equal
linage with the Dallas editions. Fort Worth,
32 miles west, has a Cinerama boxoffice located
in the Texas Hotel lobby and there is a
direct telephone line to the Dallas counterpart
for immediate reservations.
Another patron convenience is the "charge
it" system. All authorized oil company credit
cards are honored and the patron is billed
through them.
The enterprize, which employs a staff of 55,
features something entirely different in sales
approach for theatres, but that was necessary
to make it the longest running roadshow on
film in history.
The Melba was the Cinerama choice of the
southwest for several reasons. Fu-st, the location
was all important. The directors of the
corporation had learned that it is imperative
for them to locate in a metropolitan di-awing
area at a most fa.shionable point of the main
street. A side street operation has proven
to be only half as successful. And, too, the
building must be such that, after the projection
rooms are installed on the main floor,
there will not be undue loss of seating. The
stage, or front of the building, must be wide
enough for the huge screen.
The Melba provided these necessities. Situated
between Interstate's Majestic and Tower
on theatre row, it was for several years operated
by that circuit. Even then it was a
"house of roadshows." Such attractions as
"Gone With the Wind" and "Duel in the Sun"
had first and long runs there, and many
Broadway road companies had their attractions
booked for its stage. The initial Dallas
3-D booking, "Bwana Devil," was shown at
the theatre.
Interstate had to dispose of it in 1953 under
government direction, and the new owner
it leased to Ti-ans-Texas, who operated it
the advent of Cinerama.
until
Tlie loss of seating amounted to 550, which
left a total of 1.322. The house manager is
John A. Altermann and Larry Postal is the
treasurer.
The Melba has foin- projection rooms now,
and a console to direct each one for the
simultaneous rma. The concave screen, six
times larger than the original 1.33 to 1 ratio,
is invisibly divided into three sectons. and the
three projectors on the ground floor level are
threaded with 8.000-foot reels of film that
cross project their images into one large picture.
Booth 4 is the orginal Melba projection
room in the upper balcony, and it is now used
for the prolog runs and the six-track magnetic
tape reproducer for the sound which
comes from speakers set strategically over the
auditorium.
Ernie D. Gaw is the technician in charge of
the projection setup. Many area exhibitors
and projectionists became acquainted with
Gaw when he was a sound service man for
RCA and later for Altec.
Both of the men who control the console
panel were originally projectionists who
worked in the Melba several years prior to
April 28, 1956

. . . Mary
. . represented
. , Variety
Cineriima. R. P. Baker and J. G. Sinz direct
each performance from the panel located in
the auditorium neai- the center projection
room. Tliey watch the flashing lights that
are created by footage markers on the film
and tape: each of them must be in perfect
sync. Sinz and Baker also watch the picture
for imperfections that can be corrected, such
as the lighting.
The two projectionists assigned to the
sound reproducer ai-e Luther C. Clark and
L. S. Sauciar.
The projectionists who run the Century
Cinerama projectors, designed for a sixsprocket
frame instead of the usual four, and
tlie 146 feet per minut« speed (to eliminate
flulteri compai-ed to the regulai- 90 for other
tlieatres. are H. B. Bretel, W. W. Carpenter.
C. C. Cross, W. R. Estes, Sam Hoffman and
0. J. Moore. Each of the Sti-ong lamps pulls
90 amperes.
Nine of these men have been with the crew
since Cuierama had its beginning in Dallas.
.All of them ai-e members of Dallas operatoi-s
Local 249. The stage crew are members of
Dallas stagehands Local 127.
OKLAHOMA CITY
The Variety Club is serving lunches in its
clubroom and has engaged a combo which
plays each Saturday night following the
bingo games . . . Bernice Coley, secretary to
Cliff White at Video Theatres, quit Friday
i20i to be married April 28. Aroma McNutt.
.-secretary to Roger Rice, will take over in
White's office while Fern Rice, secretary to
C. F. Motley, will serve as both Mr. Motley's
and Mr. Rice's secretary.
Wayne Harris, office manager at National
Screen, starts on a one-week vacation Monday
(30> in Oklahoma's Roman Nose Park
Connolly, National Screen shipper,
also leaves on vacation April 30. She's going
to San Francisco.
Exhibitors in town included Bernard Mc-
Kenna, Norman; H. D. Cox, Binger; Clint
Applewhite, Carnegie: Mr. and Mrs. L. C.
Carter, Spiro: Mrs. Opal Gray, Chickasha:
Leonard White, Weatherford; Henry Simpson,
Bristow; Jack Pierce, Stigler: John
Sanders, Cleveland: S. P. Butler jr., Anadarko:
Mr. and Mrs. R. M. Freed, Valiant:
Johnny Fagan. Borger, Tex.: Dana Ryan,
Pawnee: Mrs. C. W. Duncan, Wetumka: Miss
Walsie Campbell, Wynnewood: John Hart
and Marvin Loftis, Altus: Don Abernathy,
Kingfisher; Avece Waldron Holman, Lindsay,
and Wesley Hodges, Weatherford.
Activity-Filled European
Trip for Julius Gordons
BEAUMONT, TEX.—Julius and Patti Gordon
boarded a plane for Cannes earlier this
month, he armed with credentials as a delegate
to the Cannes International Film
Festival and she, with a press card as a
special Houston Press correspondent covering
the royal wedding in Monaco. Their base
of operations is their own boat, which they
were to pick up in Cannes and sail to Monaco
harbor.
Gordon is president of the Jefferson
Amusement Co. and secretary of the Allied
Theatre Owners of America.
David Davidson, noveli.st. is penning "It's
Only a Paper Moon" for MGM.
BOXOFFICE
Sam Landrum Named
To Foundation Post
BEAUMONT, TEX. — Sam B, LancUum,
Beaumont theatre executive, was elected to
membership on tlie executive committee of
the board of directors of the Gonzales. Tex..
Warm Springs Foundation for Crippled Children
at the recent annual meeting of the
directors at the foundation haspital.
Elected to the board in 1952. Landrum now
becomes one of 13 members of the executive
group which meets monthly and directs the
operation of the $2,000,000 physical rehabilitation
center. Newly elected to the larger board
of directors are two other Beaumont residents,
Julius Gordon, president of the Jefferson
Amusement Co.. and William Blieden, president
of the Beaumont State Bank.
Landrum is vice-president and general manager
of the Jefferson Amusement Co. and
East Texas Theatres, president of Yoakum
Theatres and vice-president of the Beaumont
State Bank. He also is on the board of
directors of Family Service of Beaumont, a
member of the town planning and zoning commission
and a member of Variety International.
Loew's Airer Protested
In Residents' Petition
HOUSTON—Loew's, Inc., and developer
.
Frank Sharp are to be faced with a petition
protesting the construction of a proposed
1,200-car. $250,000 drive-in theatre in the
Sharpstown area. Tlie Shai-pstown Civic
Club is behind the protest.
The petition claims;
"We believe that such a drive-in amusement
center will destroy the residential chai'-
acter and lower property values in large portions
of section one and section nine ... At
the time we acquired our homes ... we were
furnished copies of a brochure which clearly
defines the boundaries of Sharpstown. The
only area as being available
for commercial use w-as the area bounded by
Bellai:-e boulevard. Piney Point road and the
proposed U. S. Highway 59. It is clear (from
the attached brochure) that the proposed
drive-in amusement center in section nine
is being located in an area which has been
represented as a residential area. Such a
development is in complete disregai-d of the
representation made to us."
The Civic Club al.so petitioned Loew's to
drop it.s proposal for the drive-in.
Column on Nuptials
HENNESSEY. OKLA.—"Carrie the cashier."
Mrs. G. E. Ortman. wife of the owner of
the Ortman Theatre here, devoted a recent
column, one which she writes weekly for
the Hennessey Clipper, to the Grace Kelly-
Prince Rainier wedding and the playdate of
Miss Kelly's picture "To Catch a Thief" at
the Ortman.
Opens at Tishomingo, Okla.
TISHOMINGO. OKLA.—The Chickasaw
Drive-In here has opened for the summer
sea.son. Jetty Kilmer is manager of the outdoor
theatre.
HOUSTON
nrlen*' .Mcintosh is niniiinn the Dclman
Theatre these days while waiting for
Harry Sachs and I. B. Adelman to bring
in a new manager. Ernest Buffington is no
longer there. Victor Goodwin, former assistant
manager, is reported to be in the clothing
business now , Club's Les
Kamin, Houston ad man and radio executive,
has bought radio station KAKC, Tulsa, Okla..
for his Southland Broadcasting Co., providing
the Federal Communications Commi,ssion approves
the -sale. Price is said to be about
$125,000.
"On the Threshold of Space" was ushered
into the Majestic by a spectacular air show
above the city. From 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.. F-80
Shooting Star units from the 11th Fighter-
Interceptor Squadron of the Texas Air National
Guard carried out simulated air attacks
above. In the evening the Ellington Air Force
Base band and honor guard performed in
front of the theati'e at 7 and on stage at 7:30.
Local volunteers were sworn in on stage by
Col. Lester C. Hess. Ellington wing executive
officer. A display of flying equipment and
other items were on display in the lobby during
the run.
The Shepherd Drive-In on Thursday had a
"Great Western Musical Stage Show" with
Tex Cheny and his Salt Gra.ss Trailers, a
group of Texas cowboys, with Billy Darrell
and his trained palomino, in person. Also
two films. Saturday. Manager Carl Sheffield
came up with another four-deal—four Randolph
Scott films. "Hangman's Knot." "Gunfighters."
"Fighting Man of the Plains" and
"Badman's Territory."
Swan Opens Daily at 3:15
MADISON. FLA.—The Swan Theatre here
has adopted the policy of opening its doors
at 3:15 daily for continuous showing of films,
with the exception of Saturdays and Sundays,
on which days the doors will open at 1:30
p. m.
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EASTERN OKLAHOMA
By ART LAMAN
wFE can say that Tulsa has had it^the
great Elvis Pi-esley came to town last
week (181 and created a stampede to the
Tulsa Fairgrounds Pavilion the likes of which
has never been before. Thousands of teenagers
and many adults were on hand for
both the 7 p.m. and the 9 o'clock shows. And
what shows, with Presley shaking everything!
Oh, yes, he was singing, too, with all the
teeners screaming at each and every shake.
Most of the 10,000 who went, came away
without hearing anything much on account of
noise.
The reporters had a field day. In dressing
room interviews Presley declared he is a good
boy and all the nasty things people have been
saying just aren't so. Why he doesn't even
smoke, so the newsmen came home and typed
up some jolly good copy for the newspapers,
while some of the others phoned the city
dads at Oklahoma City claiming the Presley
.show was not fit to be seen. The police
and others there were alerted, including the
.sponsors of the show, and Mr. Presley was
told to tone down his shakes that rattle and
roll—or there would be no show. Nevertheless,
more thousands turned out at Oklahoma
City to hear the ex-truck driver knock them
off the seats with "Heart Break Hotel" and
many more. Wonder what will happen at the
boxoffice when this lad is featured in a
motion picture.
We've been a fan of Tulsa Tribune editor
Richard Lloyd Jones for these many years,
we've followed his special Saturday editorials
some 16 years in all. On Saturday i21i he
came up with a dinger entitled "Changing
Show Business," in which he bemoans the
passing of the olden days when he had some
good old stage plays, with a Toby comic or the
1 YOUa ORDfRS FOR 1
SPECIAL
\
1 TRAILERS
1 GET
1 PERSONAL

: April
WAYS TO GUARD
YOUR HEART
1. AVOID SELF-DIAGNOSIS
In case of doubt see your doctor.
2. AVOID WORRY
Worrying cures or prevents
nothing.
3. AVOID OVER-FATIGUE
When you rest or sleep, your
heart's work load is lightened.
AVOID OVER-EXERTION
Exercise in moderation, particularly
if over 40.
5. AVOID OVER-WEIGHT
Excess weight loads extra work
on your ^heart.
SUPPORT YOUR HEART FUND
Your contribution advances the
nation-wide fight against the
heart diseases through research,
education and community heart
programs.
Bushnell House Is Being
Renovated by Owners
BUSHNKLI,. KI,A Umln the nw lui-slup nl
Mr. and Mrs. W. U. Wiirick the ukl Vict^jiy
Theatre has been greatly improved. The
Wirricks purchased the house In February
from Mr. and Mrs. Bill Fulton, and Immediately
stalled a program of renovation, which
though not quite complete doe.s add much to
the attractiveness of the place.
A new 25-foot Cinemascope screen has been
instiilled: projectors have been rebuilt and a
special lens for widescreen ha.s been added.
In the neoi- future all seat-s will be reupholstered
and new draperies will be added. Saturday
and Sunday matinees are offered In
addition to the evening show, but on w'eekdays
the theatre opens at 7:15 p.m. Wirrick has
been in the theatre business all his life, and
the couple formerly owned and operated a
theatre in Newberry.
Third Week of 'Sheep' Stays
Best of Dallas 1st Runs
DALLAS—The third week of "The Sheep
Has Five Legs" at the Coronet took fhst run
honors here with 110 per cent. Others were
average or below.
(Average Is 100)
Has Five Legs (UMPO), 3rd
Coronet The Sheep
wk
no
Maiestic— Jubal (Col) 75
Palace The Swan (MGM) 95
Rialto Lady Godiva (U-l); The Price of Feor
(U-l) 100
Tower There's Always Tomorrow (U-l) 75
Choose Miss Largo 1956
LARGO, FLA.—When Mary Lee Korte was
chosen Miss Largo 1956 at a ceremony held
at the Largo Theatre, she received a number
of gifts from local merchants, including a
one-month pass to the Largo Theatre. The
nearby Clearwater area was also interested
in the contest, and from the Carib Theatre in
Clearwater came a one-month pass to that
theatre. Stephen C. Barber, manager of the
Largo, spared no effort in having the stage
elaborately decorated in a manner befitting
the coronation of a queen.
Ask Foreclosure Right
TAMPA—State Theatres ha.s petitioned
circuit court for a mortgage foreclosure involving
one St. Petersburg and four Tampa
theatres. The firm seeks foreclosure on the
Roxy in St. Petersburg, the Northtown here
and leasehold interests in the Cinema, State
and Palma Ceia theatres of Tampa.
Milton, Fla., Airer Open
MILTON, FLA.—The Joy Drive-In has
been opened for the summer. It is operated
by the F. T. McLendon Theatres.
Airer Open Fulltime
LIVE OAK. FLA.—The Nova Drive-In has
returned to a full week schedule, according
to Leonard Vaughn, manager. The theatre has
been operating on a three-night-a-week basis
during the winter.
RESEARCH BUREAU
for
MODERN THEATRE PLANNERS
ENROLLMENT FORM FOR FREE INFORMATION
The MODERN THEATRE
PLANNING INSTITUTE
325 Van Brunt Blvd.
Kansas City 24, Mo.
Gentlemen:
Please enroll us in your RESEARCH BUREAU
to receive information regularly, as released, on
the following subjects for Theatre Planning:
n Acoustics
n Lighting Fixtures
n Air Conditioning Q Plumbing Fixtures
n Architectural Service r-| projectors
n "Black" Lighting •
m n •• t
U Projection Lamps
D Building Material
„ _ D Sealing
D Carpets
D Coin Machines ° ^'^"^ ^ Marquees
D ^ound Equipment
D Complete Remodeling
n Decorating
Television
D Drink Dispensers D Theatre Fronts
D Drive-In Equipment D Vending Equipment
D Other Subjects
Theatre
Seating Capacity
Address
City
State
Signed
BOXOFTICE
:
This Space Contributed by
BOXOFFICE
28. 1956
CinemaScope at Newberry
NEWBERRY, FLA.—The Newberry Theatre
has been equipped with new Cinema-
Scope equipment.
Postage-paid reply cards tor your further convenience
in obtaining information arc provided in The MODERN
THEATRE Section, published with the first Issue of
each month.

EDWIN J. THOMAS Po^rtiqit by Fahian Bacbrach
added over 20,000 employees
to The Payroll Savings Plan."
"The Savings Bond Program—like any other program in
a corporation — will succeed only if it has the complete
support of top management. Recently the Goodyear
Tire & Rubber Company added over 20,000 employees
to the Payroll Savings Plan, attaining an overall participation
of over 71%. While the drive itself was successful
I feel the job is only half done. Now we are
installing a program to maintain this high peak of participation.
Such a program will constantly keep the
merits of the program before each emplo\'ee, encouraging
him to provide his own security through this
efifortless plan of saving."
EDWIN J. THOMAS. President
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, Inc.
What is the percentage of employee participation in
your Payroll Savings Plan? If it is less than 50%, get in
touch with Savings Bond Division, U.S. Treasury Department,
Washington, D. C. Your State Sales Director
will be glad to help you increase your participation to
60% or higher. A phone call, telegram or letter to
Savings Bond Division, U.S. Treasury Department will
bring a prompt response.
The Unileil Siuif.s Government does not pay for this advertising. The Treasury Department
thanks, for their patriotic
donation, the Advertising Council and
BOXOFFICE
BOXOFFICE

Women in Des Moines
Form WOMPI Club
DES MOINES—Women of the Motion Picture
Industry of Des Moines (WOMPI),
chapter of the National Women of the
Motion Picture Industry, was organized here
last week. Meeting at the YWCA at a
luncheon, about 35 women heard the purpases
of the organization, qualifications for membership,
etc.. and elected officers.
Thelma Washburn, head booker and office
manager for RKO. presided at the meeting.
She said the group was to promote goodwill
for the motion picture industry, promote
friendship among women working in the industry
and to give service. National bylaws
indicate that the organization shall be nonpartisan
and nonpolitical and that membership
be confined to women working in the
industry.
Dorothy Pobst. United Aitists, was named
president of the Des Moines chapter. First
vice-president is Thelma Washburn; second
vice-president. Alice Weaver. Realart Pictures:
recording secretary. Joleen Callahan.
Paramount; corresponding secretary. Betty
Hemstock. National Screen Service, and treasurer.
Edna Cloonan. RKO. Board members
include Florence Work and Mary Jane Jones.
Central States Theatres Corp.; Gladys Crandall
and Nan Bishop. Iowa Film Delivery;
Kaye Hansen, RKO; Pearl Fort, Tri-States
Theatres Corp., and Mable Magnusson, Universal.
Monthly meetings will be held. Dorothy
Pobst called a board meeting for Friday i27i
at 8 p.m. at her home.
Esther Green Files Suit
Against Former Employes
OMAHA—Mrs. Esther L. Green, owner of
the FEPCO Theatre Advertising Co.. has filed
suit in district court against three former
employes. Mrs. Green has charged that the
three men took her company secrets, set up
a competing advertising agency and tried to
drive her out of business.
Named in the suit are Henry McGrath,
Raymond McGrath and Richard Barkes. who
a.s partners formed the TOP Advertising
Service and established a business at 6004
Pine St.
Mrs. Green has asked for an injunction
halting the use of materials allegedly taken
from FEPCO. She also has demanded an
accounting of the competing advertising
agency's profits and claims a share of the
profits derived from the use of former FEPCO
material.
In addition, she asked damages of $25,000.
Mrs. Green's husband founded FEPCO
shortly after World War I. He died about
five years ago.
Feminine Wrestlers
Periorm on Stage
Lake Citv. Minn.— The art of HTtstlinu.
performed by memlM-rs of the "weaker"
sex, is bolstering the hoxoffice at the
Hollywood Theatre here, owned by Mrs.
Florence Fick. Onre a wi-ek, the house
offers a feminine wrestlinf; match on stage
in place of the wcond feature.
I. C. Jensen. 56, Stricken;
Manager at Iowa Falls
IOWA FALLS. IOWA I. C, Jensen, 56,
manaser of the Met Theatre here since 1944,
died April 15 in Ellsworth Municipal Hospital.
He had been ill for three months. Before
coming here, Jensen had been manager of
a Port Dodge theatre and had had banking
experience in Clear Lake and Mason City.
Besides his wife, he is survived by a
daughter Mary Louise of Chicago, two -sons
Bryant of New York City and James at
home, two sisters and two brothers. Services
were held here, with burial in Clear Lake.
Jos. E. Matuska Resumes
As Jackson Exhibitor
JACKSON. MINN. — Joseph E. Matu.ska
has purchased the State Theatre and an outdoor
theatre north of town. Matuska owned
the State theatre business before selling to
the partnership of Watters and Nash three
years ago. He continued to own the theatre
building. His father, the late Frank Matuska,
had started the movie business in Jackson.
Although the outdoor theatre was built
two years ago. it has never opened. Reconstruction
of Highway 16-71 prevented its
opening last year.
Cold Weather Hurts
Twin Cities Scores
MINNEAPOLIS— Unseasonably cold weather
.should be conducive to theatregolnK.
but neither of the only two Important newcomers
was able to get going. Pictures in
question were "The Harder They Fall" and
"Miracle in the Rain." A fresh le.sser arrival,
"Kettles in the Ozai-ks." did fairly well. It
was the fourth week for "Carousel" and the
.second for "The Swan," "Diabolique" and
"Jubal," all of which have given pretty good
accounts of themselves.
(Average Is 100)
Gopher- The Kettles in the Oiorkt (U-i) 90
Lyric— CorouscI /^nth-Fox), 4th wk 100
Radio C ', The Swan MGM), 2nd wk 90
RKO:-, The Hordor Th«y Foil (Col) 90
RKO I Jubol .'nd wk 100
Slate Mirocic in the Roin (WB) 80
- .'/PO), Workl DioboliquL- 2nd wk 150
Third Week of
Strong at Omaha State
OMAHA—The State Theatre went well
above its average take offering "I'll Cry
Tomorrow" for a third week. The box score
so far reads 230, 150 and 125, owner Ralph
Goldberg said. The Brandeis slid a bit belowaverage
with the third week of "The Man
With the Golden Arm."
Admirol-Chiet—Timetoble (UA); Lefj Moke Up
(UA) 100
Omaha—The Kettles in the Oiorks (U-I), There's
Alwoys Tomorrow (U-I) 100
'Cry' Stays
Orpheum—Anything Goes (Para) 90
RKO-Brondeis— The Mon With the Golden Arm
(U-A), 3rd wk 95
State— I'll Cry Tomorrow (MGM), 3rd wk 125
Offers Bargain Matinees
ELROY, WIS.—The Elroy Theatre here
has established a Bargain Hour policy. Until
2 p. m. on Saturdays and Sundays the admission
for adults and students has been
reduced to
40 cents.
Woody Simek Will Close
Ashland, Neb., Theatre
ASHLAND. NEB.—Woody Simek. owner and
operator of the Circle A Theatre, is plannUig
to close the house about May 15. He has
been discussing the possibility of installing
bowling alleys.
Woody rebuilt the theatre following a fire
several years ago. He did much of the work
himself and the result was one of the
finest small-town theatres in the area.
BOXOFFICE
Valerie French, new Columbia player, appeared at the Orpheum theatres in St.
Paul and Minneapolis when "Jubal," in which she is cast, opened at the two theatres
April 11. She also appeared on radio and TV programs and met the newspaper
reporters. During her visit she met theatre executives in behalf of the Jack Cohn sales
drive, which ends June 28. Shown above, top panel, left to right: Ben Marcus. Columbia
division manager; Charles Winchell, president of >Unnesota Amusement Co.; William
Ronning. MAC booker; Miss French; John Branton. vice-president: Don O'Neill, another
booker; Ted Mann; Miss French again; Bob Hazelton. Independent Theatre Service,
and Hy Chapman, Minneapolis Columbia manager. Bottom panel: Cal Nygaard.
head booker-buyer for Home Theatres; Harry Green, general manager for Walworth
Theatres; Miss French; Leo Ross, president of Home Theatres and Hy Chapman; Paul
Lunquist, booker for Northwest Theatre Service; Frank Mantzke, Northwest president;
Miss French, and Dick Toilette, Northwest booker.
NC

. . The
. .
. . . Richard
. . Kenneth
. .
w I
,f1
A H A
.
paul Tramp, Oxford exhibitor, hopes, along
with local mothei-s, that things get back
to normal pretty soon. The town has gone
thi-oiigh a siege of measles and chicken pox
and at one point about half the childi-en were
out of some grades in school . Corby
Theatre in Omaha has closed for 30 days
during redecorating and refurbishing
Jack Renfro, head of Theatre Booking Service,
has returned home from the hospital
after an operation.
Walt Hagedone, Cozad theatre operator,
said that his son Donald is home on his first
leave since entering the Army. Donald is
with the Air Defense Command in Chicago
. . . Oliver Patrick. United Artists salesman,
said his wife is recovering after being hospitalized
in Des Moines . Cogswell,
son of UA's Marie Cogswell, is home on
leave from the Marine Corps base at San
Diego.
Howard Kennedy, who operates the Bow
and drive-in theatre at Broken Bow, attended
the Variety Club meeting at the Hill
Hotel to discuss Tent 16 headquarters. Action
was postponed pending further investigation
Wilson, MGM salesman, received
word that his brother-in-law Chal Noe suffered
a severe heart attack at the hospital in
Long Beach, Calif. . . . Jesse Chinich, Buena
Vista western division manager, and Marvin
Goldfarb, district manager, Denver, visited
Paul Back at the Omaha office.
Henry Elseman, 75, father of Evelyn Cannon,
MGM office manager, is in the hospital
with severe injuries as the result of being hit
by an auto at an Omaha intersection. The
extent of his injuries will not be determined
until further examinations of X-rays .
Allan Bograd has been named assistant to
head booker Bill Lyon at Columbia.
Co-Op Booking Service has almost cinched
the Filmrow Bowling League title, with a
7'- game lead and nine games to go. Closely
bunched behind, in this order, are Film
Transport. Warner Shorts, Republic, Warner
Features and Renfro's Renegades . . . I. M.
Weiner, Universal manager, and salesmen
Carl Reese and Harry Fisher will attend a
regional meeting at Des Moines Monday (30).
Among Filmrow visitors were lowans Elmer
Svendsen, Alta.; Ed Osipowicz, Correctionville;
Arnold Johnson, Onawa: Frank Good,
Red Oak. and Nebraskans Paul Tramp, Oxford:
Ai-nold Meierdirks, Pender; Don Campbell.
Central City; Phil March, Wayne, and
his brother George, Vermillion, S. D.
TO SELL YOU
• STEREOPHONIC SOUND
HILUX and SUPERAMA SCREENS
BAUSCH and LOMB
ULTRA-PANATAR
ANAMORPHIC LENSES
STRONG and ASHCRAFT
PROJECTION LAMPS
TUBE nd SELENIUM TYPE
RECTIFIERS
COMPLETE DRIVE-IN
THEATRE EQUIPMENT
NATIONAL CARBONS
KOLLMORGEN - HILUX
WOLLENSAK
BACKUP and WIDE SCREEN
LENSES
CENTURY and MOTIOGRAPH
PROJECTORS and SOUND
HEYWOOD-WAKEFIELD
RECLINING THEATRE CHAIRS
GULISTAN CARPET
MOTOR GENERATOR SETS
DES MOINES THEATRE SUPPLY CO.
1121-23 High Street Phone 3-6520 Des Moines, iowo
Gimmicks Spark Opening
Of Stardusk Drive-In
SHEBOYGAN, WIS.—The Stardusk, Sheboygan's
only drive-in theatre, opened for
its eighth season Thursday (19), featuring
Buck Night both Thursday and Friday. This
policy will continue on these same nights
all season. For the opening. Manager George
Andrews issued a coupon for two gallons of
free gasoline for every car entering the theatre
the two opening nights. On Saturday
night, special gifts were distributed to women
patrons and free comic books and candy
were passed out to the children. Patrons expressed
pleasure at the newly decorated concession
building, which has been done in
soft pastel colors. The boxoffice has been
streamlined and new lighting has been installed
at the theatre.
Every Saturday the Stardusk will feature
a movie marathon, presenting six hours of
film entertainment with nothing repeated.
Manager Andrews has been in the theatre
business for the past nine years, having
managed houses in Green Bay and Oshkosh
before coming to the Stardusk last season.
Capitalize on Big Wedding
MINNEAPOLIS—The Radio City Theatre
here capitalized on Grace Kelly's wedding in
promoting "The Swan" by using a full page
in color in the Sunday Ti-ibune. This marked
the fh-st time any film here has had such
color treatment. Another "first" for the picture
was its opening on Sunday at Radio
City. Ordinarily Friday is the opening day at
this 4,100-seat house. Paying its respects to
Miss Kelly and her prince fiance, the theatre
had patrons during the last fortnight sign
their names to a cablegram congratulating
the couple and it dispatched the cable on
the wedding day. Admission was boosted from
85 cents to $1 to 5 p.m. and from $1 to $1.25.
John Houseman Speaks
DUBUQUE, IOWA—John Houseman. MGM
producer, was a speaker at a three-day regional
convention of the Catholic Theatre
Conference held here last week. Delegates
from Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, Nebraska
and Iowa were in attendance.
BOXOFFICE April 28, 1956

The simple, dependable design of CENTURY projection and
sound systems assures minimum maintenance cost and maximum
capacity for satisfactory performance.
banish your troubles
At CENTURY, research to improve projection and sound
equipment is going on continuously. This, plus genuine quality
control of all parts that make up CENTURY components explains
why the major exhibitors depend on CENTURY. It is
common knowledge that CENTURY was given the responsi
bility to develop and produce practically all of the new techniques
of cinematic projection.
Records from exhibitors the world over prove the high
quality, low maintenance and trouble-free operation of CEN-
TURY installations.
To find out how you can get better projection and
sound at lower cost see your CENTURY dealer.
Century Projector Corporation newyork, n
SOLD BY
y
Quality Theatre Supply Co.
1515 Davenport St.
Omaha, Nebraska
Des Moines Theatre Supply Co.
1121 High St.
Des Moines 9, Iowa
Minneapolis Theatre Supply Co.
75 Glenwood Ave.
ineopolis 2, Minnesoto
BOXOFFICE :
: April 28, 1956 G9

. .
Paramount
. . The
. . Those
. . Dorothy
MINNEAPOLIS
apolis territory. It gives him five feature
pictures for immediate selling and brings the
total of the films he's now handling, all first
runs, to 25.
The Navarre Drive-In is the first ozoner in
this
territory to make necessary installations
YOUR ORDERS FOR
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FROM
iFILMACK
SEND US YOUR
NEXT
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FAST SERVICE!
QUALITY WORK!
10 permit Cinemascope 55 . . . Harry Wiesen-
circuit owner and Hollywood producer, is
recovering from a heart attack and should
be up and around soon.
Edward H.vman and Bernard Levy, Paramount-ABC
vice-president and his assistant,
respectively, came in from New York to confer
with Charlie Winchell, newly appointed
Minnesota Amusement Co. president, succeeding
Harry B. French, elevated to chairman of
the board . Fiddlers Club of film salesmen
and others connected with the industry
here elected a slate of officers. It comprises
Harry Levy, president; Bob Hazleton, vicepresident;
John O'Rourke, treasurer, and Joe
Rosen, sergeant at arms . . . Red-hot baseball
fan Jess McBride, Paramount manager,
was awarded the first ticket to the new
Minneapolis baseball stadium in recognition
of his interest in the national pastime.
Western features the complete line
Dependable, Nationally-famous
RCA Equipment and Supplies
• Display Signs
• Concession Supplies
• Seats
from marquee to the screen
of
• Booth Equipment
• Wide Screens
• Sound Systems
You can always depend on WESTERN for
PARTS and SERVICE
for all types of theatre equipment
DES MOINES
28-30 at the Hotel Savery. More than 100
delegates representing 30 Hadassah chapters
are expected to attend . Pobst,
UA, was elected president of the newly organized
chapter of Women of the Motion
Picture Industry here trips to Coon
Rapids which are frequently taken on weekends
by Frank Zanotti. RKO booker, are said
to be on account of a certain pretty girl . . .
lola West, wife of the insurance man, drove
to Chicago with her mother for a four-day
vacation from spring housecleaning and office
work.
Oshkosh Gets Widescreen
OSHKOSH. WIS.—The Highway 44 outdoor
theatre reopened for the season Friday (13),
giving patrons their first look at the new
Cinemascope screen installed dui-ing the winter
at the 8-year-old drive-in. Manager Frank
Koppelberger says the new screen has an area
of 4,500 square feet, as against 2,400 for the
old screen. The average indoor screen measures
about 600 square feet, Koppelberger
added.
Menomonie Outdoor Opens
MENOMONIE, WIS.—Featured at the
Saturday (21) opening of the Menomonie
Outdoor Theatre was a modern theatre
restaurant which has been installed on the
gi-ounds. Manager William G. Klug managed
the Star-Lite Drive-In at LaCrosse and was
with Fox Wisconsin Amusement Corp. in
Milwaukee for eight years before coming
here.
"WESTERN
TtfEATRE SUPPLY CO.
Everything in
Theatre
Equipment
and
Supplies
Harry Buck, 58, Stricken
ST. PAUL, MINN.—Harry Buck, 58, died
from a heart attack while in Watertown,
S. D., in pursuance of his duties as a salesman
for Reid H. Ray Films here. He at
one time was a 20th-Fox salesman and later
ran the local branch for Severaid Theatre
Brokers. His wife survives.
BOXOFFICE
:
: April 28, 1956

Cleveland Grosses
At Ebb on Holdovers
CLEVELAND—With four lioldovers downtown
and only three new pictures on the
first run screens, total business was the
lowest so far this year. This attendance drop
appeared to be general for all theatre classifications,
as the Cleveland Indians came
home from spring training. At the top was
"Alexander the Great," which in its third
week registered a 120 per cent rating. "Belissima."
on the strength of the Anna Magnani's
0,>-car. had a good opening week that hit
10 per cent above average at the lower Mall.
Weather was miserable—cold, rain, occasional
snow squalls. First appearance of the Cleveland
Indians in an exhibition game at Minneapolis
attracted a large crowd. "The
Littlest Outlaw" drew good weekend business
but its midweek evening attendance fell.
(Average Is 100)
Allen Mirocle in the Rain (WB) 80
Hippodrome The Man in the Gray Flannel
Suit I20th-Fox), 3rd wk 75
Lower Mall— Belissima (IFE), 110
re.ssue
Ohio The Littlest Outlaw (BV) 95
Palace The Harder They Fall (Col), 2nd
holdover wk 70
State Meet Me in Las Vegas (MGM), 2nd
holdover wk 70
Stillman— Alexander the Greot (UA), 3rd
More Showmen at Allied Sessions
Most Detroit First Runs
Feel Boxoffice Drouth
DETROIT—Business sagged at most boxoffices
here, aside from reserved seat type
shows like "Oklahoma!" "Picnic" was still
strong in a sixth week at the Madison.
Adams I'll Cry Tomorrow (MGM), 6th wk 100
Broadwoy-Copitol Hot Blood (Col); Over-
Exposed
Pox—The
(Col)
Man in
8^i
the Gray Flannel Suit (20th-
Foxl, 3rd wk 75
Madison Picnic (Col), 6th wk 1 40
Michigan—Miracle in the Rain (WB); No Man's
Woman (Rep) 100
Palms—Jubol (Col); Stranger at My Door (Rep). .110
United Artists—Oklahoma! (Magna), 8th wk 20o
Eduard Werner Renamed
By Detroit Musicians
DETROIT — Eduard Werner, former director
of the Michigan Theatre orchestra,
was re-elected president of the Detroit Federation
of Musicians for a two-year period
by a 3-to-l majority over Fred Crissey. Also
elected with Werner were vice-president.
Jack Cooper: secretary, Howard P. Green,
and treasurer, Lester Clark.
Directors elected were Russ Weaver, Andy
Izzo, Art Black, Buddy Fields, Carl Austin,
Jack Weick and Don Williams.
A special farewell party is being held Sunday
(291 at the Laborers Hall honoring
George Clancy, who is leaving after 23 years
as secretary of the Detroit local to become
national treasurer of the AFM. This is Detroit's
second contribution to the higher echelons,
with Jack Ferentz, longtime business
agent, now a.ssistant to James C. Petrillo.
Book Seven Months Ahead
CLEVELAND—Cleveland will
be one of six
cities in the U. S. to show "The Ten Commandments"
next November. The picture
will play the Ohio Theatre. The other cities
are New York, Washington, Boston, Beverly
Hills and Baltimore. This is the first time in
local film history that a Cleveland theatre
has booked a picture seven months in advance
of playdate.
Reproduced above are some additional photos taken at the annual convention of
Allied Theatres of Michigan, held recently in Detroit. Top panel, left to right: F. Lou
Mitchell, independent booker; William Wetsman, W&W Theatres; Mike Simons.
MGM; Ernest Conlon. executive secretary of Michigan .\llied. and (standing) Alden
Smith and Pearce Farkhurst, Allied officers. Center: Dave Kaplan. Theatrical Advertising
Co.; Max Gealer, Associated Theatres; Dan Lewis. Cooperative Theatres film
buyer; Elton V. Samuels. Fontiac. and Howard Sharpley. Hillsdale Drive-In. Bottom:
Ed Johnson. Bay City; Ray Branch, Hastings; Don McKen2ie, Flint, and Orville C.
Wells, Theatre Equipment Co.
Eddie and Ethel Bergman
Mark 25th Anniversary
CLEVELAND—Eddie and Ethel Bergman,
with a combined record of almost 50 years in
the motion picture industry, recently celebrated
their 25th wedding anniversary. Eddie,
a Universal salesman for the last ten
years, previously was with 20th-Fox for 21
years in the company's New York and Cleveland
sales departments.
For 18 years prior to her marriage, Ethel
was office manager in Cleveland and secretary
to the branch manager. At the time
of their marriage, April 15, 1931, Ethel retired
to devote her time to home making and
club work. Within the last few months, the
Bergmans moved into their new ranch home
at 2211 Campus road in suburban Beachwood
Village.
To celebrate the 25th anniversary, 25 old
friends of the Bergman's surprised them with
an anniversary dinner party.
Wayne and Affihate Firm
To Go Ahead With Airer
DETROIT—The Wayne Amusement Co.
and an undisclosed affihate, now in showbusiness,
are planning to go ahead with construction
of a major drive-in in the west side
suburb of Livonia as soon as approval is
city, given by the Charles Shafer. president
and general manager of the company, told
BOXOFFICE. This sharply contradicts
previous published reports indicating that the
company had dropped its plans following
some local opposition.
The company and its affiliate already have
a sizable piece of property in Livonia on
which they plan to erect both the theatre
and a tool and die shop, Shafer said. Site
of the property remains undisclosed.
This is in addition to another 1,350-car
drive-in which is to be built about a halfmile
outside of Livonia, Shafer said, by the
Wayne Amusement Co. alone.
BOXOFFICE
:
: April 28. 1956 ME 71

tu
Hj;;s5;;;
. . Two
. . Louis
INDUSTRY PROFILE
John O. Guthrie Exploits Theatre
As Town's Focal Interest Point
London NKW LONDON, OHIO—John O. Guthrie,
sound. Guthrie settled in New owner of the Karolyn Theatre, has because he liked the town and figured it
||
i|
demonstrated his flair for showmanship was a good place in which to experiment
Not have
|:
on many occasions during his years in in sound development. content to ||
built all of the stereophonic sound equip- !|
the industry. Not only does he exploit
his pictures, but he exploits his theatre as ment for his Karolyn Theatre, said to be i|
a focal point of interest in the town.
Recently he inaugurated the policy of
rated
he has also rigged up a sound system in
||
1
among the best such installations,
his home, where friends interested in ji
presenting only one show each night,
music gather. 1
starting at 8 o'clock. The policy has been
both financially and culturally successful.
It brings people to the theatre at the beginning
"We have the room in complete darkness
for these concerts," Guthrie explains.
|:
of the show, resulting in enjoy-
ment of the entire program. It eliminates
"This helps create the illusion of occupying
about the third row in an auditorf
i
the confusion of late comers climbing over ium where an actual orchestra is per- !|
|:!
those already seated, thus adding to ma-
forming."
Guthrie gets his outstanding musical i
terial comfort of each patron. The oneshow-per-night
policy also permits patrons
to get home reasonably early—at least
early enough to hear the late news on TV
or radio. The people of New London are
showing approval of Guthrie's new policy
by their support of his theatre.
Further creating interest in Guthrie and
his theatre was an interview appearing in
the Mansfield Sunday News-Journal April
8, featuring his experience and current
experiments with sound projection.
"Experimenting in sound equipment,"
says Guthrie, "is my hobby as well as my
business.
"I got the bug in England when talking
pictures were coming into
vogue," explained
the British-born exhibitor. "I
came to this country with the intention
of studying sound techniques. In the
early days of sound on the screen, I, along
with many others, manufactured one of
the many types of equipment put on the
market. To refresh the memory of the
oldtimers, I formed the Cleveland Sound
Engineering Co. and we made equipment
installed it in quite a lot of theatres."
Guthrie has made great strides in his
favorite field. His theatre (300 seats) was
the first in a town the size of New Londiiii
(p()|) 1,700 1
put in .xtiTPOijlionic
BOWLING
DETROIT— It was like a photofinish in
the Nightingales Club Bowling League, with
the leaders—finding the pressure too great
dropping all four points to the bottom place
team, while the second place team lost three
points to the third. Here are the final
standings:
Team Won Lost Teom Won Lost
Local 199 601/2 511/2 Ams't 58 54
Supply
Altec 591/2 521/2 Ernie Forbes .501/261(2
NTS 59 S3 NofI Carbon 481/2631,2
Division winners for the entire season are:
(singles) Carl Mingione 245, Francis Light
242: Nick Forest 222: Edgar Douville 215;
Bert London 263, Joe Foresta 232: Kenneth
Grenke 200, Roger Valiquette 198. Winners
for three games: Jack Colwell 656, Roy
Thompson 652; Edgar Douville 583, Nick Forest
554, Joe Foresta 596, Bert London 572;
Kenneth Grenke 503, Melvin Donlon 490.
High teams for single games were: Amusement
Supply, 756, and National Theati'e
Supply, 745; for three game series: Ernie
"nrbes Theatre Supply, 2,093, and Altec
Sound Service, 2,081.
The winning Local 199 team was captained
effects at home with high fidelity equip- '§
ment that includes two theatre-sized ;;;;
|;
speakers, one on each side of the living
room. He has an elaborate tape-recorder |i
and record-playing attachments. ||
"I keep the speakers isolated to escape ||
vibration," he says. "You've got to have i
terrific power and good quality speakers to
get a true bass note. High fidelity with §.
dual equipment gives high and low notes |i
without distortion."
Currently Guthrie is experimenting with ||
stereophonic and binaural sound systems.
In the stereophonic recording, mikes are :|
placed on two sides of the orchestra to p;
pick up two separate parts of the orches- |;
||
tra. is "I think this better than the bi-
|;
naural," he says. "Binaural has two mikes
separated by a metal plate. The mikes are
i|
placed about as far apart, one on each side,
||
|;
is sup- as the
posed
ears on a man's head.
to pick up half of
Each
the orchestra 1
just as the ears do." ij
Guthrie's idea of showmanship is that ||
it is good if it arouses new interest in ||
the theatre or in the man who operates ||
the theatre. This newspaper story of his 1
experiments in the field of sound is a
unique way of advertising the stereophonic |;
Miiind m thi- Karolyn Thratrc i
by Carl Mmgione and include., Ray Gagnon,
Roger Valiquette and Francis Light. The
big championship trophy will be displayed
at Local 199's own offices, after the annual
party, to be held at the Lucky Strike Recreation
in May. Special thanks of the league
are conveyed by the secretary, Floyd H. Akins,
to I. J. London and son Bert "for their
generous help and cooperation."
Maysville Drive-In Holds
Weekly Jackpot Night
MA'VSVILLE, KY.—Tuesday nights will
offer special attendance inducements at the
Park Drive-In here through the summer, with
two jackpots being awai-ded each Tuesday
evening and with patrons being admitted that
night for $1 a carload. A prize of $100 was
awarded on the first night of the season and
favors were given to all children attending
that evening.
Owners of the Park are Mr. and Mrs. Earl
Urmston, Henry Means Walker, Henry M.
Walker jr. and Harris Walker.
||
||
U-I to Erect Building
For Detroit Branch
DETROIT—A third Detroit exchange will
have its own exchange building. P. T. Murray,
manager of branch operations for U-I,
has revealed ground will be broken next
week for a new structure on West Columbia
street, a quarter block from the Film Exchange
building, where most exchanges have
been situated for 30 years.
Only two companies now have their own
buildings elsewhere—Paramount and 20th-
Fox, the latter across the street from the
new Universal project. National Screen
Service also occupies a separate building,
formerly used by Paramount. All others.
with the exception of some independents
like IFE and Dezel Productions, are in the
Film Exchange building.
COL uWb u s
The Columbus Citizen has announced a two-
cent increase in advertising rates effective
June 1. Present amusement page
Sher
rates is 26 'j cents per line
and Ed Shulman, operators of the Bexley
Art Theatre here and a circuit of similar
houses in West Virginia, Kentucky, Michigan
and Colorado, announced the acquisition
of an art theatre in Milwaukee.
.stalled.
Norman Nadel, Columbus Citizen theatre
editor, and Han-y Franken of the editorial
Edee Roberts, local 18-year-old beauty, was
chosen Queen of the Page One Ball in finals
held on the stage of RKO Palace. Manager
Edward McGlone of the Palace cooperated
with the Columbus Citizen and the local
Newspaper Guild in the selection . . Dismantling
.
of the present Loew's Broad
upright
sign and marquee signs is progressing.
New upright and marquee signs will be in-
staff attended the premiere of "On the
Threshold of Space" at RKO Keith's in Dayton
.
McConnelsville theatremen have
joined the Independent Theatre Owners of
Ohio. They are Charles M. Barkhurst, Ace
Hi Drive-In and Charles P. Sloan sr., Twin
City Opera House.
Wayne U. to Offer Classes
For Detroit Janitors
DETROIT—The problem of getting properly
trained maintenance help for operation
of
theatres may soon be solved, surprisingly,
at the university level. Wayne University
Ls inaugurating a new "janitor school" this
fall for some 300 janitorial employes of local
business—at both the working and the
supervisory levels. The students will attend
the university full time, taking cours&s
in sanitation maintenance. This is expected
to be a pioneering research project
as well as an actual course in the fundamentals
of good janitoring.
A series of ten courses, each for 30 students,
and lasting from six to 12 weeks, is
to be offered, under the direction of Dean
Walter C. Folley of the School of Business
Administration. This is believed to be the
fii-st project of this type ever offered by a
university. Wayne's enrollment now ranks
it among the top 15 American universities.
BOXOFFICE
:
: April 28, 1956

The simple, dependable design of CENTURY projection and
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banish your troubles
At CENTURY, research to improve projection and sound
equipment is going on continuously. This, plus genuine quality
control of all parts that make up CENTURY components explains
why the major exhibitors depend on CENTURY. It is
common knowledge that CENTURY was given the responsi
bility to develop and produce practically all of the new techniques
of cinematic projection.
Records from exhibitors the world over prove the high
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To find out how you can get better projection and
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SOLD BY
Akron Theatre Supply Co.
Theatre Equipment Co
80 North Main St.
1206 Cherry Street
2310 Cass Avenue
Akron 10, Ohio
Toledo 2, Ohio
Detroit 1, Michigan
Hadden Theatre Supply Co.
209 South Third St.
Louisville 2, Kcntuck
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BOXOFFICE
73

. . The
. . Herbert
. . . Bob
. . Morris
. . Ralph
. .
. .
: April
DETROIT
•The Star Theatre at Elkton. which was operated
formerly was operated by Mrs. Imogene
by Verne Bolzman, has been Thorne and, earlier, by James Ellis.
closed . . . Vivan Aumock, operator at the
Kenneth Owen, Universal booker who has says he has had to resort to unusual methods
Trenton Theatre who was living in Allen
been seriously ill, has returned to his home to handle the crowds. Inasmuch as patrons
moved down Wyandotte
are seated only at the start of the program,
Park, has river to
following hospitalization Ernie Chrysler,
to be near his work . . . Irving Belinsky, who
ran the Film Exchange drugstore for many
years, has become a grandfather for the
. . .
Allied Artists salesman, is making his rounds one night he had to lock the entrance doors
with a husky voice resulting from a sore to keep the crowds from pushing their way in.
throat . . . Sid Bowman, United Artists manager
Another night the boxoffice line was so long
second time. The papa is Irving's son Arnold.
he sent out an SOS to the police department
who is hospitalized, is reported progres-
... Ed Johnson, The grandson was born at Newport
to assist in the traffic problem.
sing favorably upstate cu--
Jack Hebert, Paramount
"You never saw anything like it." Jacobelle
cuiteer, is reopening the Westown at Bay
Beach, Calif. . . .
booker, returned from Sault Ste. Marie. Ont.,
"Not only do we have our regular
owned by Mrs. Harold Bernstein says.
.
City,
where he was called by a death in the family.
Jack Dickstein, former theatre manager, has patrons, but people are coming from all parts
Ben J. Robins, who runs the Alhambra in returned to Edgewater Park, where he will be of the city. One of the nicest things about the
screen tower in charge of concessions this season.
engagement is the way people cooperate with
Detroit, rebuilding the at the
is
us by not revealing the outcome of the
General Custer Drive-In at Monroe, wrecked Jack Zide, owner of the Allied Film Exchange,
mystery. has closed a deal with Woolner Bros,
We pass out silence pledges with
in the storm two weeks ago . . . William Kus,
admission tickets and it is interesting to see
who has Bill's Popcorn Machine Repair Service,
is now active with the Confection Cabinet igan, selling the special to the Fox Theatre
for distribution of "Swamp Women" in Mich-
how well the secret ending is kept."
. Corp R. Lane, auditor, was at
run opening Saturday
U-I . Lincoln Theatre at Lincoln has
for a first
Sympathy to Kal Bruss,
(28) . . .
.salesman,
MGM
been taken over by Lyle P. Clark. The house upon the death of his sister in Chicago . . .
Jack and Mickey Zide headed for the Windy
City to attend the convention of the National
RCA
Dealer
depend o„ RCA
• RAYTONE and
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THEATRE EQUIPMENT CO.
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Grond Rapids 2, Mich.
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Temple 13350
Ass'n of Radio and Television Broadcasters.
The Capitol Theatre, Lansing, formerly a
Butterfield house, has been clased and its
second run policy has been shifted to the
Esquire . E. Lefko, who has just
resigned as district sales manager for RKO,
was in town for his final official visit before
leaving his desk . . . Jim Padfield, projectionist
who also at one time doubled as
head of the u.shers union of the lATSE, has
moved over on Foley avenue . Boudreau
is due back from St. Petersburg about
the first of June.
Norman Meyers, managing director of the
Adams, is back with a cold from a trip to
Kenosha to visit his sister. He was enthused
over the Stratocruiser flight to Milwaukee,
which continues on to Seattle and Tokyo .
Bill Green, regional director of exploitation
for Cinerama, is back from a three-week
visit to the west coast. He took an addre.5s
book with 40 names, visited with 30 of them
Bothwell. manager of the Fox, has
cut his poundage from 220 to 198 and is still
hard at work reducing, reports Vera Brown.
Herbert Eschbach, in charge of theatre directory
advertising for the Detroit News for
many years, has been elected president of
the St. Pi-ancis de Sales Club. This organization,
of which he was treasurer for several
years, represents Catholic workers in the
field of communications.
To Manage at Greensburg
GREENSBURG, KY.—Douglas Ford has
taken over the management of the Franklin
Theatre here. He has been teaching in the
Hiseville school for the past two years and
has managed theatres in Campbellsville and
Glasgow. Mr. and Mrs. Ford will move to
Greensburg from Glasgow where they now
are living.
'Diabolique' Sets Record
At Cleveland Art House
CLEVELAND — "Diabolique" has established
an alltime record attendance at the Heights
Art Theatre, and Manager Nico Jacobelle
Samuel A. Cowan Stricken;
Owned Alhambra Theatre
CLEVELAND—Services were held here for
Samuel A. Cowan, prominent real estate developer,
who died in Miami Beach, Fla. He
was owner of the 1,300-seat Alhambra Theatre
here, at one time the finest theatre in
the city. The house now is managed by one
of his three sons, Merrill I. Cowan. Other survivors
are his wife Blanche and two sons
Leonard J. and Joseph M. Cowan was active
in the University Center Chamber of Commerce
and other cultural and business developments.
UA Borrows Joseph Behm
Borrowed from 20th-Fox. Joseph Behm will
function as production manager on Ru.ss-
Field's "The King and Four Queens" for
United Artists.
1^
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Professional work on Seot
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BOXOFFICE ;
28, 1956

. . Among
. .
Nat Lefton, Cleveland, Dies
In Sarasota, Fla., Hospital
CLEVELAND—Nat L. Lofton. 62. lonatimo
independent Ohio distributor initil lii.s retirement
about ten years ago, died Monday
NAT L. LEFTON
(23) in Memorial Hospital at Sarasota, Fla.
Surviving are his wife Emily, a daughter,
Mrs. Natalie Perlmutter, and two sons. Benton
and Gilbert. The funeral was held in
Cleveland Friday.
In association with Harry Charnas, he
owned and operated the Standard Film Service
Co. Later he owned the Monogram and
the Republic
franchises.
WiDE SCREEN and
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MID -WEST THEATRE
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CLEVELAND
gill Shartin, 56. who operated Favorite Pictures,
an independent Seattle exchange,
was reported killed by an automobile turning
a corner at a high rate of speed as he
was walking acro.ss one of Seattle's main
streets. He is survived by his wife and two
daughters, Geri of Seattle and Mrs. Iris
Goldstone of Chicago. Shartin was manager
of United Artists here and also of the Eagle
Lon exchange prior to leaving for the west
Friends of "Mac" MacManus are giving him
a farewell dinner party May 14 at Rus.so's
Restaurant (formerly the Alhambra Grille
at Euclid and East 105th street, next to the
Alhambra Theatre, prior to his leaving Cooperative
Theatres to take over the management
of the Starlite, Telegraph and Parkside
drive-ins in Toledo. The ladies are invited.
Returnees included Abe Schwartz of the
Lexington, Jerry Steel of the Apollo in Oberlin
and Joe Robins of all the Warren theatres
... An oldtime Cleveland film man returned
last week for a short visit from his
home in Hollywood. Jack Lawrence, who
used to sell United Artists pictures in this
territory and who has been successfully operating
an eatery in the film capital until
his recent retirement, stopped off en route to
his home from Florida where he visited
Walter Katowitz of the Ross, Rossford.
Joe Hegeman and Jim Nullmeyer of Warwick
Pictures were in town to set up a promotion
for "Cockleshell Heroes," relea.sed
through Columbia, starting April 25 at the
Allen. Here for the event was Bill Sparks,
one of the two survivors of the World War II
operation. Among the plans completed to
date are a Marine tieup. TV and radio interviews.
Herb Ochs has chalked up his ninth grandson,
bringing the total number of second
generation Oches to 15. The newest member
of the family was born April 14 to Jim
and Mary Ochs in Dania. Fla. The youngster
was named Keith Stuart.
Victor Seiden has reduced to weekends
the summer policy at the Grand . . . Nothing
succeeds like success. In the wake of the
sensationally successful engagement of "Diabolique"
at the Heights Art Theatre. Imperial
Pictures is besieged with requests for
bookings. Picture has been booked in the
Esquire, Toledo, and into the Shea houses in
this area.
Rhoda Koret, Columbia booker, has
brought her season of dramatics in little
theatre work to a close for the summer. She
just concluded playing an important role in
"Dark Tower," presented in Wiley Junior
High School auditorium by the Heights Community
Theatre . Filmrow visitors
was one-year-old Ronnie, son of MGM booker
Bob Dittrick . . . Abe Kramer of Associated
Circuit, has sold his spacious Golden Beach.
Fla., home and is heading back to Cleveland
. . . Hilbert Horwitz, manager of the
Haltnorth, is a Mount Sinai Hospital patient.
Edward Weiss Dies
CUYAHOGA FALLS. OHIO — Edward
Weiss, manager of the State Theatre, died
Tuesday (24) of coronary thrombosis. Hi.=
wife and a daughter survive. The funeral
was held Friday in Auburn. N. Y.
T. L. Irwin Quits Paramount
To Become BV Auditor
CLEVELAND T L. Irwiii lias left Paramount
alter an ius.sociation ul more than 30
year.s to Join Buena
Vista as auditor, with
headquarters in Cleveland.
Irwin's entire business
career has been
with Paramount in
three of its branches
—Detroit, Columbus,
^^^^ i-t^^^^^ 3"(} Cleveland. He
^^fe Joined the Detroit ex-
^^^ ^^H J* ^^H change about 1925.
^^* • ^^^ When the Columbus
T. L. Irwin office was opened, he
was transferred there
as a salesman, and he remained there until
that branch closed in 1938. Since that time,
Irwin has been at the local office.
The resignation of T. L. Irwin from Paramount
has caused a shift in personnel. Irwin
Sears moved up to head booker. Helen
Thoma, former secretary to Manager Harry
Buxbaum, will take over Sears' booking accounts
upon her return from a leave of absence
granted because of the illness of her
parents, and Lillian Ack, cashier, has added
to her duties that of office manager.
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: I N C I N N A T I
Thf opening of the Reds ball game April 17
brought quite a number of exhibitors to
the city. Frank Allara. who never misses a
game in Cincinnati in which the Cardinals
play, came in from Delbarton, W. Va., with
Roy Letsinger, exhibitor at Amherstdale. Allara
is a good friend of Cardinal player Stan
Musial. whom he met when the latter was
training for major league playing. Allara was
elated because Musial brought the team to
victory in the opening game . . . Joe Miller
of the Goldman circuit never misses taking
his two sons, age 15 and 10, to the opening
game.
Frank Carnahan and Bud Hughes, Manchester,
Ky., were others in the city who
hoped to go to the ball game. They opened
the Richmond Drive-In at Richmond, Ky.,
April 12, This is the theatre they acquired
from Don Reda. Prior to opening it, they
installed a new widescreen, remodeled the
concession stand and remodeled the marquee
. . . Prank Yassenoff and Harold
Schwartz of Columbus were in the city, as
was Schwartz' brother-in-law, Milton
Strauss, who has the Old Town Auto and
Xenia Auto theatres in Xenia, Ohio.
Schwartz said that Joe Dejoy has been made
new head maintenance man at the Milford
Auto Theatre, Milford.
Bob Harrell, Avalon, Cleves, recently returned
from a five-week stay in Florida. In
June Harrell will have been in the theatre
business for 23 years. Besides operating his
theatre, Harrell has 250 acres of corn, 30
of which is popcorn sold in theatres. He is
proud of his high grade popcorn and he is
continuing to experiment with it for even
greater
quality.
George Turlukis, Hamilton, was a visitor,
as were Ralph Sacker, Lawrenceburg, Ind.;
Ted Christ, Spencerville; Nat Kaplan, Woodlawn
Drive-In, Glendale: Mark Cummins,
local drive-in operator, and Mr. and Mrs.
Paul Orbaugh. Greenfield . Sher,
Columbus, who operates the Bexley Art there
and other art houses in the Cincinnati and
Cleveland areas and who recently acquired
one in Denver, Colo., was on the Row. Sher
is an expert on motion pictures to the extent
that his friends urge him to try for the
$64,000 quiz.
Robert "Red" Strauss, who operates the
Camargo Theatre, Madeira, was on the Row.
In addition to running his theatre. Strauss is
still golf pro at Avon Fields golf course in
the city. He specializes in kiddy Saturday
matinees, a popular feature of his theatre
Smiley, salesman for MGM, is leaving
the company to join Jack Needham,
booking and buying service. In addition to
assisting Needham, Smiley will manage the
two drive-ins in Xenia, owned by Milton
Strauss.
Jim Roberts expects to reopen the Ravenswood
Drive-In around May 1. He has installed
Cinemascope and all new equipment
G. Roaden, circuit theatre owner of
Kentucky, has taken over the Lyric, Lawrenceburg,
Ky., from C. O. Humston, effective
May 1.
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Fred Helwig and his wife left for a short
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Owens Drive-In in Charleston and the Nitro
iW. Va.) Theatre Buffa, who owns
the Moimtainaire Drive-In, Glen Jean. W.
. . .
Va.. installed a new widescreen The
Midwest Theatre Supply Co. is putting in
new RCA lamps, generator and widescreen
in the Cain Auto Theatre. Paintsville, Ky.,
owned by W. T. Cain jr.
Theatre Owners Corp. is now booking and
buying for the Royal Theatre, Carrollton,
Ky., which Frances May Thomas, sister of
Fred May, now owns. Mrs. Thomas took
.
over the part interest of her brother
Price Coomer. who operates the Opera House.
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BOXOFFICE
:
: April 28, 1956
•QUINCANNON" WORLD PKEMIEKE—Shown above arc the lilm stars and industryites
at the recent world premiere of "Quincamnon, Frontier Scout," released by
Lnited Artists. Standing, left to right: Howard Koch, producer of the Bel-,\ir presentation;
Jack Fineberg, U.\ branch manager in Cincinnati; starlet Pat Blake; star
Tony Martin; starlet Sara Shane and Sid Cooper, UA central district manager. Kneeling,
left to right: co-star John Bromfield; D. J. Edele, UA St. Louis branch manager,
and Ed Biglcy, Indianapolis branch manager.
Mitchell Wolfsons On
Trip Around World
MIAMI — Mitchell Wolfson, co-owner of
Womelco Theatres and WTVJ, his wife and
aaughter Prankie and Miss Doris Weinstein
left in March for an eight to ten-week
vacation trip around the world.
The first major stop for the party will be
Honolulu, where they have planned four days
of leisurely sight-seeing, including a drive
around the island of Oahu, the Mormon
temple at Laie and Pearl Harbor. From
Honolulu, a ten-day sojom-n in Japan has
been mapped out with Tokyo their first
Japanese attraction. They also will travel to
Kamakura, via Yokohama, where they will
see the famous giant bronze Buddha; to
Kyoto, where accommodations include a stay
at a typical Japanese style inn, and whose
attractions include visits to the old Imperial
palace grounds, Nijo castle, Yaska shrine and
the Thousand Buddhas; to the pagoda of
Kofukuji and the cherry blossom dances at
Nara; to Nikko and its famous shrines of
the Tokugawa Shoguns and Lake Chuzenji,
and finally back to Tokyo, from whence they
will depart for Hong Kong.
After Hong Kong they will stop at Bangkok,
Thailand, to see its floating markets,
royal barges, Temple of the Dawn and
Pasteur Institute for four days before proceeding
to Rangoon, Burma, and thence on
to India.
In India they will visit the world-famous
Taj Mahal, Jasmin tower, the Rajghat, where
Mahatma Ghandi was cremated, take an
elephant ride in the pink city of Amber, visit
Parliament House and a multitude of beautifully
embellished temples and mosques.
The first of May will find the Wolfson
party in Cairo, w^here they will visit, by camel,
the great pyramid of Cheops, the Sphinx.
King Tufs tomb, the mosque of Mohammed
Ali and the citadel, and by felucca (sailing
1, craft across the Nile to Thebes. Five days
later will find them observing the famed
Acropolis of Athens, with its magnificent
Parthenon, Temple of Jupiter, Mars Hill and
the theatre of Dionysus and the Byzantine
convent in Daphne.
Istanbul is their next to last stop, where
they will see the tomb of Alexander the Great,
the seraglio Palace of the Sultans, with its
fabulous collection of jewels and armor, the
serpentine column of Delphi and the mosque
of St. Sophia.
And finally, before sailing from Cannes on
May 16 aboard the Independence, the Wolfsons
will spend five days in Rome, seeing the
Vatican, the Roman Forum, the Arch of
Hadrian, the Colosseum and the Sistine
Chapel.
Second Rock-n-Roll Show
Booked at Detroit Fox
DETROIT—A return of live talent to downtown
show business has been set by Robert
Bothwell. managing director of the Fox Theatre,
for the week of June 21. Bothwell is
booking another rock and roll type show using
name recording artists from both coasts
with names not yet released—repeating the
pattern of the highly successful show of this
type booked two months ago, which sent
grosses soaring to three and a half times normal
for this 5,500-seat house.
Heads New Chair Co.
DETROIT—Arnold Gornall, who formerly
headed the Reliable Seating Service in Detroit,
is resuming operation under his own
name. Headquarters are now at 21155
Meadowbrook Rd. in Northville. Gornall will
specialize in re-upholstering, resetting and
repairing theatre chairs.
Carmack to Build Ozoner
BLUFFTON, OHIO—George Carmack of
the Carma Theatre has confirmed reports
he is planning to build a new drive-in in
this
area.
77

:
April
ALFRED IDDLES Porlrail by fob/on Bocfiroch
11,000, or 70% of Our Employees
Are Buying U.S. Savings Bonds Regularly
"The Payroll Savings Plan, a truly 'All American' thrift
program has been steadily winning employee approval
all over the country. Employees of Babcock & Wilcox
are an example of this fact.
"As the result of a recent campaign nearly 11,000 or
70% of our employees are now buying U. S. Savings
Bonds regularly on the automatic Payroll Savings Plan.
They are cultivating habits of thrift and at the same
time doing their share in helping to keep our economy
on a sound basis. This fine program deserves strong
support by every company."
ALFRED IDDLES, President
The Babcock & Wilcox Company
The campaign to which Mr. Iddles refers was a simple,
person to person canvass that put a Payroll Savings
Application Blank in the hands of every B & W employee.
B & W employees did the rest. Your State Sales
Director will help you build ijoiir Payroll Savings Plan.
Phone, wire or write to: Savings Bond Division, U.S.
Treasury Department, Washington 25, D. C.
The United States G.
iocs not pay for this advertising. The Treasury Department
thanks, for th' patriotic donation, the Advertising Council and
BOXOFFICE
BOXOFFICE
:
28, 1956

. .
Massachusetts Bill
Asks $25 Airer Fee
BOSTON— House bill 608. petitioned by
Louis H. Glaser of Maiden to regulate
licensing of outdoor theatres, has been a-
mended in a new bill filed. by Glaser, in the
State Legislature. It is designated as House
bill 2834.
The amending bill reads: "The Commissioner
of Public Safety shall issue licenses for
indoor theatres, outdoor theatres, special halls
and public halls upon a fee of $25 yearly for
each license issued. He may require such
changes in the structure or other conditions
of any building or drive-in
theatre, including
exits and entrances before issuing the
license." The sole change in bill 2834 from
bill 608 is specification of a fee of $25.
A public hearing on bill 608 was held early
m March. It was strongly opposed by Carl
Goldman, executive secretary of Independent
Exhibitors of New England, and Frank Lydon,
executive secretary of Allied Theatres of New
England, The new bill has not been
scheduled for a public hearing.
At present there is no requirement for
license or a payment of a fee to the State
Commissioner of Public Safety, as each city
and town in the Commonwealth has its own
jurisdiction.
VERMONT
•Two weeks after flames destroyed the Strand
Theatre in Winooski, fire broke out again
in the debris when workers, who were clearing
the site, apparently broke a gas pipe,
causing an explosion and a bur.st of flames . . .
The Mount View Drive-In in Winooski has
opened its new season, which the management
predicted would be "greater than ever." Tlie
opening program included "Love Is a Many-
Splendored Thing" and "To Catch a Thief."
\ free showing of the film, "Mister 880,"
was held at the University of Vermont
museum in Burlington under sponsorship of
the Student Ass'n . . . Small newspaper ads.
running only two and three inches, were responsible
for much of the success of the 1955
season at the Mid-Haven Drive-In in New-
Haven, owners O. F. Barr and Ed Morin have
informed the Burlington Free Pi-ess. "We
checked with our patrons as to where they
saw' what picture was showing at the Mid-
Haven." the e.xhibitors reported, "and many
of them told us they 'saw it in the Fi-ee Press.'
This was especially true of patrons attending
from Chittenden and Addison counties, especially
campers and tourists. In addition, we
had more patrons from the Burlington ai-ea
than ever before—not too many, but an increase
over our 1954 season."
George H. Wilkinson Jr.
Named to Bank Board
HARTFORD—George H. Wilkinson jr.,
president of MPTO of Connecticut, and operator
of the Wilkinson Theatre at Wallingford,
has been named to the advisory board of the
Wallingford branch of the Union & New
Haven Trust Co. He previously was a director
of the First National Bank of WalUngford,
which has been consolidated with the New
Haven banking establishment.
Selectmen Approve Site
For Middleboro Airer
MIDDLEBORO, MASS.— A drive-in Ihcatrc.
with facilities for between 600 and 1.000
autos, looms ns a distinct possibility following
a recent four to one vote of approval by
the board of selectmen.
George Lovell of Middleboro has sold 183
acres of land on the north side of Route 44
between Mill street and Poquoy Brook to
attorney John J. Abberley of New York
and Wilbur S. Edwards of Darien, Conn.
Purchase price wa-s listed as $37,000.
The board said it would grant a permit
for the theatre provided all requirements of
the State Depaitment of Public Works, public
health, public safety and health laws are met.
NEW HAVEN
f^odzilla, King of the Monsters," Embassy
Pictures horror feature, will play 22 theatres
of the SW New England circuit during
May, George Ki'aska has been in from Boston
to assist with promotion . . . Phil Gravitz.
MGM manager, took hi£ family to Washington
for a week's vacation.
Morris Jacobson, general manager of
Bridgeport's Strand Amusement Co., was in
Syracuse, visiting his son. Dr. Eugene Jacobson.
Morris's daughter Marjorie has been
accepted at the University of Pittsburgh
College of Medicine, and is completing premed
studies at the University of Michigan
. . . Nat Harris, of the Prudential circuit.
New York, was a Filmrow visitor.
Kay Cairns, MGM salesman, was in Hawthorne,
N. J., for the marriage of his son, Ray
Cairns jr., a captain in the Air Force . . . Sid
Kleper, manager of Loew's College, arranged
to have a "ham" organization, the Fort Hale
Mobile Radio Club. Inc., maintain a station
in his lobby during the run of "On the
Threshold of Space," sending free messages
throughout the free world for patrons with
relatives in the armed forces.
Barney Pitkin, RKO manager, a member of
the local cancer fund committee, successfully
solicited all Filmrow offices . . . John Valleca,
assistant shipper at U-I, has been named
head shipper at Columbia . . . Phil Gravitz's
son Michael has been accepted by the University
of Connecticut School of Pharmacy.
Four of the five drive-ins in the immediate
city area have Buck Night every Wednesday,
with all occupants of each auto admitted for
$1. Participants are the Bowl, New Haven,
Summit and Post drive-ins. The E. M. Loew's
Milford Drive-In charges regular admission
Wednesdays. A sixth area ozoner, the Center
in Derby, rebuilt after being destroyed in last
year's floods, has not reopened, since Army
Engineers are still
using the Center property
in dredging of the adjoining Naugatuck River.
Ray Squer, U-I salesman just transferred
from New Haven to Detroit, became a father
for the fii-st time right after reaching his
new assignment. A son, Raymond Christopher,
was born to the couple . . . Maurice Bailey,
head of the "W" chain, was sidelined by
illness for four days . . . Tony Masella, manager
of Loew's Palace at Meriden, has moved
his family into a newly built home in West
Haven.
Holyoke Slate Reopens
On Fulltime Schedule
HOLYOKE, MASS.-Thc State Theatre at
461 Dwlght St., has reopened on a fulltlme
basis under a new
manager who will also
manage the Riverdale
Drive-In on Route 5 In
West Springfield. Both
are E. M. Loew theatres.
The new manager Ls
Paul Hachey, a native
and resident of Plymouth,
who has been
with the theatre group
for three years, last
managii^g the National
Paul Hachey Theatre in Boston.
The State now operates a full week with both
matinee and evening shows. It had been
operating lately on a weekend basis with
foreign films. The Riverdale Drive-In also
has reopened, featuring an all-new boxofflce
and front. The popular children's playground
will operate as in the past.
Manager Hachey was graduated from Milford
High School in 1942. He saw army service
from early 1943 to late 1945, being discharged
as a captain. He received a battlefield
commission at Anzio, Italy, and was
wounded at Casino, receiving the Purple
Heart. He also served in Africa.
Mr. and Mrs. Hachey have two children,
Lynda, 5, and Paul, 3. The family will move
to this area as soon as possible.
BRIDGEPORT
•lyjanager Michael J. Carroll is back at the
American after being absent since November
4 because of a fractured heel . . .
A rock and roll show at the Empress, Danbury,
was cancelled . . . Manager Matt L.
Saunders of Loew's Poll is home from Chicago,
where he attended the funeral of his
mother.
Richard D. Turtletaub is manager of the
drive-in at Canaan. It reopened with a
public party after extensive repairs were
made of flood and snow damage . . . Police
are seeking the mother who abandoned
two small children in the Rivoli here .
Harry Furst has been named manager of the
Palace, Ridgeway and Plaza theatres In
Stamford.
GE Plans Color TV Sets
NEW YORK—The General Electric Co.
will start distributing color television sets
during the last half of the year. Technical
details are not being made known except for
the fact that a three-gun aperture mask
tube will be used for both table models and
consoles.
Must Repay Embezzled Funds
NASHUA. N. H.—Mrs. Lorette Miller, who
had pleaded guilty to embezzlement of $425
from the local Colonial Theatres, by whom
she was employed during 1955, was placed
on probation for two years and ordered to
make restitution. The sentence was passed
In Hillsborough County superior court.
BOXOFFICE April 28, 1956
NE
79

. . Jack
. . The
. . The
. . MGM's
. . Lockwood
BOSTON
Tjijhen a small fire
broke out in the electric
pane! board on the lobby floor of Loew's
Orpheum, Manager James Tibbetts informed
the audience that a minor fire was in progi-es-s
and urged all to leave the theatre as
quietly as possible. Between 500 and 600
patrons at the early matinee filed out in
orderly fashion. Damage, caused mostly by
water, was estimated at $2,000 and was confined
to the panel room.
Agnes Donahue, booker at United Ai'tists.
took a week's vacation at the Escape Hotel.
Fort Lauderdale . Gubbins, sales
manager at Paramount, had a severe attack
of virus that put him in the Mary Alley
Hospital, Marblehead. He is at home now,
resting before returning to his office . . .
Sam Horenstein, former Manley district
manager here, returned to the territory for
the first time in three months. He has
been recovering from a bout with pneumonia.
He lost weight but is still his ebullient self.
Aaron Shindler, owner of the State, East
Milton, has closed the theatre permanently.
The manager, Maurice Sidman, has moved to
the Adams (Mass.) Drive-In for Morse &
Rothenberg, replacing Arthm- Rosenbush, who
resigned . . . The Bijou, Woonsocket, R. I..
was sold to Arthur Darman, who also owns
and manages the Stadium in the same city.
The Bijou was operated for nearly a year
by Melvin Safner of Providence.
MGM put S8,000 on the line for full page
ads in four Sunday papers in this city on
April 15 to exploit "The Swan." Captioned
"Love Story of a Princess," three different
poses of Grace Kelly were used. One was a
cameo; the second, the head and shoulders
of the star with a swan; the third, a lifesize
picture. The Post and Globe ads were
the same; the Herald and Advertiser had
individual poses. This marked the fii-st time
in years that any film had full page ads in
four Sunday papers simultaneously in this
city. The copy added that the film would
open at Loew's State and Orpheum theatres
on Grace Kelly's wedding day, April 19. In
cities of less than 100,000 population, 1.000 ad
lines were available to local newspapers to
appear on the Sunday before the film's
opening date. Karl Pasick, Loew's Theatres
publicist in Boston, aimed a pitch for the
"ooh and ah" trade by placing a huge lobby
fOUi. ORDiRS fOR
SPECIAL
TRAILERS
GET
PERSONAL
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FROM
[FILMACK
SEND us YOUR*
NEXT SPECIAI
TRAILER ORDER!
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QUALITY WORK!
WANTEDT7.
ASSISTANT MANAGER
for iniiGU) theatre situated in Eastern New England.
r.tf'e e>;perience and qualifications. Reply to
P/t^C C UAPI>IMr 3S CHURCH STREET
MRS, F. HARDSNG boston, mass.
poster display in both theatres of the kiss
sequences between Miss Kelly and Louis Jourdan,
in direct contrast to the dignified Sunday
ads.
John Peckos, 20th-Fox sales manager, has
a new daughter in his family. Mother, daughter
and John are doing well. The Peckos also
have a son . Weldon Waters are finally
getting settled in Hancock 'Village.
Waters, manager of 20th-Fox, called a meeting
for his salesmen, bookers and office staff
to discuss plans of the coming bonus set up by
the company.
A New England radio and T'V saturation
for "On the Threshold of Space" was set up
in Boston by 20th-Fox's Al Levy and Phil
aigel in connection with the 70 openings in
this territory. The picture opened at the
Paramount and Fenway here with excellent
business . . . Following a screening of "On the
Thi-eshold of Space" for all the Boston film
critics, science editors and members of the
Air Force, the entire party of 25 left for Bedford
air base to interview members of the
service. Cocktails and luncheon preceded the
interviews. Maj. George Woods of the air base
and Phil Engel arranged the publicity and
tieup.
HARTFORD
J^oug Amos, general manager, Lockwood &
Gordon Theatres, confeiTed with Arthur
O'Brien, Webb Playhouse; Bill Howard,
Plaza, Wind.sor, and Harry Sullivan. East
Windsor Drive-In . "Ti-ibute to
a Bad Man," James Cagney starrer, will open
at the 2,070-car Meadows Drive-In here. May
2, according to Manager Chet Philbrook.
Paul Amadeo. Pike Drive-In, and Milt Le-
Roy. Blue Hills Drive-In, Bloomfield, used
7.000 heralds and trailers in advance of
"Dark Venture" . Capitol. Waterbury.
has a new El Dorado dinnerware giveaway
for women patrons . & Gordon
has installed 24-hour telephone information
service for the Strand, Winsted . . . Reopening
the Danbury Drive-In, Lockwood & Gordon
distributed free gifts to the first 200
cars . . . Sam Cornish, retiring Niantic theatre
operator, and his wife lunched in Hartford
with friends, prior to motoring west and
a new home in California.
Ralph Mauro of National Theatre Supply,
was busy with installation of new screen,
122x56 feet, at the Blue Hills Drive-In,
Bloomfield . . . Interstate's Palace, Rockville,
ran a Firday the 13th horror show at 65
cents top, with women patrons extended this
invitation via newspaper ads: "If you dare
sit through the complete show, we'll award
you a pass to see any future movie!" On the
screen was "Frankenstein," while a man
billed as the "Nephew of Frankenstein" appeared
on stage. The circuit's Bradley, Putnam,
ran a similar show at 60 cents top on
the same evening. "The Black Room" was the
screen
feature.
The Mahaiwe in Great Barrington, Mass.,
advertised, "Don't Miss Our Spring Festival
of Hits!" Two New London area drive-ins,
the independent Waterford and E. M. Loew's
Norwich-New London, Montville, played
"Backlash" as a first run attraction, ahead
of downtown New London. Booking was billed
a.s "Southern New England Pi-emiere."
'Ladykillers' Boston
Debul Tops 'Marty'
BOSTON—School vacations in nearby
towns and cities sent an influx of youngsters
to Boston but theatres had strong competition
with opening of the baseball season, the
General Motors Motorama and warmer weather.
"Forbidden Planet" was not received
as well as hoped, while several theatres had
holdovers. Of these, "The Man in the Gray
Flannel Suit," in its third stanza at the
Metropolitan, led the field with "The Conqueror"
second. "Diabolique." in its eighth
week, was spurred to better grosses by additional
newspaper ads. Of the new product,
"The Ladykillers," the Alec Guinness comedy
at the Kenmore, was the standout. This film
chalked up first week figures above those
of "Marty" and "I Am a Camera."
(Average Is 100)
Tomorrow (MGM), Astor I'll Cry 6th wk 120
Beacon Hill Diabolique (UMPO), 8th wk 110
Boston Cineramo Holiday (SW), 33rd wk 120
Exeter Street Doctor at Sea (Rep), 6th wk.
(tinal) 80
Kenmore The Lodykillers 350
(Cont'l)
Memorial The Conqueror (RKO), 3rd 120
wk
Metropolitan The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit
(20th-Fox), 3rd wk
] 25
Paramount and Fenway Miracle the Rain
in
(WB); Heartbreak Ridge (Tudor) 85
State and Orpheum Forbidden Plonef (MGM);
'Littlest Outlaw' With 145
Is Hartford Pace-setter
HARTFORD—Downtown area had only
two holdovers, with the other showcases
biinging in new product. Extending their
runs were "Carousel" and "Meet Me in Las
Vegas."
Allyn Carousel (20th-Fox), 2nd wk 140
Art To Bad She's Bad (Getz-Kingsley) 90
E. M- Loew Jubal (Col); Over-Exposed (Col).... 110
Palace The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit
(20th-Fox) 130
Parsons—The Littlest Outlaw (BV) 145
Poll Meet Me in Los Vegas (MGM); World
In My Corner (U-l), 2nd wk 110
Meodows Drive-In The Creoture Walks Among
Us (U-l); The Price of Fear (U-l) 100
Strand Backlash (U-l); Postmark for Danger
(RKO) )15
•Rock' With Mild 110 Leads
Spotty Providence Week
PROVIDENCE—Despite the first seasonable
weather of the year, local first runs
failed to experience any marked improvement
in business. While a heavy rainstorm,
last Sunday, cut into evening patronage, it
was not held strictly responsible for spotty
conditions. "Rock Around the Clock," at the
Strand, scored top honors with a mild 110.
Other attractions either drew average attendance
or below normal business.
Albee The Conqueror (RKO), 2nd wk. 80
Avon The Outlaw 2nd Littlest (BV), wk.... 100
Loew's Forbidden Planet (MGM) 100
Majestic Serenode (WB) 85
Strand Rock Around the Clock 1 I
'Carousel' Clocks in at 125
For Best New Haven Returns
NEW HAVEN—The two Loew's houses recorded
the best business among the major
downtowners, with "Carousel" and "Slightly
Scarlet."
College—Slightly Scarlet (RKO); Postmark for
Danger (RKO) 115
Paramount- Backlash (U-l); The Kettles in the
Ozorks (U-l) 80
Poll Carousel (20th-Fox) 125
Roger Sherman Miracle in the Rain (VVB); The
River Changes (WB) 90
Starring with Cyd Charisse in MGM's upcoming
musical, "Silk Stockings," will be Ann
Miller.
BOXOFFICE

April :
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Phones: LI. 2-9814 LI. 2-0356

20th-FOX BRIEFING—Al Levy, northeast district manager, huddled with exchange
managers, bookers and salesmen of his territory to update them on new
products and merchandising plans following his return from the April 5 and 6 national
sales meeting in 20th Century-Fox studios in Hollywood. With Levy, seated at his desk,
left to right, are: Charles Koscos, manager, Buffalo; Shep Bioom, manager. New
Haven; Frank Kelleher, salesman, Boston; Weldon Waters, manager, Boston; Clayton
Pantages, manager, Albany; John Peckos, sales manager, Boston; Phil Engel, New
England publicity manager; Bill Graham, manager, Boston; Sam Berg, head booker,
Boston; Sam Germaine, salesman. New Haven.
Garden Snake Unwelcome
On First Theatre Visit
BRIDGEPORT—A harmless garden snake,
carried into tlie SW Merritt by two unidentified
boy.s turned the show into a "near
riot" on Sunday afternoon. The theatre was
nearly tilled with teenagers and children
when someone in the audience screamed
"there's a snake crawhng!"
Police summoned to the theatre said children
were screaming and shouting about
the snake. The police ordered the manager
to turn on the house lights. The police then
told the youngsters that the theatre would
be closed unless order was restored.
Two boys picked up the snake and carried SPRINGFIELD
it outside. The show continued.
pour local houses collaborated with the
American Cancer Society and the Motion
Picture Operators Union 186 of Springfield
in special showings of a health documentary,
"Breast Self-Examination." This film is being
utilized as an educational aid in the
the Guilford (Conn.i Theatre Corp. be placed fight against cancer. Managers of the Arcade.
in receivership.
Bing, Grand and Majestic donated their
Carlo Lupone, a director of the enterprise, houses and the services of union operators
asserted that the corporation's business can for the special showings.
no longer be conducted with equal justice,
because
Here for
of the attitude of the controlling
a one day bally in behalf of "The
majority on the board of directors. He asked Harder They Fall," Mike Lane garnered a
nice chunk of newspaper space by visiting
the editorial offices of the Daily News for
an interview. He also had his picture taken
with
WANTED . . . EXPERIENCED
some of the more diminutive distaffers.
THEATRE MANAGER
for first-run theatre in Athol, Mass.
Write quaiificotions to
ABE OARBOSE • * '"tA?a. ma».
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Guilford Receivership
Demanded by Director
HARTFORD~A superior court complaint
has been filed by a Madison man, asking that
IMAGE & SOUND SERVICE CORP.
"The Best Value In Sound Service"
the court to appoint a receiver, issue a decree
dissolving the corporation and supervise distribution
of the firm's assets.
Acting through his attorney, Louis Feinmark,
the dissatisifed director has placed a
$25,000 attachment on the theatre property.
According to the complaint, the theatre
was incorporated with a capital stock issue
of $40,000, divided into 400 equal shares.
Lupone says he owns 100 shares and that
the remaining are held by three other directors.
He charges they have withheld
dividends for the past five years in an effort
to make him sell his stock.
•The Manchester Drive-In in Manchester's
Grenier Heights section opened its new
.season April 14. Pine Island Park in the
Queen City was opened April 22, but the Hne
Island Drlve-In was not ready to resume its
schedule on that date. The ozoner's management
said: "We are sorry to be late, but
it will pay to wait. New England's newest
and best drive-in will open soon."
WB Building Is Spared
In New Roadway Plan
NEW HAVEN—In a surprise announcement,
the State Highway Department last
week said it will not have to take the site
of Warner Bros, exchange for a new crosscity
highway. The Warner building is at the
edge of the 300-foot wide road. Original plans
indicated that only a corner of the Warner
branch would be needed, but that the entire
structure would be acquired by the State.
The announcement once again changes
the outlook for the future of the local Filmrow.
The Warner exchange is next to the
20th-Fox branch, w^hich was the only building
scheduled to be spared by the highway
builders in the original sketches. Now, with
two major distributors left side by side, it
is believed that other companies will relocate
in the immediate vicinity. U-I has already
committed itself to a new building here.
The remaining distributors scheduled to
be displaced by the Oak Street Connector,
which will be part of the $400,000,000 Connecticut
Turnpike, are reportedly looking over
parking lots and other properties adjoining
the connector as sites for their new offices.
Thus, it appears that a new film district will
be located in the same general area as the
present Filmrow.
The Warner structure, owned by that
company, is the newest exchange in this city,
having been built after World War II. It is
assessed by the city at $109,000.
N. Y. Producers Take Over
Newport, R. I., Casino
NEWPORT. R. I.—A new producing partnership,
Michael Howard and Spofford
Beadle of New York will take over the
Newport Casino Theatre, summer playhouse
in this city, for the 1956 season, it was announced
recently, following negotiations
with Sara Stamm, the Casino's owner. Miss
Stamm, who has operated the popular house
for 14 years, has retired temporarily because
of
illness.
In addition to producing, Howard will direct
the season's presentations and Beadle
will function as general manager. Both have
extensive backgrounds in summer theatre
and in Broadway and off-Broadway productions
as well. The new partnership will
be known as Beadle-Howard Productions,
with offices at 100 Fourth Ave., New York.
Opening date at the Casino will be announced
soon. Screen, stage and TV personalities
will be starred in the ten-week
sea.son.
Berlin, Conn., Residents
Ban Airer Construction
HARTFORD—An ordinance banning construction
of outdoor theatres in suburban
Berlin has been approved by a vote of 67 to 62
in a special town meeting, blocking a project
of George LeWitt. the Connecticut circuit
operator. The next step in the Lakeside
Realty Co.'s fight to erect a theatre presumably
will be a court action, as Harry
Jackaway, the realty company's attorney, has
previously stated that his client intends to
carry the question to coiu't in the event of an
unfavorable vote.
Vikki Dougan. television actress, will make
her film debut in U-I's "The Great Man."
BOXOFFICE

. . . Nat
. . Maurice
. .
Massachusetts Bill
Asks $25 Airer Fee
BOSTON—House bill 60B. |i.t itioiud by
Louis H. Glaser of Maiden U' uMl.itc
licensing of outdoor theatres, lia.s bui^ ,imended
in a new bill filed by Gl.i^ei. in llie
State Legislature. It is designated as House
bill 2834.
The amending bill reads: "The Commissioner
of Public Safety shall issue licenses for
indoor theatres, outdoor theatres, special halls
and public halls upon a fee of $25 yearly for
each license issued. He may require such
changes in the structure or other conditions
of any building or drive-in
theatre, including
exits and entrances before issuing the
license." The sole change in bill 2834 from
bill 608 is specification of a fee of $25.
A public hearing on bill 608 was held early
m March. It was strongly opposed by Carl
Goldman, executive secretary of Independent
Exhibitors of New England, and Frank Lydon,
executive secretary of Allied Theatres of New-
England. The new bill has not been
scheduled for a public hearing.
At present there is no requirement for
license or a payment of a fee to the State
Commissioner of Public Safety, as each city
and town in the Commonwealth has its own
jurisdiction.
VERMONT
•Two weeks after flames destroyed the Strand
Theatre in Winooski, fire broke out again
in the debris when workers, who w-ere clearing
the site, apparently broke a gas pipe,
causing an explosion and a burst of flames . .
.
The Mount View Drive-In in Winooski has
opened its new season, which the management
predicted would be "greater than ever." The
opening program included "Love Is a Many-
Splendored Thing" and "To Catch a Thief."
A free showing of the film, "Mister 880,"
was held at the University of Vermont
museum in Burlington under sponsorship of
the Student Ass'n . . . Small newspaper ads,
running only two and three inches, were responsible
for much of the success of the 1955
season at the Mid-Haven Drive-In in New
Haven, owners O. F. Barr and Ed Morin have
informed the Burlington Free Press. "We
checked with our patrons as to where they
saw what picture was showing at the Mid-
Haven," the exhibitors reported, "and many
of them told us they 'saw it in the Free Press.'
This was especially true of patrons attending
from Chittenden and Addison counties, e.specially
campers and tourists. In addition, we
had more patrons from the Burlington area
than ever before—not too many, but an increase
over our 1954 season."
George H. Wilkinson Jr.
Named to Bank Board
HARTFORD—George H. Wilkinson jr.,
president of MPTO of Connecticut, and operator
of the Wilkinson Theatre at Wallingford,
has been named to the advisory board of the
Wallingford branch of the Union & New
Haven Trust Co. He previously was a director
of the First National Bank of WalUngford,
which has been consolidated w-ith the New
Haven banking establishment.
BOXOFFICE :
Selectmen Approve Site
For Middleboro Airer
MIDDLEBOHCX MASS A drive-in theatre,
with tacilitu's lor between 600 and 1,000
autos. looms as a distinct po.ssibility following
a recent four to one vote of approval by
the board of selectmen.
George Lovell of Middleboro has sold 183
acres of land on the north side of Route 44
between Mill street and Poquoy Brook to
attorney John J. Abberley of New York
and Wilbur S. Edwards of Darien, Conn.
Purchase price was listed as $37,000.
The board said it would grant a permit
for the theatre provided all requirements of
the State Department of Public Works, public
health, public safety and health laws are met
NEW HAVEN
^odxilla. King of the Monsters," Emba.ssy
Pictures horror feature, will play 22 theatres
of the SW New England circuit during
May. George Kraska has been in from Boston
to assist with promotion . . . Phil Gravitz,
MGM manager, took his family to Washington
for a week's vacation.
Morris Jacobson, general manager of
Bridgeport's Strand Amusement Co., was in
Syracuse, visiting his son. Dr. Eugene Jacobson.
Morris's daughter Marjorie has been
accepted at the University of Pittsburgh
is College of Medicine, and completing premed
studies at the University of Michigan
Harris, of the Prudential circuit.
New York, was a Filmrow visitor,
Ray Cairns, MGM salesman, was in Hawthorne,
N. J., for the marriage of his son, Ray
Cairns jr., a captain in the Air Force . . . Sid
Kleper, manager of Loew's College, arranged
to have a "ham" organization, the Fort Hale
Mobile Radio Club, Inc., maintain a station
in his lobby during the run of "On the
Threshold of Space." sending free messages
throughout the free world for patrons with
relatives in the armed forces.
Barney Pitkin, RKO manager, a member of
the local cancer fund committee, successfully
solicited all Filmrow offices . . . John Valleca.
assistant shipper at U-I, has been named
head shipper at Columbia . . . Phil Gravitz's
son Michael has been accepted by the University
of Connecticut School of Pharmacy.
Four of the five drive-ins in the immediate
city area have Buck Night every Wednesday,
with all occupants of each auto admitted for
$1. Participants are the Bowl, New Haven,
Summit and Post drive-ins. The E. M. Loew's
Milford Drive-In charges regular admission
Wednesdays. A sixth area ozoner. the Center
in Derby, rebuilt after being destroyed in last
year's floods, has not reopened, since Army
Engineers are still using the Center property
in dredging of the adjoining Naugatuck River.
Ray Squer, U-I salesman just transferred
from New Haven to Detroit, became a father
for the first time right after reaching his
new assignment. A son, Raymond Christopher,
was born to the couple .
Bailey,
head of the "W" chain, was sidelined by
illness for four days . . . Tony Masella, manager
of Loew's Palace at Meriden, has moved
his family into a newly built home in West
Haven.
: April 28, 1956 NE
Holyoke State Reopens
On Fulltime Schedule
HOLYOKE. MASS.^The State Theatre at
461 Dwlghl St., has reopened on a fulltlme
basis under a new
manager who will also
^^^^^^^^^^^m
^^^^^^^^^^^^H the RIverdale
^^^^^^^^^^1 Drive-In on Route in
^^^^T ^H West Springfield. Both
^^^H[^>MM^H are E. M. Loew the-
^^^V^V^ ^^M The new manager Ls
^B^K^^^^^^H Paul Hachey, a native
^B^^^^^^^^l
Plym-
^^k^^^^^^^H outh, who been
^^^ ^4 I ^^^H with the theatre group
BBLbVI ./^H for three years, last
managing the National
Paul Ilacliey Theatre In Boston.
The State now operates a full week with both
matinee and evening shows. It had been
operating lately on a weekend basis with
foreign films. The Riverdale Drive-In also
has reopened, featuring an all-new boxofflce
and front. The popular children's playground
will operate as in the past.
Manager Hachey was graduated from Milford
High School in 1942. He saw army service
from early 1943 to late 1945. being discharged
as a captain. He received a battlefield
commission at Anzio, Italy, and was
wounded at Casino, receiving the Purple
Heart. He also served in Africa.
Mr. and Mrs. Hachey have two children,
Lynda, 5, and Paul, 3. The family will move
to this area as soon as
BRIDGEPORT
Tyjanager Michael J. Carroll is back at the
American after being absent since November
4 because of a fractured heel . . .
A rock and roll show at the Empress, Danbury,
was cancelled . . . Manager Matt L.
Saunders of Loew's Poll is home from Chicago,
where he attended the funeral of his
mother.
Richard D. Turtletaub is manager of the
drive-in at Canaan. It reopened with a
public party after extensive repairs were
made of flood and snow damage . . . Police
are seeking the mother who abandoned
two small children in the Rivoli here .
Harry Furst has been named manager of the
Palace. Ridgeway and Plaza theatres in
Stamford.
GE Plans Color TV Sets
NEW YORK—The General Electric Co.
will start distributing color television sets
during the last half of the year. Technical
details are not being made known except for
the fact that a three-gun aperture mask
tube will be used for both table models and
consoles.
Must Repay Embezzled Funds
NASHUA, N. H.—Mrs. Lorette Miller, who
had pleaded guilty to embezzlement of $425
from the local Colonial Theatres, by whom
she was employed during 1955, was placed
on probation for two years and ordered to
make restitution. The sentence was passed
in Hillsborough County superior court.

I
. . The
. . Jack
'
. . The
. . The
. . MGM's
. . Lockwood
.
.
resting before returning to his office . . .
. . .
.
.
.
!
OSTON
poster display in both theatres of the kiss
sequences between Miss Kelly and Louis Jourdan,
in direct contrast to the dignified Sunday
^•.^%. f. KAROiNG
ads.
Then a
vv
nel John Peckos, 20th-Fox sales manager, has
small fire broke out in the electric
board on the lobby floor of Loew's
Orphfium. Manager James Tibbetts informed a new daughter in his family. Mother, daughter
and John are doing well. The Peckos also
'he audience that a minor fii-e was in progre.ss
have a son Weldon Waters are finally
and urged all to leave the theatre as Between and getting settled in Hancock Village.
quietly as possible. 500 600
Waters, manager of 20th-Pox. called a meeting
patrons at the early matinee filed out in
for his salesmen, bookers and office staff
orderly fashion. Damage, caused mostly by
water, was estimated at $2,000 and was confined
to discuss plans of the coming bonus set up by
the company.
to the panel room.
Agnes Donahue, booker at United Artists, A New England radio and TV saturation
for "On the Threshold of Space" was set up
took a week's vacation at the Escape Hotel.
in Boston by 20th-Fox's Al Levy and Phil
Fort Lauderdale Gubbins, sales
manager at Paramount, had a severe attack Engel in connection with the 70 openings in
of virus that put him in the Mary Alley this territory. The picture opened at the
Paramount and Fenway here with excellent
Hospital. Marblehead. He is at home now,
Following a screening of "On the
business
Sam Horenstein, former Manley district Threshold of Space" for all the Boston film
manager here, returned to the territory for critics, science editors and members of the
Air Force, the entire party of 25 left for Bedford
the first time in three months. He has
been recovering from a bout with pneumonia.
air base to interview members of the
He lost weight but is still his ebullient self.
Cocktails and luncheon preceded the
service.
Maj. George Woods of the air base
interviews.
Aaron Shindler, owner of the State, East
and Phil Engel arranged the publicity and
Milton, has closed the theatre permanently.
tieup.
The manager, Maurice Sidman, has moved to
the Adams (Mass.) Drive-In for Morse &
Rothenberg, replacing Arthur Rosenbush, who
resigned . Bijou, Woonsocket,
HARTFORD
R. I..
was sold to Ai'thur Darman, who also owns
and manages the Stadium in the same city.
The Bijou was operated for nearly a year T>oug Amos, general manager, Lockwood &
by Melvin Safner of Pi'ovidence.
Gordon Theatres, confeiTed with Arthur
O'Brien, Webb Playhouse; Bill Howard,
MGM put $8,000 on the line for full page
Plaza, Windsor, and Harry Sullivan, East
Windsor Drive-In "Tribute to
ads in four Sunday papers in this city on
April 15 to exploit "The Swan." Captioned
a Bad Man," James Cagney starrer, will open
"Love Story of a Princess," three different
at the 2,070-car Meadows Drive-In here, May
poses of Grace Kelly were used. One was a
Manager Chet 2, according to Philbrook.
cameo; the second, the head and shoulders
of the star with a swan; the third, a lifesize
Paul Amadeo, Pike Drive-In, and Milt Le-
picture. The Post and Globe ads were
Roy. Blue Hills Drive-In, Bloomfield, used
and advance the same: the Herald and Advertiser had 7.000 heralds trailers in of
individual poses. This marked the fii'st time "Dark Venture" . Capitol. Waterbury,
in years that any film had full page ads in has a new El Dorado dinnerware giveaway
for women patrons & Gordon
four Sunday papers simultaneously in this
city. The copy added that the film would
open at Loew's State and Orpheum theatres
has installed 24-hour telephone information
service for the Strand. Winsted Reopening
on Grace Kelly's wedding day. April 19. In
the Danbury Drive-In, Lockwood & Gor-
. . .
cities of less than 100,000 population, 1.000 ad don distributed free gifts to the first 200
lines were
appear on
available to local newspapers to
cars . . . Sam Cornish, retiring Niantic theatre
operator, and his wife lunched in Hart-
the Sunday before the film's
opening date. Karl Fasick, Loew's Theatres
ford with friends, prior to motoring west and
publicist in Boston, aimed a pitch for the
a new home in California.
"ooh and ah" trade by placing a huge lobby
Ralph Mauro of National Theatre Supply,
was busy with installation of new screen.
YOUl. OfiDIHS fOR
SENd us YOURI' Bloomfield . . Interstate's Palace, Rockville,
SPECIAL NEXT SPECIAli ran a Firday the 13th horror show at 65
cents top, with women patrons extended this
TRAILERS TRAILER ORDER!
invitation via newspaper ads: "If you dare
122x56 feet, at the Blue Hills Drive-In,
FAST SERVICE! sit through the complete show, we'll award
PERSONAL QUALITY WORK! you a pass to see any future movie!" On the
screen was "Frankenstein," while a man
ATTENTION
billed as the "Nephew of Frankenstein" appeared
on stage. The cii-cuit's Bradley, Put-
FROM
nam, ran a similar show at 60 cents top on
FILMACK
the same evening. "The Black Room" was the
.screen feature.
The Mahaiwe in Great Barrington. Mass..
WANTEDT7.
advertised. "Don't Miss Our Spring Festival
of Hits!" Two New London area drive-ins,
ASSISTANT MANAGER the independent Waterford and E. M. Loew's
Norwich-New London, Montville, played
theatre sttuated
"Backlash" as a first run attraction, ahead
of downtown New London. Booking was billed
as "Southern New England Pi-emiere."
Xadykillers' Boston
Debut Tops 'Marty'
BOSTON—School vacations in nearby
towns and cities sent an influx of youngsters
to Boston but theatres had strong competition
with opening of the baseball season, the
General Motors Motorama and warmer weather.
"Forbidden Planet" was not received
as well as hoped, while several theatres had
holdovers. Of these, "The Man in the Gray
Flannel Suit," in its third stanza at the
Metropolitan, led the field with "The Conqueror"
second. "Diabolique," in its eighth
week, was spurred to better gi-osses by additional
newspaper ads. Of the new product,
"The Ladykillers," the Alec Guinness comedy
at the Kenmore, was the standout. This film
chalked up first week figures above those
of "Marty" and "I Am a Camera."
(Average Is 100)
Tomorrow (MGM), Astor I'll Cry 6th wk 120
Beacon Hill Diabolique (UMPO), 8th wk 110
Boston Cineroma Holiday (SVV), 33rd wk 120
Exeter Street— Doctor ot Sea (Rep), 6th wk.
(tinol) 80
Kenmore The Ladykillers 350
(Confl)
Memorial The Conqueror (RKO), 3rd 120
wk
Metropolitan The Mon in the Groy Flannel Suit
(20th-Fox), 3rd wk 125
Paramount and Fenwav Miracle in the Rain
(WB); Heartbreak Ridge (Tudor) 85
State and Orpheum Forbidden Planet (MGM);
Monfish (UA) 1 10
"Littlest Outlaw' With 145
Hartford Is Pace-setter
HARTFORD—Downtown area had only
two holdovers, with the other showcases
biinging in new product. Extending their
runs were "Carousel" and "Meet Me in Las
Vegas."
Allyn Carousel (20th-Fox), 2nd wk 140
Art To Bad She's Bad (Getz-Kmgsley) 90
M. Loew Jubal (Col); Over-Exposed .110
E. (Col).'
Palace The Man the Gray Flannel in Suit
(20th-Fox) 130
Parsons The 145
Littlest Outlaw (BV)
Poll Meet Me Las Vegas (MGM), in World
In My Corner lU-l), 2nd wk 110
Meodows Drive-ln The Creature Walks Among
Us (U-l); The Price of Fear (U-l) 100
Strand Backlash (U-l), Postmark tor Danger
(RKO) 115
•Rock' With Mild 110 Leads
Spotty Providence Week
PROVIDENCE—Despite the first seasonable
weather ot the year, local first runs
failed to experience any marked improvement
in business. While a heavy rainstorm,
last Sunday, cut into evening patronage, it
was not held strictly responsible for spotty
conditions. "Rock Ai-ound the Clock," at the
Strand, scored top honors with a mild 110.
Other attractions either drew average attendance
or below normal business.
Albee The Conqueror (RKO), 2nd wk. . . 80
Avon The Littlest Outlaw (BV), 2nd wk.. . 100
Loew's Forbidden Planet (MGM) 1 00
Majestic Serenade (WB) ... 85
.'
Strand-Rock Around the Clock (Col)'
'.'.'.'.'.'.'.]] 10
'Carousel' Clocks in at 125
For Best Ne-w Haven Returns
NEW HAVEN—The two Loew's houses recorded
the best business among the major
downtowners, with "Carousel" and "Slightly
Scarlet."
College Slightly Scarlet (RKO); Postmark tor
Danger (RKO) 115
Paramount Backlash (U-l); The Kettles in the
Ozarks (U-l) 80
Poll Carousel (20th-Fox) 125
Roger Sherman Miracle in the Rain (WB); The
River Changes (WB) 90
Starring with Cyd Charisse in MGM's upcoming
musical, "Silk Stockings," will be Ann
Miller.

:
April
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BOXOFFICE :
28, 1956

20th-FOX BRIEFING—Al Levy, northeast district manager, huddled with exchange
managers, bookers and salesmen of his territory to update them on new
products and merchandising plans following his return from the April 5 and 6 national
sales meeting in 20th Century-Fox studios in Hollywood. With Levy, seated at his desk,
left to right, are: Charles Koscos, manager, Buffalo; Shep B'-oom, manager, New
Haven; Frank Kelleher, salesman, Boston; Weldon Waters, manager, Boston; Clayton
Pantages, manager, Albany; John Peckos, sales manager, Boston; Phil Engel, New
England publicity manager; Bill Graham, manager, Boston; Sam Berg, head booker,
Boston; Sam Germaine, salesman. New Haven.
Garden Snake Unwelcome
On First Theatre Visit
BRIDGEPORT—A harmless garden snake,
carried into the SW Merritt by two unidentified
boys turned the show into a "near
riot" on Sunday afternoon. The theatre was
filled nearly with teenagers and children
when someone in the audience screamed
"there's a snake crawhng!"
Police summoned to the theatre said children
were screaming and shouting about
the snake. The police ordered the manager
to turn on the house lights. The police then
told the youngsters that the theatre would
be closed unless order was restored.
Two boys picked up the snake and carried
it outside. The show continued.
Guilford Receivership
Demanded by Director
HARTFORD—A superior court complaint
ha.s been filed by a Madison man. asking that
the Guilford
in
receivership.
iConn.i Theatre Corp. be placed
Carlo Lupone, a director of the enterprise,
asserted that the corporation's business can
no longer be conducted with equal justice,
because of the attitude of the controlling
majority on the board of directors. He asked
WANTED
EXPERIENCED
THEATRE MANAGER
for first-run theatre in Athol, Mass.
ABE GARBOSE
Write qualifications to
•
IMAGE & SOUND SERVICE CORP.
"The Best Value In Sound Service'
the court to appoint a receiver, issue a
decree
dissolving the corporation and supervise distribution
of the firm's assets.
Acting through his attorney. Louis Feinmark,
the dissatisifed director has placed a
$25,000 attachment on the theatre property.
According to the complaint, the theatre
was incorporated with a capital stock issue
of $40,000. divided into 400 equal shares.
Lupone says he owns 100 shares and that
the remaining are held by three other directors.
He charges they have withlield
dividends for the past five years in an effort
to make him sell his stock.
SPRINGFIELD
pour local houses collaborated with the
American Cancer Society and the Motion
Picture Operators Union 186 of Springfield
in special showings of a health documentary,
"Breast Self-Examination." This film is being
utilized as an educational aid in the
fight against cancer. Managers of the Arcade.
Bing, Grand and Majestic donated their
houses and the services of union operators
for the special showings.
Here for a one day bally in behalf of "The
Harder They Fall," Mike Lane garnered a
nice chunk of newspaper space by visiting
the editorial offices of the Daily News for
an interview. He also had his picture taken
with some of the more diminutive distaffer.s.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
•The Manchester Drive-In in Manchester's
Grenier Heights section opened its new
season April 14. Pine Island Park in the
Queen City was opened April 22, but the Pine
Island Drive-In was not ready to resume its
schedule on that date. The ozoner's management
said: "We are sorry to be late, but
it will pay to wait. New England's newest
and best drive-in will open soon."
WB Building Is Spared
In New Roadway Plan
NEW HAVEN—In a surprise announcement,
the State Highway Department last
week said it will not have to take the site
of Warner Bros, exchange for a new crosscity
highway. The Warner building is at the
edge of the 300-foot wide road. Original plans
indicated that only a corner of the Warner
branch would be needed, but that the entire
structure would be acquired by the State.
The announcement once again changes
the outlook for the future of the local Filmrow.
The Warner exchange is next to the
20th-Fox branch, which was the only building
scheduled to be spared by the highway
builders in the original sketches. Now, with
two major distributors left side by side, it
is believed that other companies will relocate
in the immediate vicinity. U-I has already
committed itself to a new building here.
The remaining distributors scheduled to
be displaced by the Oak Street Connector,
which will be part of the $400,000,000 Connecticut
Turnpike, are reportedly looking over
parking lots and other properties adjoining
the connector as sites for their new offices.
Thus, it appears that a new film district will
be located in the same general area as the
present Filmrow.
The Warner structure, owned by that
company, is the newest exchange in this city,
having been built after World War II. It is
assessed by the city at $109,000.
N. Y. Producers Take Over
Newport, R. I.. Casino
NEWPORT. R. I.—A new producing partnership.
Michael Howard and Spofford
Beadle of New York will take over the
Newport Casino Theatre, summer playhouse
in this city, for the 1956 season, it was announced
recently, following negotiations
with Sara Stamm, the Casino's owner. Miss
Stamm, who has operated the popular house
for 14 years, has retired temporarily because
of
illness.
In addition to producing, Howard will direct
the season's presentations and Beadle
will function as general manager. Both have
extensive backgrounds in summer theatre
and in Broadway and off-Broadway productions
as well. The new partnership will
be known as Beadle-Howard Productions,
with offices at 100 Fourth Ave., New York.
Opening date at the Casino will be announced
soon. Screen, stage and TV personalities
will be starred in the ten-week
sea.son.
Berlin. Conn.. Residents
Ban Airer Construction
HARTFORD—An ordinance banning construction
of outdoor theatres in suburban
Berlin has been approved by a vote of 67 to 62
in a special town meeting, blocking a project
of George LeWitt, the Connecticut circuit
operator. The next step in the Lakeside
Realty Co.'s fight to erect a theatre presumably
will be a com-t action, as Harry
Jackaway, the realty company's attorney, has
previously stated that his client intends to
carry the question to court in the event of an
unfavorable vote.
Vikki Dougan. television actre.ss. will make
her film debut in U-I's "The Great Man."
BOXOFFICE

135 Theatres Closed
In Canada in Year
TORONTO—During the year ending April 1,
a total of 135 houses in Canada went diuk.
according to Clare J. Appel, executive dli-ector
of the Canadian Motion Picture Distributors
Ass'n.
Previously closed were 54 theatres, making
a total of 189 discontinued houses, which,
Appel said, represented a drop of 52,392 seats
to the present seating capacity of 923,697 for
active theatres.
Appel said the picture, however, was not as
dark as it appeared. A number of obsolete
liouses, operating close to marginal basis,
entertainment."
During the last 12 months, 42 theatres
closed in the Toronto district, while 23 went
dark in the Wimiipeg territory and 17 in Vancouver,
where four drive-ins also were closed
or dismantled. Four drive-in projects in the
Winnipeg territory did not materialize. In
Ontario two to be constructed were not built,
two others were dismantled and nine were
opened in the year for a present total in the
province of 89. Total drive-ins to operate in
Canada this year Is 231.
OTTAWA
T B. Priestly, British author and playwright,
made a personal appearance on the stage
of the Glebe Cinema Friday (27) night under
the auspices of the Canadian Ass'n for Adult
Education. Charles Topshee. executive director
of the Canadian Film Institute, looked
iiiter arrangements . . . The Cornwall, Ont.,
drive-in has been reopened by 20th Century
Theatres. The independent Peterborough
Drive-In also made its start.
The dual Main and Little Elgins, managed
by Ernie Warren, are doing big business.
There were lineups at the Main Elgin for "The
Man With the Golden Arm" which has been
held for a second week. The Little Elgin Is
busy with the roadshow engagement of "Richard
III" with three shows daily . . . Manager
Fred Leavens at the Elmdale featured Maury
Logan as "Canada's Answer to Elvis Presley"
in a rock and roll revue on the stage Friday
and Saturday nights. The screen feature was
"Rebel Without a Cause."
Preparations are in hand for the annual
benefit performance for Variety Village at the
Capitol May 6 with all managers cooperating.
Winnipeg Airer Opening Sweepstakes
Won By Cy Brownstones Starlite
WINNIPEG-The battle of the "first drivein
to open this season" is filled with intrigue,
secrecy, countermaneuvers, espionage, counterespionage,
and a great deal of first-rate
acting to mislead other ozone operators, who
are also trying to outwit and outmaneuver
rivals in order to open a day ahead of the
others. The race against time and resourceful
competition takes into consideration such
items as the amount of snow left on the
fields, rapidity of drainage, ability to get all
speakers and refreshment equipment into operating
shape, and to be presentable enough
rival drive-ins. With years of experience in
exhibition, indoor and outdoor. Brownstone
played his role to the hilt. Even the day
before he opened, he misled his competition
by giving the impression he was hopelessly
immeshed in undergi-ound cable trouble, unspeakable
speakers, flooded refreshment
floors. It was a historical, hysterical, histrionical
triumph!
The Starlite opened with "The Mississippi
Gambler" and "Jumping Jacks." As added
inducement, 20 free season passes were given
away. Each pass will admit one car and all
occupants absolutely free during the entire
1956 season. Only adults were eligible for
enticing draw.
this
The next day. the Northmain, Eldorado
and Airport drive-ins opened. Grand opening
program at the Northmain was Danny
Kaye in "Knock on Wood" and "Escape From
Fort Bravo" with thi-ee shows at 7:30. 9:35
and 11:15. This year's specialities at the
Northmain Restam-ant are chicken-in-thebasket,
shrimp burgers and hot dogs.
The Airport opened with "Vera Cruz" and
"Cruisin" Down the River," with Manager
Mark Kramer boasting of his 120-foot screen.
Toronfo Tivoli Opens
With 'Oklahoma!' Debut
Toronto—Famous Players Tivoli, closed
nearly one year ago for complete renovation
and installation of Todd-.\0, opened
Wednesday (25) with tlie Canadian premiere
of "Oklahoma!"
Manager Fred Trebilcock said the
Tivoli, a downtown house, would have the
only Todd-.\0 presentation in Ontario.
•Admissions for the extended roadshow
engagement are set at S2.25 top.
The Eldorado, managed by Barney Brookler,
opened with "The Man From the Alamo"
plus "Mission Over Korea." Manager of the
Pembina, which opened later, i.s Warren
Hobman. Over at Western Theatres, Lou
Miles is supervising the bookings for the three
chain drive-ins. This year the Airport will
with the Winnipeg Foto-Nlte pool and
tie-in
operate Poto-Nlte on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Now that we are off to a fast start, all
the eyes of exhibition across Canada will be
f(5cused on Winnipeg, where the operators of
Vancouver Will Have
First Pay-as-See TV
VANCOUVER—This city is slated to be
folded, he said, while others closed in real
estate deals and still other older houses were for the influx of patrons on the self-imposed drive-ins take no back seat when it comes
converted to other uses.
deadline (the greatest secret of all), and the to exploitation, gimmicks and the general
There was the prospect that important suburban
theatres in Vancouver would soon be reopened.
Appel said, although he admitted that
more of the old-tMJe houses in various centers
preparation of opening day advertisements.
This year the ozoner-opening sweepstakes
went to Cy Brownstone of the Starlite Drive-
In, who opened Wednesday (18), one day
atmosphere of a three-ring circus.
would drop out in the next 12 months.
more than usual
ahead of all the other drive-ins in greater
His survey disclosed the Winnipeg. Besides the honor and distinction,
number of changes among theatre lessees Brow^nstone should also be awarded a special
during the la.st year, while many houses leased new type of Academy Award for "acting."
at prosperity figures had gone back to owners Working around the clock, with only one
who. he felt, might be able to operate them extra man to help him, Brownstone managed first in Canada to receive "pay-a.s-you-see"
television, according to Famous Players Canadian
to display himself around Filmrow and
profitably.
Appel declared with respect to obsolete theatres:
Corp. President J. J. Fitzgibbons, here
circuit headquarters looking disheveled and
"Certainly they cannot compete with unshaved, spreading the weary impression
modern comfortably ventilated theatres for that because there were only the two of them,
last w-eek to arrange for a studio site for a
Telemeter network. FPC holds the Canadian
public patronage. So long as Canada's economy
remains at its present prosperous level Starlite into shape.
it would take at least another week to get the
franchise for International Telemeter Corp.
"We will be suiTsrised if we're not in operation
by this time next year," Fitzgibbons said.
the public can afford, and has demonstrated Brownstone's competitors were thus thrown
will be the first closed domestic circuit of
willingness, to pay for comfort along with off track, and not regarding him as a contender,
"It
they concentrated their spies on other a commercal scale on the continent."
Subscribers will be able to obtain the service,
he added, by depositing coins in a Telemeter.
Famous Players, he said, is backing
the experiment with million-dollar reserves.
"Our operation here will be carefully
watched from both sides of the border." Fitzgibbons
continued, adding that Vancouver
was selected for the experiment because the
city
"is recognized as the toughest marketing
city on the continent."
If it works here, he said, it will have a
good chance elsewhere.
Earlier, while in Toronto to present his
annual report to shareholders of FPC, Fitzgibbons
said:
"Pending the consideration of pay television
by official government agencies both in Canada
and the U. S., International Telemeter
Corp. has been utilizing this time to further
develop the system and in seeking greater
simplification of its equipment."
No Tax Appeal to Be Made
During Special Session
TORONTO—Premier Leslie M. Frost of
Ontario has intimated that a special session
of the provincial legislature will be caUed In
June to deal with the pressing taxation situation,
particularly for financial aid to municipalities
and for public works.
At a directors meeting of the Motion Picture
Theatre Ass'n of Ontario, at which President
Lionel Lester of Toronto was in the
chair, the decision was reached after a discussion
that "this would be a most inopportune
time to approach the provincial government"
on further reductions in the amusement
tax.
The province made no change in the theatre
admission tax in its 1956 budget, although
reduction w^as granted early In 1955.
BOXOFFICE April 28, 1956

. . Maynard
. . Babe
. . Gail
. . Nora
. . The
. . Preliminary
:
April
VANCOUVER
/Portion Sutherland is the secretary of the
^ Projectionists Credit Union Mccance
is business agent for stagehands Local
.
118 and Pi'ed Chamberlain is the secretary for
1956 Joiner, district manager for
.
P'amous Players, was on an inspection trip
covering Vancouver Island theatres . . Beverly
.
Clark, formerly with the FPC district publicity
office here who resigned to go with the General
Hospital to handle public relations, is
back in show business with Odeon Theatres
and will handle newspaper layouts for the
chain. She replaces Don Barnes, who resigned
to live in California.
Sydney Freedman, Studio manager, tied up
with a local automobile firm for his showing
of "Touch and Go." The car firm bannered
its autos to tie in with the picture and the
company's "push-button" cars . . . Pi-ovincial
censorship of motion pictui-es is backed by
most Vancouver people. A local opinion poll
by Research Associates showed 70 per cent
in favor of censorship.
Charlie Nelson, former exhibitor, has opened
a new night club in the Oriental section of
town. He formerly operated the State Theatre,
now the Avon, on Vancouver's east side . .
Bob Kelly, manager of the Odeon Dunbar, is
back from a vacation spent in Portland, Ore.
Earl McMillan of the Studio is holidaying in
California and Mexico.
Len Brewer of the Paradise suffered a second
stroke in the hospital .
Kelly,
concession girl at the Vogue, resigned and
joined a drug chain store here . Miller,
for eight years at the Odeon Plaza, has
quit show business . . . After playing midnight
shows for the last 20 years, the downtown
Plaza has discontinued them due to slim business.
Ivan Ackery, manager of the Orpheum. is
playing "Personality Parade" on his stage
each Friday night and is building business to
top returns . Avon Theatre in Chinatown
is running shows all day on Sundays.
To keep within the law, admission is by
tickets sold during the week.
Presentation of a stage show by the Paragon
Theatre at Melville, Sask., and violation of
the Lord's Day act cost Hugh Vassos, manager,
a fine of $50. Tlie Lord's Day act is a
federal statute . . . 'Wally Woolridge of the
Strand and Nippy Gowen of the International
Cinema, who have worked in local projection
booths for the last 50 years, are retiring from
show business in June. Both are in their 70's.
Five Play 'African Lion'
TORONTO—Five Famous Players units
combined for the Show of the Week, playing
"The African Lion." The theatres were the
Beach, College, Palace, Parkdale and Runnymede.
Four Odeon houses, the Danforth,
Fairlawn, Colony and Humber, continued for
a second week with "The Man With the
Golden Ai-m" along with the Toronto Odeon,
flagship of the circuit.
Allen's Shift 'Marty'
TORONTO—"Marty." after playing four
weeks at the Allen's Hollywood, went into
the circuit's suburban Willowdale to cash in
further on the Oscar honors.
TORONTO
.
nrch H. Jolley, executive secretary of the
Motion Picture Theatres Ass'n, says
Toronto theatres will be permitted to stage
Sunday midnight shows during the Empire
Day holiday May 21 . . Ludmilla Tcherina,
star dancer of the British feature, "Oh Rosalinda,"
made a personal appearance at the
annual dinner dance Saturday (21) of the
Toronto Men's Press Club. The picture will
be released here soon. Scheduled for a
Toronto visit is Cleo Moore, star of "Over-
Exposed," which will be premiered at Nat
Taylor's theatres in May.
Although Fred Fink has decided to close
three of his Toronto neighborhood theatres,
he was able to smile when he staged a "222-
Minute Laugh Show" at the Astor with happy
result. The program consisted of various
comedies auditions in the
.
B'nai B'rith talent hunt staged at the
Famous Players Beach and College brought
out many contestants, it was reported by
Gerald Dillon. Winners of the series go into
the Spring Carnival May 30 at the Toronto
Coliseum.
Variety Tent 28 celebrated its 11th anniversary
with a big dinner meeting Tuesday
124), with Chief Barker Dave Griesdorf in
the chair. Special tribute was paid the tent's
charter members. A report was received on
the second annual benefit show Sunday (22)
for Variety Village of the Windsor, Ont.,
Theatre Managers Ass'n at the Windsor
Capitol, where Joe Lefave is manager.
Famous Players reopened its Skyway and
Mohawk drive-ins at Hamilton under the
supervision of Lloyd Taylor . . . H. M. Poidevin,
owner of the Esquire at Southampton,
has joined the Ontario MPTAO . . . Roy
Tash, veteran cameraman of Associated
Screen News, made complete film coverage
of the flight over the North Pole by Canada's
Governor-General Vincent Massey . . . Len
Bi.shop of Shea's shot a 44 in his first nine
of the year at St. Andrew's golf course, he
said.
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GENERAL THEATRE SUPPLY COMPANY
LIMITED
i.r :; HEAD OFFICE: 861 BAY ST. TORONTO, ONTARIO
Manager Jim Chalmers
Wins Courtesy Award
OTTAWA^A special courtesy plaque was
awarded to Manager Jim Chalmers of the
odeon Theatre and his staff by the circuit's
<
)ritario district manager, Steve McManus.
Clialmers and his staff won the award as the
"most courteous group in any theatre in
Ontario."
In addition to Chalmers, employes who
figured in the final competition included
Roger Huneault, assistant manager; John
Neilson, doorman; Louise Clermont, candy
attendant, and Fern Leblond, usher.
UAC Profit Down in 1955
TORONTO—United Amusement Corp., an
associate of Famous Players Canadian, has
i-ssued its annual report, which showed net
profit at $228,793 in 1955, equal to 71 cents
per share, compared with $312,357, or 97 cents
per share, in 1954. Working capital at $1,170,-
713 was an increase of $39,000 over the preceding
year. United operates a chain in Quebec
province.
BOXOFFICE
:
28, 1956

. . . And
. . Lately
. . Eddie
. . Besides
. .
'Court Jester' Scores
Top Toronto Gross
TORONTO—"The Court Jester" at the
Imperial was the week's outstanding grosser,
its boxoffice performance being helped by
good press notices. Strength was shown by
"The Man With the Golden Arm" in its
second week at the Odeon. "The Scarlet Hour"
at Shea's and "Come Next Spring" at the
University and Eglinton.
(Average Is 100)
Liiincrsiti Come Next Spring folinton (Rep).... 120
H\l.;r.| The Ladykillers iJARO), 4th wk 100
•iicn,)l The Court Jester (Paro) 155
Forbidden Plonet iMGM) 100
I .L-^s V,
N.rto«rT- The Mon Who Never Wos (20th-Fox) 1 05
Od.o.-- The Mon With the Golden Arm (UA),
-n.l "k 120
Shco The 125
s Scorlct Hour (Poro)
T.nine -Geordie (British), 4th wk 100
Lijitovvn -I'll Cry Tomorrow (MGM), 3rd wk 100
Vancouver Showmen Worry
Over Continued Slump
VANCOUVER—Exhibitors were expressing
worry over the more than seasonal boxoffice
slump, with a number of top pictures, such
as "Carousel." "The Conqueror." "Meet Me
in Las Vegas" and "The Littlest Outlaw,"
failing to reach expectations. It was thought
that a year or two ago the pictures would
have delivered much better scores.
Capitol Meet Me in Las Vegos (MGM) .... Average
Cinema Inside Detroit (Col), Three Stripes in
the Sun (Col) Fair
Orpheum The Conqueror (RKO) (k)Od
Poradise Wages of Fear (IFD); Man of the
Moment (IFD) Fair
Plaza-Circle—Value for Money (JARO), 5 days.. Poor
Strand The Prisoner (Col) Fair
Studio Richard III (IFD), 5th Fair
wk
Vogue Picnic (Col), 3rd wk Fair
Special Ratings Started
By Film Estimate Board
TORONTO—The Canadian Film Estimate
Board, made up of representatives of 11 educational,
religious, patriotic and welfare
groups, is giving special ratings to pictures
reviewed here in cooperation with the
Canadian Moving Picture Distributors Ass'n.
Pictures considered to be outstanding in
their class are awarded a "star." Other
ratings signify audience classification. Member
associations can thus bring in what is
virtually a minority report on a picture.
In the latest list, "The Court Jester" is
awarded a star with the notation that it is
a family feature for all ages. "Guys and
E>olls" has been approved for theatre patrons
over 12 years of age, but one member organization,
the Imperial Order Daughters of the
Empire, withheld its star.
"Picnic" came in for a variety of opinions
although it was recommended for grown-ups
and mature young people. Three of the 11
members gave it a star, these being the Big
Sister Ass'n, Canadian Film Institute and
Canadian Girl Guides but the Canadian
Council of Churches qualified its attitude as
follows: "The moral tone is mixed and the
immature behavior of the chief characters is
An exhibitor tells us that he is willing to
most unsettling against the idyllic background
of the picnic."
"Rebel Without a Cause" and "The
Prisoner" received stars for grown-up audiences.
communicate with your correspondent
For "The Rose Tattoo" the Council To give Foto-Nite an extra boost at the
of Churches and the lODE declined to give
Capitol in Brandon, Manager Leno Turaldo
stars. "Mii-acle in the Rain" was recommended
has embarked on a re-registration campaign,
for patrons over 12 years but received
a process which completely reactivates the
no star from any organization.
interest of the entire population.
The system will help theatre managers in
booking pictures for family or adult audiences.
WINNIPEG
n slightly dill'crfiil nioveovcr ad was used
by the Gaiety recently. It read: "Everybody
is talking about 'Cockleshell Heroes,' now
playing at the Metropolitan, but it cannot be
held over on account of the booking of
Grace Kelly in 'The Swan'—so It moves over
to the Gaiety" . Shell, many years
with Columbia as film salesman. Is leaving
the industry to enter restaurant business
with relatives ... To accommodate kiddies
on a Saturday morning, the Garrick opened
at 9:30 for the showing of Warner Bros. "The
Lone Ranger" . . . For the first time in two
years the Dominion has had a holdover.
Mesho Ti-iller reports that UA's "The Man
With the Golden Aj-m" did sufficiently well
for him to keep showing the picture for a
second week.
Tom Pacey, Odeon manager, is advertising
"The Ladykillers" as winner of two Briti-sh
Academy Awards . giving free
foreign coins to the kiddies. Ernie Diamond
of the Rialto bills his w-eekend programs as
"Gala Family Program," consisting of the
Bowery Boys in "Paris Playboys," "Cattle
Town." and Laurel and Hardy in "The
Chimp." For dessert there are three color
cartoons .
letters to the editors of
local dailies have discussed daylight saving
time versus standard and the recent ruckus
about bingo in theatres.
Teenagers are giving Free Press and
Tribune movie critics a hard time because
they dared criticize Elvis Presley, who was
recently signed by Hal Wallis to appear in
pictures. Both critics received nasty letters,
phone calls and messages because they said
EP was a flash in the pan and without real
talent. Exhibitors can look forward with
interest to the outcome of his fii-st picture
talking about TV stars who made
movies, Liberace will shortly make a personal
appearance in Winnipeg.
Recent visitors to Filmrow were: Mr. and
Mrs. Bill Zaparaniuk, Prince Albert: Mr.
and Mrs. Keith McNeil, Twilite Drive-In.
Fort Qu'Appelle; Mr. and Mrs. Bill Mcintosh.
Rabbit Lake Drive-In. Kenora: Mr. and Mrs.
Joe Hersak, Roblin, Roblin; Stan Zaba. Twilite
Drive-In, Wolseley, Sask.
Manager Joe Harris of Paragon Theatres
reports two new accounts have been added to
the roster of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and
Ontario exhibitors who are buying and booking
through Paragon: Bill Barabash. Capitol
Theatre and Northern Drive-In, Swan River.
Man., and W. K. Riese. who originally operated
a 16mm situation in the Aurora, Lac La
Ronge, Sask., and has recently converted to
35mm operation. To date, Harris reports.
Paragon's services extend to three accounts
in Ontario, 12 in Manitoba and 28 in Saskatchewan.
BOXOFFICE
sell any one of the three, or all three, of the
Yiddish language feature films he owns outright
for all Canada. Interested parties can
Several Manitoba exhibitors, who are not
members of the Manitoba Motion Picture
ibiu
paying, have either mailed in a year'.s dues or
a small donation In recognillon of the successful
battle waged by the MMPEA to obtain
a slight cut in the provincial amusement lax.
A considerable amount of money was spent
by the MMPEA in the process of the fight,
and President Ben Sommcrs suggests that
nonmembers wishing to show their gratitude
can do so best by malllnR In an application
for membership. Annual fee for exhibitors
in towiis under 3,000 is only five dollars. Association
dues for theatres situated in population
centers of over 3,000 Is five cents per
seat, paid quarterly, In advance. "The tax
fight is not entirely over, .so please pitch In if
you haven't yet," said Sommers.
The merger of Alliance and Astral resulted
in veteran Charlie Krupp leaving Alliance to
be succeeded by Sam Swartz of Astral as
head in Winnipeg of the new, enlarged organization.
Regina Foto-Nite Case
Put Over Until Fall
REGINA—The Appeal Court last week put
over to the next court a crown appeal from
a case in which a Saskatoon theatre manager
was acquitted of charges of operating a
lottery.
Two managers of Odeon theatres in Saskatoon
were acquitted of the charges in July
by Magistrate B. M. Wakeling. The managers
are Vince Pasternick of the Victory Theatre
and Ray Resky of the Broadway Theatre.
The attorney-general filed an appeal against
Pasternick's acquittal.
The magistrate dismissed the charges on
the ground that under a Foto-Nite arrangement
there was no exchange of legal property.
The case will be heard next fall. The appeal
was adjourned because of the unexpected
length of a labor relations board
matter now before the court.
'Unguarded Moment' Is New Title
Formerly titled "The Gentle Web," the
new name for the U-I film is "The Unguarded
Moment."
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ST"^

. . . Doris
. . Mrs.
. . Mrs.
. .
. . The
MONTREAL
l^arc Thibault resigned as publicity manager
for Cinerama at the Imperial to join
Gratien Gelinas' Fridolinades, now playing
at the Orpheum theatre. Before leaving Thibault
"premiered" the second Cinerama film,
•'Cinerama Holiday" . . . "Richard ni" was
in its sixth week at the Kent, and "Marty"
was in its fourth and last week at the Avon.
of
Jo Pollon, recently appointed manager
the International Film Distributors 16mm
division, and his wife Elizabeth became
parents of a baby daughter named Abigail,
their first child ... J. J. Fitzgibbons, president
of Famous Players Canadian, attended
the annual meeting of both UAC and Confederation
Amusements circuit this week at
the UAC building on MonkJand avenue .
Audrey Mitchell, cashier at Warner Bros., is
engaged to Bob Impey, brother of Doreen
Impey. former cashier at Warners . . . Mrs.
Shirley Buckley, wife of Del Buckley, salesman
for RKO, has returned temporarily to
her former position as stenographer at RKO
Pearson has resigned as tjijist at
UA. Nora Harris, cashier, succeeded Jacqueline
Osher, who resigned to be married in
Toronto May 29.
Jack Roher, president of Peerless Films,
was in Toronto for a week . Lucille
Montpetit, is the new switchboard operator
at Paramount . L. Bertrand of the
Princess Theatre at Riviere du Loup, was a
Filmrow visitor . . . Seymour Bellman, assistant
booker at RKO, was ill . . . The TOA
of Quebec, was to hold its second annual
banquet at the Helene de Champlain hall on
St. Helen's Island on the 28th.
Believes Alberta Should
Remove All Ticket Tax
CAMROSE, ALTA.—Commenting on the
abatement of amusement tax on motion picture
admissions from children's and student
tickets, the Camrose Canadian said, in part:
"Of course it is taken for granted that the
removal of this tax will be passed on to the
patrons and not absorbed in a higher price
of admissions charged by the theatres . . .
Camrose has been singularly fortunate in that
the local theatres have held the line against
exorbitant admission rates. Out at the Coast
the theatres have gone hog wild with their
admission prices with the result that even
with an excellent program their seats remain
empty ... It is our opinion that the Alberta
government might as well have gone the
whole way and removed the amusement tax
in its
entirety."
Crawley Again at Top
MONTREAL—For the seventh time in seven
years a motion picture produced by Crawley
Films has been chosen as "one of the ten
best sponsored films released for school use"
in the United States. The pictui-e was "Five
Faces of Quebec." The ten best list is chosen
each year by Scholastic Teachers magazine
of New York. Crawley Vice-Pi-esident Graeme
F'raser said the award is a tribute to Canadian
motion picture quality. "Five Faces of
Quebec" shows the province through the eyes
of five people with different viewpoints—
historian, a maitre d'hotel, a truck driver, a
businessman and a man who likes to fish.
Herbert Anderson will play the role of
press agent in Universal's "Star Light."
DOMiMoi mm
are privileged to announce that they are
supplying the folloiving Projection and Sound equipment
to the National Film Board.
* Centur'y Projectors
Century Sound Systems
Westrex Soundheads
Ashcraft Arc Lamps
* Imperial Generators
Raytone Screens
Installation will he in the studios
new National Film Board building
Ville St. Laurent, Quebec.
',d
auditori
Cole de Li>
of the
Road.
Incorporating the very latest in design and techniques the
neiv building is the most modern in North America.
Dominion Sound are justifiably proud of their
contribution
to Canada's world renoivned National Film Board.
DOmilOi soil Equipments LimitBd
HEAO OFFICi: 4040 St. Catherine Street West, Monfreo/.
BRANCHES AT: Halifax, Saint John, Quebec, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto,
Hamilton, London, North Bay, Winnipeg, Regina, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouyer.
ST.
JOHN
A fter a six-week holiday in the States and
Mexico with his wife, P. Gordon Spencer,
president of the F. G. Spencer Co., returned to
his office here in time to be re-elected president
of the St. John Tuberculosis Ass'n, an
office he has held for many yeai-s . . . "Reg"
March, retired manager for 20th-Fox here, is
mourning the death of his 93-year-old
mother.
Peter Herschorn of the Franklin & Herschorn
Tlieatre Co. and his wife Sylvia have
returned to Halifax after a short vacation in
Miami Beach. Fla. . . . With the weather in
the Maritimes improving and highways open.
St. John film managers and salesmen have
taken "to the road," calling upon theatre
operators . Maritimes Film Board, at
its annual meeting, re-elected I. J. Davis,
manager of United Artists, president; Ken
Snellgrove, manager of RKO, vice-president,
and Lou J. Simon, manager of Columbia, secretary.
In booking and buying was Malcolm Walker
of Halifax, N. S.. president of M. E. Walker,
Ltd. His Bay Road Drive-In ten miles outside
of Halifax reopened Monday (23i. Also in was
"Rocky" Hazel, partner in the Chester Drive-
In, Chester, N. S. He set the Chester reop)ening
for Friday (27 1. Byi-on Evans, owner
and operator of the Sunset Drive-In, Nashwaaksis,
N. B., will open it at the end of
April . . . Josephine Reynolds, cashier at
MGM. is leaving to take up residence in
Harrison, N. J.
Harrison Howe, manager of the Pai-amount,
St. John, arranged a succes.sful contest with
the cooperation of a large drug store in promoting
the picture "Anything Goes." Eight
winners were announced, each receiving a
year's supply of shampoo.
Heavy Buying Is Reported
By Trans-Lux Holders
WASHINGTON—Heavy buying of Trans-
Lux Corp, by Harry Brandt and associates
was reported in the latest summary of the
Securities and Exchange Commission.
Brandt bought 700 shares in his own name
and 600 for the Brandt Foundation during
February. He acquired 2.600 shares during
December. His holdings in his own name are
now 128,515 shares. Mi's. Brandt holds 17,700
shares, with 200 shares in a holding company.
Total holdings of the Brandt Foundation are
800 shares.
During February Jay Emanuel acquired
1.000 shares, making a total of 12,000. Albert
D. Erickson acquired 1.000 for a total
of 2,600: Percival E. Furber acquired 5,010
for a total of 7,810. Aquila C. Giles bought
1,000 for a total of 2,000, and Jacob Starr
acquired 300 for a total of 2,000.
Fight Proprietor Boothman
HAMILTON, ONT. — The projectionists
Local 303 has levelled its guns at the recently
reopened Clappison Drive-In at Clappison
Corners on the ground that the theatre, owned
by Joe Dydzak, "does not employ union
projectionists." The union has published formal
notices to this effect. The Clappison and
other drive-ins in western Ontario have
proprietors who contend they themselves are
qualified projectionists under license of the
theatres act.
BOXOFFICE :
: April 28, 1956

• ALPHABETICAL INDEX
• AOLINES & EXPLOITIPS
• BOXOFFICE BAROMETER
• EXHIBITOR HAS HIS SAY
• FEATURE RELEASE CHART
• FEATURE REVIEW DIGEST
• REVIEWS OF FEATURES
• SHORTS RELEASE CHART
• SHORT SUBJECT REVIEWS
• SHOWMANDISING IDEAS
THE GUIDE TO i BETTER BOOKING AND B U S I N E S S B U I L D I N G
Siyles Top Publicity
For 'Swan' Premiere
The world premiere of "The Swan" at
the Randolph in Philadelphia was backed
by a comprehensive campaign in which
fashion tie-ins took the major play.
Helen Rose, designer of Grace Kelly's
gowns in the film, appeared at a fashion
show conducted by Gimbel's and sponsored
by the Philadelphia Art Museum Fashion
Wing. The show, attended by museum
members, Gimbel's executives, editors, fashion
wTiters, civic and cultural leaders, served
as a springboard for a series of store displays
and windows that did much to place
the name of the film before a good part of
the female population of the city.
MOM joined the theatre in publishing a
page ad in the Inquirer devoted to institutional
tieups and featuring Campus bridal
gowns, which were prominently merchan-
; dised in the displays at the department
J store.
Eleven windows on Market street in Gimbel's
were devoted to "The Swan." Other
Huge Cake Goes on TV for Carousel'
Small Merry-Go-Rounds Sell Kids
®ffiE32Ec
Tot-size merry-go-rounds have been borrowed, constructed and otherwise pressed into service for
the early showings of "Carousel." Above are from (left) RKO Proctors in Newark, Y.; Radio City
N
Theatre in Minneapolis (center) provided by the Coca-Cola distributor (another one for similar use in
front of the some theatre was obtained from the Wonder Bread Co.), ond (right) in front of the Glove
Theatre in Gloversville, N. Y. More than 2,000 kids were given free rides in three days at the Radio City.
windows featured "Two great stars . . .
Grace Kelly and You" in their pitch to the
feminine market, while inside the store
there were numerous displays built around
the original costumes used in the film.
Ten Commandments' Sign
Set Up 7 Months Ahead
A "first" in motion picture history is
claimed for a lobby display at the RKO
Keiths in Washington heralding an attraction
which is still seven months away from
its playdate. Manager Jimmy Baker has
set up a sign board which reads, "RKO
Keiths Theatre proudly announces the presentation
in the fall of Cecil B. DeMille's
crowning achievement, 'The Ten Commandments,'
a Paramount picture."
Dealers for Regal Shoes
Are Lined Up for 'Suit'
Exhibitors in 38 cities can look to local
Regal shoe dealers for support on engagements
of "The Man in the Gray Flannel
Suit." The theme, "The Man in the Gray
Flaimel Suit Wears Regal Shoes," is the
^1 shoe manufacturer's contribution to the
"^ campaign, expressed via newspaper ads, display
ribbons and in-store promotional material
for the retail outlet. Twentieth-Fox
field exploiteers are servicing the retailers
with advance film promotional material
and a list of local playdates.
When Manager Richard D. Empey scheduled
"Carousel" for his Granada in Duluth,
Minn., he lined up the cooperation of
WDSM-TV, Oreck's department store and
Ki-esge's dime store.
The manager secured some mighty valuable
television mention by having a huge
cake baked with a carousel on the top and
good size letters around the sides spelling
out "Carousel" and "Cinemascope 55."
This cake was brought in to the TV studio
while a femme emcee was doing her show
and, by arrangement, the cake was put
right on camera. While the screens showed
closeups of the cake, she spoke about the
film: then the television film clip of the
New York City premiere of "Carousel"
went on.
Said Empey: "It was different, and certainly
worth the effort. With the exception
of the cake, there was no charge to the
theatre."
At Oreck's, Empey set up window displays
tied In with the "Carousel" sailor
hats, while the management at Kresge's let
him use two turntables on the main floor
of the store for displays. A small carousel
was installed at the bottom of the stairs.
For the theatre, the manager had a special
40x60 made up of magazine covers and
other published mentions of "Carousel."
This went up several weeks prior to the
playdate, along with a mammoth wall display
featuring the stars. The public address
BOXOFFICE Showmandiser : : April 28, 1956 — 113 —
system also piped music through the lobby.
In Gloversville, N. Y., Manager John G.
Corbett of the Glove promoted a small
kiddy carousel from a local store in return
for some plugs. He set It up outside the
theatre and offered free rides a week prior
to the opening.
A record player in the bottom of the
stand played the song hits from the motion
picture. "This ballyhoo caused plenty of
excitement with yoimg and old," Corbett
reported.
Boxers Mix It on Truck
For 'Harder They Fall'
A stunt used up Boston way while it was
still topcoat weather got crowds out to
talk it up for "The Harder They Pall."
Loew's Theatres publicist Karl Fasick induced
two men to strip to the waist and
climb into a specially rigged boxing ring
mounted on a flat truck bed. The men
donned boxing gloves and went at each
other for a few simulated rounds. Scene
stills were mounted on the ring posts,
while a huge side banner on the truck beat
the drums for the engagements at the State
and Orpheum.
With wanner weather on tap, exhibitors
elsewhere should have an easier time In
lining up "talent" for similar outdoor productions.

National Guard Mock Bomber
Signals Opening of Invasion' Duo
A C57 bomber, six F80 jets and
a photography plane executed an
Operation Invasion over Port Arthur
and Beaumont, Tex., on the
afternoon "Invasion of the Body
Snatchers" and "Indestructible
Man" opened at the Sabine and
Liberty theatres in the two cities.
The "bombs" released by the
bomber of the Ulth jet interceptor
squadron of the Air Nation;i:
Guard were toy balloons, each wit:
a pass to the screen show attached
—250 over Port Ai'thur and 250
over Beaumont—and cash awards
redeemable at the boxoffices of
both theatres, and bonus prizes oi
$75 and $100 credits on appliann
totaling $6,250.
Following the "bomb" releases,
the interceptor squadron "attacked"
the "enemy" plane aiKi
drove it off. The maneuver was ;
low level, 800 to 1,000 feet, wit I
a display of precision flying, winytip
to wingtip.
The arrangements for the mock
attack promoting the picture were
made by George Bannan, publicity
director for Allied Artists, and publicists for
Jefferson Amusement Co. of Beaumont with
Major General Berry, adjutant general of
Texas.
The mock attack also signaled the opening
of an Air National Guard communications
squadron at the Jefferson County airport.
Both papers published stories on the
"attack" and the film tieup, while the ra-
Air Force Helps Promote
'Threshold' in West
John Burns, manager of the Califoi-nia
Tlieatre, San Bernadino, buOt up interest
in "On the Threshold of Space" by displaying
a T-One suit on a mannequin in
front of the theatre. Norton Air Force
Base cooperated with Bums by supplying
a non-com to explain the space suit to
passers-by.
Burns supplemented these attention-getters
by pasting a 24-sheet, fUled with
scenes from the space thriller, on the sidewalk
in front of his theatre: set up a 40x
60 made with suitable photos; displayed a
flash showing of miniature planes from
the Baseline Hobby Shop in the foyer. On
the first Saturday of the showing. Burns
gave away 100 guided missile models to the
first 100 boys and girls who came in.
A J-35 Jet Engine was placed on display
in the lobby at the Fox Theatre, Riverside,
Calif., by Manager David Lackie to
get attention for the same feature film.
Lackie kept the engine running with an
electric motor throughout performances
preceding opening dates for the space film,
backing the display with a 24-sheet. Lackie
Attack'
WATCH TH? SKY
TOMCR::*".'i. nnOON
Siksan alG VM: i 'S;, TERMS
James S. Nacoi Co.
.:„ "2P \wm.\
dio stations made 120 free announcements,
and KFDM-TV covered the operation in
both cities besides making announcements
on news broadcasts. KOLE had an announcer
on the roof of its station in Port
Arthur to make a special broadcast of the
operation.
Reproduced herewith is the full page coop
ad run by the appliance company on the
tieup.
secured the jet engine from the USAF Orientation
Group at Norton Air Base.
March Field contributed a High Altitude
Equipment outfit to the Fox display. The
outfit included helmet, oxygen mask and
tank, parachute, Mae West and seat type
survival kit. This kit, valued at $450, was
a real attention winner among the youngsters,
as it exhibited a life raft, shotgun,
hatchet, knife, fishing gear and rations.
Wayne Shepler at the Fox, Hollywood,
also promoted "On the Threshold of Space"
by securing Air Force cooperation. Center
of interest for Wayne's campaign was
getting the Air Force Recruit Depot, next
door to his theatre, to prepare lobby and
window displays of ordnance.
Child of Week Contest
John Butler of the Starland Theatre, Los
Angeles. Calif., has launched a Child of the
Week contest, with neighborhood merchants
giving prizes, such as dresses or
.suits, shoes, pictures, etc. Each merchant
is given credit in a lobby display, and the
drawing to name the Child of the Week is
held in one of the stores each week. The
child received his prizes on the stage.
l-^ointof
Uiew
n S the summer vacation for school children
and teenagers nears, it might be
wise to consider ways and means of turning .-
some extra bucks during the coming weeks. '•«
Of coui-se, graduation shows and graduation
gift books come readily to mind, but
here's an idea that's being put into practice
this year and might bear investigation in
your own particular situation: A Central
States house in Iowa has set up a theatre
rental and a schedule of activities for an
After Prom Program, tieing in with many
other merchants and amusement enterprises
around town. Included are a bowling
alley, skating rink, tennis court, a local
club, a bus concern and a boating operation.
You don't have to use all of these
angles, but you should be able to work out
something mutually profitable with several
concerns in town.
*
Don't know what you have in mind,
but here's how the Roxy in New York
primped for the opening of "The Man
in the Gray Flannel Suit" rece?itly—
a carpet of gray flannel was provided
for celebrities to walk down as they
made their entrances. See if you can
tvork it into your budget.
And in promoting "The Bold and the
Brave," you could do much worse than
feature a blowup of the Time magazine review
of the film when you exploit this -h
sleeper. The rave review, to be found in "'-
the April 16 number, includes a provocative
photo of Nicole Maurey and Don Taylor,
and almost two full columns of excellent,
quotable comment. There are quite a few
other rather flattering reviews on this
unheralded film, but in this one the reviewer's
enthusiasm is contagious.
*
An acquaintance of ours, outside the
industry, posed a question the other
evening: How do you create interest
and enthusiasm for the not-so-hot pictures
after you've kicked up a big fuss
over the truly great pictures? Well, as
showmen, you know plenty of good ansivers,
but we quoted one that was
lifted, more or less, from an Independent
Theatre Owners of Ohio bulletin.
The next morning we went to the files,
and came up with the original, dated
aivay back to Dec. 29, 1953. Said the
bulletin in part: "You obviously can't
go back to the public with every one
and tell them this is the biggest, greatest,
best and most colossal. However,
there is some good in every picture unless,
as may be, you are just playing
this picture because you want to keep
the doors open and there is nothing
else. The latter premise is very bad
psychology. In that program there
must be something that appeals to
some people.
It's those people, however
few, however scattered, to whom the
appeal must be directed."
—LARRY GOODMAN
114 BOXOFFICE Showmandiser
g^

'Helen of Troy' Dates
Inspire Art Stunts
Picnic' Prompting Many Promotions
Easy and Inexpensive to Duplicate
Miss Carol Taipic, Spokane artist, draws an appreciative
audience to her easel in the lobby ot
the Fox there, where she painted in oil her interpretations
of scenes from "Helen of Troy."
Two showmen on opposite sides of the
globe came up with promotions involving
artistic talent for "Helen of Ti-oy."
Jack Hamacker, city manager for the
Evergreen circuit in Spokane. Wash., and
manager of the Fox there, set up an easel
display in the lobby and hired a young
Spokane artist to do her stuff. The artist
created her own impressions, in oil, of
scenes from the film an hour each evening,
and, of course, there always was a goodly
crowd gathered around her to watch and
talk it up for the coming attractions.
In Chatham, Kent, England, Manager
G. C. WiUiams of the Regent devised a picture
painting contest inspired by artwork
from "Helen of Troy." Williams, assisted
by A. A. Allen, worked out an arrangement
with the Chatham Observer to co-sponsor
the contest. The newspaper gave the promotion
prominent play, including five and
a half inches of double column space in one
issue.
Full window displays showing cutouts of
warriors and a large wooden horse were obtained
at three good locations in the town.
Also causing quite a bit of good comment,
according to the manager, was an excellent
front-of-house show using cutout figures
against a pictorial background. Since this
was adjacent to a bus stop, the attraction
drew extremely well.
Two Big Co-Op Ads for 'Cry'
In Sioux Falls Campaign
Jim Molohon. manager of the State Theatre,
Sioux Falls, S. D., garnered two fivecolumn,
20-inch co-op ads in a tieup with
the Farmer's Market for "I'll Ci-y Tomorrow."
The co-ops were paid for by the
merchant and were run in the Arguse;J
Leader. In addition to the ads, Parmer's
Market gave the picture two full windows
and inside store displays.
The theatre offered complimentary
tickets to the picture to the first 50 customers
to enter the Parmer's Market stores
the following days.
"Picnic," In Its playdates around the nation,
is receiving Impetus at the boxofflce
from variations on a theme having the
idea of a genuine picnic at base and all
being rather inexpensive and easy to duplicate.
Here's one used by Charles Tucker of
the HoUand in Bellefontaine, Ohio. Tucker
tied up with a local appliance merchant to
stage an allnight picnic party at the store
on the night the picture opened. Tucker
set up a display of appliance items in the
lobby as his side of the bargain, and posted
.signs inviting all theatregoers that evening
to follow up the performance with a
visit to the store for the picnic. Everybody
was happy as a result of this joint venture.
In Bo.ston, Columbia's field man Karl
Fasick stepped in to lend an assist to managers
Jack Mercer of the State and James
Tibbetts of the Orpheum. The trio worked
out a stunt that tied in with a cooking
school show at the local armory, at a cost
to each theatre of a few passes.
Photos of all leading stars in "Picnic"
were spotted around the exhibition hall
where the four-day cooking show was held.
Manager Plays Picture
In Which He Starred
Steve Miller, manager of the Owen Theatre,
Branson, Mo. who starred in "Ti-easure
of Frank James," a featurette produced
in the Missouri Ozarks last summer by
Southwestern Bell Telephone Co. for its TV
series, "Spotlight on Missouri," played the
feature at the Owen Theatre recently and
had to turn away patrons.
In the picture. Miller plays the role of
Fiank James, while local hardware merchant
Arch Mayden plays the part of the
farmer.
"Figuring out a marquee billing for this
feature along with the second feature really
gave me a problem in the small space atop
the theatre," Miller said. "I figured it out
this way: I'd give Arch Mayden top billing,
so the local people wouldn't accuse me
of bragging. This really worked out fine
and I had many pats on the back for
giving my friend Aixh the top spot.
"Now, of course, the worst thing about
this marquee is the fact that John Wayne,
who was star of the second feature, wound
up in third billing spot."
Miller filled the house within ten minutes
each night of the showing and turned away
about 300 persons. He said he would have
to repeat the showing to take care of all
the people who never did get inside.
Academy Awards Week
Manager Jay Thomsen of the Garden
Theatre, Frankfort. Mich., set up an Academy
Award Movie Time Week for a five-day
period shortly after the Oscar ceremonies.
His newspaper ads gave the Awards presented
for each picture.
This show, sponsored by the Boston Post,
was visited by 15,000 persons dally. The
theatres announced that the first 50 motion
picture fans bringing in complete sets of the
stars' photos would receive guest tickets to
the theatre of their choice. The promotion
netted numerous plugs in the Post and on
radio, in addition to the many mentions at
the show Itself.
Manager Bill Newsom of the Imperial In
Augusta, Ga., worked out a tieup that was
both simple and mutually attractive to theatre
and merchant. He arranged to hand
out a number of passes in connection with
a local contest in return for good mention
in a co-op ad taken by a nearby supermarket.
The food store tied In the film
title and credits in a large newspaper ad
plugging picnic hams.
John Hutchlngs of the Kentucky in Lexington,
Ky., permitted sorority pledges and
escorts to hold a picnic in the theatre's
lobby. One of the gals also was used to pass
out candy kisses in envelopes, with the following
copy on each: "Here's a 'Picnic' kiss
for you and be sure to see William Holden's
'Picnic' ki.sses with Kim Novak, etc."
Circus Is Added Treat
At Kiddy Matinee
A novel circus program heralded the
coming of a real circus to the Central Theatre
in Jersey City for a special kiddy matinee.
Art work of clowTis. aerialists, horseback
riders, animals, the midway and of
the big top formed the background for a
spread in the 8 '2x11 sheet distributed by
Manager Murray Spector. Copy hailed the
circus show as "a swell treat for all the
kids from 6 to 60."
On the reverse side of the program, a
local carpet cleaning firm had a display
ad, which was part of the payoff to the
merchant for sponsoring the show and
printing up the programs. The cleaning
firm also received a screen ad and a 40x60
display in the lobby.
The live show, which lasted for an hour,
was in addition to the regular film fare
planned for the day. The circus was staged
by Gangler Bros., and contained such acts
as a wonder horse, a high-diving dog. a
pony "with a human mind," trained
monkeys and a Peruvian llama.
"The theatre was simply packed, and both
kids and grownups present had a wonderful
time," Spector reported. Moreover, the
sponsor of the show was completely satisfied,
the manager noted.
English War Brides Invited
English war brides living In the Paris,
Tex., area were Invited to be guests of
the Grand Theatre to see "The Man 'Who
Never Was." The Invitation came from
Manager Truman Riley.
BOXOFFICE Showmandiser
:
:
April 28, 1956 — 115

Gimmicks With Extra Punch Devised
To Corral Crowds for lone Ranger'
Ideas With Different Slant Supplement
Contests, Merchandise, Food Tie-Ins,
Etc.
Coming right ot you (photo at left) as he did on the streets of Ashland, Ky., is the usher John
Godfrey used as o walking bally when he played "The Lone Ranger" at his Paramount. The real-life
brother ond sister of Tonto (Joy Silverheels) ore shown speaking to him (right, top) from the stage
of the Capitol in Brantford, Ont., on Jay Silverheels night, staged by Manager Bill Burke. A local
merchant, who tied in with the gala promotion, displayed his merchandise, offered os prizes, in the
theatre lobby (right, bottom).
Exhibitors are discovering that a little
ingenuity can go a long way toward drawing
extra business when it comes to setting
up campaigns for "The Lone Ranger."
John W. CJodfroy of the Paramount in
Ashland, Ky., devised a giveaway with
which he drew "plus business." Godfrey
staged the giveaway on the last night of the
run. and. he asserted. "Most of the children
already had seen the picture but returned
just for the chance at the prizes:
we had a full house."
The giveaways consisted of merchandise
connected with the Lone Ranger character
—special guns, silver bullets, riding effects,
boots, masks, silver skates, holsters, etc.
They were displayed four weeks in advance
in the lobby and at food stores, the latter
with the cooperation of General Mills, sponsors
of the Lone Ranger show on radio and
television. The smallest gi'ocery up to the
largest supermarket went along on the
promotion; in all. 36 stores.
Godfroy had an usher, dressed as the
western airwave hero, walk around the city,
entering shops, banks, groceries and other
public places starting two weeks in advance.
He stopped along the way to give children
his autograph.
The special one-hour TV film which describes
the history of "The Lone Ranger"
was used on WHTN-TV. For the opening,
Godfroy admitted free all youngsters appearing
in Lone Ranger garb. Radio station
WCMI broadcast its Man on the Street
program from in front of the theatre, interviewing
the kids on why they wanted to
grow up to be the Lone Ranger. A contest
run in Ashland Daily Independent, up to
the opening, used a car to tour the city
with a Lone Ranger display on the side
and the Lone Ranger theme song blaring
from a loudspeaker while a cutout of the
24-sheet was erected on top of the marquee.
Godfroy reports the largest crowd in the
history of the theatre attended on opening
day.
Bill Burke of the Capitol in Brantford,
Ont., made the most of the fact that Jay
Silverheels, who plays the Tonto role, is
from Brantford. He ran a special Jay Silverheels
night as the topper to a long list
of promotions, many of which got terrific
writeups in the Canadian Press and British
United Press wire services, on radio and
television stations across Canada, plus pictures
and stories in all nearby papers and
some metropolitan dailies. All this at no
cost, and rewarded with "exceptionally
good" business.
Burke first contacted Silverheels' relatives
now living on the Reserve at Brantford.
He then organized a Tonto Pan Club
one month in advance, with numbered
membership cards distributed to children.
Prizes were awarded to the lucky card
holders in four weekly contests. Quinlan's
Mens and Boy. Wear, at four Saturday
matinees prior to the opening, gave away
two Lone Ranger gun and holster sets or
two Lone Ranger cowboy and cowgirl outfits.
Quinlan's set up an attractive Lone
Ranger display in the lobby, and gave over
a window at the store. In addition, the
merchant purchased $20 worth of gift book
tickets, which were given away to children
at the store.
Burke then got in touch with Jay Silverheels
in Hollywood and obtained his consent
to talk to his brother and sister via
phone on the stage of the Capitol. He made
arrangements with the telephone company
to install a hookup whereby the people in
the audience could hear the two-way conversation.
Everything went off beautifully, according
to Burke, who reported: "What a tremendous
thrill the audience got out of
this. Almost 1,600 people in the auditorium
and you could hear a pin drop. I advertised,
Bring the children to hear Tonto speak to
them from Hollywood.' and they certainly
did. The place was packed."
The manager also dreamed up a "Miss
Six Nations" Indian girl beauty contest,
with 14 Indian girls entered. As judges
he had the women's editor of a local publication,
the women's editor of the local
radio station, and a town alderman, guaranteeing
him pretty good coverage of the
event. He promoted radios for the top three
winners, and nylons for the other contestants.
In addition there was the usual advance
publicity. Burke even got the local Indians
to put on ceremonial dances on the stage.
Burke simimarized: "My complete campaign
did not cost much, outside of a few
expenses for the Indians, increased news
paper space, etc. But the tremendous
amount of free space, air and TV time, plus
the merchandise I promoted for nothing,
gave me away-above-average business for
the attraction."
Front Page Story Rigged
As 'Ransom!' Ballyhoo
Bill Butler, manager of the Turnage and
Reita theatres in Washington. N. C. came
up with an idea on promoting "Ransom!"
that might be applied in other small towns
where the manager knows the police department
heads and many townsfolk.
After the regular run of the Washington
Daily News, Butler had the headlines reset,
along with a one-haU column story. The
banner head read: "Child Kidnapped;
$500,000 Ransom Asked." The front page
story read as if the kidnapping had occurred
in Washington.
The newspaper was posted outside the
theatre as though it were an extra edition.
People soon began calling the police department
and the radio stations to inquire
about the kidnapping and were told that
there had been no such kidnapping in
Washington, that the newspaper was an
advertisement for "Ransom!" at the theatre.
^^
— 116 — BOXOFFICE Showmandiser :
: April 28, 1956

y
j
Low-Cosl Gimmicks
Keep Up Interest
A roundup of recent promotional activities
at the DeWitt in Bayonne. N. J., shows
that Manager Nyinan Kessler has put to-
gather a string of low-cost stunts to keep
up interest in the theatre and its attractions.
"Showmanship is synonymous with tlieatre
operation in our book, so we try to keep
going on all eight cylinders without a letup
to create a desire in the public's mind to
see our shows," Kessler commented. "We
like to move from one idea Into another as
often as our program changes."
Here are some potent examples of the
kind of enthusiasm he's been whipping up
without extending his budget:
For "The McCormell Story," he rigged up
a dummy parachutist in the lobby about
two weeks in advance.
For "To Hell and Back," he used photos
of the stars on the backs of circulars, distributed
at the theatre. An ad from an auto
dealer defrayed the cost. He also borrowed
a large tank from a nearby Army base and
displayed it outside the DeWitt.
A sporting goods store sponsored the
printing and distribution of a herald for a
western double bill. Wild Bill Tucker,
western player, appeared at the theatre and
provided a 126-gun lobby display.
For the Joe McDoakes short, "So You
Want to Model a Railroad," the manager
obtained large displays of electrically controlled
Lionel trains from a local mer-
) chant for the lobby. "To say that this attracted
a lot of attention is putting it
mildly," Kessler observed. "It boosted our
business a great deal."
"Good Morning, Miss Dove" was dedicated
to all the active and retired teachers
in town in invitations asking them to be
guests of the theatre for a performance.
Stores Join Jalopy Nile
At BushnelL 111.. Rialto
A merchant-sponsored Jalopy Nite created
four weeks' worth of word-of-mouth
publicity around the town and filled the
house on the night of the giveway, according
to D. M. "Dil" Dillenbeck, manager
Showman Jim Barnes' Civic Activities
Return Dividends on Song of South'
When Jim Barnes took over as manager
of tlie Lyric in Huntington Park, Calif.,
the veteran showman promised the patrons,
via newspaper ads and publicity, that "big
things were going to happen." In the few
months of his operation, Barnes has more
than lived up to his promise.
One of his latest exploits was his wellrounded
campaign for "Song of the South."
Outstanding was a coloring contest conducted
through the local newspaper, with a
trip to the Disney studios as first prize. He
also set up a tie-in display at Ralphs
supermarket, fui'nished window cards to
many merchants in town, and secured windows
at the TWA office, a music store and
a bookstore.
He dressed several young girls in clown
outfits, and got them to play in front of
the theatre and around the neighborhood
in the festive garb. Each, of cour.se, carried
a playdate plug. He posted a six-sheet
on the side of a nearby building, and built
an attractive front and lobby display at the
theatre itself, thanks to a lively use of
streamers and barmers.
But Barnes had more than these usual
exploitation stunts and gimmicks going for
him. The manager, a firm believer in the
personal touch and in creating and keeping
goodwill for the theatre, had the good
offices of many civic groups in town in his
corner.
The foundation of this support was laid
w^hen he proclaimed his credo in the first
ad he took on becoming manager. Copy
read: "This policy, first, embraces good
citizenship and active participation in
everything designed for the community
good. It also includes the selection of pictures
that will contribute to the moral and
physical fibre of the American family. Patron
courtesy and attention will rank high
in the operation of the Lyric Theatre from
this day forward."
Next, he acted upon it: sponsored parties
Jim Barnes, manager of the Lyric in Huntington
Park, Calif., plays host to little Leonard Beller
and his mother in a visit to the Disney studios.
The youngster won a coloring contest Barnes
staged for "Song of the South."
for the kiddies; supplied passes for newspaper
carrier boys; cooperated with the
Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Blue Birds and
Campfire Girls; planned with the local PTA,
and arranged free shows for the handicapped
children.
These groups, of course, came through
with good publicity and word-of-mouth for
'Song of the South," as they do for many
other films at the Lyric.
And, typical of the entire operation at
the LjTic, is the following excerpt from a
herald announcing one of the free kiddy
shows: "When you go to the Lyric, say a
big hellow to Mr. Barnes."
"Alexander the Great" has been awarded
Picture of the Month honors by Seventeen
in the April issue. The UA release will
benefit from intensive school promotion
sponsored by the magazine.
of the Rialto in Bushnell, lU.
Dillenbeck sold 20 merchants at $12 each,
using this money to purchase a 1947 fourdor
de luxe Plymouth and to pay for advertising
and other expenses. He had Filmack
make up a special announcing "Jalopy
Nite," and gave each contributing merchant
a plug on that, too.
Each merchant gave out a coupon on the
jalopy with each $1 purchase, and the Rialto
did the same. A few days prior to the
drawing, Dillenbeck relaxed the rules at the
theatre and gave coupons with all admission
purchases.
At each participating shop, 9x12 window
and counter cards publicized the event.
Said Dillenbeck: "All the local merchants Arthur Morton, managing director of the Paramount in Boston, took advantage of the off-seasonal
liked the promotion, and want to do it
blizzard this month to gorner some free newspoper spocc, good word-of-mouth and excellent goodwill
again."
Morton hired a horse-drawn sleigh to provide free transportation to the theatre for some youthfui
Co-op advertising was used in the local patrons when he played "Invasion of the Body Snatchcrs." The Daily Record and Daily American
paper.
ran this photo in their news sections.
BOXOFFICE Showmandiser : : April 28, 1956 117 —

BOXOFFICE BAROMETER
This chart records the performance of current ottractions in the opening week of their first runs in
the 20 key cities checked. Pictures with fewer then five engagements are not listed. As new runs
are reported, ratings are added and averages revised. Computation is in terms of percentage In
relation to normal grosses as determined by the theatre monogers. With 100 per cent as "normal,"
the figures show the gross rating above or below that mark.
i Anything Goes (Para)

:
Shack
.CD.
I
Trial
.
.
BOXOFFICE
Symbol U denotes BOX-
time IS in porcnthcsos. c is for CincmaScopc; V VistoVision; S Supci
OFFICE Blue Ribbon Award Winner; photography. Letters and c; color combi
story type: iC) Comedy; (Dl Droma; (Adl Adventure-Droma; (CDl Comedy-Drama; (i
(Complete key on next page.) For review dates ond Picture Guide page num
BOOKINCUIDE
Feature chart
ALLIED
ARTISTS
COLUMBIA
M-G-M
PARAMOUNT
RKO RADIO
,r^^
I Phenix City Story, The
(100)
llloliar.l Klloy. Kathrjn
OMan From L.aramie, The
(104) (6 W..8
James Stewart.
Cathy O'Doiintll
©Bring Your Smile Along
(83) M..8
Frankle Lalne. Keefe
©King's
1 Thief, The
(79) © 0..532
Ann Blyth, Edmund Purdom.
David Nlven
j ©Scarlet Coat (110) (B..0..533
Cornel Wilde. Mldiael Wilding,
Anne Francis
©we're No Angels
(103) iV) CD. 5414
Humphrey Bogait, Joan Bennett,
Aldu Ray
©You're Never Too Young
(102) ® C.,5415
Martin ft Lowb, Ulona Lynn
,)ll Benuaii (78) l«j Ail.. 516
lllcbard Ointe, Richard Carlson.
Victor McUitlrn
|iT] ©Warriors. The (85) ©.D..5523
Enol Klyiiti. Joanne Uru.
Peter I'Mnch
©Footsteps in the Fog (90).D. .802
Kti'wnrl Grani;er, Jean Simmons
Night Holds Terror (86) D..807
Jack Kelly. HUdy Parks
Special Delivery (86) C. .806
© Gun That Won the West
(71) W..S09
Dennis Morgan, Paula llaymond
Apache Ambush (67) W. .804
Bill Wllllam,s. Hlchard Jaeokel
©It's
I
Always Fair Wtather
(102) © M..601
Gene Kelly. Dan Dallcy.
Cyd Cbarkse
The (85) tyi.M 550'
9; Return of Jack Slade, The
(79) ® W..5528
John Ericson. Marl Blandiard
1:^ Bobby Ware Is Missing
(66) D..5532
Neville Brand, Jean Wllles
!Ji ©Paris Follies of 1956
(73) M..5534
Forrest Tucker, Whiting Sisters
^©My Sister
©
Eileen
(102) MC 810
Janet Leigh, B. Garrett
J. Lemraoii,
©Count Three and Pray
(102) © 0D..8U
Van llefUn, Joanne Woodward
Devil Goddess (70) Ad.. 805
Johnny Weissmuller. Angela Stevens
Duel on the Mississippi (72). 0. .808
Lex Barker, Patricia Medina
.819
Tliree Stripes in the Sun
(93) CD .820
.^Jdo liay, Mllsuko Klraura,
Phil Carey
(109) 0..604 ©Ulysses (104) D..5503
Glenn Ford. Dorothy .Mcdulre.
Arthur Kennedy
©Quentin
1
Durward
(101) © Ad. 607
Robert Taylor. Kay Kendall.
Robert Morley
[S Teiider Trap, The
Desperate Hours, The
(111) © C.
(112)

1
Divided
.W.
. D
. . Ad
. D.
. . . M
.
FEATURE
CHART
The Key to letters and eombinatlona thereof Indicating story type: (Ad)
Drama; (An) Animoted-Aetion; (C) Comedy; (CD) Comedy-Drams; (Cr) Crime-Drama; (DM) Diamo
with Music; (Doc) Documentary; (D) Drama; (F) Fontosy; (FC) Force-Comedy; (Ho) Horror-Drama; (HI)
Historical-Drama; (M) Musical; (My) Mystery; (OD) Outdoor-Drama; (SF) Science-Fiction; (W) Western.
REPUBLIC
20TH-FOX
I2i
UNITED ARTISTS
UNIVERSAL-INT L
B li
WARNER BROS.
©Love Is a Many-Splen-ne, Natalie Wood,
Jeffrey Hunter, Vera MUes
©Thunder Over Arizona (N) W..May
Skip Horaeler, Krlstine MLler
©Dakota Incident OD..
Unda Darnell. Dale Robertson
©Lisbon (N) D..
Ray Mllland, Maureen O'Hara
©AcapuIco Story
Ralph Meeker, Janice Rule
©Adventures of Daniel Boone.. Ad..
Bruce Bennett, Lon (Zhaney
While Nightmare D..
Joan Evans, Ben Cooper
Hlniiy Dinky Parley Vous C.
Mickey Rooney. Waily Cox
Murder on Parole D.
Dane Clark, May Wyim
©Sixth of June, The © D..Jun ©Kiss Before Dying. A ©..D.Jun ©Star in the Dust W. .Jun
Robert Taylor, Dana Wynter
Robert Wagner. Jeffrey Hunter John Agar. Mamie Van Doren
©Massacre W. .
Nightmare
D..Jun Outside the Law Cr. .Jun
Dane Clark. Martha Uyer
E. 0. Robinson, Kevin McCarthy Ray Danton. Leigh Snowden
©Abdullah the Great CO.. ©Star of India Ad . . Jun ©Rawhide Years, The W. .Jul
Gregory Ratoft. Kay Kendall
Cornel Wilde. Jean Wallace
Tony (Jirtls, Colleen Miller
©King and I, The ©55. . . DM . .Jul Johnny Conchol W. . Jul ©Congo Crossing Ad . .Jul
Deborah Kerr, Yul Brynner
Frank Sinatra. Phyllis Kirk
George Nader. Virginia Mayo
©Bus Stop © D. Aug ©Trapeze © D..A ©Toy Tiger CD. .Jul
Marilyn Monroe, Don Murray
Burt Uncister, G. Lollobriglda Jeff Chandler. Tim Hovey
©Ust Wagon, The © W. .Aug Fragile Fox D. .S ©Away All Boats ® D..Aug
Richard Widmark. Joan Collljis
Jack Palance. Eddie Albert
Jeff Chandler. Julie Adams
©Day the Century Ended ©. .D. .Sep Beast of Hollow Mt. © Ad Francis in the Haunted House. C. Aug
Robert Wagner. Cameron MltchelJ (3uy Madison. Patricia Medina
Mickey Rooney. Virginia Welles
©Best Things in Life Are
©Ambassador's Daughter ©..CD ©Proud Land © W
.
Sep
Free © M. Sep 0. de Havilland. J. Forsythe
Audie Murphy. .Anne Bancroft
Gordon MaeRae. Ernest Borgnlne. Emergency Hospital D ©Written on the Wind D
Sheree North. Dan Dalley
.Margaret Lindsay, Walter Reed Rock Hudson. L. BacaU. R Stack
©Animal World Doc.. Jun
As Long as You're Near Me. D. .Jun
0. W. Fischer, Maria Schell
©Santiago Ad i .Jun
Alan Ladd, Rossana PodesU
©Moby Dick ©
00. .Jul
Gregory Peck, Richard Basehart
©Burning Hills, The W.
Tab Hunter, Natalie Wood
Bad Seed. The D..
Nancy Kelly. Patty McCormack
©Seven Men From Now W.
Randolph Scott. Gall Russell
©Giant
D..
Elizabeth Taylor. Rock Hudson
©Spirit of St. Louis © D..
James Stewart, Rena (Jlark
BOXOFFICE BookinGuido :: AprU 28, 1956

I Am
. . . D.
Dec
Nov
. Feb
Ooc
. Feb
May
.
Dec
.
Feb
FEATURE CHART
^HORTS CHART
INDEPENDENT
AMERICAN RELEASING
piApache Woman (83) W. .Sep 55
Uojd Bridges. Joan Taylor
Beast With a Million Eyes (78) . SF. .Oct 55
1-aul mrch. Lorna Thayer
Operation Malaya (65) Doc Oct 55
Special cast
Day the World Ended SF. 55
(80) is^.
Idch.ird DeriTilng. Lorl Nel.sun
Phantom From 10.000 Leajues
(80) SF..Dec55
Kent Taylor, (ithy Downs
ARLAN
Livino North. The (74) Ooc .
KUmed In Lapland: n.itlve cast
MAKELIM
Peacemaker, The (..) W..Feb56
J.imes .Mitchell, Koseraarle Howe
ASSOCIATED FILM
Ust of the Desperados (71) W..DecSS TRANS-LUX
J.imes Crale, MargIa Dean
Lovers and Lollipops
Two-Gun
(85) CD. Apr 56
Lady (76) W.. Dec 55
l...ii March. Gerald l)'l.i)ilghlbl
I'eegle Castle. William Talman
Wild DaVolas (73) W.. Feb 56
Bill Williams. Ctolecn Gray. Jim Dails VAN WOLF-API
Blonde Bait (71) D.. Apr 56 Dementia (55) 0..
Beverly Michaels, Jim Davis
Adrienne Barrett. Bruno Ve Sola
Three Outlaws, The (..) W..Hay56 ©Picasso (50) Ooc.
Neville Brand, Bruce Bennett
Ingrid Bergman. CJeorge S:inders
GIBRALTAR
©Fury in Paradise (77) D..
Peter Thompson, Res Iturbide
Silent Fear (66) D..
Andrea King, Peter Adams
HOFFBERG
Vengeance of the Black Eagle,
The (. .) Ad..
Rossiino Brazzl. Glanna Maria Caiaie
(Filmed In Mexico; English dialog)
HOWCO
Lum and Abner Abroad (72) C. Feb 56
Lura and Abner. JLl Alls
©M'naga (. .) Ad. .May 56
Sabu
IFE
Lease of Life (93) D Jan 56
. .
Robert Donat, Kay Walsh
(English dialog)
©Lost Continent (95) © Doc .Feb 56
Travelog of Indonesian Islands
(English narration)
LIPPERT
Lonesome Trail. The (73) W. .Jul 55
Waj-ne Morris, John Agar
OSimba-Terror of the Mau Mau
(99) 0.. Sep 55
Ulrk lluit.irJe. Virginia McKenna
LOUIS daROCHEMONT
Great Adventure, The (72) . . . . Ooc. Sep 55
Am, Siiei.s(li.r(f, Anders iNurbiirg
Helen Keller in Her Story (formerly
The Unconquered") (55) . .Apr 56
Nan, lied by Katticriiie Cornell
MAGNA
Oklahoma! (150) T-AO DM. Oct 55
Gordon Maeliae. Shirley Jones
A lour of the artist's work
ASTOR
VISUAL DRAMA
Fear (..) D..
Sins of Pompeii (73) D..
Ingrld Bergman, Mathlas Wleman
GiMrues Marchal. Mlchellne I'resle
BANNER
OWetbacks (86) AC.
WOOLNER BROS.
Lluyd Bridges, Nancy Gates
Swamp Women (75) D.. Apr 56
Beverly Garland, Marie Whidsor, C. Mathews
BUENA VISTA
UOAfrican Lion, The (73) Doc. Oct 55
©Littlest Outlaw, The (75) D . . Feb 56
Pedro Armendarlz. Andres Velasques REISSUES
(DGreat Locomotive Chase © D..Jun56
fess Parker. Jeff Hunter
SOavy Crockett and the River
BUENA VISTA
Pirates (..) Ad.. Jul 56
©Fantasia
Fess Parker. Buddy Ebsen
(81) M . 56
(Superscopc added, with 4-track sound and
CONTINENTAL
stereophonic sound.)
©Song of the South (95) M . . Feb 56
Hill 24 Doesn't Answer (100) . 55
. Ruth Warrick, Bobby Driscoll, Luana Patten
.Mich.itl Wager. Haya Uararit
(English dialog)
COLUMBIA
CARROLL
Walk a Crooked Mile (91) D.. Dec 55
Princess Cinderella (72) F..
Louis Hayward. Dennis O'Keefe
Silvana Jachlno, Roberto VUla
(Dubbed In English)
HOWCO
©Outlaw Women (80) W. Apr 56
DCA
.Marie Hlndsor, lUchard itober. J. Coogan
a Camera (95) C. Aug 55 (States Plights)
Julie Harris, Laurence Harvey
Wages of Fear (106) D. .Feb 56 MGM
Yves Montand. Charles Vanel
Green Dolphin Street (141) D.. Oct 55
Please Murder Me (76) D.. Mar 56 Lana Ttiruer, Van llcflin. Donna Reed
Angela Lansbury, Raymond Burr
Philadelphia Story (112) CD.. Oct 55
Jedda the Uncivilized ( . . ) D . . Mar 56 Gary Grant, Katharhie Hepburn
Naria Kunoth. Robert Tuda Wall
Guy Named Joe, A (120) D . . Nov 55
Frisky (98) CD.. Apr 56 Spencer Tracy, Irene Dunne, Van Johnson
Glna Lollobrigida, Vlttorio De Sica
30 Seconds Over Tokyo (138) . . . .D. . Nov 55
Woman of Rome, The ( . . ) D . . May 56
Spencer Tracy, Van Johnson, P. Thaxtcr
Gina Lollobrigida. Daniel Gelln
©Billy the Kid (95) W.. Dec 55
Robert Taylor, Brian Donlevy
EDEN
Honky Tonk (105) D . 55
One Way Ticket to Hell (65) D. Feb 56
Clark (table, Lana Turner, C. Trevor
Non-professional cast
Stratton Story, The (106) D
. 56
EMBASSY
James Stewart. June .\llyson
©Three Musketeers (126)) 0.. Feb 56
Wiretapper (SO) D . 56
Lana Turner, Gene Kelly, Van Heflln
BUI William.-i, Georgia Lee
©Northwest Passage (126) D.. Mar 56
FILMAKERS
Spencer Tracy, Robert Young, Itiith Hussey
©Yearling, The (128) D .
.
Mar 56
Mad at the World (72) D. .Jul 55
G. Peck, J. Wyman, Claude Jarman jr.
Frank Lovejoy, (^thy O'Donnell
FINE ARTS
PARAMOUNT
Strangers (80) D.. ©Shepherd of the Hills (98) . . . .D. Oct 55
John Wayne, Betty Field. H.irry Carey
©Trail of the Lonesome Pine (99). 0. Oct 55
Henry Fonda, Fred MacMurray
©Unconquered (146) D . Oct .
55
Gary Cooper, Paulette Goddard
©White Christmas (120) M .
.
Oct 55
Bing Crosby. Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clmmey
©Streets of Laredo (92) W. .
May 56
William Holden. Macdonald Carey
Two Years Before the Mast (98) . . D . .
May 56
Alan Ladd. Brian Donlevy, William Bendli
©Whispering Smith (89) W. 56
.
Aliin Ladd, Robert Preston, B. Marshall
RKO
One Minute to Zero (105) D.. Mar 56
Robert Jlitchuro. .\nn BIylh
Bio Sky, The (112) 00. Apr 56
Kirk Douglas, Dewey Martin, B. Threatt
©Flying Leathernecks (102) D .
.
May 56
John Wayne, Robert Byan, Janls Carter
Lusty Men (113) D.. May 56
Susan Hayward. Robert Mltchura
UNIVERSAL-INT'L
©Tap Roots (109) D.. May 56
Heflln. Siis.in Van Ward Bond
Haward,
Raiders (80) ©Kansas W.. May 56
Audle Murphy, Tony Curtis. B. Donlevy
U it 1

Nov
Dec
Dec
. . Feb
. Oct
I
Mar
. . . Mar
. Aug
Feb
SHORTS
CHART
Short subiects, listed by company, in order of release. Running time follows title. First b
month, second the dote of review in BOXOFFICE. Symbol between dotes is roting from BOXOFFICE
review. ++ Very Good. + Good. ± Foir. — Poor. = Very Poor. Photography: Color and process as specified.
P14-6 Poop Goes the Weasel
(6) Jul 55 ± 10-22
(1955-56)
P15-1 Rabbit Punch (6) Sep 55 -f 12- 3
P15-2 Little Audrey Riding Hood
(6) Oct 55 + 12- 3
P15-3 Kitty Cornered (6).. Dec 55+ 1-21
PACEMAKERS
K14-4 Five Hundred Horses
(10) May 55 9-17
K14-5 Florida Aflame (9)..Jun55 10-22
in K14-6 Walk the Deep (10) Jun 55 + S-20
POPEYE CARTOONS
E14-7Gift of Gap (6).... May 55 +8-6
E14-8Car-azy Drivers (6) . Jul 55 + 10-22
•
.
(1955-56)
E15-1 Mister & Mistletoe (6) Sep 55 12- 3
E15-2C0PS Is Tops (ei/'z) Nov 55 1-21
E15-3 A Job for a Gob (6) Dec 55 + 1-21
E15-4 Hilibilling & Cooing
(6) Jan 56 + 1-21
TOPPERS
IVI15-1 Three Kisses (10)... Oct 55 12- 3
M15-2 Reunion in Paris (10) Nov 55 + 1-28
M15-3 Animals a la Carte
(10) Jan 56 d: 1-21
M15-4 There's Gold in Them
Thrills (10) Mar 56 - 3-31
VISTAVISION
SPECIALS
V14-3VVVisits the Sun Trails
(16) May 55 H 12-10
V14-4 VVVisits Hawaii (17) Jul 55 + 12-31
V14-5VVVisits Japan (17). Aug 55 +1-7
UNICEF SPECIAL
T14-4 Assignment Children
(19) Mar 55
REPUBLIC
SERIALS
5483 Panther Girl of the
Kongo Jan 55
(12 Chapters)
5484 Jesse James Rides Again Mar 55
(13 Chapters) (Reissue)
of the Carnival. Jun 55
5485 King
(12 Chapters)
THIS WORLD OF OURS
(Trucolor)
+ 8-6
5388 Venezuela (9) Mar 55
RKO RADIO
BROWN-KIRKWOOD REISSUES
63.601 Heart Troubles (16). Sep 55
63.602 Put Some Money in the Pot
(17) Nov 55
DISNEY
CARTOONS
(Technicolor)
54.112 Flying Gauchito (8), Jul 55+ 8-27
54.114 Beezy Bear (7) Sep 55 + 10-22
(Technicolor
Reissues)
54.10?Pedro (8) May 55 6-11
54.110 El Gaucho Goofy (S) Jun 55 + S-27
54.111 Aquarela do Brasll
(8) Jun 55 + 8-20
54.113 Bearly Asleep (7) Aug 55 H 10-22
EDGAR
KENNEDY REISSUES
63.501 No More Relatives
(IS) Sep 55
63.502 How to Clean House
(18) Oct 55
63.503 Dig That Gold (17). Nov 55
63.504 Contest Crazy (17) . . Dec 55
GIL
LAMB REISSUES
63.301 Groan and Grunt (17) Sep 55 ....
53.302 Bashful Romeo (16). Oct 55
LEON
ERROL REISSUES
63.701 Wife Tames Wolf (17) Sep 55 ....
63.702 Dad Always Pays
(18) Oct 55
63.703 Spook Speaks (19) . 55
63.704 In Room 303 (17) .
55
MY PAL
REISSUES
63.201 Dog of the Wild (21) Oct 55
63.202 Pal, Canine Detective
(22) Nov 55
RAY WHITLEY
REISSUES
63.401 Musical Bandit (16)0cl 55
93.402 Bar Buckaroos (16) . 55
SCREENLINERS
54.210 Staff of Life (8) . , May 55 8-27
54.211 Rest Assured (8) . . .Jun 55 + g-27
54.212 Safety Is Jheir Business
(8) Jul 55 9-17
54.213 Film Fun (9) Aug 55 + 8-6
(1955-56)
54.201 Gold aO'/i) Sep 55 + 11-26
64.202 Black Cats and Broomsticks
(8) Oct 55 + 12-10
64.203 Make Mine Memories
(8) Nov 55
64.204 Teenagers on Trial
(8) Dec 55 + ]-14
64.205 Her Honor, the Nurse
(8) Jan 56
64.206 Fortune Seekers (8) Feb 56 + 3-24
SPECIALS
53,107 Operation Icecap
+ (19) May 55 6-11
(1955-56)
63.101 The Future Is Now
(15) Sep 55
63.102 Golden Glamour (15). Oct 55 + 12-10
63.103 Sentinels in the Air
(15) Feb 56-
SPORTSCOPES
54.310 Everolades Posse (8) .
May 55 8-6
54.311 Downhill Yachts (8). Jun 55 + 8-20
54.312 Bowling Boom (8).. Jul 55+ 8-20
54.313 Tanbark and Turf (8)'. Jul 55+9-3
(1955-56)
64.301 Game Warden (81 .Sep 55 10-22
64.302 Gym College (8) .Sep 55 + 11-26
54.303 Bonefish and Barracuda
(8) Oct 55 12-10
Canadian Nov 55 1-14
64.304 Carnival (8)
54.305 Headpin Hits (8) . Dec 55 + 1-14
64.306 Island Windjammers
+ (8) Jan 56 3-24
SPORTS SPEGIALS
63,901 Football Headliners
+ (151/j) Dec 55 1-14
THEATRE OF LIFE
53,301 Devil Take Us (21) . .Jun 55 ++ 6-4
WILDLIFE
ALBUM
(Technicolor)
53,001 The Whitetail Buck
(271/2) Oct 55 + 11-12
20tli CENTURY-FOX
CINEMASCOPE SPECIALS
(Color)
7512-7 Children of the Sun
+ (7) May 55 8-27
7514-3 Sorcerer's Apprentice
(13) May 55 + 8-6
7507-7 Tears of the Moon
(10) Jun 55 8-27
++
7506-9 Land of the Nile (9) Jun 55 (+ 7-23
7517-6 Volcanic Violence (9) Jun 55 H 8-20
7516-8 Winter Jamboree (10) Jul 55 + 8-6
7515-0 Naughty Mermaids
(7) Aug 55
7519-2 Survival City (10) Aug 55 + 8-20
7518-4 That Others May Live
(10) Sep 55
Gods 7520-0 of the Road
(10) Sep 55
.Sep 55 + 1-7
7521-8 Desert Fantasy (8)
7513-5 Clear the Bridge (10) Oct 55
7522-5 Water Wizardy (7).. Oct 55
7523-4 Carioca Carnival (9) Nov 55
7525-9 Queen's Guard (17). Dec 55
(1S55-56)
7501-8 Lady of the Golden Door
(9) Jan 56
A Thoroughbred Born
7502-6 Is
(9) Jan 56 + 4-21
7503-0 Adventure In Capri
(9) Feb 56 + 4-21
MEL ALLEN SPORTS
3501-4 Topsy Turvy Thrills
+ (8) Jun 55 8-27
SEE IT
HAPPEN
5501-1 Man vs. Nature (9) Jun 55 + 8-27
TERRYTOONS
5501-3 Phony News Flashes
(7) Jul 55 +1-7
5511-1 Foxed by a Fox (7) Aug 55 + 1-14
5512-9 Last Mouse of Hamlin,
(7) Sep 55
(1955-56)
5601-0 The Clockmaker's Dog
(7) Jan 56 + 4-21
TERRYTOON-CINEMASCOPES
(Techtiicolor)
5531-9 Willie the Walrus in An Igloo
for Two (7) May 55 8-20
5532-7 Good Deed Daly (7) Jul 55 + 12- 3
5533-5 Bird Symphony (7) Aug 55 ff 12- 3
5534-3 Little Red Hen (7). Sep 55+ 1-7
(1955-56)
5631-7 Park Avenue Pussycat
(7) Jan 56
UNIVERSAL-INTERNATIONAL
CINEMASCOPE FEATURETTE
(Technicolor)
2500 The Nat "King" Cole
Musical Story (18) ++ 12-10
COLOR
PARADE
1385 King Salmon (9) Jul 55 8-27
1385SwinoHi-$wing Lo (9) Aug 55 8-27
1384 The Big Test (10) . . . , Jun 55 + 10- 8
1387 Dream Island (9) . . , ,Sep 55 ± 11-19
1388 Against the Stream (9) Oct 55 + 1-28
(1955-56)
2671 Pacific Sports (8) .... Nov 55
2572 Fighters of the Lakes
(9) Jan 56
2573 Blue Coast (9) Feb 56 H 1-28
MUSICAL FEATURETTES
1309 Roundup of Rhythm
+ (15) Jul 55 8-27
1310 Eddy Howard and
His Orchestra (14).. Aug 55 + 8-27
1311 The Ink Spots (15).. Sep 55 + U-19
1312 The Sauter-Finegan
Orchestra (18) Oct 55 + 11-19
(1955-56)
2601 Mamho Madness (15) Nov 55 + 11-12
2602 Ralph Marterie & His
Orchestra (15) Nov 55 + 11-26
Melodies by Martin
2552
(16) Dec 55 + 1-28
2653 Lionel Hampton & Herb
Jeffries (15) Jan 56 + 2-18
VARIETY
VIEWS
1345 Brooklyn Goes to
Cleveland (10) Jul 55 10- 8
1346 Monkey Shines (9) .. Aug 55 + 11-26
1347 Brooklyn Goes to Las Vegas
(?) Sep 55 3-31
Small 55 + 3-31
1348 Wonders (9)
WALTER LANTZ CARTUNES
(Technicolor)
1329 Paw's Night Out (7) Aug 55 10-22
1330 Flea for Two (6).... Aug 55 + 8-27
1331 Square Shootin' Square
(6) Sep 55 + 8-27
1332 Hot and Cold Penguin
(7) Oct. 55 12-10
1333 Bunco Busters (7) Nov 55 + 1-7
(1955-56)
2511 TTie Tree Medic (6).. Oct 55 11-12
2612 Pigeon Holed (6) Jan 56 3-3
2613 After the Ball (6) 56 + 3-3
2614 Get Lost (6) Mar 56
WALTER LANTZ REISSUES
1354 Kiddie Konccrt (7).. May 55
1355 Pixie Picnic (7) Jun 55
1355 Wacky Bye Baby (7) Jul 55
WARNER BROS.
BLUE RIBBON HIT PARADE
(Technicolor
Reissues)
3301 Doggone Cats (7) Sep 55
3302 Rattled Rooster (7).. Oct 55
3303 Fair and Wormer (7) Nov 55
3304 Monscmerizcd Cat (7) Nov 55
3305 Foghorn Leghorn (7). Dec 55
3305 Bone, Sweet Bone (7) Jan 56
BUGS BUNNY SPECIALS
(Technicolor)
2729 This Is the Life (7).. Jul 55
2730 Hyde and Hare (7).. Aug 55 + 10-22
(1955-55)
3723 Knight-Mare Hare (7) Oct 55
3724 Roman Legion-Hare
(7) Nov 55 1-28
3725 Bugs Bonnets (7) Jan 56 + 3-31
3726 Broomstick Bunny Feb 56+ 4-21
(7).
3727 Rabbitson Crusoe (7) .. Apr 56
3102 It
(1
3103 Dog
2010 1
2011 Adventures of Alexander
Selkirk (17) Jun 55 +8-6
2012 Uranium Fever (..).. Jul 55
(1955-56)
3001 Mo.ieland Magic (19), Oct 55
3002 Golden Tomorrow (17) . Nov 55 +1-7
3003 Behind the Big Top
(IS) Dec 55
3004 They Seek Adventure
(19) Jan 56 +
3005 Out of the Desert (19) . 56 ++
3005 Copters & Cows (17) . 56 H
JOE McDOAKES COMEDIES
3401 So You Want to be a Vice-
President (10).,,. Oct 55 + 12-:
3402 So
Policeman (10) Dec 55 + 1-;
3403 So You Think the Grass
Is Greener (10) Jan 56 + 3-:
to 3404 So You Want he
Pretty Mar 56 + 4-)
MELODY MASTER BANDS
(Reissues)
3801 Jan Savitt & Band
(10) Sep 55
3802 Artie Shaw & Orch,
(10) Oct 55
3803 Ozzie Nelson & Orch.
(10) Dec 55
3804 Carl Hoff & Band (10). Feb 56
3805Borrah Minevitch (10). Apr 56
MERRIE MELODIES—LOON EY TUNES
(Technicolor)
Sep 1-:
3701 Dime to Retire (9).. 55++
3702 Speedy Gonzales (7).. Sep 55+ 1-
3703 Two Scents Worth (7) Oct 55 + 1-:
3704 Red Riding Hoodwinked
(7) Oct 55
Heir Nov 55 + 3-
3705 Guided Muscle (7) Dec 55
3707 Pappy's Puppy (7) Dec 55 + 2-;
3708 One Froggy Evening
(7) Jan 56
Too 3709 Hop to Hanitle
(7) Jan 56
3710 Weasel Stop (7) Feb 56 ± 3-.
3711 High & the Flighty Feb 56
(7).
3712 Rocket Squad (7) 55 ++ 4-1
Mar 55
3713 Tweet & Sour (7)
3714 Heaven Scent (7) Mar 56
3715 Mixed Master (7) Apr 56
3716 Gee Whiz-z-z-z (7) ... May 56
SPORTS
PARADE
2507 Riviera Revelries (10) May 55 + 7-:
250S Rocky Mountain Big Game
(10) Apr 55
2509 Italian Holiday (10) Jul 55
2510 Aqua Queens (10) 55 + ll-I
(1955-56)
3501 Picturesque Portugal (9) ± 1-
3502 Fish Are Where You
Find Them (10) Jan 56
WARNER VARIETIES
3501 An Adventure to Remember
3603 Faster and Faster (9) Dec 55
3604 Neckin' Parly (9)..,. Mar 56
3605 I Never Forget a Face
WARNERCOLOR SCOPE GEMS
(Two Reel)
3211 Journey to the Sea
(18) Sep 55 ++3-3
(One
Reel)
3220 Heart of an Empire
(9) Sep 55 + 2-18
3222 Ski Valley (9) Sep 55 + 2-25
3221 Springtime in Holland
(9) Dec 55
INDEPENDENT
Britain's Choice (14) (House of
(Commons) British Information
Service + 9-3
Highland Journey (24) (Technicolor)
British Information Service. , + 9-3
Baby Long Legs (16) (World of Life
Series) Noel Meadow + 9-3
Arabesques (9) (UltraScope)
Transatlantic + 9-3
Fiesta in Seville (9) (UltraScope)
Transatlantic + 9-3
Queen's
Report on Love
(15) Edward Kingsley
Goya (20) Edward Harrison
++ 12- 3 ^
+ 12-10
Grey Ghosts (21)
British Information Service rt 1-14
The Heart of England (20) Technicolor
British Information Service. + 1-21
The Rocket (17) British Information
Service + 1-21
Pantomimes (13) Go Pictures,... ++ 1-21
On the 12th Day (20) (Color)
George K. Arthur ++3-3
The Face of Lincoln (16) Cavalcade. ++ 4-21
10
BOXOFFICE BookinGuide :
: April 28, 1956

•
A
. Hit
I
ALLIED ARTISTS
Bowerj- Boys Meet the Monsters,
The AA'— L

EXHIBITOR HAS HIS SAY
(Continued from preceding page)
anything better than this?" 'Nuff
said. Played Tues. Weather:
Fair.—Michael Chiaventone, Valley
Theatre, Spring Valley, 111.
Pop. 5,123.
20th CENTURY-FOX
Man CaUed Peter, A (20th-Fox)
Richard Todd, Jean Peters, Marjorie
Rambeau. Here I was all
set to clean up, and instead I
was taken to the cleaners. And
the walkouts! It seemed they
went in one door, walked across
the foyer and out the other door.
Personally, I thought it was
great. I should, since I paid so
much out of my own pocket to
get to see it. Played Sun., Mon.
Weather: Cold.—Frank R. Mc-
Lean, Roxy Theatre, Coulterville,
111. Pop. 1,160.
Rains of Ranchipur, The (20th-
Fox) — Lana Turner, Richard
Burton, Fred MacMurray. This
is an excellent picture with some
wonderful shots of the flood and
earthquakes. It should have done
above average business, but it
failed to do more than just average,
and the average this year
is darn poor. Played Tues.-Thurs.
Weather: Cool.—W. L. Stratton,
Lyric Theatre, Challis, Ida. Pop.
728.
TaU Men, The (20th-Pox) —
Clark Gable, Jane Russell, Robert
Ryan. Beautiful scenery that
got out of focus a couple of times
in Cinemascope, but as far as
boxoffice was concerned it was
just another western, and the
crowd gets filled up on them on
TV. That, the film companies are
to blame for. Played Sun., Mon.,
Tues, Weather: Good, but shower
last day.—M. W. Long. Lans Theatre,
Lansing, Iowa. Pop. 1,536.
Violent Saturday (20th-Fox)—
Victor Mature, Richard Egan,
Virginia Leith. Played with "Life
in the Balance" (20th-Fox). Gave
orchids Friday and did about 50
per cent extra business, so broke
even on the orchids in very ideal
weather. Then snow struck for
Saturday, cutting our average by
half or more. Anyway, Easter expenses
are hurting them. Played
Fri., Sat. Weather: Warm on
Friday, snow Saturday.—Arden
A. Richards, Craigsville Year-
Round Drive-In, Craigsville, W.
Va. Farm, timber and coal patronage.
UNITED ARTISTS
Big House, U. S. A. (UA) —
Broderick Crawford, Ralph
Meeker, Reed Hadley. A routine
prison picture which again tells
of prison life, the inmate's desire
to escape, his attempts, his success
and his recaptm-e. Business
poor. Played Tues. Weather:
Cold.—Michael Chiaventone, Valley
Theatre, Spring Valley, 111.
Pop. 5,123.
Kentuckian, The (UA)—Burt
Lancaster, Dianne Foster, Diana
Lynn. A picture doesn't have to
be super to be entertaining, and
that is what this picture has in
large doses — entertainment!
Played Sun., Mon., Tues. Weather:
Six Inches of .snow.—M. W.
Long, Lans Theatre, Lansing.
Iowa. Pop. 1,536.
Not As a Stranger (UA)—Olivia
DeHavilland, Robert Mitchum,
Frank Sinatra. A picture that
will hold the crowd attentive the
full 134 minutes. It has truth,
honesty, fascination and most
anything in good entertainment
that one will want. Will pay out.
Why I didn't have bigger crowds
is anybody's guess. Played Sun.,
Mon., Tues. Weather: Cloudy and
cool.—Ray Kincade, Kesner Theatre,
LeRoy, Kas. Pop. 695.
UNIVERSAL-INTERNAT'L
Creature From the Black Lagoon,
The (U-D—Richard Carlson,
Julie Adams, Richard Denning.
Tills is probably the last
theatre in the U. S. to play this
old one. But it did big business
with no extra selling. Monsters
usually do pretty well here. The
picture was well made, better
than many of this type. Played
Fri., Sat. Weather: Cold.—Frank
R. McLean, Roxy Theatre, Coulterville,
111, Pop. 1,160.
Female on the Beach (U-D—
Joan Crawford, Jeff Chandler,
Jan Sterling. Lay off of this
lemon. The pictui-e is poor and
Crawford is a poor draw in my
A washout at the boxoffice.
situation.
Two days' gross less than
average Sunday. Played Sun.,
Mon. Weather: Good.—W. L.
Stratton, Lyric Theatre, Challis,
Ida. Pop. 728.
Private War of Major Benson,
The (U-D—Charlton Heston,
Julie Adams, William Demarest.
Swell little comedy for large or
small town. The little boy, Tim
Hovey, stole the complete show.
Attendance was poor. My private
war with TV is slowly forcing me
toward desertion! Played Fri.,
Sat. Weather: Cool. — Ralph
Raspa, State Theatre, Rivesville.
W. Va. Pop. 1,343.
WARNER BROS.
Ring of Fear (WB) — Clyde
Beatty, Pat O'Brien, Mickey Spillane.
I should have left it in
Warner's vault. First they sent
me a 2-D trailer narrated by Mickey
Spillane. He should stick to
writing books. The picture was
real ham in thick slices. Clyde
Beatty should use his profits on
the picture to buy a moth killer
for his lions. They are pretty
frowsy looking. Does anyone
know how to get money back
from Warner Bros.? Played
Fri., Sat. Weather: Pair.—Frank
R. McLean, Roxy Theatre,
Coulterville, 111. Pop. 1,160.
Tall Man Riding (WB)—Randolph
Scott, Dorothy Malone,
Peggie Castle. Fair average
Technicolor western. Doubled
with "Project Moonbase," and
almost broke even. Played Thurs.,
Sat. Weather: Hot.—Lew Bray
jr.. Queen Theatre, McAlIen, Tex.
Pop. 20,068.
MISCELLANEOUS
Canadian Pacific (SR)—Reissue.
Randolph Scott, Jane Wyatt,
J. Carrol Naish. Originally released
by 20th-Fox. Another old
Randy western that really pleased
my action trade. Too bad his
westerns of today aren't as good.
Played Fri., Sat. Weather: Good.
—Ralph Raspa, State Theatre,
Rivesville, W. Va. Pop. 1,343.
RKO
SHORT SUBJECT
REVIEWS
Canadian Lancers
(Sportscope) 8 Mins.
Good. The children of Halifax, Nova Scotia, display their
equestrian skills in intricate formation. The children are appealing,
especially a tiny six-year-old, and the horses spirited in a
background of pageantry. The riding group has modeled itself/
on India's Bengal Lancers. ^
The Golden Equator
RKO (Special) 13 Mins.
Good. Good black and white shots of life and industry in
Ecuador, high up in the Andes Mountains in South America.
The principal scenes deal with road building, the manufacture of
Panama hats, churches which are virtually of solid gold and silver
and the banana industry.
Hooked Bear
RKO (Disney Cartoon) 7 Mins.
Good. This Cinemascope short in Technicolor presents
Humphrey, the bear, and a forest ranger during fishing season.
The bear isn't allowed to use fishing tackle, but is told to "fish
Uke a bear." As it finally succeeds in stealing fish, the fishing
season ends and the hunting season starts. Exit bear.
The Merchandise Mart
RKO (Screenliner) 8 Mins.
Good. This traces the development of a tiny trading post in
Chicago into the colossal market place of the city where buyers
by the thousands do their wholesale shopping. The Mart, a building
of tremendous size and modern appointments, is shown most
interestingly.
Striper Time
RKO (Sportscope) 9 Mins.
Good. A must for every fisherman. Boat and surf fishermen
seek the striped bass from Cuttyhunk to Hatteras and from the
mouth of
catch them,
the Columbia River to the Golden Gate,
too—big ones. Every devotee of Walton will
and
thrill
they
to
the bending rod and song of
RKO
the reel.
We Never Sleep
(Screenliner) 8 Mins.
Good. An interesting history of the Pinkerton detective agency
with glimpses at the capture of some criminals and the steps
leading up to them. There are also glimpses into old Pinkerton
files at photographs of the Dalton boys and the fabled Jesse
James. The film explodes a popular conception of "private eyes."
RKO
Where Is Jane Doe?
(Screenliner)
8 Mins.
Good. This will have popular appeal. It deals with a girl who
has apparently committed suicide, but the Missing Persons
Bureau of the police has reason to think otherwise. After tracing
clues it is discovered she ran away from home to become a
model. The ending is a happy one.
Uranium Blues
20th-Fox (Terrytoon) 7 Mins.
Good. The old prospector for gold discards his faithful burro
for a jeep when the uranium rush starts, and becomes isolated on
a high peak and attacked by vultures. The little burro goes to
his rescue and there is a happy and moving reunion.
Warner Bros.
Crashing the Water Barrier
(Sports Parade)
9 Mins.
Good. Impressive shots of Donald Campbell, speedster, setting
a world record for a motor boat on Lake Mead in Nevada. In
a previous attempt, his friend, Don Cobb, was killed when his
boat disintegrated. This film builds up suspense very well before
the record of 216.2 miles an hour is set.
Green Gold
Warner Bros. (Sports Parade) 9 Mins.
Very good. The South American country of Ecuador has been
seen before on film, but probably never to such advantage as in -i
this short. The selection of scenes showing the people, activities ^
and scenic backgrounds could hardly have been improved on, "
and the color photography and narration are excellent. The title
derives from the country's business of exporting bananas—green.
The High and the Flighty
Warner Bros. (Merry Melody) 7 Mins.
Good. Daffy Duck as a salesman of practical jokes takes
advantage of a feud involving Foghorn Leghorn, the rooster, and
the barnyard dog, setting them against each other. In the end
his double-dealing is discovered and he gets roughed up.
BOXOFFICE BookinGuide :
: April 28, 1956

H Very Good; ^ Good; -- Fair; - Poor; = Very Poor. rolcd 2 plusci, OS 2 i
BV
An Interpretive onolyjis of loy and trodcpress revlewj.
degree of merit. Listings cover current brought
The plus end minui ilgni Indlcote
reviews, up to dote regularly. This depart-
feoturo releoses.' Syn^bol •'
d'no.es
S'«C«ee.rr«!""',,''J.°" iOXOFFICE ALPHABETICAL Blue R.bbon Aword Winner.
Vision; Superseope. INDEX to Photogrophy: ^ Color; c CinemoScopo; v Vist"
order o» rcleosc, see Feofure Chart.
s For listings by compony, in the
digest
AND AlPHABETICAl INDEX
I |b all il s»l|^
1821 OOAfrican Lion (73) Documentary. S-13-!
ITSOOAIn't Misbthavin' (81) Musical. ... U- 5- 28- 55 + * ±
+
*
+
—
++
±
+f
±
9+1-
ft+6-
195S ©Alexander the Great (141) i,e Drama UA 4- 7-56 H ++ + +f + tt Ifrf
1868 ©All That Heaven Allows (59) Drama. U-l 10-29-55 ++ +| ++ +t tt ± +12+1-
1965 ©Animal World. The (82) Doc WB 4-21-56+ + 2+
1916 ©Anythino Goes (108) v Musical Para 1-21-56 ++ + ++10+
..
1824 Apache Ambush (67) Western Col 8-13-55 ±
+
± ±
+
-f
ff
—
+
— — 4+6—
1857 ©Aoache Woman (83) Western ARC 10-15-55 ± S: + ± 4+3-
1875 ©Artists and Models (109) (V- Para 11-12-55 + + + ++ 9+1-
+ fj-
1891 ©At Gunpoint (90) ig Western AA 12-10-55 + + + H H + + 9+
1963 Autumn Leaves (108) Drama Col 4-21-56 ± + + + 4j.i_
1941 ©Backlash (84) Western U-l
1931 Battle Stations (81) Drama Col
1847 Benjazi (78) >?: Adventure RKO
lS9S!^OBenny Goodman Story (116) IVIus. U-l
1927 Betrayed Women (70) Melodrama AA
1808 Bij Bluff. The (70) Drama UA
1845 Big Knife. The (111) Drama UA
1956 0Birils and the Bees (95) iV. Com.. Para
1958 Blacicjack Ketchum, Desperado
(76) Western Col
1847 ©Blood Alley (115) © Drama WB
1876 Bobby Ware Is Missing (66) Drama. . .AA
1953 Bold and the Brave (90) « Drama.. RKO
1923 ©Bottom of the Bottle (88) © Dr..20-Fox
1942 Brain Machine. The (72) Drama.... RKO
1812 Break to Freedom (SS) Drama UA
1799 ©Bring Your Smile Along (83) Mus...Col
1930 Broken Star, The (82) Western UA
3- 3-56 +
2-18-56 ±
9-24-55 ±
12-17-55 ++
2-11-56 ±
7-16-55 +
9-24-SS +
3-31-56 +
4- 7-56 ±
9-24-55 +
11-12-55 ±
3-24-56 +
2- 4-56 +
3- 3-56 It
7-23-55 +
7- 2-55 -
2-11-56 +
±L
1936 OQCarousel (127) ©55 Dr./M. 2mh-Fox
1827 Case of the Red Monkey (73) Drama.. UA
1912 Cash on Delivery (82) Farce RKO
1799 Chicago Syndicate (86) Crime Col
1869 City of Shadows (70) Action Rep
1787 ©Cobweb. The (124) © Drama.... MGM
1934 ©Cockleshell Heroes (97) © Drama.. Col
1945 ©Comanche (87) © Outdoor UA
1925 ©Come Next Soring (92) Drama Rep
1933 Come On, The (82) fi Drama AA
1940 ©ConQueror, The (111) © Drama.. RKO
1846 ©Count Three and Pray (102) © Dr.. .Col
1925 ©Court Jester, The (101) (» Com... Para
1849 Court Martial (105) Drama Kingsley
lS90©Caurt-Martial of Billy Mitchell
(100) © Drama WB
1772 Crajhout (90) Crime Fllmakers
1947 Creature Walks Amono Us, The
(78) Science- Fiction U-l
1792 Creature With the Atom Brain
1882 Crooked Web, The (77) Melodrama. . .Col
2-25-56 Vt
8-22-55 ±
1-28-56 +
7- 2-55 +
11- 5-55 —
6-11-55 +
2-18-56 ++
3-10-56 +
2- 4-56 ++
2-18-56 ff
3- 3-56 -H-
9-24-55 +
2- 4-56 ++
10- 1-55 +
3-17-56 +-
(70) Science- Fiction Col 6-18-55 —
1961 Creeping Unknown. The (79) Sc.-F.-.UA 4-14-56 +
1945 Crime Against Joe (69) Mystery UA 3-10-56 ±
1962 Crime in the Streets (91) Drama Afl 4-14-56 +
U-26-55 ±

. . Rep
REVIEW DIGEST-
Very Good; + Good; ++ is rated 2 pluses, — as 2 minuses.
1777 ©Love Me or Leave Me
(112) g) Musical
1649 Lover Boy (85) Com. -Dr. (Reviewed
as "Lovers. Happy Lovers") . .20th-Fox
11-13-54 +
1851 ©Lucy Gallant (104) (V- Drama .... Para 10- 1-55 ++
1943 Lum & Ahner Abroad (72) Comedy. Howco 3-10-56 ±
—M
1793 Mad at the World (71) Dr Filmakers 6-25-55 -I-
1771 CDMaonificcut Matador
(93) © Drama 20tli-Fox 5-21-55 -f
1848 ©Man Alone. A (96) Western Rep 9-24-55 -f
1933 ©Manfish (76) Adventure UA 2-18-56 +
1957 ©Man in (he Gray Flannel Suit
(153) © Drama 20th-Fox 4- 7-56 -H-
179S©Man From Laramie (104) © Wn...Col 7- 2-55 H
1895 Man With the Golden Arm
(119) Drama UA 12-17-55 -Hthe
1862 Man With Gun (S3) Western UA 10-22-55 +
1812 ©Man Who Loved Redheads (86) Com..UA 7-23-55 +
1928 ©Man Who Never Was
(103) © Drama 20th-Fox 2-11-56 ++
1774 Master Plan, The (77) Drama Astor 5-21-55 it
1823 t?©McConnell Story (109) © Drama. WB S-13-55 H
1924 ©Meet Me in Las Vegas
H
(112) rci Musical MGM 2- 4-56
1926Miracl> in the Rain (107) Drama.... WB 2- 4-56 ++
1770 ,'.;©Mister Roberts (123) © Com....WB 5-21-55 -H
(79) Outdoor 1952 ©Mohawk 20th-Fox 3-24-56 +
1767 ©Moonfleet (87) © Adventure MGM 5-14-55 +
lS3S4;©My Sister Eileen (108) © Mus...Col 9-10-55 ff
—N—
(82) U-l 1S14 ©Naked Dawn. The Drama 9-24-55 =
Sea. 1871 ©Naked The (69) Doc RKO 11- 5-55 +
1826 Naked Street. The (84) Drama UA 8-20-55 +
1929©Never Say Goodbye (96) Drama... U-l 2-11-56 +
1827 Night Freight (79) Action 8-20-55 AA -
1807 Night Holds Terror (86) Drama Col 7-16-55 -t+
1905 Night My Number Came Up. The
(94) Drama Confl Dis. 12-31-55 +
1815 Night of the Hunter (93) Drama.... UA 7-30-55 +
1956 No Man's Woman (70) Melodrama. 3-31-56 ±
1790 Not As a Stranger (135) Drama UA 6-18-55 H
5-28-55 -H H -H 4+ H + H 13+
S:
1858 ©Oklahoma! (105) T-AO M
1802 ©One Desire (94) Drama ..U-l 7- 9-55 ++
1944 ©On the Threshold o( Space
Magna
(95) © Drama 20th-Fox
1783 Othello (92) Drama UA
1929 Our Miss Brooks (87) Comedy WB
1962 Outside the Law (80) Drama U-l
10-15-55 ff
3-10-56 ff
6- 4-55 +
2-11-56 +
4-14-56 +

Opinions on Current Productions
Feature reviews
Symbol O denotes photography; t^ is CincmoScopo; V
For itory tynopils
"- 1' MGM
The Catered Aifair F ^^'i 'Zl
(
) 93 Minutes Rel. June '56
Like the 1955 Academy Award winner, "Marty," this is a
regular widescreen black-and-white picture based on an
outstandinK TV drama by Paddy Chayefsky and also dealing
with a middle-class family in the Bronx. However, this
has strong name value, headed by Ernest Borgnlne, who ,,„,)
has acquired marquee draw since winning his Oscar for
"Many," Bette Davis, wlw is superb in her fir^t drab,
matronly character portrayal, and Debbie Reynolds, who
does her best screqp acting to date. It should do strong
business in almost any type of house. Again Chayefsky
proves that he has a great gift for holding a mir-ror up to
ordinary human beings and capturing their everyday
actions and speech. Well directed by Richard Brooks, "who
stresses the drama and human interest in the story of a
Bronx mother who wants to give her daughter a catered
wedding with all the trimmings that she never had In
her own life. However, the inherent comedy in this situation
has not been neglected and many laughs are supplied by
Barry Fitzgerald, in one of his typical crochety Irishman
portrayals, and by Dorothy Sticknev, as his widowed woman
friend. Produced by Sam Zimbalist.
Bette Davis, Ernest Borgnine, Debbie Reynolds, Barry
Fitzgerald, Dorotiiy Stickney, Rod Taylor.

. . Terror,
FEATURE REVIEWS Story Synopsis; Exploifips; Adiines for Newspaper and Programs
THE STORY: "Terror at Midnight" (Rep)
Just after Scott Brady, police officer on a prowl-car assignment,
tells his fiancee, Joan Vohs, about his promotion
to detective sergeant in homicide, she borrows his car to go
apartment hunting and accidentally runs into a night
watchman on his bicycle. In a state of shock. Joan i.s
advised by a bystander, Percy Helton, to drive away and .^
avoid publicity. After she does this, Helton tries to black- (.^_
mail Brady and Joan becomes involved with Frank Faylen, ,
amorous garage proprietor, who fixes up the car. When
Faylen's jealous wife kills him, Joan is suspected and Brady
finally learns the truth about the accident. Brady does
some detective work on his own and tracks down the real
killer.
EXPLOITIPS:
Play up Scott Brady as star of 'Gentlemen Marry Brunettes"
and the recent "Mohawk" and remind patrons of
Frank Faylen's memorable performance in "Lost Weekend."
The title suggests a midnight show for stay-up-lates.
CATCHLINES:
Terror Strikes at Midnight as an Innocent Hit-and-Run
Accident Leads to Tragedy—and Murder ... An Honest
Police Sergeant Learns His Fiancee Is Involved in a Deadly
Crime . Danger and Death Strike on the Highway,

I all
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POSITIONS WANTED
enlloiial. drl«e-lll. He
opportiiriltj-. Kamlly
. Bosofflce. 7127.
Do you need partner with cash to lielp or
assunu- riill rfs|.i.ri>ibiiity. 30 years onnersnip
e\peil«nce l«.lli Iniiuoc and drive-lii operation.
Must siaiid rigid Iniesllgalion if needed. Win
buy or lease good operation. Contact, Boxotflce.
wife team. Man top e.\plolUtlon type
»lth 16 years experience. Highest
lioiioftice and concession record. Wife
n' icip notdi working concessionaire. Hlil
(oi good offer. Prefer percentage In-
Plan. Now employed with large drlve-ln
.Available regular notice. Boiofflce. 7135
Manaoer or projectionist. 25 years experience
pha.ses tlieaUe operation. No chUdren. Wife
so works. Both now employed. Desire diange
rsl iif references. Keply, Boxofflce, 7137.
J 120. Boxofflce, 7140,
Projectionist, manager. 26 years indoors, deire>
locale outdoor. South, Handled ail phases
f busines,s. Slate salary, Boxofflce, 7141,
HELP WANTED
Thorouohly experienced manager for
theatre. .Must be sober, lionest and
GENERAL EQUIPMENT—USED
Keeriess maonarcs, cu'ellini condition J3D5.
reconiliiluiiiil .Niumade film cabinets 2.000'. J2
secliun: hand reuind $7.95 set. Dept. cc. S.O.ts.
Cinema Supply Corp., 602 W. 52nd St.. Nc«
For sale, Simplex speakers, excellent condilion,
flexible cords, connect Ing lugs, completely
reconditioned, reflnislied, wonderful tone, gnaranteed.
Sacrifice. Only $2.75 each, Joy Sado»,
Box 438, llosstllle, Uu.
Mo,
Best RCA ilriie-in iheatre booth cQulpment.
S|ie.ikei pules. .Sirien tower 80'x67". Frame maripiee.
.M.isonry block concession stand 80' plywood
counter. I'lumblng fixtures. Other Hems.
All in place to highest bidder. Alleen llatliorn,
.'1103 Soiiih .Main. Houston 2. Texas.
Beautifully rebuilt like new! I
plex
projectors, cabinet pedestals, 3,000 magazine:
Magnetic or Mogul arclamiis, 70/140 generatni
IICA I'C-J.iO sound, price $3,950. Available "
lime, h.'iil (T, ,s II ,s Cinema Supjily Corp., tin
CLtflRIIlG HOUSE
THEATRES FOR SALE
300-car dri»i-in now under em
,m muie cars. .North central Ke
80 fi. wide, all len.ses. A. V.
South 3rd St., L.aulsvllle, Ky.
West coast theatres for sale. Write for IIji
Ihiaire Exchange. 200 Kearny St.. San l^ranclscii
8, Calif,
Theatres. Teiaa, Colorado, Mluouri, Kaa