Boxoffice-08.01.1960

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. . . Rudy
the
. . Chief
. . Ditto
Public'
. . Filmrow
BUFFALO
Hrnold Van Leer, ParamouiU Pictures
field representative, who headquarters
in Boston, and John Serfustino. Buffalo
manager for Paramount Pictures, presided
at the "Psycho" theatre presentation policy
meeting July 22 in the screening room on
Pearl street. "Psycho" was screened, starting
at 9:15 a.m.. the ten-minute "Press
Book on Film" was showni. radio spot platters
were played and kits on the picture
distributed. Following the screening there
was a question and answer period and more
film shown, featuring exhibitors who told
how successful the unique presentation
policy set up for the picture had been at
their theatres. Among those attending the
conference were Edward Miller and
Charles B. Taylor. AB-PT: Francis Anderson,
city manager. AP-PT, Rochester: Jay
Golden, district manager, RKO Theatres,
Rochester: Spencer Balser and Walter J.
Huff. Basil circuit: Sam Sunness, Binghamton;
Prank Quinlivan, Dipson Theatres:
Joe Harmon. Hayman Theatres,
Niagara Falls: Charles Aprile. Riviera,
Geneseo: Lou Hart, Dave Aindel and
Phil Thome, all of the Schine circuit;
Irving Cohen, Sheridan Drive-In, Tonawanda:
Tony Mercurio and Frank Mancuso.
Paramount Pictures: Jack Maute,
Ellen Terry, Buffalo, and many others.
Floyd Fitzsimmons, field representative
for Warner Bros., with headquarters in
Boston, was here to confer with Ben Dargush,
manager of the Center Theatre on
promotion plans for "Ocean's 11," which is
coming to that AB-PT theatre early in
August,
"Hercules Unchained" got away to a big
week at the Paramount with a page ad
in four colors a day ahead of opening in
the Buffalo Evening News and a page ad
in color used by the big Sattler department
store in a tie-up between the picture
and "a herculean sale sensation," which
featured a big photo of Steve Reeves as
Hercules. There also was a saturation TV
and radio spot campaign.
Lou Levitch, general manager of Schine's
Granada, has made a tie-up with the
Loblaw stores in Buffalo through which,
in return for a lot of advertising in their
double truck ads in the local newspaper,
folks can buy a full admission ticket for
only 89 cents at any Loblaw- store and exchange
it for a reserved seat for any performance
Sunday through Friday at the
Granada. The Loblaw 89-cent tickets can
be exchanged for a regular $1.80 and $2,00
seat. The tie-in is bringing in a lot of
extra business, according to Levitch.
While Guy Madison was appearing in
"The Golden Fleecing" at the Garden Center
Theatre in Ontario, he visited here for
press, radio and TV interviews, "Summer
theatre is fun," said the star of screen and
TV. "but when I finish at Vineland. I'll return
home to the San Fernando Valley in
California and get ready for a long vacation
in Europe with my family."
i
A proposal calling for the licensing of
all coin-oper;.t!c; vending machines has
been submitted the legislation committee
of the Buffalo common council by a
special subcommittee. The subcommittee,
headed by Councilman Casimir I. Szudzik
jr.. has suggested the new licensing ordinance
carry a $250 license fee for the person
or firm which owns and maintains the
machines. The ordinance would cover
cigaret machines, food and beverage
machines, juke boxes and other venders.
Exempted in the proposal are coin-operated
laundry machines, pay telephones,
stamp machines and devices operated by
charitable groups.
"Ben-Hur" was in its 19th consecutive
week at Shea's Teck. The Teck is holding
a series of youth matinees on Tuesdays and
there are special matinees each Tuesday,
starting at 2, to accommodate tourists,
convention delegates and other visitors to
Buffalo. A special admission of 90 cents
has been arranged for the youth performances.
Ilka Chase, writer, actress, lectui'er and
TV personality, appeared at the Garden
Center Theatre in Vineland. over in Ontario,
and during her engagement made a
side trip to Buffalo, where she was widely
interviewed by newspapers, radio and television.
Miss Chase has been playing summer
stock for a number of years . . .
Senior Citizens Day w'as observed the other
day in the Century Theatre when Manager
Charles Funk arranged to admit senior
folks all day and evening for 20 cents.
Al Cerankowski, manager of the Strand,
1800 Clinton street, a link in the Basil
circuit in this neck of the woods, is a
hard-sell exhibitor, promoting a flock of
prizes for contests used in connection with
his various attraction promotions. In return
for the prize, Al gives the various
merchants in his community lobby displays
Bach, who has been a salesman
with the Buffalo office of Waldman Films,
retired July 29. He plans a long rest in
his native country.
SOUTH JERSEY
gob Quinn at the Clementon Theatre in
the town of the same name, received a
special favor from the town fathers.
Mayor Andrew Sundstrom and council
voted to declare a "Dick Lee Week" in
conjunction with the entertainer's appearance
at Bob's theatre during the week of
July 18. Quinn perked up audience reaction
by having seven days of festivities
built around the appearance of Lee at the
theatre. He got various local organizations
to sponsor "nights" at the theatre.
One of the highlights of the week was
the award of talent contest prizes by the
singer to Clementon area winners. The
boy talent winner received $15 and a
plaque and a free trip to Atlantic City's
Steel Pier. The latter was in conjunction
with Irv Blumberg. promotion director for
the pier, and the owner, George A. Hamid
jr., famous South Jersey exhibitor.
Lefko Meeting Managers
NEW YORK — Maurice Lefko, MGM
sales executive in charge of the domestic
distribution of "Ben-Hur," has begun a
series of meetings with regional managers.
He had already met with Louis Fonnato,
southern head, in Washington and Saal
Gottlieb, eastern head, in this city. Starting
Monday ( 1 ) he will meet in Chicago
with William Madden, midwest head, and
in Detroit with Lou Marks, central head.
WASHINGTON
pilmrow was well represented at the
MPTO convention at Virginia Beach,
Va., at which Glenn Norris, Fox general
sales manager, was the keynoter . . Joe
.
Gins, former U-I district manager covering
the Washington territory, is in a like
capacity for Citation Films, with a Filmrow
Elmer McKinley
exchange office . . . has been appointed sales representative.
Jimmie Lipsner, son of AA manager,
Milt Lipsner, while driving home from a
weekend at Wildwood, N, J., was forced
into a ditch by two deer and was flown
here for hospitalization . . . Bill Friedman,
former manager of Capitol Booking office,
has been appointed buyer-booker for the
Sidney Lust circuit . . . George Clanton,
Daw. Tappahannock. Va.. visited with
Harley Davidson . Mr. and Mrs.
Marshall Clark, Plaza, White Sulphur
Springs, W. Va.
Reed Price, UA booker, flew to Colorado
for his vacation . . . Elmer Moore. Columbia
head booker, spent his time fishing in
southern Maryland . was delighted
to learn of the promotion of Sid
Eckman, former MGM assistant manager
here, to the exchange manager's post in
Philadelphia.
Danny Weinberg has designated Harley
Davidson's Independent Theatres to handle
the booking-buying for the Tivoli and
Braddock Drive-In, Frederick.
BALTIMORE
Qpening of "Elmer Gantry" here was
lighted by a WBAL-TV panel discussion
between Edwin Castagna. director of
the Enoch Pratt
i Library: Dr.
George Flint, pastor of Mount Vernon
Place Methodist Church, and Bert Kline,
editor of the Jewish Times ... A tie-in
promoting "From the Terrace" is with
a local home improvement company, which
will provide a patio-terrace for the winner
of a lucky number drawing in the New
Theatre lobby.
Frank Hurley, former publicist for Rappaport
Theatres and recently resigned, returned
temporarily to work on the opening
of
"
"Psycho. initial attraction at the
remodeled Aurora of the Rappaport circuit
Marty Kirschner. field publicist,
. . . was in town for advance promotion on
United Artists' "Elmer Gantry" . . . Mike
Weiss of Paramount's Philadelphia office
was here for a business visit.
Bob Rappaport of Rappaport Theatres
celebrated his fifth wedding anniversary
... Ed Gallner. MGM publicist, spent several
days in town to handle advance publicity
on "Bells Are Ringing" . . . Bill
Brizendine, general manager for Schwaber'
Theatres, was in Washington visiting exchanges
. Barker Ray Thompson
of the Baltimore Variety Club, and Mrs.
Thompson, entertained at a party in their
home Saturday evening . . . Dudley Davis,
manager of the Little Theatre, spent his
day off visiting friends in Philadelphia.
&8 BOXOFFICE :: August 1, 1960