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. . James
. .
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TORONTO
(l^urly Posen temporarily closed the doors
on the 5th of his 520-seat Kent on
upper Yonge street, for a major reconstruction
job which is scheduled for completion
April 23 . . . The Twinex Theatre
Managers Ass'n. through Martin Simpson
of the Downtown, has donated a new
trophy for the 11th annual motion picture
golf championship tourney next August on
the Tam O'Shanter course. The 1961
touriiament resulted in a profit of $1,475,
which went to the Canadian Picture
Pioneers.
Gerald Pratiey, who recently stepped out
as manager of the Little Cinema, is now
writing a film column for the Toronto
Daily Star . Denton was in to
promote "Taras Bulba." a United Artists
release made in Argentina from a story
written by Nikolai Gogol, a Russian. The
production is expected to go into the
Famous Players Tivoli in a few months
following the engagement of "El Cid."
Two drive-ln units of 20th Centui-y Theatres,
the 400 and Northeast, reopened for
the season last week with a double bill
consisting of "What a Cut-Up" and
"Where Vultures Fly." T^vo others of the
Nat Taylor chain, the Northwest and
Scarboro drive-ins. operated all winter .
The shooting of "Ten Girls Ago" at the
International studio hit a snag when Bert
Lahr, one of the stars, took down with
pneumonia, but work on the picture, a
production of Am -Can Productions Limited,
has continued around the Lahr role. Joe
Hai'nell. musical dii-ector of the picture,
was also injured in a highway crash near
here.
Don Edwards, manager of the Famous
Players Tivoli in nearby Hamilton, has resigned
to enter other business. He was
succeeded by Les Mitchell of the Capitol.
St. Catharines, to which Doug Walker of
the Seneca. Niagara Falls, was transferred.
Doris Rodgers is the new manager of the
Seneca . Canadian Broadcasting
Corp. television network carried a panel
discussion Friday night i6> on the
Academy Awards by Clyde Gilmour and
settdinB
Gerald Pratiey of Toronto and Ed Hocura
of the Hamilton Spectator.
Structural improvements, started several
months ago, are expected to be completed
soon at the Famous Players Capitol in
Brantford . W. Perry, former
president and general manager of Einpire-
Universal Films, and George H. Beeston.
secretary of the same company, have recovered
from illness.
Roger Lewis in MGM Deal
To Film 'Pawnbroker'
HOLLYWOOD—MGM has completed an
agreement with Roger Lewis for the production
of "The Pawnbroker." based on the
novel by Edward Lewis Wallant.
Rod Steiger will head the cast of the
drama which is the initial independent
production for Lewis, formerly vice-president
of United Ai-tists. Lensing will take
place at the MGM British Studios sometime
in September.
The story deals with a man who tries to
escape from his tragic past by becoming
a pawnbroker in the Soho district of London
and becomes involved in a strange set
of circumstances that force him to face
death.
'San Franciscans' Writing
Chore to Charles Schnee
HOLLYWOOD—Charles Schnee has been
signed by Joseph Pasternak to write the
screenplay for "The San Franciscans,"
Niven Busch novel which Pasternak will
produce for MGM release. Schnee recently
completed the script of "The List of Adrian
Messenger" for U-I release.
Gene Barry Acquires 'Fix'
HOLLYWOOD—Gene Barry has purchased
Jack Usher's novel. "The Fix," and
will star in the film adaptation which his
Barbety Productions will make late this
summer. Robert L. Welch is cui-rently
writing a treatment on the property and
also has been set as executive producer.
n 2 yeors for $5 D
D Remiffance Enclosed D Send Invoice
THEATRE
STREET ADDRESS
' year for $3 D 3 years for $7
TOWN ZONE STATE
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POSITION
pffliii THE NATIONAL FILM WEEKLY 52 issues a year
^I
825 Van Brunt Blvd., Kansas City 'li, Mo.
Clare J. Appel Dead;
Leader at Toronto
TORONTO—Clare Joseph Appel. 71. a
highly respected official of the film industry
for many years and a leader in numer-
CLARE J. APPEL
ous organizations, died after a long illness.
Ill health forced his retirement three
months ago from the post of executive director
of the Canadian Motion Picture Distributors
Ass'n which he had served for
years. He was widely known previously as
a director and onetime president of the
Motion Picture Theatres Ass'n of Ontario
and was active in the Canadian Picture
Pioneers, the Toronto Variety Club and the
Motion Picture Industry Council of
Canada.
He entered the show business in early
days as a singer and conductor of
orchestras. Later he switched to theatre
management and became an official with
Famous Players Canadian Corp.. and later
with Odeon Theatres. He was also director
of advertising and publicity with Loew's
Theatres in Canada.
Many tributes were expressed. For the
Canadian Pictuie Pioneers. Wannie Tyers
said that he "always put forth such a
tremendous effort in behalf of the Pioneers."
Speaking for the Motion Picture
Theatres Ass'n of Ontario. Arch H. Jolley
described him as "A mighty fine man,
highly thought of in our industry."
A requiem mass was said in St. Margaret's
Catholic Church. Appel is survived
by his wife Caroline, and a daughter
Marion, who married Hatton Taylor of
Boston. The latter is a fUm exchange
executive.
Strike Is Avoided
TORONTO — Tliis
whole province was
threatened with a blackout starting April
6 when 8,300 employes of the Ontario
hydroelectric system prepared to strike
after a breakdown in negotiations over a
demand for an 8 per cent wage increase.
However, whith the minutes ticking off,
the Ontario Pailiament i-ushed through
legislation to prohibit a strike on the public
utility and to provide for compulsory
arbitration.
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BOXOFFICE :: April 16, 1962