Boxoffice-April.07.1958

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Roseville Trust Suit
Settled Out of Court
DHTTROIT— All agreement to provide advanced
availability for the Roseville Theatre
was reached in an out-of-court settlement of
the lawsuit brought by that house about a
year ago in federal district court against
United Detroit Theatres and all major distributors.
The Roseville is located in the suburb
of Roseville and is operated by Arthur
Weisberg. heading the A&W-Sterling Theatres
circuit.
The plaintiff contended that there was a
violation of the federal antitrust laws, and
objected that the Ramona, located in Detroit
about six miles away on Gratiot avenue,
had seven days availability over the Roseville.
In the settlement of the case, it was agreed
that the Roseville may play one day following
the last playdate of the Ramona.
The plaintiff had asked for $75,000 damages
in the case: no comment was made as
to any cash settlement involved in the agreement.
Good Friday Services Held
In Theatres of Detroit
DETROIT—The traditional Good Friday
services found Detroit theatres cooperating
on a large scale with religious bodies, following
a pattern of many years' standing in
this community. Recognizing that many worshippers
wanted to observe the three-hour
worship period, starting at noon, but found
themselves far from their regular churches at
this time of the business day, theatres and
churches arranged to hold services in scheduled
locations thi-oughout the city. Larger
theatres able to accommodate sizable crowds
simply opened their doors to the public and
services were conducted by ministers and in
some cases lay religious leaders.
Most services were on a union basis, often
interdenominational, with a number of
churches participating. Among theatres participating
in the services scheduled by the
Detroit Council of Churches—and this list
is typical but not complete—^were the Fox,
Michigan, Riviera, Woods, Cass. Fisher,
Hollywood. Redford, Great Lakes, United
Ai-tists, Ramona, Vogue, Alger and Harper.
Mrs. Lydia Schofield
DETrROrr—Mrs. Lydia Schofield, who died
March 23 at the age of 84 in her home at
suburban Royal Oak, was the matriarch of
one of the best known families of showmen
in this area. Four sons who survive are
all motion picture projectionists—Gilbert E.
Light, business agent of lATSE Local 199
and first commander of the Theatrical Post
of the American Legion: Roy Light, operator
for Cinerama at the Music Hall: Al Light of
the Jam Handy Organization, industrial film
producers, and Francis Light, Times Square
Theatre.
John D. Montgomery Dies
DETROIT—John D. Montgomery, 82, died
here March 23. He was for years an actor
in silent films, including westerns, and was
also on the vaudeville stage for years. His
wife was also in silent pictures. He had
served many years as secretary of Strathcona
Chapter, Royal Arch Masons. He made his
home here for about 30 years.
GUEST AT 'HAWK' BOW—Gov. G.
Mennen Williams, center, of Michigan
was one of the quests of honor at the
midwest premiere of U-I's "The Mark of
the Hawk" at the Broadway Capitol Theatre
in Detroit last week. He is seen
here being welcomed by W. Burton Martin,
executive producer of the film. On
the right is Richard Sklucki, manager
of the Broadway Capitol.
Supply Business Brisk
With Drive-Ins Bowing
CLEVELAND—M. H. Fritchle, manager of
Oliver Theatre Supply Co., is optimistic about
the approaching drive-in season. In this, he
is reflecting the attitude of outdoor theatre
operators who are showing greater than usual
interest in improving their investments.
Our supply business has been quite brisk
with the drive-ins getting ready to open,"
Pritchle reports, "and this is a good sign of
better times to come."
Recently Fritchle has sold and installed
the following equipment: special Hllux anamorphic
lens to M. B. Horwitz for the showing
of "Around the World in 80 Days" at
the State Theatre in Cuyahoga Falls; RCA
Dynarc high-intensity lamps to Chester Huprich
fortheSkj'^vayDrive-In, Zanesville: RCA
high-intensity lamps to Charles Lombardo
for the Cloverleaf Drive-In, Cleveland: Strong
Super-135 lamps, Hertner 125/250 generator
and a front of Wagner plastic letters to H. E.
McManus for the Telegraph Drive-In, Toledo:
Century water cooled curved gate drive-in
projector mechanisms to Ed Ramsey for the
Plymouth Drive-In, Plymouth; a pair of
Simplex rebuilt mechanisms to the Bell Theatre.
Campbell.
Cinerama Quartet Draws
3,500,000 in Detroit
DETROIT—The fifth anniversary of the
oldest Cinerama presentation in the world
outside of New York City is being celebrated
at the Music Hall. With an initial expenditure
of $250,000 to prepare the long-dark
house for Cinerama, the Music Hall has
tui-ned into a virtual goldmine for owner
Mervyn G. Gaskin and the house operators.
Cinerama's four productions have played to
approximately 3,500,000 people in the five
years, boxoffice records show.
Oscar Awards Help
'Bridge' Second Week
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Di;TROIT A leturn to spotty grosses,
with lop pictui-es doing vei-y well, and the
mccliocre less than .so-so was evidenced here.
"The Bridge on the River Kwal" staged a
heavy midweek pickup immediately after the
Academy Awards.
(Averoge Is 100)
Adorns- Rointrcc County (MGM), 5th wk 100
Broodwoy Capitol Mark of the Howk (U-l);
All Mine to Give U-l). 2nd wk 75
Fox The Brothers Karomoiov (MGM), 3rd wk. 90
Modison The Bridge on the River Kwoi (Col),
2nd wk. '85
M(chigon Witness tor the Prosecution (UA);
The Safecracker MGM) '60
Polms Saddle the Wind (MGM); Undcrwoter
Warrior (MGM '20
United Artists Seven Hills ot Rome (MGM).... 70
Second Week of "Bridge'
Scores 225 in Cleveland
CLEVELAND — "Kwai," for the second
week, continued to be the biggest attraction
on the downtown screen, holding a high
225 per cent at the Allen. "Rodan!" dualled
with "Hell in Korea." had a tremendous
midweek opening and rolled up an outstanding
gross for the week at the Hippodrome,
hitting the top brackets for science-fiction.
Allen The Bridge on the River Kwoi (Col),
2nd wk 225
Embassy The Deep Six (WB);
Forbidden Desert (WB) ^i;' ,72
Hippodrome Rodan! (DCAi, Hell in Koreo (DCA).140
Heights Art Modemoiselle Striptease (DCA),
2nd wk ^
Ohio Around the World in BO Doys (UA),
41st wk A- V,- •,??
Stote The Brothers Koromoiov (MGM), 2nd wk. .115
Stillmon Wild Is the Wind (Paro) "5
'Karamazov' Second Week
High in Cincinnati
CINCINNATI—"The Brothers Karamazov"
at the Grand was high grosser in its second
downtown week and continued its run. On
Tuesday night the Albee was reserved for the
Basilio-Robinson fight.
Albee Seven Hills of Rome (MGM) 125
The Brothers Koromarov (MGM),
Gornd
2nd wk ' ^5
Keiths The Gift of Love (20th-Fox) 125
Palace Saddle the Wind (MGM) 100
24-HOUR r
service:
THEATRE EOOIPMENT CO.
1206 Cherry St. Toledo 4, Ohio
BOXOFFICE AprU 7, 1958 ME-1