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• ALPHABETICAL INDEX
• ADLINES & 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
It's Results That Make
Showman a Champion
How does a theatre manager win a showmanship
award? Well, here's what Alan
Bamossy, city manager of Fox Intermountain
Theatres in Great F^lls, Mont., had to
do to be recognized as the outstanding
showman in his district during the past
quarter.
"Flesults mean most," Jack McGee, division
manager for Pox, said when asked
how the managers are judged. "Al produced
real results with his campaigns and
other phases of theatre operation."
Next point on which managers are
judged for these quarterly awards is maintenance
of theatre. "We found his house
clean as a pin every time it was inspected
—the ushers and other help were neat, the
restrooms were always clean and the theatre
was an inviting place," Jack observed.
Showmanship by Al brought real results.
A week before Christmas he gave away a
McGee reported.
Al also lined up an art film series for
Chevrolet sedan and trailer, which he
promoted without cost and through cooperation
of the local merchants. The contest
started eight weeks before the car
was to be given away. Emring a time when
bad grosses might normally be expected,
business was good and grosses were excellent,
the Rainbow Theatre in Great Falls. He
obtained a half dozen art films and sold
series of tickets to the showings. This resulted
in near-capacity houses.
Bamossy also has been active in community
enterprises, such as Community
Chest drives. Red Cross and the March
of Dimes. He has cooperated in every way
in keeping his theatres show places and
gathering places for the community. He
is not a Montana native. He was moved
to Great Palls from North Platte, Neb.
Prior to that, he was with Fox at Rawlings,
Wyo.
His "outstanding showman" distinction
was accompanied by a plaque. He also
will be a guest at the meeting of district
managers in California next year.
Joe Mlklos, Stanley Warner Embassy,
New Britain, Conn., discovered that DCA's
"Rock, Rock, Rock!" features a New Britain
drummer, Hermie Dressel. The latter
was invited to do a drum solo on stage
opening night at the Embassy, with the
local press covering.
Gunslinger Event Fills Matinee
A juvenile gunslinger contest brought out
50 contestants and a houseful of kids at
a recent Saturday matinee at the Sparks
Theatre, Sparks, Nev. The contest was set
up by Manager William Strange and his
assistant Val Dage, who also acted as master
of ceremonies for the contest. '
The weekly Sparks Tribune carried
details
of the contest, along with a contest
entry blank on the front page of the pa-
Uses Old Gimmick in Ads
Harry Rosenberg of the Centre, St.
Catharines, Ont., dug up an old gimmick
he had used several years ago and used
it to promote "The Slave." Rosenberg used
ads which read: "Will Definitely Be
Shown!" The Centre Theatre wishes to
announce that IN SPITE OF RUMORS
TO THE CONTRARY, the sensational motion
picture, 'The Slave' will definitely be
shown in this city. It will start Monday
at the Centre Theatre, and admittance will
be restricted to adults of 18 years of age
or over only."
'Curtain 8:40' Series
A Wednesday night "Curtain at 8:40"
series was inaugurated recently at the
Community Theatre, Morristown, N. J.,
with excellent results. Madeleine Palmieri,
manager of the Walter Reade Theatres
house, set up an interesting lobby display
on the series, using imprinted paper top
hats with the titles of the films on a lobby
drapery. All shows were sponsored by a
local fund raising group, and free coffee
was served in the mezzanine at each performance.
BOXOFFICE Showmcmdiser : : Feb. 16, 1957 37 —
pti , aiiti cuiitr-stants were limited to youngsters
from six to 11 years old.
Prizes were provided for each entrant
and grand prizes were given to the winners
of each division: (1) 6 and 7-yearolds;
(2) 8 and 9-year-olds, and (3) 10
and 11 -year-olds. Judges of the event were
the chief of police and the fire chief.
Youngsters were asked to bring their
own "shooting irons."
U-I Pre-Selling 'Battle'
Among Protestants
NEW YORK—Universal-International has
launched a nationwide pre-seUing campaign
for "Battle Hymn" among Protestant religious
groups, in cooperation with the general
department of United Church Women of the
National Council of Churches of Christ and
the Christian Herald.
Dr. Poling has filmed a special commentary
on the U-I picture for showing at preview
screenings being set up for church leaders
in key cities. More than 20,000 leaders' kits,
containing "Battle Hymn" lesson and poster
material, along with letters from Dr. Poling
and Col. Dean Hess, are to be distributed at
the screenings for subsequent use in Sunday
School, vestry and other church activities.
The guide material being provided for religious
leaders by U-I also includes copies of
the six-page gatefold brochure Issued by the
Motion Picture Ass'n of America, via Arthur
DeBra, director of community relations.
Universal-International Is also launching
the personality tours In connection with the
picture's world premiere In Marietta, Ohio,
for the Washington's Birthday weekend.
Jock Mahoney and Dan Duryea, who are costarred
with Rock Hudson, started their key
city tours Feb. 4 and Hudson the 10th.