Boxoffice-08.01.1960

, Prance;
'
I
; executive
'
well
: plans
'.
European
j
'
and
1
of
'
! and
. Using
! dent
]
producing
I
. saw
,
Rosenfield
i
Marion
\
PARIS
I
I
,
to
!
Aboaf,
\
manager,
,
series
i
10 Million Bowling Outlay
By Phil Smifh Circuit
BOSTON—The Phil Smith organization,
already operating one of the
country's top drive-in theatre circuits.
is entering the bowling field on a
multimillion dollar scale as part of a
diversification program.
General Drive-In Corp., which Smith
heads, announced this week it will
spend an estimated $10,000,000 to build
15 bowling centers in New England to
become the largest bowling chain in
that area. The first of the Holiday
Lanes, as the centers will be known,
to be opened this month at Medford.
is
Mass., a 40-lane project. The lanes
are part of a shopping center which
also will include a pancake house, children's
nursery, meeting hall, lockers,
and parking space for 500 cars. The
center was designed by William Riseman
Associates.
Two other centers with a combined
capacity of 64 lanes, at 'Westerly Park,
R. I., and 'West Roxbury, Mass., will
be opened in November. Other centers
will be built in New Hampshire, 'Vermont,
and Maine.
The Smith organization operates
approximately 39 drive-in and indoor
theatres in Connecticut, Florida, Illinois,
Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts,
Michigan, Missouri, New
Hampshire, Nebraska, New Jersey,
New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and
Wisconsin.
Rosenfield Tells London
Of Plans for 'Navarone'
LONDON—Appearing in his new post as
in charge of international as
as domestic publicity operations for
Columbia, Jonas Rosenfield jr. outlined
for "The Guns of Navarone" before
publicity representatives at the
Shepperton studios July 22.
The group visited the sets of the picture
met the stars. They also were guests
Carl Foreman, writer-producer of the
picture, at a studio luncheon. Among those
present were Jack Wiener, continental
publicity director; Emil Buyse, director in
Helmut Gattinger, for Geimany
Austria; Manfredo 'Verdini, Italy; Syd
Merkin, supervisor of overseas production
pubhcity; Alan Tucker, director in Great
Britain; Pat Williamson, British advermanager;
Irving Rubine, vice-presiof
Open Road Films, the Foreman
company, and J. Lee Thompson,
director of "The Guns of Navarone." They
a two-hour film show that included
"Navarone" footage.
was scheduled to hold meetings
1
in Paris and Rome before returning
^ to New York.
Jordan Quits U-I
— Marion Jordan, Continental
supervisor for Universal - International
since February 1958, has resigned his post
return to the United States to enter
business for himself, according to Americo
vice-president and general foreign
now in Europe conducting a
of sales meetings. Jordan joined U-I
in 1951.
An End Comes to a Theatre Dynasty,
But Progressive Group Takes Over
By ROBERT P. KLINGENSMITH
PITTSBURGH—Once a circuit of 40
theatres, the years have taken their toll:
the past decade especially has seen most
of the movie houses under the banner of
the world's oldest exhibition firm disappear,
and now only two units are in the
fold of Harris Amusements. The onceglittering
empire crumbled with Associated
Theatres assuming ownership of four
city houses including the first-run downtown
John P. Harris Theatre. In agreement
for several months, the transfer
signing was done by George Eby, treasui'er,
and James G. Balmer, secretary,
representing John H. Harris, president,
who has been the producer of "Ice Capades"
for a score of years. Ernest Stem,
Associated prexy, and his cousin George
Stern, secretary, represented the purchasing
firm, terms of which were not disclosed.
OWNED BY HARVARD
The John P. Harris Theatre real estate
is owned by Harvard University, but the
Stern family organization took over ownership
of the neighborhood theatres, the
Liberty in East Liberty; South HiUs in
Dorrhont, and the Denis in Mt. Lebanon.
The Harris office building on Bigelow
Bo.ulevard, Oakland, was not included in
the transaction.
Associated operates four other indoor
theatres here and 11 district drive-in theatres;
the Harris houses acquired now
totaling eight indoor theatres lor the
Stern group which operates from its own
office building, 72 Van Braam St. on Filmrow.
This city's oldest theatre still in operation,
the John P. Harris, recently passed
through another ownership under which
Associated acquired "The Alvin House."
Charles L. Davis, Chicago showman who
dubbed himself Alvin Joslyn, built this
theatre, which he named the Alvin, 70
years ago. Except for floods and regular
closings after legitimate theatrical seasons,
the house has been in continuous
operation, being rebuilt some years ago
under the Harris Amusements operation
banner. Behind the deal which tui'ned
over this downtown theatre and three
neighborhood theatres to the Associated
circuit, lay 70 years of triumph and failure,
of glory and gloom, and the tragic,
slow, creeping paralysis of the "living
drama."
A GLITTERING PREMIERE
Probably the most glittering event of
the Mauve Decade in this city was the
inauguration of the resplendent new Alvin
Theatre on the night of Sept. 21, 1891. In
later years evil days befell Joslyn and he
lost his theatre and died soon after. The
Alvin passed through various ownerships,
including that of B. F. Keith, whose son,
Paul, willed the property to Harvard.
Harris Amusements later leased the
theatre and for many years presented road
shows, vaudeville and stock company productions,
turning to sound and talking
pictures as fewer legitimate shows became
available in a city having two "live"
theatres, the other being the original and
"perfect playhouse," the Nixon, which
folded a decade ago and was demolished
to make way for the Alcoa Building.
The John P. Harris operated for many
years as a first-run downtown theatre and
was the pride of Hairis Amusements,
world's oldest moving picture exhibiting
firm, which is now close to being out of
business, with theatre units remaining
only at Huntingdon and St. Mary, Pa.
The theatre name, John P. HaiTis, is
being retained under the Associated banner:
the name itself, of course, honors the
memory of the co-founder of the first
Nickelodeon here on Smithfield street 55
years ago. Associated executives had
sought a downtown outlet for several
years and the John P. Harris, with three
neighborhood theatres, was transferred to
its management and books June 10.
Ernest Stern, Associated president, has
retained Tony Coutsoumbis as manager
of the downtown Harris Theatre, and also
placed under the Associated banner are
former Hams Amusement managers: Les
Bowser, veteran, at the Liberty; Sam De-
Fazio, South Hills, and John P. Harris,
nephew of John H. Harris, Denis. The new
setup technically is: Stern Theatres Inc.,
operating the John P. Harris Theatre;
Liberty Theatre Inc., operating the East
Liberty house; Denis Theatre Inc., operating
the Mt. Lebanon theatre, and Dormont
Theatre Inc., operating the South Hills.
"No film
ever dared
touch
theme
before!"
Jimmy Starr
LA. HERALD EXPRESS
BOXOFFICE :: August 1. 1960 11