Boxoffice-May.31.1971

. Edward
. . Past
BUFFALO
Jndustryites honored Robert K. King at a
testimonial luncheon Monday (24) in
the Variety Club and an SRO audience of
barkers and barkerettes was in attendance.
"Bob." as he is known by his friends, leaves
soon for Philadelphia with his family. He is
senior vice-president for TV for Capital
Cities Broadcasting. It was Bob who arlanged
to have WKBW. Channel 7. telecast
Tent 7's famous annual Telethon, when he
was the big chief there. Past chief barker
Mickey Ellis was chairman of the luncheon.
Bob is former officer of the Variety Club.
He was presented a handsome, engraved
silver bow] as a memento of the occasion
F. Meade, press guy for many
vears of Tent 7. got an enthusiastic welcome
when he appeared at the luncheon
for Bob . chief barker Dewey Michaels,
who has been ill. was another oldtimer
who appeared at the affair. Dewey has
'ost some weight but that's good. Dewey
operates the new Palace Theatre downtown.
Rita D. Inda was chairman of the fashion
how staged by the Women of Variety Saturday
(22) in the Tent 7 clubrooms, 193
Delaware Ave. Assisting her were Gianina
C. Poppalardo. Mrs. Eugene Meade and
Mrs. Joseph F. Schaefer, who is president
of the organization of barkerettes. Ethel
Tyler was program chairman and Mrs. Irving
Sanders was in charge of decorations.
Mrs. Kenneth Reuter was chairman of
models, who were Mrs. Richard A. Atlas.
Mrs. Charles A. Boggess, Mrs. Frank J.
Depaola. Mrs. Jerome Edelstein. Mrs. Willard
Hemedinger. Mrs. Meade. Mrs. Frank
B Quinlivan. Anne Marie Taberski, Miss
Tyler and Mrs. Michael Mazzella. Mary
Ann M.ithias was the commentator. Judge
Robert Burrell was the speaker.
Bob Hope will receive an honorary degree
of doctor of laws from St. Bonaventure University
Sunday (30). The Very Rev. Reginald
A. Redlon, president of the Olean institution,
announces that Hope will deliver
the main commencement address and receive
the degree "in recognition of his stature
as a great American entertainer and
humanitarian." Hope's wife Dolores also
will receive an honorary degree of doctor
of humane letters in recognition of her work
•or Catholic charities in the Los Angeles
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Nearly 50 protesters of the stageplay
"Hair" picketed the Studio Arena Theatre
the other afternoon. The theatre is the sponsor
of a two-week run of the musical at the
downtown Century June 1-13. Literature
distributed by the protestors claimed the
show was "anti-religious. anti-American vulgarity."
The pickets included priests, nuns
and laymen.
The Courier Cable Co. Friday (21) was
criticized for failing to comply with city
franchise provisions calling for monthly
progress reports and the making of cable TV
channels available to nonprofit and citizen
groups. Councilman George K. Arthur filed
a common council resolution authorizing the
city law department to take necessary steps
for filing monthly reports. The only word
from the company, which received an exclusive
franchise in February, was a $1,023
check, submitted Wednesday (19) as the
city's 5 per cent share of the receipts, Arthur
observed. The resolution to be considered
at a council meeting cites the franchise
terms calling for monthly progress reports
"specifying in detail the expansion of its
(Courier Cable) facilities" toward citywide
coverage within three years.
Office-clerical personnel of the Taft
Broadcasting Co.'s WGR radio and TV stations
will vote June 2 on whether they still
want to be represented by the National
Ass'n of Broadcast Employees & Technicians
(AFL-CIO). The union has been on
strike at WGR for nearly half a year but
the stations have remained in operation with
the use of supervisory personnel, some unionists
who crossed the picket lines and
newly hired employees. The NLRB currently
is holding hearings on another decertification
petition which asks that NABET be
removed as bargaining agent for WGR's
technical, news and announcing personnel.
Fantasy Island, the amusement park on
Grand Island, opened for the season Saturday
(29) for the three-day Memorial Day
weekend. The resort will be open from 10
a.m. until 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday each
weekend until June 26. when the park
launches its seven-day-a-week operation.
Richard J. Carrel is executive vice-president
and general manager. The Evening News is
publishing reduced rate coupons for the
resort.
There will be dancing in the streets (literally)
when the Lyric Theatre at 687 Clinton
Ave. N finally closes its doors next
month in Rochester. Myron "Mike" Zeitler.
Rochester fifth ward political leader, announces
his committee will sponsor a street
dance to celebrate the theatre's closing. The
Lyric, home of "girlie films" and scene of
occasional raids by the police vice squad in
Kodak Town, long has been a source of
complaints by neighbors. The theatre will be
demolished as part of the city's urban renewal
program.
Fabians Mall Debuts
With Gala Preview
HACKETTSTOWN. N.J.—Fabian Theatres
opened its newest indoor location, the
525-seat Mall Theatre in Hackettstown.
Wednesday (26). An invitational preview of
the opening attraction, Walt Disney Productions'
"The Barefoot Executive," was held
the previous night, hosted by Edward L.
Fabian, president of the circuit which operates
theatres in New Jersey, New York.
Pennsylvania, Virginia and Michigan.
Fabian officials attending included general
manager Adrian Ettelson; controller
lerry Becker; film buyer Hank Goldman;
district manager Dick Murphy, and others.
Numerous industry members also were in
attendance, including: Al Blumberg and Phil
Sherman, United Artists; Bill [Cumins, Ralph
lannuzzi and Herb Gaines. Warner Bros.;
Sidney Eckman. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer;
Harold Saltz, National General; Harry Margolis,
Avco Embassy; Harry Buxbaum, Cinerama;
Harold Lager, Fox; Dave Emmanuel
and George Waldman, American International;
John Wenisch, Columbia, Ben Perse,
Capitol Motion Picture Supply, and Howard
Mahler, Mahler Films.
Michael Matchok. who joined Fabian
Theatres last October, has been appontied
manager of the mall. A newcomer to the
industry, he resides in Ogdensburg. N.J.
Majestic Theatre Closed
After More Than 80 Years
PATERSON. N.J.—The independent Majestic
Theatre in Paterson, one of the city's
oldest theatres, closed its doors for the last
time recently, after more than 80 years in
operation. The 878-seat house had been run
as a stageplay and vaudeville spot for many
years, until the 1930s.
It combined films and vaudeville acts until
the late 1940s, then switched to "filmsonly"
on a subsequent-run policy.
From 1962 until its closing, the Majestic
had featured Spanish films only. For many
years the theatre was operated by the Altholz
family of Paterson. Since 1961 it had
been under the direction of E. Leonard
Bluestein, also of Paterson. Among the many
managers of the Majestic was Louis Mai tin.
who managed the house for more than 20
years, until his death in 1961.
The theatre has been purchased by the
city as part of an extensive urban renewal
program. Once the home of a large number
of film houses. Paterson now has only one
theatre in operation, the RKO-Stanley Warner
Fabian.
Updated Valley Theatre
Reopens With 'Cromwell'
EAST GREENVILLE. PA—The 434-
seat Valley Theatre reopened recently after
an extensive renovation project to update
the movie house.
To mark the occasion, Jacques Kline,
owner of the Valley, booked the Richard
Harris-Alec Guinness starrer. "Cromwell."
E-6 BOXOFFICE :: May 31, 1971