Boxoffice-July.04.1960

. . Reports
. . The
. . Ray
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as
CLEVELAND
T ouis Weitz, executive secretary of the
Cleveland Motion Pictui-e Exhibitors
Ass'n, was re-elected president of the Jewish
Children's Buieau .
from
the State. Allen and Hippodrome are that
the Johansson-Patterson closed circuit telecast
drew almost double the attendance
of recent fights.
Leonard Mishkind, president of General
Theatre, a circuit of 13 theatres in the
northern Ohio area, and his associates are
diversifying their business interests. Last
year they acquired the Ban-Rey Motel on
Turnpike Exit 4 near Toledo. Now they
have purchased the 35-room de luxe Quality
Court Motel on Turnpike 42 near
Strongsville . . . Tammy, daughter of UA
Manager Danny Rosenthal and her newly
acquired husband. James Green, a June
Case Institute of Technology graduate, are
both working for the DuPont Co. in Wilmington.
Del.
Alan Barack is operating the Park Auto
Theatre. Alliance, following the death of
his father Maurice .
Cleveland
Salesmen's Club stepped out Friday night,
June 24, starting with dinner at Kornman's
Restaurant and attending the ball
game, which saw the Indians lose to the
New York Yankees, 10-8.
It was a happy audience that recently
left the Allen Theatre after viewing "Polly-
As a screen game,
HOLLYWOOD takes top
honors. As a box-office attraction,
it Is without equal. It has
been a fovorite with theatre goers for
over 1 5 years. Write today for complete details.
Be sure to give seating or ear capacity.
HOLLYWOOD AMUSEMENT CO.
3750 Ookton St. ' Skokic, Illinois
RCA SERVICE COMPANY
A Diviiion of Radio Corporation of America
5531 State Rood
Cleveland 34, Ohio Shadyside 1-2131
THE
BIG COMBINATIONS
COME FROM
Allied Film Exchange Imperial Pictures
2108 Payna Ave.
Cleveland, Otllo
anna" at the invitation of Buena 'Vista
district manager Ted Levy. Guests agreed
the picture has entertainment appeal for
patrons of all ages . . . Sam Schultz, Allied
Artists manager, was given an award by
the Cleveland Cancer Society for the excellent
cooperation he has given them in
arranging theatre showings of the educational
cancer film.
Illness report: Rudy Norton. Imperial
Pictures manager, is making a rapid recovery
from a heart attack and is anxious
to have the boys stop in and see him when
they are near his home in Wauseon .
"Curly" Sears, booker for Seaway Film
Distributing Co.. another heart patient, is
on the recovery list at Lakewood Hospital.
He is now allowed visitors . . . W. Ward
Marsh. Plain Dealer movie critic who has
been out of circulation the past month,
is back at his PD typewriter.
John W. Service, National Theatre Supply
vice-president, was here conferring
with Manager M. H. Pritchle and Bud
Hazel Mack of National
Mutchler . . .
Screen Service is vacationing in Mexico expecting
to return home July 3 . . . Changes
in the MGM-Paramount shipper department:
Gil Schiller and Ronnie Rates are
now assistants to head shipper Steve Andrews.
Bill Andrews, formerly handling
Paramount shipping, has been promoted
to assistant booker.
Jack .\damission and James Davis bought
out Sharp's Service Station, across from
Filmrow, from Louis Sharp, who owned
and operated it for more than 25 years.
The new owners have renamed it the A&D
Mobile Service.
Anna May Wong, and her traveling companion
Alice Boatwright of the Universal
New York office, were guests of honor at
a press luncheon in advance of the area
opening of "Portrait in Black" at the Hippodrome
June 24. Miss Wong, absent from
the screen for 17 years, said she had no
difficulty bridging the gap because she
has kept abreast of the production changes
on stage, screen and television. She noted
the advance in the interchange of foreign
pictures, recalling that in 1922 she made
a picture. "Hai Tang. " for release in Germany.
France and English-speaking countries.
It was made three times in the three
languages with three leading men—Francis
Lederer doing the German version: John
Longden. the English, and Robert Aubert
the French.
Mildred Cohn, secretary to Frank Murphy.
Loew division manager, is soaking
up the Florida sunshine . Schmertz,
20th-Pox manager and distributor activities
chairman, was in Saranac Lake with
the group that annually inspects the Will
Rogers Memorial Hospital . . . Bill Twig.
Warner manager, and family left for a
down east vacation.
Maurice Gross, 84, Dies
COLUMBUS—Maurice Gro.ss. 84. retired
former owner of the Majestic, died.
The Majestic, pioneer High street de luxe
theatre, was torn down a quarter of a
century ago.
'Portrait in Black'
Bows in Cleveland
CLEVELAND—Ross Hunter, a top Hollywood
producer, brought his latest picture,
"Portrait in Black." here for honif
folks approval just as he did his two previous
successes, "Pillow Talk" and "Imitation
of Life." Although the world premiere
was held June 23 in Chicago, thu
northern Ohio opening the following da%
at the Hippodrome here was equally important.
The local premiere was a gala affair arranged
by Universal field publicity representative.
Duke Hickey. Hunter came hen'
directly from the Chicago opening, bringing
with him Virginia Gray, Anna May
Wong and John Saxon. The stars met
about a hundred invited guests at a cocktail
party, then appeared on the Hippodrome
stage, where they were introduced
by WEWS-TV announcer Bill Gordon. The
sidewalk crowds who could not get into
the theatre were able to see the stars as
they arrived at the theatre under kleig
lights and entered the lobby on a red carpet.
Hippodrome Manager Jack Silverthorne
said that the opening matinee business for
"Portrait In Black" was bigger than the
opening matinee take on "Imitation of
Life." an acknowledged smash hit.
Of "Portrait in Black." W. Ward Marsh,
Plain Dealer movie critic said. "Here is a
top-rank, finely produced melodrama and
one which is far too good to be classified
as a mere whodunit. It is crime, suspense,
justice and, most of all, entei-tainment, all
in one."
The publicity campaign on "Portrait in
Black" was conducted over a four-week
period prior to the premiere. Advance emmissaries
were Sandra Dee and Dolores
Rubin, script girl.
The capacity crowd at the premiere performance
of "Portrait in Black" applauded
vigorously at its conclusion indicating that
Hunter has another hit.
Four Hollywood Guests
At Festival in Detroit
DETROIT—Four Hollywood personalities
from the Universal-International organization
will be starred in the ten-day International
Freedom Festival, sponsored
jointly by the cities of Detroit and Windsor,
Ont. Bookings were arranged through
David J. Kane. U-I exploiteer who was
appointed to the festival commission in
charge of motion picture activities by
Mayor Louis C. Miriani of Detroit.
The appearances started Sunday and extended
through July 4. Dolores Rubin,
script writer, attended the grand opening
of Community Theatres' renovated Punch
and Judy Theatre in Grosse Pointe. with
"Portrait in
"
Black the attraction.
Anna May Wong, who is returning to
the screen in "Portrait in Black." was in
town Monday and Tuesday.
Maurice Bergman, writer representing
"Spartacus." was to address a festival assembly
on "What Pictures Have Done to
Promote Universal Peace."
John Saxon, young Universal star, was
to appear on radio and television.
ME-4 BOXOFFICE July 4. 1960