DECEMBER

I 

, . mmermon, 

J 

T P Tidwell, J H. Aletonder, S«be Mider, Mark 

'^f^ 

Forirancii manager, presenting scroll; William C. Gehring, assistant general solesmonoger of 20th-Fox; and Bill Williams, office manoger 

^*TXAS TIPS ITS HAT TO SALESMEN 

FIR ROLE IN MOVIETIME CAMPAIGN 

Enttrcd o ucend-clui mitlv at the Post Oftice 

at Kaniu City, Mo., under the act of March 3, 1879. 

NATIONAL EXECUTIVE 

EDITION 

Inc'uding the Sectional Htwi Psgrt of AM Eddtons 

DECEMBER 9 5 1 

Page 14

, N. 

UOVADI 

DOING 133% 

OF "GWTW" 

BUSINESS IN 

FIRST 8 SPOTS 

Tlie puLlic lias spoleen. All first dates are history-making! 

Imagine! National average is 133% 

of "GWTW"! Wlien you've got tke goods tlie 

people will clieerfully pay. Here are the cities 

wKicli prove in tkeir first 

5 days [ai press time) 

tliat "Quo Vadis" is tlie Greatest Entertainment 

of All Time: 

PITTSBURGH, SAN FRANCISCO, 

ATLANTA, CLEVELAND, ST. LOUIS, 

MEMPHIS. In its 3rd week in NEW YORK 

it teats "GWTW at tlie Astor Ly 17% and 

at tne Capitol ny 48%. 

M - G - M prcenl. 

QUO VADIS 

ROBERT 

TAYLOR 

LEO GENN 

DHBO RAH, 

KERR 1 

.....1 

PETER USTINOV 

Col,., I.v 

TECHNICOLOR 

lOllN Um MAillN 

Hi:i!K>\AN SONVA I.I-VIKN 

Basctl on lilt- Nnvi-1 liy 

IliMiiyU Sionlticwii-7, 

MHKVYN l.cROY 

r,,..l.u...l 

I.v 

SAM /IMHAI-IST 

A Milr..>.M>l.lwvi|.M.iyir riiliirc 

II 

Dtlowe 

Cinene 

CWttr 

^ hta 

L

I' 

' 

rRAD£ 

SEE IT IN 

THEATRES! 

It is fitting that M-G-M's masterpiece 

will 

he snown nerore specially 

'!» 

k 

DEC. lO'i- TO DEC. W^ 

:AS 

AlANY 

BCrON 

BlÂLO 

listed BELOW! 

PLACE THEATRE ADDRESS DATE HOUR 

ORLOTTE 

Ct!:ACO 

CllflNNATI 

dAas 

Dt|VER 

demoines 

DijlOIT 

inIanapolis 

JA'KSONVIllE 

K/|ISAS CITY 

LC. ANGELES 

MljVAUKEE 

MIMEAPOIIS 

N« HAVEN 

Nl ORLEANS 

OIAHOMA CITY 

OI\HA 

PKADELPHIA 

, 'CTIAND 

JS*' LAKE CITY 

! 

SErTLE 

tWHINGTON 

Delawore 

N E. Mutual Hall 

Cinema 

Visulile 

Adelphi 

Ambassador 

Captain 

Federal 

Uptown 

Globe 

Cornel 

San Marco 

Kimo 

Picvyood 

Century 

Granada 

Bijou 

Imperial 

Will Rogers 

Dundee 

Erlonger 

Laurelhurst 

Villa 

Green Lake 

Circia 

290 Delaware Ave. 12/10 8:30 P.M. 

225 Clarendon Street 12/11 8:30 P.M. 

647 Main 12/10 8:30 P.M. 

1615 Eliiabelh Avenue 12/10 8:30 P.M. 

7074 North Clark 12/10 8:30 P.M. 

306S Modison Rood 12/11 8:30 P.M. 

Cooitol and Henderson Ave. 12/11 8:30 P.M. 

3830 Federal Boulevard 12/1) 8:30 P.M. 

4115 University Avenue 12/12 8:30 P.M. 

3520 Grand River Ave. 12/10 8:30 P.M. 

2145 Talbot Avenue 12/11 8:30 P.M. 

1996 San Marco Boulevard 12/10 8:30 P.M. 

3319 Main Street 12/14 8:30 P.M. 

10872 Pico Boulevard 12/11 8:00 P.M. 

2342 No. Third Street 12/10 8:30 P.M. 

3022 Hennepin Ave. 12/12 8:30 PM 

Church Street 12/10 8:30 P.M. 

814 Hagen Avenue 12/11 9:00 P.M. 

4322 N. Western 12/10 8:30 P.M. 

4952 Dodge Street 12/10 8:30 P.M. 

21st and Market 12/10 8:30 P.M. 

2733 East Burnside 12/11 8:30 P.M. 

3092 Highland Drive 12/10 8:30 P.M. 

7107 Woodlown Avenue 12/12 8:30 P.M. 

2105Penn$ylvaniaAv.,N.W. 12/13 8:30 PM 

invited audiences in tneatres. Invitations 

nave neen mailed. If yours nas 

not arrived, come anynow. Guests 

will include, in addition to exninitors, 

community leaders, clergy, 

press and radio representatives. No 

one snould miss tnis most important 

trade snow or our time.

'^^^m^'^'^Tw^. 

i 

I 

A Statement in 

AppreciaticnI^' 

||^l1|o award we have ever received has had th( 

JJL ^1 significance of the honor of being namec 

"Pioneers of the YearV. We are most grateful. 

We want to thank the Motion Picture Pioneeri, 

the trade press, the newspapers and all our friends whc 

were so generous in their tributes. 

In a large sense all of us engaged in so creative ar 

industry as the making of motion pictures are pioneer: 

— and will continue to be pioneers as we continue tc 

create new and ever higher standards of entertainmeni 

and public service for the millions upon millions whc 

attend our motion picture theatres. 

The potential force of motion pictures for gooc 

{ 

(tliei 

Tli 

t. 

i 

hitd 

Ilk 

istr) 

has just begun to be tapped. All that has been done ii 

only a foundation for future greatness, but we can take 

pride in the fact that our foundation is a firm one. It i* 

loui 

Wi 

solid bedrock for future generations of pioneers tc 

build upon. 

We were particularly pleased, when the plaque 

was presented to us as ''Pioneers of the YearV to see

j 

F0« 

icJF 

A Great Honor 

' 

jngraved 

on it the words 

" 

[for their unswerving faith 

S in 

motion pictures and in 

heir industry as a bulwark 

)f the American way of lifeV 

This is the faith we 

I 

iiave held for half a century. 

îth this faith we go 

orward confident as 

ever 

n the greatness of our 

ndustry's place in 

MOTION PICTUBt PIOMtCHS.lNf 

PROUOLy HONOR 

WONEERSINTHETPUE AMERICAM TR/kDITlOU TOR THCIR 

VISION /.NO CKTEKPRISt IN BRINGING 30UU0 TO 

THE SCREtN THE IH 

, BOUNDIESS COURAGE IN RL A71WC 

A NEW PATH IN SCREEN ENTtRTAINMEK'T AMD RUBt.lC Sf RVI' 

AUD FOR THEIR UNiWtRVl'lG FAITH IN MOTION PiaURCS 

AK5 IH THEIR II40USTRYAS A BULWARK OFTHE AMERKAM \fJk\ 

OF LIFE. WE IJIVHIMOUSLV WClARETltt VVARNFR BROS. 

P«ESENTEG OHIHE OCCASION OF TJtf. TWtLHH ANNOAL 

DllJNff? llOVtMfttH IL'" I hi )E1 1 1 II Hl)MI>hEb /WiHHV-OUt 

the world and more determined 

:han ever, with God's help, to remain active in this 

industry;, 

We wish to express gratitude to our co-workers 

and our exhibitor friends for helping us follow the 

|)ath we have chosen. This is the industry to which 

we have devoted most of our lives. We look forward 

to long years together firm in the conviction that 

Warner Bros. Pictures always will hold a proud place 

in this industry's accomplishments. 

i 

-tJ/wveû-^ 

^CUX'X^'U/KJ

This trio. Clirton Webb, Anne Francis and William Lundigan. make up the big Yuletide package 

coming from 20th Century-Fox. The title of the picture Is "Elopement" and It's just the kind of 

merry-making to start the New Year off with a rush! 

(Adrertlsement)

I 

•- Hj.l|yi 

I 

y if . 

""--!w-«i-»w»way 

ruê- o/- t/ie '7/Mmn rtcfiiJie //idtUh// 

THE NATIONAL FILM WEEKLY 

Puhllihed in Nine Sectional Editions 

BEN SHLYEN 

Editor-in-Chiei and Publisher 

[AMES M. JERAULD Editor 

NATHAN COHEN....Execulive Editor 

IlESSE SHLYEN Managing Editor 

llVAN SPEAR Western Editor 

THATCHER....Equipmenl Editor 

k. L. 

lOHN G. TINSLEY.Advertising Mgr. 

Published Every Saturday by 

ASSOCIATED PUBLICATIONS 

iEiiitorial Otfices: Itnolcefeller I'Iiikii. Nph 

|Vorl( 20. N. Y. Jolin (i. Tlnslcy. Ailrfrlls- 

M.iniiRer; .lames M. .leraiild. IMItor; 

llnK 

riie'lfr Friedman. Rdllnr Slmomandlser 

iSrctlon: 1.011 11. Oerard. Hdltor Prnmiillcin 

SfClInn; A. .1. Btnrkfr. Eqiilpnient Advprllnlns. 

Teleiihnne miiimliiis 5 (i:!7n 

Publication Offices: S2.5 Vim Itniiit lilvd., 

Kansas Clip 1. Mo. Nathan Tolien. K\rei\- 

Rdllnr: .lease Slilyen. Managing Bdl- 

Inr- Morris Selilnr.mali. 

llie 

Htislness MnnaKor 

TliaWier. Editor TTie Modern Theatre 

I i, 

Section: Herbert flonsh. Sales Mnnacer 

Telephone cnestniit 7777. 

Central Offices: Editorial—624 S, MIohltan 

Ate.. Chleauo 5. 111. .Innns rrrlhrrE. 

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I 

Western Offices: Editorial and Film Adver- 

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I 

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The MOPEHN TUBATUB Section Is Included 

In the first Ifsne of earh mnnthnie 

PIinMftTinN section Is Included In 

the third Issue of each month. 

Albany: 21-23 Walter Ave., J. S. Conners. 

Rlrmlngham: The Newa. Rddle Badger. 

Roston: Frances W. nardlng. Mh. 2-9305 

rharlntte: 216 W. 4th. Pauline Orifflth. 

rinclnnati: 4029 Heading. I.llllan Lnzarns 

rieieland: BIsle I-oeb, Falrmount 1-0046 

rinllas: (112% W. .lefferson. Frank Hradley 

Denver: 1046 I^fnyette. .lock Hose 

nes Moines: lieglster-Trlhnne. Hiiss Rehorh 

Detroit: Fox Theatre Hldg.. H F Heves 

Indianapolis: Koute 8. Hox 770. Howard 

M. RndeailJ, f!A 3339. 

Memphis: 707 Spring St.. Null Adorns. 

Minneapolis: 2123 Fremont. So.. I.es Dees 

Neiv Haven: 42 Church, flertrude Lander 

New Orleans; Frances .Inrdan. N.O. States 

Okla. City: Terminal Rldg., Polly Trlndle 

Omaha: Oil 51st St.. Irving Haker. 

Phlladelnhla: 6303 Harks, Norman Shlcnn 

Pittsburgh: It. F. Kllngensmlth, 510 .leannelte. 

Wllklnshurg. Churehlll l-2R0fl. 

Portland. Ore.: Arnold Marks. Oregon 

.lonrnal. Advertising: Mel Hlfkman. 907 

Terminal Sales Hldg.. ATwater 4107. 

St. I*ula: 5149 Ilnsa. Havlrt Harrott. 

Ralt Lake City: Hoserel News. H. Pearson 

San Antonin: 32(1 San Pedro. 11-39230 

I.. J. R. Ketner. 

a«n Francisco: (lall I.lpman. 26 Taylor St.. 

Ordway 3-4812. Advertising- .lerry Nnwell, 

Howard HIdg., 30fl Post St.. 

YHkon 0-2522. 

Seattle: 1303 Campus Pkny. Have Ballard 

In 

Canada 

Calgary: The Herald. Myron Laka. 

Montreal: 4330 Wilson. Hoy Carmlehael 

at. .Inhn: 110 Prince Edward. W. MeNulty. 

Toronto: I!. It. 1, York Mills, M. (Jalhraith. 

Vancouver: Lyric Theatre Hide.. .lack Hrny 

Winnipeg: 282 Ruperts. Ben Snmmers. 

Member Audit Bureau of Circulations 

Entered as Second Class matter at Post 

•ftlce. Kansas Cllv. Mo. Sertlonal Edition. 

J3.00 per year: National Edition. $7.50 

DECEMBER 

Vol. 60 

19 5 1 

No. 5 

THE INDUSTRY'S 

Jr WAS in Tpx;is thai the Movictimc 

U.S.A. idea originated. In that slate, also, was 

born the idea of enlisting the alloul aid of film 

salesmen to aeiiuainl exhiliilors with the plan and 

to ()l)tain their active parliciiialion toward making 

it a success. Now, those "terrific Texans" 

have again taken the lead in paying tribute to the 

efforts of the film salesmen, a recognition in 

appreciation and esteem for a job well done. 

In Kansas City tribute was also paid to the 

salesmen's efforts in connection with the Mo\ ii 

time campaign by the awarding of prizes to 

those who led their sales blocks in hel])ing to 

obtain the best results. 

The outstanding success of Movietime U.S.A. 

is due in large measure to the work done at the 

local level. It was, in a way, an "emergency" 

campaign designed to benefit the entire industry. 

For that reason it required intensive effort that 

had to be carried out all along the line and in 

every nook and cranny of the industry. It was 

an "on-the-firing-line" campaign, and. therefore, 

it called for the direct action of contact in the 

field. The "target" was the public. The closest 

contact with the public was the exhibitor. He 

had to be given, firsthand, the idea tools with 

which to work; he had to be shown how, and 

with what, to make the best approaches; he had 

to be enthused about his part in this important 

undertaking. That took salesmanship, to the 

application of which a great measure of credit 

must be given for the success of the overall effort. 

This does not overlook the many other factors 

that played important parts in support of the 

campaign and in which the industry jiress gave 

extraordinary 

assistance. 

The film salesman is the "doughboy" of this 

industry. He is in the front line of action, always 

at the meeting point between the industrv and 

the public—the theatre. The job the film salesmen 

did so well on behalf of Movietime U.S.A. 

is ample demonstration of their worth to anv 

industry endeavor that is concerned with public 

relations. 

The salesmen's contacts with the exhibitors 

can be put to use on the industry's behalf, not 

only in cultivating exhibitor and public goodwill, 

but actually in bringing to the exhibitor practical 

ideas that will serve to increase ticket sales. 

From 

time to time, our news pages have carried reports 

of exceptional examples along this line. 

The constant concern, especially in recent 

times, with the need for more aggressive showmanship, 

better programming and other improvements 

in modus operandi by exhibitors, calls 

for 

DOUGHBOYS' 

measures, beyond the ordinary, in which salesmen 

can be of considerable aid. We know of 

man) instances in which salesmen have rendered 

yeoman service in this direction, going beyond 

the immediate inlcrest of their particular companies 

and presenting to exhibitors ideas for 

promotion even on the product of other distributors. 

This evidences a "for-the-industry" spirit 

liial it would be well to emulate on a broad scale. 

There has been criticism of exhibitors for 

alleged apathv in the use of promotional means 

and materials at their disposal. This reminds 

of the days when salesmen sold pictures largely 

bv means of displaying the paper and accessories 

asailable for their merchandising. Perhaps the 

e\liil)itors' interest in such things can be stimulated 

bv reviving and stepping up such effort. 

It mav also be of value to give consideration to 

the view that a sale is not completed until the 

picture is sold to the |)ublic. 

That carries through 

to the objective interest of everyone in this business, 

whether he be aligned with production, distribution 

or exhibition. 

A Change of Pace 

A refreshing change of procedure at exhibitors' 

conventions was introduced at the recent 

meeting of the Kansas-Missouri Theatres .Ass'n. 

There, instead of representatives of film companies 

arising to extol the virtues of their products, 

exhibitors, themselves, did the extolling. 

To carry out this part of a program that was 

devoted, almost in 

its entirety, to the merchandising 

phase of theatre o|>erations. assignments were 

made to exhibitors—one for each picture company—to 

analyze and to highlight the important 

facts concerning the coming top pictures. These 

presentations were accomjianied by the showing 

of trailers, in some instances, and the display of 

advertising materials in others. It was quite interesting, 

as well as novel, to hear exhibitors at • 

tuallv "sell" pictures in this fashion to their 

fellow-exhibitors. In some instances complete 

campaigns were outlined for specific pictures, 

with suggestions made for their adaptation to 

local 

situations. 

This certainly is a change of pace that offers 

opportunity for development and in which there 

should be a growing trade interest. It reminds, 

again, of our frequent contention that the profit 

of this business is in selling the picture to the 

public. To do the best job, exhibitors must first 

be well informed and thoroughly sold. Enthusiasm 

begets enthusiasm. 

{jLyu /^Mtf^^^

ROADSHOW 

EXHIBITORS HIT 

RENTALS ON AVERAGE' FILMS 

TOA Makes Public 'Highly 

Critical Condemnations' 

And Urges Arbitration 

NEW YORK—The recent invitation of 

the Theatre O^mers of America to exhibitors 

to submit complaints on trade practices 

has already resulted in a basketful. These 

wUl be forwarded to distributors and producers 

for their study. 

The complaints were made public by 

Gael Sullivan, executive director, who said 

that the •unsotind sales strategies being 

adopted by distributors in establishing 

roadshow film rentals on average or 

normal boxoffice attractions" are causing 

exhibitor protests all over the nation. He 

said that the industry's claim to being the 

greatest mass medium, of entertainment 

will become "a much-derided myth if the 

comments now reaching us from the west 

coast are shortly reflected in distributor 

demands on upcoming features." 

AN "ECONOnC STKAITJ.ACKET" 

"•The exhibitor, through mounting costs, 

personnel expenses, taxation and other factors.'" 

said Sullivan, 'ns in an economic straitjacket 

as it is. and any further hampering of 

his initiative will be adding a noose to his 

neck. Foresighted and farsighted distributors 

must see the necessity of equitable film 

rental terms that will permit the exhibitor a 

fair return and insure a much wider market 

for the playoff of their product. 

"I am releasing a number of exhibitor complaints 

that have come from all sections of 

the country, but they are a small part of 

hundreds of highly critical condemnations 

that have come to me about distributor sales 

policies that are disrupting relationships between 

distribution and exhibition. Nothing 

so clearly highlights the need for an equitable 

system of arbitration to resolve these cleavages 

that are developing between distributors and 

exhibitors." 

LOEWXNSTEIN STATEMENT 

"Pvepresentative" exhibitor complaints released 

by Sullivan follow; 

Morris Loewenstein, president. Theatre 

Owners of Oklahoma — "Please enter an 

urgent protest by Theatre Owners of Oklahoma 

against the establishment of the general 

bidding practices now threatened in this 

industry. Their use wiU only widen exhibitordistributor 

disharmony. We, who devote ourselves 

to building better relations, while not 

seeking to dictate sales policies, would be 

remiss not to point out the potential dangers 

of this spreading evil. 

"The consent decree never contemplated the 

establishment of an auction market for film, 

but rather sought by suggestion to clarify 

actual competitive situations. To open unrestricted 

bidding on the national scale, in 

our opinion, is an unclever subterfuge to 

create fake competition and thereby, indirectly, 

dictate admission prices, defeating 

the very intent of the court's order." 

J. H. Thompson. Hawkinsville. Ga.—"At 

our regular monthly meeting November 14, 52 

Exhibitor Ass'n Presidents Who Issued Statements 

Bob Bryant 

CaTolinas 

C. E. Cook 

Kansas-Missouri 

Georgia exhibitors, representing approximately 

60 per cent of the theatres of Georgia, 

attended. A strong resentment was voiced by 

members in attendance against the ever-increasing 

demand for higher percentage on 

ordinary pictures, especially the demanding 

of road-show terms, with admissions upped. 

"It is hard for the average exhibitor to 

understand why production companies expend 

so much energy and effort in trying to 

extract higher and higher film rental from 

exhibitors instead of putting their energy 

and effort into producing pictures that will 

earn more at the boxoffice, and it is still 

harder for the patrons to understand why 

we want increased admission prices for entertainment 

that is no better than the ordinary 

run of pictures." 

LUST EXPRESSES HIS \'IEWS 

— Sidney Lust, Washington, D. C. "Roadshow 

film rentals are going to hurt our business 

worse than it is, and believe me it's 

pretty bad. I am sure the exchanges know 

that. We played "Bathsheba' at $1 top, bought 

it for a week in one or two of our de luxe 

residential theatres. Three or four days 

would have been sufficient because the last 

two days we didn't have over 200 people in 

the house, but had plenty of squawks. 

"I see no reason for such tactics. Producers 

had better change their mode of selling and 

modernize it instead of worrying about increased 

admissions." 

R. R. Livingston, president, Nebraska Theatre 

Ass'n— "If producers continue to force 

roadshows and rentals whereby the exhibitors 

will have to advance their admissions, they 

will do more to wreck the exhibitor who is 

already having a hard time. They will create 

a thought in the patrons' minds that the only 

good pictures that they can see are the advanced 

price pictures, inasmuch as admitting 

that the remaining 80 per cent of the programs 

are no good. Bidding is destroying 

theatre organizations, for it makes exhibitors 

mad at each other and they will no longer 

work together." 

Robert E. Bryant, president. Theatre Owners 

of North and South Carolina — "Plea-se 

inform production heads that further attempts 

to employ roadshow rental gimmicks 

for ordinary features, forcing advanced admission 

prices, will arou.se strong and vigorous 

Jay Solomon 

Tennessee 

>L E. Hensler 

Florida 

exhibitor resentment everywhere and create 

frictions on film rentals that are unnecessary. 

Such tactics will result in buyer resistance 

and ultimate diminishing returns. PubUc 

resistance is already terrific against upped 

admissions. Better pictures are the answer, 

with more playing time by the exhibitors and 

with more reasonable admissions." 

Louis K. Ansell, board chairman. Motion 

Picture Theatre Owners of St. Louis, Eastern 

Missouri and Southern Illinois— ""Public resentment 

against increased admission prices 

for any pictures roadshown, so-called, including 

those truly worthy of the designation, 

is heard by us on all sides, augmented by letters 

from people, published in the daily newspapers 

roundly condemning the theatres, as 

for example this excerpt from yesterday's 

Post: "Do they lower the mo\"ie prices when 

they give you a stinker? I'm going to get a 

TV set and stay home.' " 

JAY SOLOMON FLAKES POINT 

Jay Solomon, president, Tennessee Theatre 

Owners Ass'n— "Receiving numerous complaints 

from grassroots exhibitors of our 

organization about patrons complaining about 

so many advanced-admissions or roadshow 

pictures which are now in release or being 

released—some of the caliber of Streetcar 

Named Desire'—when they are fighting so 

hard to get the lost audience back into the 

theatres with the Mo^-ietime campaign." 

B. B. Gamer, Lakeland, Fla.—"Dark days 

are ahead for exhibitors unless generally they 

refuse the demands of distributors for features 

to be exhibited under rental terms 

compelling raised admission prices, such as 

'David and Bathsheba.' Talgar Theatre Co. 

resents such tactics and will not exhibit same. 

This poUcy by distributors is an effort eventually 

to establish higher film rental terms on 

all top product as a definite goal. 

"Motion picture theatre attendance was 

built up on low admission prices and entertainment 

for the masses. Film bidding i^ 

suicide. Exhibitors need a system of arbitration. 

Your organization should make a strenuous 

effort to have bidding outlawed by the 

government and arbitration adopted, which 

plan all exhibitors need." 

Charles R. Gilmour, Denver—"We have 

recently completed several so-called roadshow 

engagements at some of our theatres. Patron 

H 

fl»f?EGD 

8 

BOXOFFICE :: December 1, 1951 

i

eaction at all showings was critical and in 

many instances abusive. There might be some 

reason for advanced admissions on a picture 

such as 'Quo Vadis.' It is our opinion that 

exhibitors generally should stop the practice 

becoming widespread of so-called roadshow 

pictures." 

Pat McGee. Denver—"An occasional roadshow 

feature such as Quo Vadis' can be digested 

by the industry, but if every betterthan-usual 

picture is to receive such treatment, 

mnumerable theatres will be compelled 

to close their doors because of the lessening 

supply of product. The public will rebel even 

more if every excuse is used to raise admission 

prices. 

"I consider attempts at forced bidding completely 

dishonest and not required to produce 

the revenue needed to pay production costs. 

Production and distribution must stUl lend an 

ear co e.xhibition's problems, although present 

mdications show a growing lack of concern 

over the state of boxoffice health." 

.\RTHVR LOCKWOOD ST.\TEMENT 

Archur H. Lockwood. Boston— 'The practice 

of forcing exhibitors to increase admission 

prices on pictures not of roadshow caJiber. 

but which are considered boxoffice attractions, 

is undermining further the weakened 

structure of exhibition in this territory. Such 

forcing is effected by requiring uniform percentage 

terms so high as to preclude, automatically, 

regular admissions. Unfortimately 

the public blames the theatres, not the producers, 

for these price increases, which serve 

to coimteract and defeat the beneficial effects 

of the Movietime campaign." 

C. E. Cook, president. Kansas-Missouri 

Theatre Ass'n "I have called a number of 

circuit heads and representative independent 

exhUjitors in the Kansas City territory who 

vigorously oppose Lncreased-admission features, 

which result in depressed business following 

their engagement and set up u n fair 

precedents. Some report Quo Vadis' and 

Greatest Show on Earth' possible exceptions. 

"They refuse to buy in closed towns but 

are forced in competitive situations to protect 

their interests. All urge TOA's continued activity 

on this and other trade practices as 

evidenced by press reports." 

FROM M. E. 

HEXSLER 

M. E. Hensler. president. Motion Picture 

Exhibitors of Florida — "We feel that the 

roadshow film-rental gimmicks that are being 

employed by the film compames in their 

sales policies on several just-ordinary releases 

will practically force the exhibitors to 

show them at advanced admissions. Moreover, 

we feel such selling policies are unwarranted 

and create impractical wholesale bidding, 

which in turn will affect the sound 

economy of our business." 

Edward E. Pringle, secretary. Colorado Ass'n 

of Theatre Owners — "At recent meetings of 

our association, bitter objections to roadshows 

and other methods of forcing high film rentals 

from exhibitors have been voiced by our 

members. They point out that tiie moviegoing 

public vociferously resents the advancedadmission 

prices which exhibitors are forced 

to charge to meet the rental terms forced upon 

them by unrestricted and unreasonable use of 

bidding and of roadshows." 

Tom Edwards. Farmington. Mo,—" "Quo 

Vadis' is the third picture sold recently at 

such terms that admission prices must be 

raised. Advise exhibitors to pass them, as 

the public resents raised admissions on the 

cream when they pay regular for skim milk." 

Johnston Back at MPAA, 

With 3 ESA Officials 

NE'W IfORK—The proposed addition of 

three government officials by Eric Johnston, 

Motion Picture Ass'n of America president. 

to important posts in the organization came 

up for consideration at a board meeting late 

in the week. There must be board approval 

before high-ranking officials can assume 

duties. 

The officials, whose identities leaked out 

without formal statement from Johnston, are 

Ralph D. Hetzel jr.. assistant operations head. 

Economic Stabilization Agency, of which 

Johnston has been director on leave from the 

MPAA; George C. Vietheer. deputy assistant 

head of operations. ESA. and Edward 

Cooper, staff director, senate majority poUcy 

committee. 

SPECULATION RIFE ON DUTIES 

The news that Johnston planned to transfer 

them to the MPAA came as a bombshell 

to the personnel in both the Washington and 

New York offices, and speculation was rife 

as to what posts they would be assigned. 

The best guess was that Hetzel will take 

over as executive vice-president in charge of 

the New York office, the post occupied by 

Francis S. Harmon until he resigned because 

of illness. It has been vacant since then. 

Vietheer. who has experience in labor relations, 

was expected to take over the duties 

of Edward T. Cheyfitz. assistant to the president, 

who has resigned. Cooper's assignment 

was less clear. He is a former newspaperman 

and could conceivably fill the position in the 

Washington public relations department 

vacated by Manning Clagett. who resigned to 

settle the estate of his father, the late Judge 

Brice Clagett. 

Johnston, who will return to MPAA December 

3. is expected to spend most of the 

time in New York instead of Washington, 

where he has been located. Kenneth Clark. 

MPAA information director, who followed 

Johnston when the latter took over his government 

post last January, is expected to 

return to New York. Joyce CHara, assistant 

to Johnston, is expected to remain in Washington 

in charge of the office there. 

INTJUSTRY STATISTICS N'EEDED 

Some believe that Johnston will try to 

bring all three branches of the industry into 

agreement on an arbitration system. 

Johnston has also said several times in the 

past that the motion picture industry is the 

only important industry without swrcess to 

statistics. He threatened several months ago 

to close out the MPAA research department 

because member companies failed to supply 

it with what he considered necessary statistics. 

Later he reduced its force. 

Hetzel is a native of Oregon. He has held 

executive posts with the Congress of Industrial 

Organizations, the War Production Administration 

and the Department of Commerce. 

Vietheer was born in New York. He 

has handled labor relations for the army, was 

personnel officer in the Department of Commerce 

and U.S. representative to the United 

Nations conference on public administration. 

Cooper is a native of Montana. He has b«en 

a communications specialist for the senate 

interstate and foreign commerce committee. 

ERIC JOHNSTON 

David J. Greene Answers 

Sol SchwcETtz' Challenge 

NEW YORK— David J. Greer.e ::-.ve.>-.ment 

broker, has fired another gun m the baale 

for RKO Theatre proxies to be used at the 

stockholders' meeting December 6. He wants 

to know why the company's current assets 

cannot be used to acquire some of Howard 

Hughes' trtisteed stock for retirement, thereby 

strengthening the company. He also repeats 

that the management owns only 1.800 

shares and that the 929.020 shares of Hughes' 

stock can be voted only by the Irving Trust Co. 

Greene's latest letter was in reply to Sol 

Schwartz's challenge to Greene to "TeH AIL" 

That challenge was in the form of a letter 

to stockholders and Greene says it was a 

"mass of hysterical accusations and halftruths." 

"On June 30. 1951." Greene writes, "our 

company had an excess of current assets, 

including cash and government bonds, over 

current liabilities, of ST.850.000. It operated 

some 95 theatres. 

"Mr. Greene pointed out to Mr. SchwarU 

that our cash was out of proportion to the 

number of theatres that the company operated, 

as compared with the cash and number 

of theatres of other companies and suggested 

that our cash be put to work instead 

of lying idle." 

Greene says he made the specific 

suggestion 

that the board try to buy Hughes' stock. 

Red Hearings Postponed 

WASHINGTON—Frank Tavenner. 

counsel 

of the house un-American activities committee 

announced on Tuesday i27> that further 

Washington hearings on Hollywood Communism 

will not be held until after the first 

of the year. It had been planned to hold 

more hearings in December. Tavenner said 

that the postponement does not mean the 

uivestigation is closed. 

BOXOFFICE December 1. 1951

I 

wbury, 

Eastern Pennsylvania Allied 

Calls Mass Meeting Dec. 4 

All independent exhibitors invited to session 

for discussion of trade practices at Hotel 

Brentwood, Philadelphia; principal topics increased 

admissions and spread of dual bills. 

Fred A. Beedle Is Re-elected 

Western Pa. Allied Head 

Exhibitors at 31st annual convention in 

Pittsburgh uphold AUied's stand against Increased 

admission prices for special pictures 

and against enforced sales policies on percentage 

pictures. 

Schine Circuit Allowed 

Extension to Dec. 3 

Granted two more weeks' time in which to 

comply with terms of the consent decree; 

about seven theatres remain to be divested, 

according to the Department of Justice. 

Maurice Bergman Not Available 

For COMPO Executive Job 

Director of U-I public relations says he is 

"flattered" by mention of his name as successor 

to Arthur L. Mayer, but that it is impossible 

for him to accept. 

¥ 

New Firm Builds TV Sets 

With 30x40-Inch Screen 

Visonic Co. of Cleveland announces it has 

started production of TV apparatus for homes. 

Utilizing a series of mirrors to pick up the 

image from a special screen and project it to 

the screen. 

UA Wm Try to Stop Sale 

Of Seven ELC 16mm Films 

Pictorial Films intends to release "The Long 

Dark Hall," "Destination Moon," "The Jackie 

Robinson Story," "The Winslow Boy," "The 

Great Rupert," "The Golden Gloves Story" 

and "Tulsa." 

-K 

Edmund Grainger Contract 

With RKO Is Extended 

Terms call for delivery of a minimum of 

ten top-budgeted features during the next five 

years; pact goes into effect at the end of the 

year when the producer's current deal terminates. 

K 

John Huston to Produce 

Two More UA Features 

On leave of absence from MGM, for whom 

he directed "Red Badge of Courage," he recently 

completed "The African Queen" in 

a.ssociation with the British firm, Romulus 

Films, for UA. 

Hope Leaves Wheeling, W. Va. 

Despite Orders of Doctor 

Takes off after premiere at Bellaire, Ohio, 

in .spite of doctor's statement that he has 102- 

flegree temperature and goes to Camp At- 

Ind., for a .show. 

Industry Kept Guessing 

On L B. Mayer at UA 

NEW YORK—Whether Louis B. Mayer is 

trying to form a producing company that 

would distribute through United Artists, with 

a share in management, 

or whether he 

is angUng to take control 

of the company 

are two questions now 

supplying material for 

plenty of trade gossip 

this week. 

Mayer and his legal 

Louis B. 

Mayer 

adviser, Mendel B. Silverberg, 

have been in 

frequent conferences 

with Serge Semenenko, 

vice-president of the 

First National Bank of 

Boston, during the past two weeks. Semho 

had much to do enenko is the man w 

with 

the recent acquisition of control of Universal- 

International by Decca Records and he is 

also the figure around whom the negotiations 

for exhibitor financing of production revolved 

more than a year ago. S. H. Fabian, 

circuit executive, and Semenenko also were 

prominent in an attempt to take over United 

Artists before that venture. 

Arthur B. Krim. president of UA, however, 

says no formal proposition has been 

put before himself and his associates 

Robert S. Benjamin, William J. Heineman 

and Max E. Youngstein. 

Under the terms of their three-year 

option they can take over half the 

Mary Pickford - Charles Chaplin stock if 

the company is in the black at the end of 

any one of the three years. The first year will 

expire December 31, and it is claimed that 

the company is now in the black. 

What to Do With Television Apparatus 

Is 

$64 Question Facing Exhibitors 

NEW YORK—What to put on a theatre 

screen after a television has been installed is 

now the $64 question facing exhibitors. And 

how to pay the carrying charges after the installation 

has also become one of their important 

worries. These charges are heavy, both for 

the apparatus and the wire connections which 

the telephone companies put in on a contract 

basis and for which they submit bills monthly. 

The bills average $175. 

S. H. Fabian has his upstate manager, Leo 

Rosen, looking into sources of program material 

and will make the results of the study 

available to other exhibitors. 

Nathan L. Halpern, president of Theatre 

Network Television, who made the arrangements 

for the series of boxing matches televised 

in the 15 or more theatres that had projectors 

at that time and thereby stirred up a 

mild rush of orders for new units, is also 

looking for new program sources. He has 

put a proposal up to the Radio City Music 

Hall to make the Christmas show available 

for theatre TV. He figures there are about 

50 installations in or about to go in and 

fore.sees a total of 100 in the next few months. 

He is trying earnestly to come up with some 

answers to the programming problem. 

Rosen does not intend to invade Halpern's 

field, leaving him free to continue to make 

individual contracts with exhibitors for each 

sporting event he obtains the rights to, but 

is looking especially at the possibility of televising 

legitimate shows and of producing 

special shows. Since Federal Communications 

Commis.sion approval of special frequencies 

for the industry seem a long way off, these 

would be routed to theatres by telephone company 

coaxial cable or microwave. 

United Paramount Theatre is conducting 

its own survey of television possibilities. Although 

investigating presentations of Broadway 

shows, the emphasis, according to statements 

by Robert H. O'Brien, is more on 

making the theatre a community center than 

on boxoffice returns. Talks have been held 

with representatives of government agencies 

and with educators, among others, on offhours 

television presentations on a flat theatre 

rental fee basis. UPT has said it is not 

so much interested in the commercial returns 

as in building up community goodwill. 

American Telephone & Telegraph Co. officials 

here could not supply any figures on 

the number of theatre lead-in wires installed 

throughout the country, as those installations 

are handled by the local Bell System companies. 

But it vi'as said that each installation 

costs a telephone company about $12,000. 

depending on the length of wire and number 

of amplifiers, and that because of material 

shortages and a large backlog of phone requests 

it prefers not to go ahead with installations 

until there is tangible evidence that 

they will be put to use. 

The picture changes rapidly day by day 

but at the present time there are about 50 

permanent theatre television installations 

throughout the country. The total number 

of orders placed exceeds 100 by a considerable 

margin. Since placement of orders by 

exhibitors is often considered a trade secret, 

no true figure can be given. Then there are 

other exhibitors, notably large chains like Fox 

West Coast, which will undoubtedly equip 

many theatres. 

The main roadblock at the moment to 

program- 

development of theatre television is 

ming, hence Fabian's decision to assign 

Rosen, a veteran showman, to see what can 

be done about it and how quickly it can be 

done. However, there are other comphcations 

clouding the outlook for the future .such as 

the Eidophor .system, which 20th Century- 

Fox will promote, and the new Paramount 

tube. Both of these h&ve been hailed as 

showing great promise of presenting programs 

in color. 

M 

\ 

i"^ 

10 BOXOFFICE December 1, 1951 

6tketi

^heDrums wii/be beating Coast-fo-CoaststarfinyNew Years Eve /// 

from EARNER BROS, comes 

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^\ r;y Evcrgiatles swamp afiame wtfh wUif tatseenmenace/ 

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AS Captain Wyatt. Swamp-Fighter in the savage Seminole Indiai 

MAPI ALDON 

as the captive beauty NIVEN BUSCH « MARIIN RACKIN MILTON SPERUNG RAOULWALSH « UNIIED SIAIES PICIURES - WARNER BROS. 

MUSIC BV MM STCIWII

E. C. RHODEN DISCUSSES SWISS TV SYSTEM 

Sees Eidophor Telecasts 

In Units of 200 Houses 

E. C. Rhoden addressing South Side Business Ass'n in Kansas City this week. 

At his right, L to R, are: Senn Lawler, director of advertising-publicity for Fox 

Midwest Theatres; Arthur Cole, Paramount's representative on Filmrow; and J. L. 

Batchler, Kansas City Life Insurance Co., chairman. 

KANSAS CITY—When 20th 

Century-Fox 

introduces the Swiss Eidophor theatre television 

system in this country, it will experiment 

with regional groups of 200 theatres to 

be serviced with programs from a central 

telecasting studio, E. C. Rhoden, president 

of Fox Midwest Theatres Co., told a business 

group here this week. Many local film 

industry members also attended. 

Rhoden, who inspected the Eidophor system 

in Zurich, Switzerland, earlier this month 

with the Skouras brothers and Frank H. 

Ricketson, president of Fox Intermountain 

Theatres, made this revelation in a talk to 

the Southside Business Ass'n of Kansas City 

on "The Future of the Motion Picture Industry 

in Television." J. L. Batchler of the 

Kansas City Life Insurance Co., presided. 

Rhoden said that the Eidophor apparatus 

will be brought to this country in December 

and will be shown in January. 

The first area in which the 200- theatre TV 

circuit will be created will be New York, and 

the second will be either Kansas City or 

Chicago. It will take this many theatres to 

make the programming pay off, he explained. 

This group servicing of programs is the 

current thinking of the Pox organization, as 

to the way theatre television will operate, he 

said. The programs will be used to augment 

the present feature motion pictures and in 

most theatres will be taking the place of the 

double feature bill. 

"We don't expect much in the way of sports 

program.s as a theatre television feature," 

Cost of Movie Same As 

15 Minutes of Bowling 

KANSAS CITY—Elmer C. Rhoden, Fox 

Midwest president, in his talk to the 

South Central Business Ass'n here, gave 

these reasons why movies are the least 

expensive form of entertainment. 

The cost of a movie is: 

Only 73 per cent of a dry martini. 

Only 75 per cent of the cost of a lamb 

chop. 

Only 32 per cent of the cost of a hair 

cut. 

Only 15 minutes in a bowling alley. 

Rhoden said. "Our company does not regard 

sporting events such as football, boxing and 

others as important." 

The reasoning behind this, he commented, 

was that sports events, as a general rule, do 

not fall at regular times or at the proper 

theatre hours. Further, from experience, it 

has been found that delayed telecasts of spot 

events are of little value. 

"The public wants to see television immediately, 

and direct, and loses interest even 

if the event is delayed but a few hours," 

Rhoden said. 

Tradewise, he had an interesting point for 

the Filmrow personnel in the audience. 

Through this grouping of theatres on a 200- 

situation network, film distribution could be 

undertaken by television utilizing microwave 

transmission. It could work, at least for first 

run theatres. However, Rhoden added that 

while this was possible it probably could not 

become a practical operation. The newly 

developed tape recordings of images, sound 

and color may prove more feasible as a means 

of distributing film programs, he said. 

As for the Eidophor system, Rhoden said 

that it was an outstanding contribution to 

projection of TV pictiu-es. "The image was 

sharp and as good as anything we have to 

show on the screen today." 

The apparatus can project an image 200 

feet to the screen, and give a big-screen picture 

60 feet in width. 

The carbon arc lamp, which the Swiss have 

developed for the projector, is five times as 

efficient as the present arc lamps used in 

this country, he said, and has twice the 

brilliancy of the sun. 

Rhoden told the businessmen that, as far 

as his company is concerned, executives believe 

that home television will work to the 

advantage of the motion picture industry. 

Television in the home will stimulate new 

interest in films in theatres. The only thing 

that the exhibitor has to fear is that TV 

stations may offer a poor quality of motion 

pictures and thereby discourage attendance. 

In addition to discussing the Eidophor 

system, Rhoden also spoke of his visit to England 

where he attended the command performance 

and was a guest of J. Arthur Rank 

for pheasant hunting and to Paris where he 

attended a session of the Big Four conference. 

ZOlh-Fox, U-I Toppers 

\ 

' 

In Studio Huddles 

HOLLYWOOD—Top brass huddles to vieai 

new product and plan sales campaignjl 

thereon are on the docket to begin Monday! 

(10) at two major studios. 

Universal-International will bring together 

j 

its sales executives from all sections of the 

country for a five-day conclave on the valley 

lot, while 20th Century-Fox home office and 

production toppers will meet at the Westwood 

studio for similar discussions, expected to 

take from a week to ten days. 

The 20th Century-Fox conference had 

originally been scheduled to begin Monday 

(3 1 but was postponed for a week. 

One of the principal objectives of the U-I 

meetings will be a review and finalization of 

release plans for the company's 1952 program 

of 36 pictures, half of which will be in Technicolor. 

Among those coming to Hollywood 

for the conclave are Alfred E. Daff, vicepresident 

and director of world sales; Charles 

J. Feldman, general sales manager; division 

managers including F. J. A. McCarthy, southern 

and Canadian; Foster Blake, western; 

Peter T. Dana, eastern; James J. Jordan, 

circuit sales manager, and district chiefs 

David A. Levy, New York; P. F. Rosian, 

Cleveland; John J. Scully, Boston; Mannie 

M. Gottlieb, Chicago; Barney Rose, San 

Francisco; James V. Frew, Atlanta, and 

Henry H. Martin, Dallas. 

Leo Spitz, executive head of production; 

William Goetz, in charge of production, and 

Edward Muhl. vice-president and studio general 

manager, will head the studio group attending 

the meetings. Also in attendance will 

be David A. Lipton, vice-president in charge 

of advertising and publicity; Al Horwits, studio 

publicity chief; Charles Simonelli, eastern 

advertising-publicity department manager, 

and Philip Gerard, eastern publicity 

director. 

The 20th Century-Fox parleys will have 

President Spyros Skouras; Al Lichtman, distribution 

chief; Charles Einfeld. vice-president 

in charge of advertising and publicity, 

and Darryl F. Zanuck and Joseph M. Schenck. 

production toppers, as the principal participants. 

The huddles will embrace plans for 

roadshowlng "Viva Zapata," "With a Song in 

My Heart" and "Five Fingers." 

MGM 'Vadis' 2-a-Day 

Dropped in 3 Keys 

NEW YORK — Metro-Goidwyn-Mayer has 

dropped its reserved-seat policy on "Quo 

Vadis" in three cities, St. Louis, Memphis 

and Atlanta, where the engagements were 

continuous until the reserved-seat night 

showing. The change to continuous run 

throughout the day was made following 

"some confusion by the pubhc" as to just 

when the continuous run each day would end 

and the reserved-seat policy would start, according 

to MGM executives. 

The only two-a-day showings for "Quo 

Vadis" remaining are at the Astor Theatre, 

New York, where the run started November 

8, and at the Four Star. Los Angeles, where 

the run started November 29. In both cities, 

another theatre is playing the film continuous 

run, the Capitol in New York and the 

United Artists in Los Angeles. "Quo Vadis" 

will also open in two theatres in Boston December 

25, with the State probably playing 

two-a-day and the Orpheum continuous run. 

f 

fll 

12 

BOXOFFICE : 

: December 1, 1951 

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Technicolor 

"THE DESERT FOX" 

"THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL" 

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There's No Business Like 20th Century-Fox BusinessT

Texas Tips Its Hat to Film Salesmen 

Industry Pays Tribute to Job Done in Selling Movietime U.S.A. 

T 

DALLAS—Texas tipped its ten-gallon hat 

film salesmen this week for leading the 

to its 

way in promoting Movietime U.S.A. in the 

Lone Star state. 

In the state where R. J. O'Donnell and 

Col. H. A. Cole drafted the promotional plans 

which culminated in the nationwide Movietime 

campaign, it was the film sale.smen who 

first took the idea out into the field and sold 

more than 1,000 exhibitors on participation. 

This week, the 55 salesmen sat on an elevated 

dais in the Adolphus hotel—the honor 

guests at a dinner—while Filmrow's executives 

were relegated to tables on the ballroom 

floor. Even O'Donnell and Cole were seated 

with "the Uttle shots." 

In this way, Texas industryites paid tribute 

to the work which the salesmen had done, 

not only in pre-selling the Movietime campaign 

but in spearheading the public relations 

campaign in the smaller communities 

through the state. 

In addition to O'Donnell and Cole, speakers 

included William C. Gehring, assistant 

sales chief for 20th Century-Fox; William 

McCraw, executive director of Variety Clubs 

International; Walter Penn, president of the 

Dallas Colosseum of Motion Picture Salesmen, 

and Paul Short, divisional manager for 

National Screen Service and chairman of the 

banquet committee. 

O'Donnell highly complimented the salesmen 

for the job they had done. "This Is a 

high point in Movietime Texas. You were 

the fellows who ran with the ball. I suppose 

I am in a good position to tell you what 

a wonderful job you have done. If every 

state in the union had done a job similar to 

that performed in Texas, results would have 

been higher by 30 per cent. 

The Movietime chairman gave credit to 

Colonel Cole for the public relations project. 

"You men were drafted. You were part of 

the movement that came out of the mind of 

a pioneer Texas showman. He, Colonel Cole, 

suggested alerting Texas showmen to the fact 

that TV could make inroads and that many 

exhibitors were taking things too casually. It 

was time to stay awake in the great work of 

serving to relax a worried, burdened world." 

The setting at the Adolphus hotel, with the honored salesmen seated on the dais as 

"big shots" and other industryites on the floor area as "little shots." 

O'Donnell revealed that the home offices of 

distributors granted permission to use the 

salesmen for public relations work "so quickly 

that it was frightening." He said that the 

job which was accomplished in a 30- to 60-day 

period was phenomenal. 

"Out of this idea and your efforts to work 

with little supervision has been built the .solid 

groundwork for the future. Out of this idea 

has come a continuing idea. We now feel 

close enough through your mutual efforts, 

that we would not be afraid to call upon you 

any time to help protect the home fires of 

exhibition. We have enjoyed the wholehearted 

approval from national distribution 

heads. The industrial family of exhibition, 

distribution and production is working in 

close harmony together." 

Gehring, representing the home offices, 

told the salesmen that they should become 

boosters for everybody's pictures. Being a 

booster for all good films is the big thing and 

the right thing to do. 

"Don't destroy the confidence in exhibition," 

he said. "Exhibitors must be successful. 

If exhibition fails to be successful, then 

we are out of business in distribution. It 

is good for all companies to be strong and 

it hurts all when one is weak. 

"We must take a great interest in the 

problems of the industry and particularly in 

those of the exhibitor. Distribution and exhibition 

depend on each other. To you 

younger men, I say. Have faith in this business. 

Have faith in what you are doing. That 

is important. Know that it is important. We 

are re-establishing ourselves once more on a 

sounder business basis than ever before." 

To this, Colonel Cole rose to say: "Boys, 

I am glad Bill Gehring made that talk. It 

is exactly what I have been thinking. We 

are an industry and as an industry we have 

competition. We are liable to have more competition 

before we have less, and we have 

got to speak up as part of the great motion 

picture industry." 

He said that the salesman's place in the 

-industry "has been sadly neglected." He 

Salesmen of Natiomtl Screen receiving their certificates from 

Charles Garden (right), coordinator of activities for the Texas 

drive. Left to right: Paul Short, division manager; Alfred 

Dccambre, special .sales representative; Walter Steadman, branch 

manager; Larren Nutley, Milton Lintner and Russell Baker, 

salesmen. 

Salesmen from the Warner Bros, force receiving their 

awards. Left to right, they are: B. T. Burn.side, Pete Clark, Jim 

Black, J. C. McCrary, Henry Vogelpohl, who are on the sales 

force, and Ed Williamson, the branch manager for Warner. 

The gentleman, left, in front of the table is Colonel C. A. Cole. 

Texas co-chairman of Movietime. 

14 

BOXOFFICE :: December 1, 1951

Omaha Puts on Big Show 

For 'Blue Yonder Debut 

Among the speakers at the dinner who 

paid tribute to the salesmen were: L to 

R_CoIoneI H. A. Cole and R. J. O'Donnell, 

Texas co-chairmen of Movietime; Colonel 

William McCraw, executive director of 

Variety International, and W. C. Gehring, 

assistant general salesmanager of 20th- 

Fox. 

pointed out that the salesman is the contact 

man between distribution, production and exhibition. 

Distribution ha.s used the sale.sman 

for only one activity, and Colonel Cole said 

he felt that there is much more that the 

man in the field can do for the industry. 

"I can send out letters. We can have star 

tours and regional meetings, but sooner or 

later comes the time for man-to-man contact 

and that is where you gentlemen have 

done a wonderful job." 

Speaking for the salesmen. Walter Penn 

said that it had been a privilege for the men 

in the field to work on the campaign, and 

that they were ready to step out and do the 

same kind of a job again. Ti-ibutes also were 

paid by McCraw and Short, and Wallace 

Walthall gave the invocation. 

A certificate of merit was given to each of 

the salesmen, appointing him a "special ambassador" 

for the film industry in Texas. 

Salesmen honored included: 

Universal: Hank Miller, Mark Holstein, Stanley Witbur, 

Russell Brown, Ezy Elder. Fox: Stanley 2jmmermon, 

Grover McDonald, T. P. Tidwell, Wayne Love, 

J. H. Alexander. Republic: Neal Houston, Lew Waid, 

Cloude Atkinson, Ted Malone. RKO: Jock Walton, 

Jimmy Sippey, Earl Harrington, Roy Wild, E. K. Dalton, 

Vernon Christian. Warners: B. T. Burnside, Pete 

Clark, Jake McCrary, Jim Black, Cotton Vogelpohl. 

Paramount; Paul Chapman, John Doumeyer, Frank 

Rule, Dick Porker, Tom Luce. Columbia: Herschel 

Ferguson, Joe Lyne, Walter Penn, Joe Beckham, 

Houston Dean. National Screen: Lorren Nutley, Milt 

Lindner, Russell Baker, Alfred Delcambre. Lippert: 

Dean Goldman, Dutch Commer, Connie Dreher. United 

Artists: Paul Backus, T. R. Barber, Herman Craver. 

MGM: Roland Toylor, Vernon Smith, Ed Brinn, Bob 

Davis. Tower: Truman Hendrix. Monogram: Bob 

Watson, Dave Shipp, Ben Groham. Astor: Earl Elkins. 

Altec: Jock Zern. 

Guests included: 

R. J. O'Donnell, Col. H. A. Cole, Charles Garden, 

Kyle Rorex, Bob Euler, Cloude Ezell, Julius Gordon, 

H. J. Griffith, Phil Isley, Ed Rowley, Don Douglas, 

R. I. Payne, John Rowley, Bill O'Donnell, Eddie Forrester, 

Frank Storz, Bob Bixler, E. B. Coleman, Milt 

Overman, Bill McCraw, Roymond Willie, Al Reynolds, 

Frank Bradley, BOXOFFICE representative; Sam 

Landrum, S. D. Oakley, Arlie Crites, Lynn Stocker, 

Ernie Gribble, Haywood Simmons, Ed Laird, George 

Bannon, Bud Wilkinson, Mark Sheridan, Pappy Miller, 

Bill Williams, Jack Houlihan, Ben Cammock, Sol Sacks, 

Douglos Desch, Dock Roberts, Ed Williomson, Duke 

Clark, Tome Bridge, Mon Whitcher, Jock Underwood, 

W. A, Stedman, Wallace Walthall, Herman Beiersdorf, 

Claude York, Roy Sachs, John Allen, Leroy 

Bickel, Louis Weber, Harold Schwarz, Bill Finch, 

James Prichord, Al Mertz and O. K. Bourgois. 

Technicolor 9-Month Net 

Ahead of Last Year 

Is 

NEW YORK—Technicolor. Inc.. reports an 

estimated consolidated net profit after taxes 

and other charges of $1,497,140.36 for the 

nine months ended September 30. This is 

equivalent to $1.62. For the same period in 

1950 the net was $1,464,146.92, or $1.59 per 

share. 

OMAHA—At least ten bands, Offutt air 

force ba.se personnel and military equipment 

and 35 cars of dignitaries featured the parade 

in downtown Omaha Tliur.sday night (29) 

the premiere of "The Wild Blue Yonder." 

for 

The picture with the B-29 Superfortress 

theme, and a stage show including the greatest 

galaxy of stars for an Omaha premiere, 

climaxed the November 27-29 "Salute to the 

Strategic Air Command," one of the biggest 

civic celebrations since the Golden Spike 

days commemorating the completion of the 

Union Pacific railroad. 

SAC arranged to have a B-29 combat crew 

fly here from Korea to take part in the civic 

reception Wednesday with admission to be 

the pre.sentation of a Christmas package for 

some GI in Korea. Gen. Curtis LeMay, boss 

of SAC, told Chamber of Commerce officials 

his air organization would get the yule gifts 

delivered before Christmas. 

At the luncheon General LeMay was presented 

witli a 16mm print of the picture by 

Republic, in appreciation for the cooperation 

extended by the Strategic Air Command 

in making the film. 

A highlight of the luncheon was a telephonic 

message from Hollywood by Herbert 

Yates. Republic president, who was unable to 

attend the premiere because of illness. 

On the list of visitors were James R. 

Grainger, executive vice-president of Republic: 

William Saal, executive assistant to the 

president; Mort Goodman, studio publicity 

chief: Mickey Gross, field exploitation director: 

A. H. Fisher, midwest district manager, 

Chicago: and branch managers Robert 

Withers of Kan.sas City, Paul Webster of Des 

Moines and Harry Lefholz of Omaha. Exhibitor 

guests at the luncheon Included A. H. 

Blank, head of the Tri-States circuit: Dale 

McFarland, his general manager; Larry Starsmore, 

Colorado Springs, and Ben Shlyen. publisher 

of BOXOFFICE. 

Henry E. "Red" Erwin of Be.s.semer. Ala., 

Congre.sslonal Medal winner around who.se 

heroic exploits .some of the picture is based, 

was flown in for the festivities. 

The Hollywood contingent Included Allan 

Dwan, director of the film, Wendell Corey, 

Forrest Tucker, Phil Harris. Alice Faye. Rstelita 

Rodriguez, Grant Withers. Rod Cameron, 

Rex Allen, Victor McLaglen. 

A 20-block long parade through the 

streets lined with an estimated 50.000 persons 

led to the Orpheum Theatre, where the piclure 

was premiered. 

Other premiere highlights included two 

broadcasts by the national Welcome Traveler 

radio program, with Tommy Bartletl 

appearing at the reception and at Boys Town 

and emceeing the premiere stage show; a 

"round-the-world-broadcast" by the Armed 

Forces Radio carrying the Salute program to 

.servicemen in all corners of the globe. 

"Meet the people" appearances were scheduled 

through December 1. including visits at 

the Veterans and Children's Memorial hospitals. 

Boys Town and the Masonic Home for 

Boys, dinner for the actors and actre,sses with 

airmen at Offutt air force base and a showin 

the dining hall. 

Policy of Selling First Run Features 

To Outlying Theatres Attacked 

NEW YORK—Distributor sales of first run 

films to individual outlying theatres in what 

he describes as disregard of the investment 

in first run theatres has been criticized by 

Gus Metzger, board chairman. Southern California 

Theatre Owners Ass'n, in a telegram 

to Theatre Owners of America headquarters 

here. He said SCTOA membership was greatly 

concerned. 

"By this policy." he said, "they are reducing 

the value of the programs playing the regular 

first runs, as the public is led to believe 

that these are secondary pictures. The association 

has employed Fendler, Weber & 

Lerner. attorneys to study the application of 

the Jackson Park decision to this problem 

in Los Angeles. If they find the circumstances 

similar, a court action will be filed 

in the very near future. 

"In negotiating these long-term runs, the 

distributors are asking that the bidder incorporate 

his proposed admission prices in the 

bid. This is being used in some cases as a 

device to circumvent the decision of the U.S. 

Supreme Court in the Paramount case again.st 

including admission prices in a contract. 

'The pictures which have been released 

to 

the neighborhood theatres for individual runs 

have not been generally roadshown. As a 

result of the policy, the public is being 

charged excessive admission prices for ordinary 

pictures. 

"Through this policy of licensing pictures 

for extended runs, the natural flow of product 

to the subsequent-run theatres is being 

interrupted and consequently these theatres 

are suffering greatly through inferior bookings. 

At the present time there are 164 closed 

theatres in this exchange area, with the 

number likely to increase as the result of thi^ 

threatened curtailment of normal flow of 

product. 

These pictures are purportedly put up for 

bids. However, since there is no public opening 

of bids, there is no way of determining 

whether the distributor .selects his own customer 

regardless of the bids filed. As a result 

of the policy of unjustifiably granting extended 

runs, the public will soon become convinced 

that unless a picture plays on an extended-run 

basis, the picture is not one 

worth seeing. The natural effect of this 

tendency will be to concentrate the public's 

patronage in fewer and fewer theatres." 


r 

15

IT'S MOVI ETI M E . . . IT'S MONB 

(in Kie. JOAUAii mitk 

JANE WYMAN 

K'PifA 

rHg/< 

'BLUE VEIL 

\m\\\ mm\ m\ wm. mcHAiii cmiisiii 

m\ wmm 

imtfls niiiiifi imiEii m\ \m\ ehemii \m\ \\\m 

The SOLID hit 

that bj 

bigger and bigger day fl 

day — matinees and night;- 

to first weeks and hoJdovc. 

topping many of the b

ITS RKO-TIME— U.S^.! 

Color by • TECHNICOLOR 

The first 

RKO in 

big musical from 

years— and worth 

waiting for! Selected as its 

25th Anniversary attraction 

by Broadway's showcase 

Paramount Theatre. 

'VI 

Em vUHTlNvlWHl l.i;i(;n GI.OKIA l)c,HAVi.N-l.l.)l)ll': IJHACKENvVNN iMII.l.LJ^ 

Another Broadway Paramount 

Theatre selection 

that's giving a mighty 

ItSH W»10 anil KORMtN KRtSN* prestil 

mLumMmmiimmfs 

I 

f! 

powerful account of itself 

in first runs all over the 

ibuntry. Tense, timely, 

terrific! 

'(,v[^\iU}l 

Ihc hottest coJiibination that e\^r hit the screen •• 

•?«iitail | 

fe 

-lOUUUO.HRSONS 

,. \^v > ^ HOWARD HUGHES ,«•«» 

- 

ROBERT MITCHUM -JftHE RUSSEll 

HIS laupô^ 

Subsequent runs reporting 

the same terrific audience 

reaction and boxoffice 

success as the keys. 

Business better and 

better as the word 

spreads everywhere! 

bg Holiday dates: 

All Wild Animal Pictures 

i*^ 

' 

Photographed in 

Ansco Color

Bellaire, Ohio, Has Zany 

Bob Hope Film Premiere 

To Distribute A Features Only 

Lippert Shifts Policy; 

Drops Film Making 

HOLLYWOOI>—Because he is convinced 

that the market for modestly budgeted B 

features is rapidly disappearing. Robert L. 

Lippert, president of Lippert Productions, is 

BELLAIRE. OHIO—This is a town that enjoys 

a good laugh. There isn't a stuffed shirt going the last time you crossed a bridge. 

Ohio is to remember the direction you were 

in it. 

Since the Indians left the place 148 years 

Bob Hope and the Paramount publicity department 

didn't know that when they anvote 

his 

ago many things have happened 

going to stop making films, 

here, but 

and plans to de- 

Hope and the 

future 

rest of the visitors probably 

attentions and interests almost 

exclusively to his 

nounced Mrs. Anne Kuchinka, wife of a local added a new highlight 

distribution 

to the record. 

organization, 

denti.st, had won a letter-writing contest on 

Lippert Pictures, Inc. 

They took exploitation right down to the 

"Why I would like to have the world premiere 

of 'My Favorite Spy' in my living 

owns and operates Lippert Theatres, a 

The head of the two companies, 

hearthstone and the neighbors where 

who also 

it belongs 

and discovered that it makes no 

west 

difference 

how hidden the place may be news 

room." They found it out after they and 

coast circuit of more than 70 houses, has 

of it 

a group of Hollywood celebrities, including 

blueprinted the future activities of his distribution 

setup so that it will handle only qual- 

reaches the world and the so-called glamorous 

Jerry Colonna: a plane load of newspapermen figures of Hollywood become folks. 

and photographers, ity 

an entire radio 

pictures. 

troupe 

Bellaire has a Pilot club which devotes 

and a band had arrived. 

itself to civic service. On Wednesday, November 

9, it decided helping Mrs. Kuchinka stage The source of such product will be in- 

SOURCE OF NEW PRODUCT 

Hope usually does all the kidding, but not 

in Bellaire. In fact, the man who named the 

a premiere in a big living room on the top dependent companies organized by stars, 

town probably had a sense of humor. For 60 

of a hill overlooking the town was a civic 

producers, directors and writers—either individually 

or in so-called package deals—who 

miles southward from the point where the 

service. The Wheeling Pilots did the same. 

Ohio river crosses the Pennsylvania line 

will make for Lippert distribution one or more 

below Pittsburgh, the river forms the boundary 

between a needle point of West Virginia Herb Steinberg, Paramount publicity man- 

Pictures expects to handle approximately 18 

REHEARSES RADIO SHOW 

features a year. Under this setup, Lippert 

and Ohio. Steel mills, coal mines, pottery ager, arrived the next day and discovered 

films 

the 

annually, as compared to a yearly average 

plants, railroads, glass manufacturing plants Elks and Lions, station WTRP, the civic officials 

and others had already lined up plans 

of 28 which it has distributed during 

and other industries are crowded along the 

recent seasons—and most of which came from 

river banks between high hills. On a clear for a parade. 

Lippert's own producing company. 

windy day the aire is belle, but when the 

Hope 

Under the 

agreed 

new plan. Lippert's 

to stage 

interest 

a rehearsal 

in 

of his 

the 

clouds are low the oxygen content is low. 

making of 

Chesterfield 

pictures 

broadcast 

wiU 

in the high 

be limited to 

school 

supervision 

of the various 

This doesn't affect the neighborly friendliness 

of the inhabitants. They seem to have 

activities 

auditorium in the afternoon and 

companies' 

to tape 

productional 

it 

at 6 p. m. This was 

and in the arranging 

a treat 

of financing, 

for the populace. 

fun. 

where it is necessary, either in whole or in 

During the broadcast Hope reminded Mrs. 

part. Such financing will 

OFFER 'COLONNA BOLOGNA' 

Kuchinka 

come through his 

that he was her "boarder." He revolving bank credits, already set 

One of the first things Colonna saw 

asked 

up 

riding 

Dr. Kuchinka, 

and 

her husband, who is a 

heretofore used by his 

into Wheeling, W. Va., which dentist, 

has an 

how 

own production 

he 

company, 

or through the Motion Picture Finan- 

liked the program airport, 

was a restaurant window doctor replied sign—"Colonna 

and the 

that it was more effective than cial Corp. That is the unit, and Lippert is 

Bologna." 

novocaine for calming patients. 

president of it also, which was organized to 

And Hope blinked a couple of times when To get back to the day's start. Hope and finance certain selected pictures produced 

he saw Bing Crosby sitting in an open car 

Marilyn Maxwell, Gloria Grahame, Jan Sterling, 

under the Lippert banner. Its bylaws provide 

waiting for the start of the parade. Bing's 

Colonna, Les Brown and his orchestra, 

that financing can apply to any pictures released 

by Lippert, whether produced by him 

name was on the side of the car; his 

Hy 

sports 

Averback, announcer, plus writers, producers 

and directors came down out of the or otherwise. 

shirt was brilliant in the few rays of sunlight 

that came through the fog and he was 

clouds at Wheeling in the morning. Hope 

an excellent facsimile of the famous Nevada 

wore fuzzy white gloves and DEAL 

later donned 

WITH GEORGE RAFT 

cattle ranch owner. 

earmuffs. Colonna 

In 

depended 

order to 

on 

function 

his 

in 

mustache 

these supervisory 

Wheeling, Bellaire and other towns 

for 

are 

protection from 

and financial liaisons. 

the chill, and the 

Lippert 

girls 

plans to keep 

crowded together in the valley. The only way 

wore 

intact mink the skeleton 

coats. 

structure of his production 

you can tell when you're in West Virginia The newspaper organization, 

or 

people arrived 

the 

two hours 

key men of which will 

later and had 

continue 

to 

to serve in 

battle their way through 

more or less the same 

the crowds 

capacities 

to the 

as 

coffee 

heretofore, 

shop of the 

except 

hotel. 

that their 

activities wil be devoted to various independents 

rather than to Lippert Pi-oductions. 

PARADE LASTS TWO HOURS 

Now . . . RCA ready 

The parade lasted two hours and was followed 

by an impromptu show at the local ball has already been closed by Lippert. It is 

First of the independent production deals 

TO STAKE MORE MILLIONS park, or stadium, as it is called. 

with George Raft, who is organizing his own 

One restaurant window bore big white outfit, 

letters 

listing the menu and service. In addi- 

and provides for a minimum of three 

in your theatre business 

features, the first of which is tentatively 

tion to 

Offers 

the 

bold new plan 

Colonna Bologna, titled 

it 

to help you 

had Murphy "Loan Shark." 

stew, Grahame cracker pie, Maxwell House 

modernize now on low-cost credit coffee and Sterling service in honor of the 

visiting women Jack Schlaifer to Head 

stars. 

Effective immediately: For, you, the One automobile was labeled "Kate Smith" Realart, Broder 

theatre owners, RCA 

Sales 

now makes available 

additional millions of dollars in new waved gaily to the crowd. 

named vice-president and general sales man- 

and the sole occupant, of ample proportions, NEW YORK—Jack Schlaifer has been 

credit fmoncing in an all-out effort to Mrs. Kuchinka and Hope rode in a sleigh ager of Jack Broder Productions, Inc., and 

give you the theatre equipment you mounted on a truck with snow around it. One Realart Pictures, Inc. by Budd Rogers, vicepresident 

and general manager of both or- 

need to mod'»rnize ri^ht now for better big fellow who might have been a steelworker 

ki.ssed every one of the Hollywood ganizations. Schlaifer has been sales man- 

house appeal, bigger grosses! 

girls as the parade passed slowly. A Life ager for Univer.sal, 20th 

Get 

Century-Fox and 

full story. 

photographer leaped from the top of a sedan United Artists. 

Call your RCA Dealer 

His most 

. . , today. 

recent post was 

to get a closeup and also the name of the general sales manager of Eagle Lion. His 

man. The state troopers thought it was all position with Broder and Realart will not 

^Qt RADIO CORPORATION part of the 

of 

fun. 

AMERICA 

change the status of the Jack Schlaifer Organization. 

Inc.. whidi will continue opera- 

^—-^ eNGINieHINC PRODUCTS DEPT. CAMDCN, 

At the ball N. J. 

park, representatives of local 

industries loaded Hope with gifts. 

tions. 

18 

BOXOFFICE December 1, 1951

^ 

k. 

SavsA r/Ms^ 

"iris 

— Waller 

for THE CLOUDED YELLOW 

now packing in the crowds at 

The Park Avenue Theatre, N. Y. 

^'MOVING WITH THE VELOCITY 

OF AN EXPRESS TRAIN \" 

—N.Y. Times 

''RACES TO AN EXCITING FINISH!" 

— N. Y. Daily News 

'^'- 

''ZEST . . . REALISM . . . EXCITEMENT 

. . .MISS SIMMONS WAS NEVER 

PRETTIER!'' 

—N.Y. Post 

\v 

WELL PACED, TAUT CHASE 

THRILLER!" 

— N.Y, Herald Tribune 

"A SWITCH SURPRISE ENDING!" 

— N.Y, Daily Mirror 

"A GOOD MEASURE OF EXCITEMENT!" 

— N.Y, Journal-American 

"ENGROSSING!' 

-Daily Compass 

"BUNDLE OF EXCITEMENT 

FROM BRITAIN!" —N.Y. World Telegram 

SONIA Umi[ and MAXWELL REED 

Screenplay b» Janet Green • Produced by Betty E. Box 

orrected by Ralph Thomas 

• Released by Columbia Pictures

TKCK OKCC S

„. 

•û^> 

lira a 

.^ 

175 BlOOK \y^ LroHOKTOC*"*" 

October 22nd, l^^l to let you know 

what you'll be 

_ missing if you 

miss out on 

Columbia's 

full-U 

I/' 

,"i,°;on. 

Dearborn 

Stre.^. 

1 >\_ 

.ear »r. Sac.seX: ^^ 

""t" -'=-"^^'- 

Yiave 3^s-v- ^. 

„un tYieatreb, played. 

picture, l "" , ,5uid ne^«'^^^! v,ad •« 

chili 

\ 

ône *^^^„StrOTTERS 

^^ 

. °''°° 

ViftMJf 

r ^J^tT^^ 

«o..ver. .as 

«»" 'T'ouT Vf "»' «'' 

'T'oufof i*.»' ">' " ' e, our patrons 

and 

«h» '"^ °"' ^ ...MS .n this a e att auractio- 

- 

^^^ 

.- - 

d our siS«s «" ^""i :;\verv t.."". 

« «ave chans^^\t:t « .lU no. Pl« 

ean âssure you tâ. ^- 

^^^.^ ^V 

our oirouit.- --.i^ erau 

^ ""''"• should 

grab 

tne 

country 

B^l.itors al^„;;°;u.r r.oeipts. 

tor t>166" "" ,^ I am 

„itS l^mdost resaras, Yours slncerj 

Q 

W^l PnoUl 

Auerbach 

Manager 

itcite' •

' 

'T^Mfwwid êfoont — By IVAN SPEAR 

December Studio Slate Drops to 34; 

20th-Fox Hits Year's Peak With 7 

HOLLYWOOD—As per annual custom, but 

nonetheless not a cheering prospect for filmdom's 

toilers during the Christmas season, 

productional activity is sputtering along at a 

low tempo this month. The best that could 

be mustered up, by the majors and independents 

combined, is a laggardly 34-picture total 

of new starting subjects for the period. 

This reflects a drop of three from the 37 

films which awaited the starting gun at the 

beginning of November, and is only a notch 

above 195rs all-time low of 33 in October. 

For one studio, however—20th Century- 

Fox—the year's final month is being wound 

up in a blaze of glory as concerns picturemaking 

tempo. The Westwood film plant, 

charting an aggregate of seven starters, thus 

exceeds the pace it set in any previous month 

during 1951. 

Subject to change, of course, the lineup 

by studios looks like this: 

COLUMBIA—Placed by a late-November 

starter, "The Sabre and the Arrow," this 

studio will gun three other vehicles during 

the current month, the most important of 

which Rita Hayworth returns to the screen 

which probably is the as-yet untitled entry in 

after a three-year hiatus. Her co-star is 

Glenn Ford and the opus, being prepared as 

a "front office" production (which means 

that no producer credit will be attached 

thereto) will be megged by Vincent Sherman. 

A romantic drama with music, it has a West 

Indies background. ALso on tap are "A Yank 

in Indo-China," and "Rainbow Round My 

Shoulder." The former, a Sam Katzman 

production, will be megged by Wally Grissell, 

but was minus a cast early in the period 

"Rainbow," a musical, stars Crooners Frankie 

Laine and Billy Daniels, and will be piloted 

by Richard Quine for Producer Jonie Taps. 

The aforementioned "Sabre," a cavalry-vs- 

Injuns opus in Technicolor, features Broderick 

Crawford. Barbara Hale and Lloyd 

New-Type Personals: 

Scenes From Films 

Something a bit out of routine in personal 

appearances is being undertaken by 

Richard Arlen and Laura Elliott in their 

upcoming road tour on behalf of "Silver 

City." the Nat Holt production in which 

they have featured roles for Paramount 

distribution. 

Using actual props and costumes, the 

player.s will enact two of their key scenes 

from the picture, from a special script by 

Frank Gruber. who wrote the screenplay. 

Arlen and Miss Elliott are booked for 

Atlanta. Cincinnati. Detroit. Cleveland. 

Pittsburgh, Washington, D. C, and Baltimore 

in connection with pre-release engagements. 

Bridges, with Andre de Toth as the director 

and Buddy Adler producing. 

INDEPENDENT—A brisk pace is in prospect 

for the film-'em-first-set-the-releaselater 

school of production. Alex Gottlieb is 

gunning "The Fighter," a Richard Conte starrer 

based on a story by Jack London, but at 

month's beginning had not recruited a director. 

Wes Beeman. who heretofore has concentrated 

on TV fare, enters theatrical film 

ranks with "Dan Western," first in a projected 

series of sagebrushers toplining John 

Carpenter, with Harold Schuster at the megaphone. 

A contribution to the Biblical cycle 

is "Joseph and Potiphar's Wife," adapted 

from the Old Testament story by Dorrell and 

Stuart McGowan, who also will produce and 

direct, but who at this writing had not set 

the cast. Samuel Fuller will produce and 

direct, from his own script, "Park Row," a 

newspaper yarn, which was also sans mummers 

early in the period. 

METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER — Four features 

will get under way at this Culver City 

film plant. A romantic trilogy, "Three Love 

Stories," will be gunned by Producer Sidney 

Franklin, with Vincente Minnelli and Gottfried 

Reinhardt as the directors and Pier 

Angeli, Leslie Caron and Fernando Lamas 

heading the cast. Spencer Tracy and Katharine 

Hepburn, who co-starred a season or 

so ago in "Adam's Rib," are reunited in another 

comedy, "Pat and Mike," with Lawrence 

Weingarten producing. George Cukor directing. 

James Stewart and Wendell Corey are 

the headliners in "Carbine Williams," a biography 

of the inventor of the modern carbine 

rifle, which Richard Thorpe will meg for 

Producer Armand Deutsch. And Mario ("The 

Great Caruso" i Lanza steps before the cameras 

in Producer Joe Pasternak's Technicolor 

musical, "Because You're Mine," with Alexander 

Hall as the director. 

MONOGRAM—Although producer, director 

and cast remained unassigned at month's 

beginning, one of two starting subjects listed 

by this sutdio is "Wild Stallion," an outdoor 

action opus which is slated for Cinecolor filming. 

Also on tap is "Jet Job," first of a new 

action series starring Stanley Clements, with 

Ben Schwalb as the producer but. at this 

writing, minus a director. This one casts 

Clements as an army test pilot. 

PARAMOUNT—Leading off with "Jumping 

Jacks." the new Dean Martin-Jerry Lewis 

comedy for Hal Wallis Productions, this lot 

will see three new entries hitting the sound 

stages during the month. In "Jumping 

Jacks." which Norman Taurog megs, the 

comics become involved with air force paratroopers. 

Also in comedy vein Ls "The Military 

Policemen." toplining Bob Hope. Marilyn 

Maxwell and Mickey Rooney, which George 

Marshall will direct for Producer Harry Tugend. 

Co-stars of "Botany Bay." a historical 

action drama, are Alan Ladd and James 

Henry Blanke Has Made 

80 Films in 18 Years 

' 

Eighty pictures in 18 years is an impressive 

record in Cinemania's filmmaking 

annals. 

That is the tallychalked 

up by 

Henry Blanke with 

the completion of 

editing on "Room 

for One More," 

which co-stars 

Cary Grant and 

Betsy Drake at 

Warners. 

Blanke joined 

the studio in 

March 1933, and— 

Henry Blanke among others 

made such successes as "The Story of 

Louis Pasteur," "Anthony Adverse." 

"Green Pastures," "The Adventures of 

Robin Hood" and "Treasurer of the 

Sierra Madre." 

Mason, the Joseph Sistrom production to be 

] 

piloted by John Farrow. 

! 

RKO RADIO—A sagebrush flavor pervades 

the scheduled starting subjects at this studio 

Tim Holt and his saddle-pal, Richard Martin, 

will head thataway in "Overland Telegraph," a 

Herman Schlom production for which, as 

the month began, no director had been assigned. 

It will be followed by "This Man Is 

Mine." once known as "Covsrpoke." which 

casts Robert Mitchum as a professional 

rodeo rider and Susan Hayward as the girl 

who falls in love with him. Nicholas Ray will 

direct for Wald-Krasna Productions. 

REPUBLIC — History and action intermingle 

in "Minnesota." one of three starting 

vehicles at this valley studio. A story of the 

development of the Mesabi iron ore deposits 

in that state, it will be produced and directed 

by Joseph Kane, with Jay C. Plippen the 

only cast member thus far set. William Shirley 

will portray Composer Stephen Foster as a 

young man in "Song of Youth." a biography 

with music, for Producer-Director Allan 

Dwan. In the femme lead is Muriel Lawrence. 

Classified as a variety revue is "Gobs 

and Gals." a Sidney Picker production starring 

the Bernard Brothers, noted European 

pantomimist. who herein make their U.S. 

film debut under the direction of R. G. 

Springsteen. 

20TH CENTURY-FOX—Far and away the 

busiest in town is the Darryl F. Zanuck 

studio, which hits a new activity peak for 

the year with seven new subjects at the 

starting post. Two of them. "What Price 

Glory" and "The Love Man" are under the 

aegis of Producer Sol C. Siegel. "Glory," a 

new version of the World War I drama, 

co-stars James Cagney, Dan Dailey and 

Corinne Calvet under the direction of John 

Ford, while "The Love Man," a comedy, toplines 

Clifton Webb, with Claude Binyon 

megging. Producer Julian Blaustein will gun 

"Night Without Sleep." a suspen.se drama 

featuring Richard Widmark and Marilyn 

Monroe, to be directed by Roy Baker, while 

Writer-Pi-oducer Charles Brackett is to 

launch "How High Is Up?", a romantic 

(Continued on page 24 

22 BOXOFFICE December 1. 1951

fSKISIo^HETK AMD DESSRT BEAUTY IM A 

p^^ 

T^T»m\on AMP HIGH APyiHtUK!^/ 

*i,i 

iRatii 

;: the 

beautiful 

(optives o\ 

the Corsoir 

slave mortl 

MAUREEN 

S6a/t/u*tf 

O'HARA- CHANDLER 

.i SUSAN CABOT -LONCHANEY- BUDDY BAER 

aiivlH 

ÊE: savage 

warfare of the 

desert legions! 

This is the first 

motion 

picture in 

oil* 

i/te /Pforfe^'4fa£e/^^/

I 

I 

I 

Hollywood Report 

. . . 

(Continued from page 22) 

is "The Big League," another biography 

^

"Bright Victory 

r Excellent for adults 

and youngsters." 

-PARENTS MAGAZINE 

". . . one of the enthralling pictures 

of your movie year . . . scratch off 

'Chalk up this 

U-I film as an 

Academy Award 

contender!" 

-SCREEN GUIDE 

"Boxoffice future bright as a silver dollar 

. . . tremendously satisfying entertainment." 

-MOTION PICTURE HERALD 

"Rates Academy Award . . . unquestionably 

certain to win enthusiastic 

approval from all types of movie-goers." 

-SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW 

another niche in the 10-Best lists." 

-N.Y. WORLD TELEGRAM AND SUN 

I'Arthur Kennedy's poignant 

[^performance in the movie 'Bright 

|Victory' strums every heartstring." 

-WALTER WINCHELL 

Screenplay ty ROBERI BOCKNER • BaseiJ on the novel "Lights Ootly Baynaril Kemlrick 

Starring 

Bright 

yiCTORY 

ARTHUR KENNEDY • PEGGY DOW 

with JAMES EDWARDS • WILL GEER ond JULIA ADAMS 

Directed by MARK ROBSON • Produced by ROBERT BUCKNER • A UNIVERSAL-INIERNAIIONAL PICTURE

Wiggle Test Goes Electromagnetic 

Under Oklahoma Professors Device 

NORMAN, OKLA.—The wiggle test has 

gone scientific. 

Dr. Elwood Kretsinger, associate 

professor of speech at the University of 

Oklahoma here, has invented an electromagnetic 

movement meter which, he claims, will 

record an accurate measurement of a theatre 

audience's reaction to a motion picture. 

Dr. Ki-etsinger's machine makes use of hidden 

wires and electromagnetic energy to register 

the "wiggles" of the picture audience, 

in place of the eyes of an observer under the 

wiggle test method of rating children's pictui-es 

which has been featured by the Motion 

Picture Ass'n of America in compiling its 

Green Sheet reports. 

The original model is equipped with a wire 

that can be attached behind 12 seats. If one 

or all of the occupants become restless and 

shift their positions, Dr. Kretsinger explains, 

the movements are an indication of temporary 

boredom, and they affect the electromagnetic 

energy in the wire. These variations are 

fed through an amplifying device and in turn 

cause a pen on a recording instrument to 

move and transcribe a wavy line commensurable 

to the movements in the seats. 

Dr. Kretsinger served in the marine corps 

as a radio technician where he learned how 

to harness electromagnetic energy. 

The inventor points out if one member of 

the test group should scratch his nose at a 

time when the other 11 are caught spellbound 

by some dramatic scene, the line would 

look like the dip on a roller coaster. But if 

the entire group became bored with it all 

and acted as though all of them were ready 

to leave any minute, the pen would jiggle 

violently on the tape. 

The professor says it's not true that people 

sleep when bored—unless it happens to 

be a classroom or possibly in churches. The 

tests with the device have shown an audience 

moves about the most when it's most bored. 

The instrument was invented for academic 

research work and clinical tests. However, 

the professor believes its commercial possibilities 

may prove just as important in the 

long run. 

It seems he became dissatisfied with results 

obtained by the usual methods when 

working on some audience reaction tests at 

the University of Southern California^ Hence, 

his very own tattletale gadget. 

The Daily Oklahoman of Oklahoma City 

pointed out that "all sorts of intricate methods 

have been tried on test audiences at advance 

screenings. Cards are passed out to audiences 

on which they indicate their reactions: 

observers are planted about theatres to watch 

the expressions of folks' faces and to eavesdrop 

on conversations in lobbies after the 

shows. Ti'ouble with all these methods is that 

they aren't accurate because they're controlled 

and the audience knows it is expected 

to give an answer. This often leads 

to dishonest replies when cards are filled out 

for often a person doesn't want to hurt anyone's 

feelings by telling how he really feels 

about a motion picture or play. 

"Efforts to find out how audiences are reacting 

to particular scenes have run into 

snags, too. The card checking method fails 

here because those watching the play have to 

pause to rate the play, thus losing the thread 

or at least interrupting their concentration 

from time to time." 

Six Distributors Seek 

Dipson Case Denial 

WASHINGTON—Six of the major distributors 

(Warner Bros., RKO, Loew's, Paramount. 

Pox and United Artists) and the Shea Circuit 

in Buffalo on Monday (26) asked the 

Supreme Court to dismiss the petition of the 

Dipson Theatres for review of its antitrust 

suit against them. 

Originally Dipson had sued the eight majors 

and the Shea group on the grounds of a 

conspiracy to deprive them of proper runs 

and clearances in four theatre situations in 

metropolitan Buffalo. The district court 

turned down all complaints in a series of 

j 

separate decisions, including the entire complaints 

against Columbia and Universal. 

In its appeal to the second circuit court, 

Dipson restricted its suit to the six remaining 

distributor-defendants and to actions against 

the Century and Bailey theatres. The circuit 

court upheld the defendants, and Dipson then 

abandoned its claims regarding the Century 

in its petition to the high court, leaving only 

the Bailey at issue. 

Dipson claimed the Bailey was demoted 

from second to third run as a result of the 

alleged conspiracy, with the Shea chain's 

Kensington being favored. It charged that 

the appeals court misinterpreted and misapplied 

the Supreme Court verdict in the Paramount 

case. 

The reply brief, filed by attorneys Frank 

G. Raichle, Edward C. Raftery, Sidney B. 

Pfeifer and John F. Caskey, pointed out that 

the circuit court's decision had taken note of 

the application of the Paramount case and 

nevertheless upheld the denial of the suit 

by the trial court. Furthermore, the brief 

pointed out, Dipson itself had not appealed 

the adverse verdict with regard to the other 

three situations, and "so far as the Paramount 

case is concerned, all four of ine petitioner's 

theatres are in identical positions." 

Disney's Christmas Show 

For Dec. 25 on CBS-TV 

NEW YORK—The "Walt Disney Christmas 

Show." an hour-long fantasy featuring Disney's 

animated characters and Disney himself, 

will be presented on the Columbia Broadcasting 

television network Christmas day, 

December 25, from 3 to 4 p. m., according to 

David V. Sutton, vice-president in charge of 

sales. This will be Disney's second successive 

Yuletide offering, the first Disney show, featuring 

an advance glimpse of "Alice in Wonderland," 

having been presented Christmas 

1950. 

This year, Disney will devote more time to 

his cartoon characters, including the Uncis 

Remus Tar Baby sequence from "Song of the 

South," scenes from "Snow White and the 

Seven Dwarfs," which RKO will reissue in 

1952, and "Bambi" and a preview of scenes 

from Disney's next big cartoon feature, 

"Peter Pan," which will be released in the 

fall of 1952. Bobby Driscoll, Kathryn Beaumont. 

Hans Conreid. Bill Thompson and Don 

Barclay, who have figured in Disney films, 

will be in the holiday cast as will such cartoon 

characters as Mickey Mouse, Donald 

Duck. Pluto and Goofy. 

The telecast will be sponsored by Johnson 

& Johnson, manufacturer of surgical dressings 

and baby products. Robert Florey, film 

director, will pilot the show with Bill Walsh 

of the Disney organization producing. Musical 

score is by Paul Smith. 

Louis Wolfson, Son of TOA 

President, Is Married 

MIAMI—Louis Wolfson, son of Mr. and 

Mrs. Mitchell Wolfson, and Lynn Rabin, 

daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Rabin of 

Miami Beach, were married here last week in 

the Imperial room of the Roney Plaza hotel. 

The elder Wolfson is co-owner of Wometco 

Theatres here and president of the Theatre 

Owners of America. He acted as best man 

at the wedding and another son, Mitchell jr.. 

was an usher. Approximately 275 guests attended. 

The newlyweds left on a honeymoon 

to Mexico City, Acapulco and a visit to the 

Mayan ruins near Merida, Yucatan. 

Daughter for Jesse Shlyens 

KANSAS CITY—Mrs. Jesse Shlyen, wife 

of the managing editor of BOXOFFICE, gave 

birth to a daughter, Nancy Ellen, at 

Menorah hospital here Saturday morning 

(241. The baby weighed seven pounds, five 

ounces. Mother and baby are doing fine. The 

Shlyens also have two boys, ages 9 and 5. 

Charlotte Branch Winner 

In RKO Depinet Drive 

NEW YORK—The RKO branch at 

Charlotte, 

with Rovy Branon as manager, won 

first prize in the Ned Depinet drive, according 

to Robert Mochrie, vice-president and general 

sales manager. 

Second prize went to Denver, Marvin Goldfarb, 

manager. New Orleans, J. Rogers 

Lamantia. manager, won third prize and 

Atlanta, Ira Stone, manager, was fourth. 

In Canada, Harry Cohen's Montreal exchange 

was first and Arthur Elliott's Calgary 

exchange was second. 

Dave Prince, southeastern division, was 

first in the district managers' division and 

second prize went to Carl Peppercorn. Canadian. 

Ben Y. Cammack, southwestern, was 

third. Home office representatives winning 

were; George Jacoby, first: Elmer Sedin, second, 

and J. C. de Waal, third. 

Dallas was first in the group prize class. 

Detroit was second in Group I: St. Louis was 

first and Cleveland second in Group II and 

Memphis and Seattle won in Group III. 

Russ Morgan, Atlanta field man. won first 

prize among exploitation men. Second went 

to Bidwell McCormick. Denver. Group prizes 

went to Lou Doufour, St. Louis: Hank Howard. 

Buffalo: Joseph Longo. Cleveland, and 

Alan Wieder. Seattle. 

^ 

26 BOXOFFICE :: December 1. 1951

I 

In the Newsreeis 

Movietone News, No. 95: Movietone's 1951 All- 

American; Truman talks about 1952; tension grips 

Suez canal; Tokyo hails Joe Louis; Vishinsky pets 

dove ot peace. 

News of the Day. No. 225: All-American stars and 

ploys of 1951; British move to end terror in Suez 

zone; Paratroopers drill in Korea; arms issue stirs 

UN Paris meeting, junior rodeo. 

Paiomount News, No. 28: Operation Show-Off a 

success; Joe Louis still champ in Tokyo; prohibition 

party names candidate; 1951 All-American football 

teams. 

Universal News. No. 511: Egyptian crisis; Truman's 

speech; B-29s back to battle; Santa Claus 

lakes a bow; Tokyo hails Joe Louis; billiard aces 

tee off; junior rodeo. 

Warner Pathe News, No. 30: Will Truman run? 

He doesn't say, Taft campaign headquarters open 

in Washington; latest films of crisis in Egypt; UN 

paratroopers in mass practice jumps; Lovett, Acheson 

and Harnman meet at Ike's headquarters; Doris 

Day opens '"Toys for Tots" drive; New York 

Czech railmen who fled Reds arrive in New York; 

feather fashions from France; a seal goes Hawaiian; 

Berlin—conine cafeteria. 

• 

Movietone News, No. 96: Hope for Korea truce by 

Christmas; Ike greets new GIs in Germany; trains 

crash under sidewalks of New York; masked priests 

accuse Reds; Egyptians march against British; Australia 

picks Miss Kangaroo; 117-year-old man sees 

first movie; football—Tennessee-Kentucky, Princeton- 

Dartmouth, Illinois- Northwestern. 

News oi the Day, No. 226: Priests crash Iron 

Curtain— tell of Red terror; Egyptians demonstrate 

against British; Israel guards border from Arab 

terroists, Korea cease-fire line agreed upon; Gl war 

brides from Korea; spotlight on baby; Tennessee 

trounces Kentucky, holds top grid place; Joe Louis 

tackles army and navy. 

Paramount News, No. 29: Korea— big problems on 

road to armistice; Egyptians stage silent parade 

m Cairo; headlines from Europe: French President 

Auriol host of New York delegates; Rome—NATO 

council meeting; Rotterdam—General Eisenhower 

welcomes first Canadian army unit committed to 

Europe under NATO; gridiron season climax; Kentucky 

vs- Tennessee; Stanford vs. California. 

Universal News. No. 512: European defense; demonstrations 

in Egypt; floods hit France; Asiatic war 

brides; tood tor prisoners; Joe Louis in Tokyo; football—Tennessee-Kentucky, 

California-Stanford, Michigan 

State-Colorado. 

Warner Pathe News, No. 31: Truce teams set 

cease-fire line in Korea; Cairo in silent demonstration; 

Berkley in Japan on way to Korea; advance 

in Pans for Big Three talks; Pearl Harbor remembers 

ten years back; Joe Louis in exhibition bout; 

football—Harvard and Yale tie; Tennessee beats 

Tokyo 

Kentucky. 

• 

Telenews Digest, No. 47A: England—royal homecoming; 

Korea— paratroops practice up; Washington 

—Lodge heads Ike's campaign; worst flood in 

Italy's modern history; Berlin—anotfier battle m 

cold war takes place m Potsdamer Platz; Tokyo 

Joe Louis arrives for an exhibition tour; Algiers 

new French governor gets a real native reception; 

football—Browns beat Giants. 

Telenews Digest. No. 47B: Disabled veterans' 

Thanksgiving; Truman opens fire; Germany—Hitler's 

hideout; Austria—exclusive films of raging oil fire 

in Soviet zone; Germany—Babs Hutton and her new 

beau, tennis champ Baron von Cramm; Cincinnati 

new job for midgets—working on jet engines; Scotland—British 

navy tests a new seasick pill—on 

army guinea pigs; Denver—midget auto race, 

Telenews Digest, No. 48A: Indo-Chma—French cut 

Red lifeline, Egypt— silent protest; Malaya—Operation 

Starvation; India—new Gandhi; Italy— flood toll 

mounts; Paris—NATO opens a school for soldiers of 

12 nations; Strasbourg—American visitors to the 

Council of Europe urge unity; Pans—Germany's 

Chancellor Adenauer brmgs his nation closer to 

joining western Europe's community; Coventry 

visitor from Russia; football—Harvard-Yale classic 

Kodak Employes to Share 

Wage Dividend March 7 

ROCHESTER. N. Y.—Approximately 48,000 

employes of the Eastman Kodak Co. will 

share an estimated $20,300,000 in wage 

dividends March 7, 1952. Based on their 

salaries from 1947 through 1951. they will 

receive $27.50 for each $1,000 earned. About 

$14,500,000 will be divided amoung the 33.000 

workers in the Rochester plant. 

The wage dividend plan has been in effect 

for 40 years. Each dividend must be voted by 

the board of directors. It is based on common 

stock dividends for the year and earnings by 

individual employes for the preceding five 

years. 

United Art'ists to Release 

// Films Early in 1952 

NEW YORK— United Artists will release 11 

major productions during the first five 

months of 1952. according to William J. 

Heineman. vice-president in charge of distribution. 

He pointed out that the new lineup 

of pictures from leading independent producers, 

some in color, all representing big 

budgets, was the "proudest lineup of pictures 

to bear the United Artists label since the 

end of the last war." 

The new year's first major offering, to 

be released January 16. will be: "Another 

Man's Poison." directed by Irving Rapper for 

Douglas Fairbanks jr. and his associates. 

H. Alexander MacDonald and Val Guest. 

Bette Davis, Gary Merrill and Emlyn Williams 

are starred and Anthony Steele and 

Barbara Murray are featured. 

Two other January releases will be: "The 

Lady Says No," directed by Ross-Stillman 

Produced by Frank Ross with Joan Caulfield 

and David Niven starred, for January 4, and 

"Chicago Calling," an Arrowhead picture directed 

by John Reinhardt, starring Dan Duryea 

and Mary Anderson with Gordon Gebert, 

for January 11. 

Eight other features scheduled for release 

during the following four months are now 

being edited and scored. They are: "High 

Noon," Stanley Kramer's production starring 

Gary Cooper and directed by Fred Zinnemann 

with Thomas Mitchell, Lloyd Bridges. 

Otto Kruger. Henry Morgan. Lon Chaney. 

Katy Jurado and Grace Kelly featured; "The 

African Queen," a Horizon Pictures production 

in Technicolor, directed by John Huston 

and co-starring Humphrey Bogart and 

Katharine Hepburn with Robert Morley; 

"The Green Glove,' a Benagoss Production 

directed by Rudolph Mate starring Glenn 

Ford, Geraldine Brooks and Sir Cedric Hardwicke 

with Gaby Andre; "Saturday Island," 

produced in Jamaica in Technicolor by David 

E. Ross and directed by Stuart Heisler. starring 

Linda Darnell with Tab Hunter and 

Donald Gray; "One Big Affair." produced by 

Benedict Bogeaus in Mexico City, starring 

Evelyn Keyes and Dennis O'Keefe with Mary 

Anderson and Connie Gilchrist; "A Tale of 

Five Women." tilmed in six capitals of Europe 

by Alexander Paal, with Bonar CoUeano and 

Gina Lollobrigida from Rome. Eva Bartok 

from Vienna, Karin Himbold from Berlin, 

Anne Vernon from Paris. Lana Morris from 

England and Barbara Kelly from America: 

"Tightrope," first production from the newly 

formed Aspen Product, directed by Robert 

Wise with John Forsythe starred and "Actors 

and Sin," directed and produced by Ben 

Hecht, starring Edward G. Robinson. Mar.sha 

Hunt and Eddie Albert. 

"These 11 are the beginning of a new 

chapter in our career." Heinemann added, 

and "there will be many more, equally important, 

to announce in the very near future." 

Six United Artists branches have gone 

over their sales quotas in the 11th 

week of the "Drive All the Way With UA" 

sales drive, according to Heineman. The drive 

will continue until the end of 1951. 

The New York branch, which has exceeded 

its quota by more than one-third for a percentage 

standing of 133.8, is in first place 

with the New Orleans branch, with 122.3 per 

cent of its quota, second. The next four are: 

Charlotte, with 111.2 per cent; San Francisco, 

with 107.5 per cent; Denver, with 102.1 per 

cent, and St. Louis, which topped its quota 

with 100.2 per cent. 

Ralph Amacher to Head 

UA Kansas City Branch 

NEW YORK — Ralph Amacher, former 

United Artists sales manager in San Francisco, 

has been named UA branch manager 

in Kansas City by William J. Heineman. vicepresident 

in charge of distribution. Amacher 

fills the vacancy created by the death of 

William Truog November 16. 

Before joining UA in San Francisco, 

Amacher headed the Seattle-Portland operations 

of Eagle Lion films. 

HALLMARK ZONE MANAGERS MEET—Zone managers of Hallmark Productions, 

Inc., from all film exchanges in the U.S. and Canada were tied up in meetings and 

Movietime U.S.A. ties November 16-18 at the General Denver hotel, Wilmington, Ohio. 

Seen above, left to right: Dick Edge, Seattle-Portland-Salt Lake City exchanges; 

Clarence Symons, Detroit-Milwaukee; Rex Ochs, west coast zone manager shifted to 

Oklahoma City-New Mexico-Denver exchanges, and Bill Burger, Texas zone manager 

upped to Chicago-Indianapolis zone. Other personnel shifts announced by Hallmark 

prexy Kroger Babb and general manager Jack Thomas, Carl Garner from .Atlanta to 

Dallas; Bud Banniza from Oklahoma City to Atlanta, and Ernest Warren, appointed 

zone manager of the Boston-New Haven exchanges. 

BOXOFFICE December 1, 1951 27

, 

HELL- RIDERS OF T]|i 

A WOUNDED 

SOLDIER NEEDS 

YOUR BLOOD 

(STORY OF THE B29 (l:( 

R REPUBLIC PICTURE 

TODAY! 

FORRES! TUCKER • PHIL Hi 

REPUBLIC PICTURES CORPORATION • HERBERT J. YATES, Pres. 

Screen P/oy by 

RICHAF' TR; 

j^^

llEAVENS WHO ROAR INTO 

JllPERFORTRESS) 

starring 

WENDELL COREY • VERA RALSION 

iSL miER BRENNAN • «iiiiam ching • uu bonnelu • urn »«ty it • pennv edwards 

.GSKIS . s,o„l,x ANDREW GEER and CHARLES GRAYSON . Oi....,!,, ALLAN DWAN

BOXOFFICE 

BAROMETER 

This chart records the performance of current attractions in the opening week of their first runs in 

the 20 key cities checked. Pictures with fewer than five engagements are not listed. As new runs 

are reported, ratings are added and averages revised. Computation is in terms of percentage in 

relation to normal grosses as determined by the theatre managers. With 100 per cent as 

"normal," the figures show the gross rating above or below thot mark. 

•.jy ,vÂ.^w -Âi yy^M

Is Amazing On The Screen... and 

SENSATIONAL At The Boxoffice!! 

We're bursting our superlatives at the seams over the latest hit in 

Paramount's steady stream of hits! We wish you could talk personally 

to exhibitors in all 253 cities where it's played. They figured it to be 

big -and it 

turned out to be sensational! 

For instance: a 5- year non-holiday record opening in Denver; a new 

4-year record in Philadelphia; biggest Paramount opening in months in 

Buffalo. Far beyond expectations right across the entire country, including 

Denver, Hartford, Chicago, Minneapolis, Seattle, Providence, Kansas 

City, 

Lincoln, Akron, Tucson and scores of other spots. 

This George Pal production is the spectacle-thriller 

that's absolutely in a class by itself in performance... 

such amazing entertainment that business 

is up like a rocket! 

"WHEN WORLDS 

COLLIDE" 

Color by 

TECHNICOLOR 

Produced by George Pal 

Directed by Rudolph Mate 

Screeenplay by Sydney Boehm 

Based on a Novel by 

Edwin Balmer and Philip Wylie

^--^-- ""^f^ 

I 

Where 

did this car 

come from? 

Most of us think that new cars come 

from big auto-making cities. 

can slow up production seriously. A few 

missing doorhandles can stop an assembly 

line! 

But the auto makers never let that line 

stop. They keep their cars rolling by using 

the speed of planes. They bring in needed 

parts by Air Express! 

Today, with increased production for 

defense, Air Express speed helps keep the 

tanks and planes rolling, too. Whatever 

your business, here are the unique advantages 

you can enjoy with regular use 

of Air Express: 

IT'S FASTEST — Air Express gives the 

IT'S DEPENDABLE — Air Express provides 

one-carrier responsibility all the way 

and gets a receipt upon delivery. 

IT'S PROFITABLE—Air Express expands 

profit-making opportunities in distribution 

and merchandising. 

For more facts call Air Express Division 

of Railway Express Agency. 

^1 

But the fact is, new automobiles arc 

assembled in these cities—but their hundreds 

of parts come from every state in 

the union! 

Bringing in these parts involves plenty 

of expert timing. A few missing pieces 

fastest, most complete door-to-door pick 

up and delivery service in all cities and 

principal towns, at no extra cost. 

IT'S MORE CONVENIENT -One call to 

Air Express Division of the Railway 

Express Agency arranges everything. 

miRmfss 

GETS THERE FIRST 

32 BOXOFFICE December 1, 1951

\ 

t 

CHESTER FRIEDMAN 

EDITOR 

HUGH E. FRA2E 

Associate Editor 

mum 

SECTION 

PRACTICAL IDEAS FOR SELLING SEATS BY PRACTICAL SHOWMEN 

Amaainauon 

'9 

til 

In a suburban home in Bellaire, 

Ohio. Tuesday this week (27) Paramount 

exploiteers put on a premiere 

for Bob Hope's latest picture, "My 

Favorite Spy," at a private screening 

in the parlor of Mrs. Anne 

Kuchinka's home. 

Thousands of people crowded the 

area to get a glimpse of Bob Hope 

and the scores of newsmen attending 

the unique premiere. Columns 

of free space the incident inspired 

in hundreds of newspapers, and the 

pages of publicity yet to break in 

the national magazines, attest to 

the high public interest. 

The big thrill of having a premiere 

right in her home belonged to Mrs. 

Kuchinka and was shared by her 

neighbors and fellow townspeople. 

There must have been millions of 

other theatre patrons envying Mrs. 

Kuchinka and at the same time 

feeling a vicarious pleasure in her 

good fortune. 

Showmanship has been defined by 

many people and in many ambiguous 

terms. Imagination must take 

precedence, however, in any interpretation 

of showmanship. And 

imagination which in turn fires the 

imagination of a large segment of 

the public can truly be termed an 

outstanding example of showmanship. 

Jerry Pickman and his staff of exploiteers 

at Paramount are deserving 

of an accolade for their imagination 

in promoting a private fireside 

premiere starring Mr. and Mrs. 

Movie Fan for a change. 

As a refreshing sidelight to a 

story published in last week's Showmandiser, 

we have a letter from 

Harold Stern, manager of the Vogue 

Theatre in the Bronx, N. Y. Stern 

recently concluded a successful 

Beautiful Child contest with a 

judges committee composed of Macdonald 

Carey, film star; Candy 

Jones, well-known model; and Russell 

Paterson, the illustrator. 

Many of Stern's colleagues were 

surprised to learn that, after advertising 

the appearance of the 

judges for almost a month in advance, 

they all showed upâs advertised. 

The surprise element 

derives from the fact that the Vogue 

is a sub-subsequent run house. 

(Continued on next page) 

Syracuse Atom Bomb Short Gets 

Big-Scale Premiere at Keith's 

Fusing two separate campaigns for "Painting 

the Clouds With Sun.shine" and a special 

March of Time release, "And a Voice 

Shall Be Heard." Sol Sorkin. manager of the 

RKO Keith's, Syracuse. N. Y., had earnest 

cooperation from civic officials, commercial 

enterprise and civil defen.se executives in 

arousing wide interest in the program. 

The short film was produced by contract 

for the General Electric Co. That organization 

made the premiere showing a matter 

of great local interest by acting as host 

at a cocktail party attended by prominent 

Syracuse citizens before they were transported 

to the theatre to see the premiere. 

The film deals with the recent te.st to determine 

the effect and emergency handling 

of a large-scale atom attack on an American 

city. 

General Electric also paid tor a marquee 

valance advertising the film, supplied a 

large exhibit of electronic devices in the 

theatre lobby, and obtained a giant searchlight 

from the fire department for the premiere 

as well as drum corps to head a parade 

to the theatre. In addition station 

WNDR recorded the premiere activities from 

the lobby and rebroadcast them through 

G.E. The local press was generous in coverage 

with both reporters and photographers. 

Highlight of the campaign to exploit 

"Painting the Clouds With Sunshine" was a 

tieup with the Berwald Concert singers. A 

trailer invited amateur performers to enroll 

for auditions and those who qualified were 

promised an opportunity to participate in a 

concert in conjunction with the premiere. 

Supplementing the premiere stage ceremonies 

for the .short subject, therefore, the choral 

groups presented a medley of songs including 

"Painting the Clouds With Sunshine" 

.JtHis z^. 

General Electric Co., supplies searchlights 

and band ior opening night in 

Syracuse. 

and tunes composed by the late Sigmund 

Romberg. 

Capital records arranged for window tieups 

in seven downtown music shops plugging the 

theatre dates; disk jockeys featured music 

from the production with theatre credits, and 

a mystery tune contest was sponsored on 

the Bob O'Donnell show over station WSYR. 

According to Sorkin. results of the exploitai;ion 

for the show made an appreciable improvement 

in attendance and grosses. 

Uses Color Heralds 

R. T. McNamara. manager of the Allyn, 

Hartford. Conn., distributed several thousand 

special exchange heralds in full color to exploit 

"When Worlds Collide." One side of 

the herald was imprinted with "See" copy plus 

theatre dates. 

Lobby promotion includes exhibit of defense electronics display and recruiting booth to 

enlist civil defense volunteers. Interest is evident. 

BOXOFFICE Showmandiser :: Dec. 1, 1951 — 269 — 33

Two Contests Create 

Interest for 'Anne' 

At New Haven 

Two contests, one sponsored by the Italianlanguage 

newspaper, Corriere del Connecticut, 

and a guessing contest in a downtown store 

window were among some of the promotion 

facets which helped to exploit "Anne of the 

Indies" for Sid Kleper, manager of the College 

Theatre, New Haven. 

The newspaper ran a three-column linedrawing 

of an action scene from the picture 

and offered guest tickets to readers for 

the best crayon or water-color of this sketch. 

Picture and theatre playdates were prominently 

mentioned. 

A one-gallon glass jug filled with pennies 

was planted in a prominently located store 

window, with a sign inviting the public to 

guess the number of coins in the display. 

Theatre passes were again offered as prizes 

for those coming closest to the exact figure. 

Music stores plugged the sheet music with 

posters and accessories advertising the theatre 

attraction. Daily announcements on radio 

stations WBIB and WYBC advertised the 

playdates, and station WELI sponsored a 

one-day anagram contest based on the title 

of the picture. Station WAVZ sponsored a 

tune identification contest for two days, with 

picture and theatre getting liberal plugs. 

Milk bars featured an "Anne of the Indies" 

pirate sundae. Special window tieups were 

made with hobby shops, book stores in conjunction 

with pirate and action stories, beauty 

salons, women's specialty shops and jewelry 

stores. 

One of the daily newspapers published a 

a story announcing that all adults attending 

the opening day performances at the College 

dressed in pirate costume woud be admitted 

free. 

Two thousand two-color heralds were distributed 

at Yale Bowl following a football 

game. A girl dressed in pirate costume 

walked through the downtown shopping district 

carrying signs lettered with provocative 

copy. 

In the theatre lobby, giant cutouts from the 

24-sheet were mounted and cut out as standee 

displays. For current ballyhoo, pennants were 

strung around the marquee, and a flash front 

helped to attract attention to the picture. 

Stage Games Increase 

Saturday Attendance 

For a period of seven weeks, Addie Addison, 

manager of the Bibb, Macon, Ga., built up his 

Saturday matinee kid trade for an average of 

150 to 800 kids every week. Each week, the 

youngsters participated in contests and stage 

games, and received a gift from a grab-bag. 

Local merchants sponsored the stage activities 

and provided ice cream, toys, etc., in 

addition to the prizes. 

Uses 24-Sheet Truck 

A truck bannered with 24-sheets heralding 

the opening of "Across the Wide Mi.s.souri" 

at the Gopher Theatre, Minneapolis, was one 

of several effective ballyhoos used by Manager 

Gordon Rydeen. The truck covered the 

downtown area during peak shopping hours 

and also toured the .suburban neighborhoods. 

34 

fimim 

1 til 

maainauon 

(Continued from preceding page) 

When Stem phoned Macdonald Carey 

and asked him to judge the contest, the 

star accepted graciously and with alacrity. 

Apologetically, Stern explained he could 

make no guarantees regarding publicity or 

advertising. Carey then gave the lie to 

the impression that all stars are stuffed 

shirts with big heads by replying that he 

needed the theatre as much as the theatre 

needed him. 

It might help to lower some of the raised 

eyebrows, occasioned when Carey showed 

up at the Vogue, by noting that Stem 

operates on the theory that if a manager 

wants something which may help his business, 

the simplest way of getting it is the 

way he does—by asking. 

That, too, 

requires imagination. 

— Chester Friedman 

Officials Christen 

Streetcar 'Desire' 

Tlie Indiana state premiere of "A Streetcar 

Named Desire" at Keith's in Indianapolis 

had an advance publicity build-up for three 

weeks by Manager Dal Schuder. Theatre 

lobby displays, teaser ads and radio plugs 

helped to whet the appetite of the patron 

and a novel tieup with the city transportation 

company supplied additional interest on 

opening day. 

A trolley car was stopped in front of 

Keith's for five minutes, during which impressive 

ceremonies were staged while the 

car was christened "Desire." Radio station 

WIBC recorded the speeches on tape and 

broadcast the details later that day. Officiating 

were theatre executives and heads of 

the transportation company. 

All three daily newspapers in the city 

carried news stories and photos, with mention 

of the theatre attraction and playdates. 

Merchants Gôperate 

On Beauty Competition 

With cooperation from civic-minded merchants. 

Bob Harvey, manager of the Broadway, 

Timmins, Ont., recently conducted a 

successful beauty contest which attracted a 

capacity audience to the theatre. The merchants 

supplied an assortment of gifts for 

winners, which were placed on display in the 

theatre lobby. Local beauties were invited to 

enter their photos in the competition, and 

these were placed on an attractive board 

amidst the gifts. 

Sets Four 'Alice' Displays 

Harri.son Howe, manager of the Paramount, 

St. John, N. B., made an outstanding tieup 

with Calp's department store in conjunction 

with his engagement of "Alice in Wonderland." 

The store devoted four front window.s 

to "Alice" merchandise, with are advertising 

the picture playdates. Displays inside 

the store further helped to focus attention 

on the Paramount booking. 

— 270 — 

Legion Post Selects 

Veteran of Year as 

Tie-in for 'Tanks' 

The Lima (Ohio) Ordnance Depot, the army 

recruiting office, and the American Legion 

cooperated with Ted Davidson, manager of 

the Ohio Theatre in Lima, in exploiting "The 

Tanks Are Coming." 

Through army officials, one-sheets advertising 

the picture with theatre credits were 

posted on all army A-boards, and an army 

tank was on exhibit in front of the theatre 

three days prior to playdate with recruiting 

signs urging the pubUc to see "The Tanks Are 

Coming." 

On opening night, a huge army searchlight 

fingered the sky from in front of the 

Ohio, attracting large crowds to the area. The 

American Legion, in conjunction with the picture, 

named a Veteran of the Year, the publicity 

getting extra space in the local columns. 

The selected candidate received a scroll on the 

theatre stage opening night, with due ceremony. 

The American Legion band and contingents 

of uniformed army personnel paraded 

to the theatre prior to the stage ceremonies. 

Public-spirited merchants sponsored a 75- 

inch newspaper ad incorporating a large cut 

for the world premiere showing of the picture, 

topped by an American Legion salute to their 

veteran of the year. 

Advance lobby displays and window tie-ups 

further helped to exploit the playdates. 

Log Cabin Boxoffice 

Sells 'Convict Lake' 

Leo Charlton, manager of the Oxford, Hali 

fax, N. S., transformed the boxoffice into a i 

log cabin to direct attention to his engagement 

of "The Secret of fconvict Lake." The 

stnut proved to be a real eye-catcher and 

was responsible for increased attendance diu'- 

ing the picture's run. 

The decorative panels on the walls above 

the theatre entrance are used regularly by 

Charlton for inexpensive displays which serve 

to publicize coming attractions. Litho cutouts 

are judiciously spotted against these 

panels, with a sign calling attention to the 

playdates. 

Contest in Newspaper 

Promotes 'Missouri' 

Ben Geary, manager of the Athena, Athens, 

Ohio, had an effective tieup with the classified 

ad section of his daily paper as part of 

his campaign to exploit "Across the Wide 

Missouri." The paper used the mat contest 

for three successive days with the headline, 

"Follow the Indian Trail of Clark Gable, etc." 

A box on the front page called the attention 

of readers to the contest. Theatre passes were 

offered daily as prizes to winners. 

Chiets Bally 'Defiance 

Lobby ballyhoo for "Fort Defiance " 

prior to 

its opening at the Paramount in Denver, included 

four chiefs repre.senting a tribe of Indians 

who performed ceremonial dances for 

theatre patrons. Stunt wa.s arranged by 

Manager Ralph Batschelet and was publicized 

in the columns of the Denver papers. 

BOXOFFICE Showmandiser : 

: Dec. 1, 1961

' 

I 

I 

gyms, 

I 

patronage, 

I 

co-op 

j 

used 

; 

to 

I 

Earth 

I 

fense 

i 

see 

Photos Indicate 'Callaway Went Thataway 

Carl Rogers, manager oi Loews, Dayton, came up with a lew 

new ideas as well as old ballyhoo stunts to help him put over 

"Callaway Went Thataway." He iound a new use for placards, 

placing them on 50 hydrants in the dowtitown section. His sandwich-sign 

man is shown second from left with an idea borrowed 

from a Coney Island souvenir photo gimmick. Barrel stunt drew 

many people—and laughs— in front oi the theatre. Title was catchline 

that caught on with the public. Marquee cutout, right, also 

has the thumb-directional idea which created oral publicity for 

the picture. 

Civil Defense Aides 

Publicize 'Earth' 

I 

W. J. Straub, manager of the Hippodrome, 

Pottstown, Pa., tied in with the civil defense 

)• 

to run a special test of all sirens in the city 

at noon on opening day of "The Day the 

Stood Still." The director of civil de- 

went on the air to urge the public to 

the picture. 

Straub went before the science class in the 

local high school and made a personal pitch 

for the picture. Two hundred and fifty robot 

masks with theatre imprint were distributed 

children in the grade schools. 

Litho cutouts adorned the lobby and were 

out front. Three teaser trailers were 

screened a month in advance, 50 counter 

cards were placed in stores, and a quantity 

of window cards were exhibited in clubs, 

bars and barber shops, aimed at male 

A local merchant sponsored a 

deal for the distribution of 1,000 tabloid 

heralds. 

A coat-hanger matinee on opening day, 

sponsored by a dry-cleaning establishment, 

insured top attendance for the matinee. A 

turkey giveaway on the stage the night of 

the show helped build adult attendance that 

night. 

Circular Is Elongated 

For 'Little Egypt' Art 

The unusual size and layout of a special 

herald prepared by W. S. Samuels, manager 

of the Lamar, Beaumont, Tex., helped sell 

"Little Egypt" prior to its recent engagement 

there. The circular measured seven inches by 

20 inches, and featured a full-length illustration 

of Rhonda Fleming in a dance pose. 

Special copy augmented the layout, emphasizing 

the "hootchie-kootchie dance that rocked 

the Chicago World's Fair." 

Horror Program Sold 

With Mummy Display 

Ray Boyea, manager of the Mohawk Theatre, 

Amsterdam, N. Y., created an effective 

lobby display to ballyhoo a horror program 

consisting of "The Mummy's Curse" and 

"House of Horrors." With rolls of paper and 

some padding, he built a dummy figure with 

the head wrapped in white cloth. This wa.s 

placed on a table under a green spotlight. 

Special heralds were placed nearby with a 

sign urging patrons to "take one." 

To get greater attention for his trailer, a 

piece of green gelatin was placed before the 

projector aperture, thus tinting the screen. 

Brewery Tieup Nets Ale 

For Patrons in England 

R. G. Mason, manager of the Gaumont 

Cinema, Sheffield, England, made a tieup 

with the Hope & Anchor Breweries, Ltd., 

and promoted 240 half-pint bottles of Jubilee 

stout. The bottles were placed in overimprinted 

wrappers and presented to patrons 

at specified periods a week prior to the opening 

of "Red Mountain." The giveaway was 

advertised sufficiently in advance. The deal 

was squared with a plug for the ale on the 

wrapper and the tie-in line, "We hope you 

will enjoy the stout as much as you will 'Red 

Mountain.' 

Postcards for 'Earth' 

J. p. Harrison, manager of the Campus Theatre, 

Denton, Tex., mailed postcards to a 

select list of theatre patrons, imprinted with 

an advance plug for "The Day the Earth 

Stood Still." With the selling copy was a cut 

of Drew Pearson and his prediction that the 

film will be one of the most talked about 

pictures of the year. He further predicted 

that the recipient of the card would be one 

of a thousand who would not miss seeing 

"this interplanetary shocker." 

Legion Tieup Sells 

'Leathernecks' 

Bill Dodds, manager of the Paramount, 

Hamilton, Ohio, recently joined his local 

American Legion post and made it the basis 

of an excellent publicity tieup in conjunction 

with the booking of "Flying Leathernecks." 

The tieup culminated in special stage ceremonies 

opening night at which time Dodds 

was inducted as a member of the post. The 

commander of the post and a marine recruiter 

addressed the audience, and a marine 

veteran from Korea related some of his 

war experiences. 

Dodds arranged for a color guard from 

the marine recruiting group and staged a 

parade to the theatre with contingents of 

soldiers and Legionnaires. Music was furnished 

by the high school band, the marine 

league band and the Legion band. 

An exhibit of weapons was set up in the 

theatre lobby along with a recruiting booth 

for the marine corps. 

Masked Ballyhoo Man 

Steps Out for 'Golden' 

Ray LaBounty, manager of the Liberty, 

Cumberland, Md., used an effective street 

ballyhoo for the engagement of "The Golden 

Horde." He had a man wear a mandarin 

dressing robe and hat with a Mongolian mask 

covering his features. The man. well over six 

feet in height, carried a sign plugging the 

playdates and attracted unusual attention 

everywhere he appeared. 

To exploit "A Streetcar Named Desire," La 

Bounty sold a co-op herald to a local merchant 

and had his ushers deliver them houseto-house. 

An additional quantity was mailed 

to the rural routes. Personal letters were addressed 

to members of clubs and civic organizations, 

and cards in taxicabs helped to 

stimulate interest in the film production. 

BOXOFTICE Showmandiser : 

: Dec, 1, 1951 — 271 — 35

Originality Plus Standard Media 

Keep 'Earth' Publicity Whirling 

Twentieth Century-Fox is putting cash on 

the line as an incentive for theatremen to 

get behind local sales promotion of "The 

Day the Earth Stood Still." Judging from 

the number of entries and the scale of these 

campaigns, reports on which arrive at BOX- 

OFFICE daily, the picture may claim distmction 

as the most exploited film of the 

year. The campaigns follow a standard pattern 

of promotion and tieups. mixed with 

all the trick gags and ideas the contestants 

have been accumulating during their experience 

as showmen. 

One of the more original ideas used to 

gain extra publicity was conceived by Adam 

Goelz, manager of the Hippodrome in Baltimore. 

Goelz dispatched a theatre employe 

to Washington, then had him fly by TWA 

back to Baltimore. During the flight, the 

man was dressed in a space suit, arriving 

as "a man from another world." 

Goelz tipped the newspapers with the 

result that there were photographers on hand 

when the plane landed. A recruiting sergeant 

for the marines was also on hand ready to 

sign up the visitor for service. The stunt 

was also productive publicitywise through 

interviews on Baltimore radio and television 

shows. 

20,000 TABLOID HERALDS 

Supporting the regular theatre advertising, 

Goelz distributed 20,000 special tabloid heralds, 

most of which went out as inserts in 

the Baltimore Home News. Theatre displays 

featured cutouts of the robot with special 

lighting effects. Soda fountains featured a 

drink called "The Robot." A window display 

was arranged at the Enoch Arden library 

and a space suit man appeared in public 

places and on the streets with signs calling 

attention to the Hippodrome engagement. 

Ray Boyea, manager of the Mohawk Theatre, 

Amsterdam, N. Y., used the top of his 

marquee for an unusual stunt which had 

hundreds of people stopping to report a "fire." 

A huge cutout of the robot was placed on 

the canopy where it was visible to motorists 

and tourists. A steam line was run behind 

the figure and at night colored bulbs gave 

the impression there was a fire in progress. 

This created excellent word-of-mouth publicity. 

A space suit man, acting like a robot, 

attracted attention to the picture in the 

business area and a sound truck was engaged 

to tour the downtown and suburban 

sections. Thirty pictorial three-sheets were 

posted: tabloid heralds were mailed to 2,000 

rural boxholders and distributed by news 

carriers in the urban sections, and through 

a tieup with the Civil Defense committee, 

volunteers were enlisted in the lobby throughout 

the run of the picture. 

HEAVY OUTDOOR BALLY 

At the Palace Theatre, Meriden, Conn.. 

Manager Tony Massella used every possible 

outdoor medium to sell his playdates. He 

used a flash front, auto bumper strips, 

window cards, miniature die-cut standees, 

litho posters, snowbirds and tabloid heralds, 

all prior to opening. 

Merchant shopping bags were imprinted 

with theatre copy, place mats with imprint 

were distributed to eating places, pay envelopes 

distributed at factories carried picture 

and theatre copy and window displays 

were set with many merchants. 

In addition, Massella had the library distribute 

bookmarks and set up book display,^: 

he promoted free radio time, gave out 200 

robot masks at local schools and enlisted the 

cooperation of teachers who plugged the film 

Exhibit of astronomical equipment and photos ol the solar system at the Paramount Theatre, 

Portland, Ore., were borrowed through the courtesy oi ofiicials at the Oregon Museum 

of Science and Industry. 

Marine non-coms greet the "man from 

another world" as he alights at Baltimore 

airport from Washinglon. They 

were there to sign him up as a recruit 

and to help promote "The Day the 

Earth Stood Still." 

in classrooms. 

A street stunt, used by Manager Lou 

Cohen at the Poll Theatre, Hartford, Conn., 

resulted in a new photo being published by 

the Hartford Times. Cohen announced that 

a "man from Mars," a space suit man, would 

release 50 giant target balloons, each with a 

pass attached, at a specified time and place. 

The editor of the paper, impressed by the 

interest of the public, ran the picture. 

The theatre also received additional coverage 

from the press and from radio news 

commentators and disk jockeys. 

Oscar Nyberg, manager of the Paramount 

Theatre, Portland, Ore., tied up with the Oregon 

Museum of Science and Industry to 

obtain a novel lobby display which helped 

arouse advance interest in his playdates. 

An enlarged photograph of the moon was 

one of the features of the exhibit and the 

museum director supplied several telescopes 

and a variety of photographs of constellations 

and planets which made an effective 

flash. 

AN UNUSUAL EXHIBIT 

At the Oriental Theatre in Portland, Manager 

Bert Gamble also procured an unusual 

exhibit for his lobby. This consisted 

of two cast-iron robots. The nose, eais. 

etc., were large nuts affixed to bolts and 

were impressive in appearance. 

Duke Stalcup, manager of the Martin Theatre, 

Opelika, Ala., took to the air to sell 

his playdates by using special recordings on 

radio station WJHO and the Auburn station, 

WAUD. He also promoted free plugs via a 

co-op deal with a quiz program on WJHO. 

Every highway leading into town was 

posted with three- and six-sheets. A sound 

truck ballyhooed the picture in the rural 

areas, and during the current engagement, 

a searchlight truck was stationed in front 

of the theatre, the light attracting people 

from the entire area. 

In the lobby, Stalcup displayed a 24-sheet 

cutout of the robot with a modified oscillating 

fan providing animation by moving the 

arm and leg of the girl in the robot's arms. 

A huge telescope was constructed and patron.s 

were invited by a sign nearby to "Look 

5,000 years into the future." Persons who 

"peeked," had the illusion, through special 

optical effects, of seeing robots, space ships 

and planets whirling around on a vast horizon 

of star-filled sky. 

36 — 272 — BOXOFFICE Showmandiser 

: : Dec. 1, 1951

I 

I 

the 

} 

ceded 

; 

pared 

I 

cards 

\ 

edition 

; 

agency 

j 

advertising 

j 

umns 

' 

prior 

' 

were 

I 

to opening. Advance and current stories 

planted in the Norwich Bulletin and 

Record. Exchange heralds were imprinted lo- 

and inserted in Sunday newspapers 

to opening, through the cooperation of 

the Shea news agency. 

A movie title quiz based on films starring 

Shelley Winters was promoted through special 

heralds. Sidewalk stencils were placed at 

important crosswalks, and advance lobby displays 

featured Shelley Winters portraits with 

j 

cally 

1 prior 

OK* 

() 

FPC Chain Managers 

Build Up Goodwill 

Via Royal Visit 

The result vi.sit of Princes.s Elizabeth and 

the Duke of Edinburgh to Canada gave 

Famous Players Canadian theatre managers 

many opportunities to demonstrate their civic 

loyalty, pride and showmanship. 

Jack Watson, manager of the Grand, 

Regina, Sask,. earned the prai.se of the 

commanding army officer in the area and 

an editorial in the Regina Leader-Post by 

opening his refreshment bar and serving hot 

coffee to troops lining the streets while 

awaiting the arrival of the royal couple. 

Many of the troops had been standing for 

two hours in the cold when Watson decided 

to ."êrve the steaming hot drink. 

Bill Murke, manager of the Capitol, Brantford. 

Ont., is another showman who made a 

hit with the townspeople. When the visiting 

royalty arrived, it was night and illumination 

was inadequate along the line of march. 

With foresight. Burke had arranged with 

city officials to place spotlights on the roofs 

of the Capitol and Paramount theatres, and 

persuaded lATSE operators to volunteer 

their services in installing and operating the 

spotlights. As a result, the spectators had 

a good view of the royal visitors. Although 

the theatres were closed as part of the 

holiday. Burke ordered all lights turned on 

so that in front of both houses, the spectators 

had the advantage of extra illmumination. 

Pocketbook Tieup Aids 

'Raging Tide' at Norwich 

The engagement of 

"The Raging Tide" at 

Poll Theatre. Norwich. Conn., was preby 

a strong exploitation campaign preby 

Manager Joseph Boyle. The Kaufman 

news agency cooperated by distributing 

to news dealers, advertising the Perma 

of the book adapted to the screen. The 

also bannered its trucks with signs 

the theatre dates. 

Teaser ads were placed in the classified col- 

of the local press beginning three days 

special 

copy. 

'People vs. O'Hara' Copy 

Is Printed on Summons 

For "People Against O'Hara." Al Hatoff. 

manager of the Park Theatre in Brooklyn, 

distributed several thousand heralds made up 

to represent an official court summons. To 

achieve a realistic appearance, regular form 

summonses prepared by a law-blank publishing 

firm were purchased and imprinted with 

proper copy. The stunt was especially effective 

since the associate feature. "The Law 

and the Lady," was also suitable for a "legal" 

tie-in. 

BOXOFFICE Showmandiser :: Dec. 1. 1951 

Clown Appearance Has 

Excellent Publicity 

The personal appearance of the popular 

Howdy Doody clown, Clarabel, at the Strand 

in Delaware, Ohio, gave Manager Monroe 

Kaplan an opportunity to tie up with his local 

schools and assure top attendance. 

He arranged a personal appearance of 

Clarabel on the Columbu.s television station, 

contacted 14 schools in the area and got each 

to make announcements in classrooms. 

Teachers al.so assisted by passing out circulars 

advertising the show to their students. 

In four .schools, Kaplan obtained permission 

to address the students at a.ssembly and 

also had the cooperation of four supermarkets 

in the distribution of circulars. 

Blind Date Contest 

Ties in Festival 

With excellent new,spaper publicity punctuating 

each phase of the campaign, a Blind 

Date contest conducted by Joseph Bugala, 

manager of the Manos. Uniontown, Pa., was 

tied in with the Fall Foliage festival, annual 

event sponsored by local merchants. 

Thirteen couples were selected by balloting 

among 17 Fayette county high .schools. The 

girls were chosen by the votes of their schoolmates, 

and they, in turn, chose their own escorts. 

Six couples were dated on the stage of 

the State one night and seven couples were 

presented to the audience the following night. 

Don C. Hayman, editor of the Evening Standard's 

Junior Reporter club, acted as master of 

ceremonies for the two shows. 

A festival queen was selected from among 

the 13 couples. All 13 couples received prizes 

and were guests at a Cinderella Couple dinner. 

Retail stores featured window displays, 

and high school faculty members cooperated 

with Bugala. 

Football Squad Tie-in 

Aids 'Golden Horde' 

A tie-in angled on the title of "The Golden 

Horde" got extra news stories in the press 

for Dillon Krepps, manager of the United 

Artists in Detroit. 

Krepps slanted his story on the fact that 

the Wayne university football team has been 

called the Tartars for a quarter of a century. 

Historically, "The Golden Horde" is 

known as the Tartar tribe and it was this 

coincidence that inspired Krepps to invite 

the Wayne football squad to be his guests on 

opening night of the picture. 

In addition to newspaper publicity, university 

officials cooperated in the promotion 

of the theatre playdates through bulletins. 

Merchant Spots Puzzle 

In Ads for 'Sunshine' 

Jack Harvey, manager of the Palace. Danbury, 

Conn., arranged a novel tieup with 

the local Kaiser dealer to provide extra advertising 

for "Painting the Clouds With Sunshine." 

The motor company inserted a section 

of a regular display ad on the picture 

in its daily newspaper advertisement. Readers 

were invited to save the parts and piece 

them together in a jigsaw puzzle to win free 

theatre tickets to the Palace. The stunt ran 

several days. 

— 273 — 

Merchant Co-Op Plus 

Star's Appearance 

Aids 'Red Shoes' 

The ijcr.oiicil appearance ol Jean Kent 

with the booking of "The Red Shoes" and the 

dance theme of the film production Inspired 

extensive exploitation and publicity campaign 

by Lily Watt, manager of the Odeon, 

Coatbridge, Lanarkshire. Scotland. 

Several window displays were arranged 

with merchants, featuring ballet figures set 

again.st appropriate backgrounds with signs 

calling attention to the theatre dates. Music 

teachers, school headmasters and members of 

local music groups were circularized by letter 

In order to arouse the interest of thehlgher 

intellectuals in the community. 

Mi.ss Kent, one of the best-known personalities 

ever to visit Coatbridge, received 

a Royal Scots welcome as a result of Mi.ss 

Watt's enthu.siasm. 

c\roH' »o 

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37

IT 

NAMES rOU-AND 

IHOUSkHDS OF OTHERS 

AS BENEFICIARIES 

Here's something to 

be Thankful for — 

During IhU Thanksgiving season let us 

all be thankful that the amusement industry 

has undertaken this wonderful 

humanitarian work— that of routing TB 

— man's most deadly disease. 

Your contribution gives you 

MEMBERSHIP in 

and 

the 

WILL ROGERS MEMORIAL 

HOSPITAL 

1.— Core for those in the amusement industry 

who ore afflicted with tuberculosis.. 

.to return them to their families, 

their jobs, in good health— mentally and 

physically 

2.— Advancement of a tuberculosis educational 

program throughout the industry—to 

help stop TB before it becomes 

seriously entrenched 

3.— Development of research in this field; 

ever seeking belter and more advanced 

methods of controlling and curing TB 

4 — Continued search for the hidden 

cause and source of TB infection, and 

help in developing prevention and 

medication 

If you're an exhibitor— get every employee 

to contribute to the hospital fund 

—to Join. 

If you're an employee—JOINI— and be 

thankful that you're a part owner in the 

Amusement Industry's only hospital. 

OF INSURANCE COVERAGE IS TH/S.^ It's not 

a written policy—yet its benefits have been available 

for a quarter of a century to help ANYONE 

in the amusement industry 

(and their families) 

to combat and conquer tuberculosis—at no cost! 

It's your membership in the Variety Clubs- 

Will Rogers Memorial Hospital at Saranac Lake 

...and the premium is only your voluntary contribution 

to the Hospital Fund. 

THE WILL ROGERS 

MEMORIAL HOSPITAL 

has earned the enviable record of 90% plus in 

cures of tuberculosis... a tribute to its sincerity, 

its techniques, and its facilities. Of 853 patients 

admitted— at no cost— 771 were completely cured 

—rehabilitated, and returned to useful and happy 

lives. 

The hospital employs the greatest medical 

knowledge and equipment. It maintains an institution 

valued at a million-and-a-half dollars. 

It 

Anyone in the amusement 

industry who needs it is 

offered free core and the 

best medical attention 

available to combat TB 

renders ituUiidiuil care, and it conducts a C 

stant and intense educational and research p 

gram purely on the voluntary contributions 

the amusement industry, which is blessed * 

the biggest heart in the world, and... 

WQ cat^ fi>r ouroWn 

VARIETY CLUBS- WILL ROGERS MEMORIAL HOSPITAi 

T^he only hospital operated by and for the amusement industry 

1301 Broadwoy, Room 30)1, N*v« York 18, N. Y. • BRyant 9-0146-7

f 

UA Would Halt Sale 

Oi ELC 16mm Films 

NEW YORK—United Artists will try to 

prevent the sale by Pictorial Films in 16mm 

of seven former Eagle Lion Classics releases. 

Seymour M. Peyser, counsel, is checking the 

legal position of the company through producer 

contracts on each film. 

The UA statement followed 

one by Milton 

J. Salzburg, owner of Cornell Film Co., and 

Frank Soule, Pictorial president, that they 

had acquired control of Pictorial from Pathe 

Industries and intended to release the former 

ELC films in the 16mm field "in the coming 

months." One is "The Long Dark Hall," released 

by UA in April, which is now playing 

subsequent run at the local RKO neighborhood 

theatres. 

The others are: "Destination Moon," "The 

Jackie Robi:ison Story," "The Winslow Boy," 

"The Great Rupert," "The Golden Gloves 

Story" and "Tulsa." They were among 375 

features and 250 short subjects to which Pictorial 

said it had all rights. 

Soule is chairman of the board of Pictorial 

and Salzburg is president. SaLsburg was one 

of the founders of the company, was president 

when it was sold in 1945 to Pathe Industries 

and remained as president and general 

sales manager until 1947. Soule has been 

connected with Republic, Eagle Lion and 

Pathe Industries. Pictorial has been specializing 

in non-theatrical films. 

Salzburg said some of the films on the 

Pictorial list will be released to television but 

that the bulk of them will not be. He did 

not identify those intended for television. His 

return to Pictorial followed by a week the 

purchase by Motion Pictures Unlimited, a 

new company formed by Soule, of Pictorial 

from Pathe Industries. Soule said then he 

had no television plans. 

Justice Dept. May Enter 

Dipson High Court Case 

WASHINGTON—The Department of 

Justice 

will intervene in the Dipson case before 

the Supreme Court, it was indicated on Thursday 

(29). The DofJ, an official said, will ask 

the Supreme Court to grant Dipson a rehearing, 

Dipson Theatres had originally charged all 

eight major distributors and the Shea circuit 

in Buffalo, N. Y., with conspiracy to deprive 

four Dipson theatres of proper runs and 

clearances. The district court dismissed the 

complaints and Dipson dropped Universal and 

Columbia in taking the case to the appeals 

court, which also decided against the complaint. 

The petition to the Supreme Court was 

further narrowed down, and now it is charged 

only that the Bailey Theatre had been demoted 

from a second to a third-run house by 

the alleged conspiracy, with the more favored 

runs going to the Shea chain's Kensington. 

Dipson alleged that the appeals court did 

not properly apply the Supreme Court verdict 

in the Paramount case, an argument which 

will form the basis for Department of Justice 

intervention with the future filing of an 

amicus curiae brief. The Justice department 

will argue that the Supreme Court held pooling 

and joint ownership illegal per se. while 

the appeals court said proof of conspiracy had 

to be shown. 

W. f. Rodgers Resigns; 

Reagan His Successor 

New York—Nicholas M. Schenck, president of Loew's, Inc., 

announced 

Friday (30) that Charles M. Reagan had been named vice-president in 

charge of distribution for MGM effective January 1. He will succeed William 

F. Rodgers who, Schenck stated, had asked to be relieved of his duties. 

Rodgers will remain with MGM for a minimum of two years as a vicepresident 

in an advisory capacity. He will continue to make his headquarters 

at the home office. 

Making the announcement, Mr. Schenck stated, "Mr. Rodgers, who has 

served as MGM's vice-president and general sales manager for many years, 

has asked that he be reUeved of his responsibilities and, because of his 

insistence, we have acceded to his wishes. I am happy to state that Mr. 

Rodgers will remain with Loew's as a vice-president for a minimum of two 

years as advisor and consultant on sales activities and will continue to make 

his headquarters at the company's offices at 1540 Broadway." 

In commenting on Mr. Reagan's appointment, Mr. Schenck said, "I consider 

Mr. Reagan to be especially qualified to assume his new position and 

to succeed Mr. Rodgers." 

Prior to joining Loew's, Inc. in an executive capacity in 1949, Mr. 

Reagan was vice-president and general sales manager of Paramount 

Pictures, Inc. 

Salt Lake, Pittsburgh Tours 

For Movietime Opened 

HOLLYWOOD — Tw9 Movietime, 

U.S.A. 

units opened tours November 26 in the Salt 

Lake City and Pittsburgh exchange areas. 

The Utah group kicked off its junket with 

a luncheon with Gov. J. Bracken Lee, following 

a pre-tour appearance by Producer Anson 

Bond, who delivered a Sunday sermon in a 

chapel of the Mormon temple. The COMPOsponsored 

program was opened by Dean Jagger, 

Noreen Michael, Marilyn Nash, Paula 

Raymond, Marshall Thompson, Keenan 

Wynn and Writer Dane Lussier, and subsequently 

broke up into three groups to cover 

Utah, Idaho and eastern Nevada. 

In Pennsylvania, James Craig, Mel Ferrer, 

Jody Lawrence and Frank Lovejoy covered 

McKeesport, Washington, New Kensington, 

Tarentum and Connellsville, were guests of 

honor at an Allied States conclave in Pittsburgh, 

and visited another dozen towns in 

the steel district. 

A third group was slated to plane out Sunday 

(2) for New Orleans to open a week's 

tour of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. 

Paramount Sets Films 

For B'way First Runs 

NEW YORK—Paramount has set bookings 

at New York first run theatres for three of 

its forthcoming pictures. George Pal's "When 

Worlds Collide" will open at the Mayfair 

following the current run of "Detective 

Story," which opened November 6. "Warpath," 

produced by Nat Holt, previously announced 

for the Mayfair, will open at the 

Globe following "Tlie Desert Fox." "Crosswinds," 

Pine and Thomas picture, will follow 

"Warpath" at the Globe. 

Sutphen Requests Review 

On Intervention Appeal 

WASHINGTON—The Sutphen Estates on 

Thursday (29) asked the Supreme Court for 

a rehearing of its refusal to review the appeal 

for intervention in the Warner consent decree. 

Warners had guaranteed Sutphen ease of 

the Warner (then Strand i Theatre in New 

York to a Warner subsidiary. Under the 

decree the theatre goes to the new theatre 

company, but Sutphen told the New York 

statutory court the assumption of the guarantee 

by this company w'as not strong enough, 

and it wanted guarantees from both new 

firms. The court turned down the request for 

intervention, and the Supreme Court denied 

a petition for review. 

Granting of rehearings by the high court 

rarely is done. 

MPAA to Show French Film 

Offered for Distribution 

NEW YORK—"The Voyage to America." 

French feature, will be shown distributors 

Tuesday (,4i at the Paramount projection 

room by the Motion Picture Ass'n of America 

advisory unit for foreign films, according 

to B. Bernard Kreisler, director of the unit. 

Henri Lavorel, producer-director of the 

film, which co-stars Pierre Fresnay and 

Yvonne Printemps, will attend to negotiate 

distribution rights for all countries in the 

western hemisphere except Canada. 

ABC Reports 9-Month Net 

NEW YORK—American Broadcasting Co., 

Inc., and its subsidiaries reports a net income 

of $77,000, after federal income taxes, for the 

nine months ended September 30. 1951. This 

compares with a loss of S877.000 for the nine 

months ended Sept. 30, 1950. 

BOXOFFICE : 

: December 1, 1951 N 39

. . Robert 

. . Horace 

. . . Rube 

. . Walter 

. . Orton 

\ 

BROADWAY 

TTan Heflin, featured in "Weekend With 

Father" for Universal, arrived from 

HoUj'wood for ten days of press and radio 

interviews in behalf of the picture . . 

Robert 

. 

Newton. British star who is in the forthcoming 

"Tom Brown's Schooldays," is here from 

London to participate in the promotion for 

the American opening at the Park Avenue 

Theatre in December . 

McMahon, 

who is featured in "Detective Story," was 

back from a 15-city appearance tour for the 

William Holden, Paramount star, 

picture . . . 

and actress-wife Brenda Marshall arrived 

from Hollywood November 28. Holden will 

appear on the Cavalcade of America radio 

show December 4 and the Theatre Guild of 

the Air December 9. 

. . . 

Sir Henry French, director-general of the 

British Film Producers Ass'n. returned to 

England on the Queen Elizabeth November 

27. John Boles, stage-screen star, and Jacques 

Faith, Parisian designer, were on the same 

boat Bernard Jacon, Lux Films vicepresident 

in charge of sales, left on a trip to 

exchanges in Los Angeles, San Francisco, 

Dallas, St. Louis. New Orleans, Jacksonville 

and Miami . . . Anatole Litvak, who produced 

and directed "Decision Before Dawn" for 

20th-Fox. was in from Hollywood to participate 

in the preopening activities for the late- 

December premiere at the Rivoli. 

Douglas Fairbanks jr., producer of "Another 

Man's Poison" for United Artists, arrived 

by plane from Hollywood November 27 

to confer with UA executives on the promotion 

plans . E. Pell, assistant to 

Alfred Crown, vice-president in charge of 

world sales for Samuel Goldwyn, resigned 

November 30 to become sales manager for 

Color Service Co., specializing in the development 

of 16mm color for motion picture and 

industrial firms. 

Harry Goldstein, Monogram-Allied Artists 

eastern exploitation representative, was back 

from Chicago, where he completed arrangements 

with Aladdin Industries for the joint 

promotion of Aladdin lamps and Walter 

Wanger's Cinecolor oroduction of "Aladdin 

Lamp" . . . Harold Hendee. research director 

for RKO. addressed the Lions club of New 

A center of interest at New York's Variety 

Club carnival-bazaar at the Astor 

hotel Thursday was the "first aid" station 

manned by pretty Moana Holt, who provided 

smelling salts for the winners and 

aspirin for the losers. Chief Barker Fred 

J. Schwartz and Main Guy Max Wolff 

seem to agree that Moana has what it 

takes to soothe the losers as well as winners 

of the capital prizes awarded that 

night. Winners of the awards: Ray Malone, 

Cadillac; John Guinan, Hudson; 

R. M. Cahn, Ford; Julius Coysone and 

Lois Tate, TV sets; Mrs. Al Mears, fur 

coat; theatre passes: Mrs. W. S. Kane, 

Mrs. Freidreich, N. Pierro, N. Francis and 

S. M. Miller. 

York on "Making the Movies the Real Mc- 

Coy" . . . The entire personnel of the Republic 

home office is giving blood donations, 

in groups of five, at the American Red Cross 

headquarters. 

Howard Dietz, MOM vice-president and director 

of advertising, publicity and exploitation, 

left November 27 by plane for a visit 

to the studio . . . Hayes Goetz, MGM producer, 

and Andrew Marton, director, arrived from 

JUDGES OF BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN—Everyone, including the judges, had a 

good time at the Beautiful Child contest staged recently at the Vogue Theatre in the 

Bronx by Manager Harold Stern. Judges of the finals were Macdonald Carey, the 

actor; Candy Jones, the model, and Russell Paterson, noted illustrator. Youngsters 

came to the event in droves along with parents. Shown arriving in the Vogue lobby, 

left to right: Richard Berner, Interboro circuit supervisor; Paterson, Carey, Stern 

and Miss Jones. 

. 

the coast November 29 and left immediatelj. 

by plane for England . . James R. Grainger 

. 

Republic executive vice-president in charge; 

of sales and distribution, flew to Omaha No-i 

vember 27 to participate in the "Omaha' 

Salutes the Strategic Air Command" celebra-l 

tion in connection with "The Wild Blue' 

Yonder" premiere L. Titus jr.,' 

Republic district manager, is visiting Cincinnati 

and Pittsburgh branches before return-, 

ing to the home office Monday (3i. 

A. W. Schwalberg, president of Paramount 

Film Distributing Corp., and Mrs. Schwalberg, 

the former Carmel Myers, returned November 

26 from their Florida honeymoon and 

cruise in West Indies waters aboard the yacht 

of Barney Balaban. Mrs. Schwalberg will 

resume her TV program, "The Carmel Myers 

Show," over WJZ-TV . H. Hicks, 

director of Loew's International Corp. 16mm 

department, left November 27 for the Far i 

East. He will visit MGM offices in Japan, 

tlie Philippines, Austraha and New Zealand 

; 

Jackter, Columbia assistant gen- \ 

eral sales manager, and George Josephs, 

assistant general sales 

: 

manager, and George 

Josephs, assistant to A. Montague, general 

salesmanager, are on a business trip to San 

Francisco. 

W. C. Gehring, assistant general salesmanager 

of 20th Century-Fox, returned to 

his desk November 26 after addressing the 

Movietime U.S.A. dinner in Dallas . . . Oscar 

Morgan, general salesmanager of short sub- I 

. . . 

jects and Paramount News, got back Novem- ( 

ber 6 from a one-week trip to Atlanta and 

Jacksonville Jerry Pickman, Paramount 

director of advertising and publicity, returned 

November 27 from Pittsburgh, where he addressed 

the Allied Theatre Owners of Western 

Pennsylvania Uda B. Ross, Westrex 

Corp. regional manager for Latin America, 

planed out of New York to visit the Caribbean 

area and review the company's operations 

in Puerto Rico, Venezuela and Panama 

. . . John Tassos. Paramount national syndicate 

and wire service contact, is taking a 

three-months sick leave and will return in 

February. 

Ampa Will Honor Weitmcm 

On Theatre Anniversary 

NEW YORK—The Associated 

Motion Picture 

Advertisers will honor Robert M. Weitman. 

managing director of the Paramount 

Theatre, at an industry luncheon at the Hotel 

Piccadilly Thursday (6i on the 25th anniversary 

of the flagsliip of United Paramount 

Tlieatres. AMPA is also celebratuig an anniversary, 

its 35th. Maurice A. Bergman, 

director of public relations for Universal, will 

deliver the tribute to Weitman. and heads of 

the various circuits in tlie metropolitan area 

will be honored guests. 

Federation Group Meets 

NEW YORK—Members of the executive 

and corporate gifts committees of tlie amusement 

division of the Federation of Jewish 

Pliilanthropies of New York met at tlie office 

of Barney Balaban, president of Paramount 

Pictures. Tliur.sday t29>. Among tlio,se present 

were Emanuel Friscli. amusement divi.sion 

chairman; Barney Balaban and Si Fabian, 

co-ciiairmen of the division; Leonard 

Goldenson, Sol Schwartz and Herman Robbins, 

co-chairmen of tlie corporate gifts committee. 

*' 1.1, 


! 

upstate 

I 

I 

I 

December 

! day 

I which 

,7 "Si* 

TOA 

All Set to Revive 

Dormant Albany Unit 

NEW YORK—Plans to bring back into active 

existence tlie Tlieatre Owners of Albany, 

has been dormant for over a year, 

have been set up by S. H. Fabian, TOA chairman 

of the board, and Gael Sullivan, executive 

director, working with Harry Lamont, 

chairman pro tern, and Lewis Sumberg.-Al- 

bany. 

The four will open a recruiting meeting 

17 in Albany and follow the next 

with meetings in Utica and Watertown. 

Additional local aides will be Sol Ullman, 

Fabian circuit head; Jules Perlmutter 

of Albany, William Benton of Saratoga and 

Sid Swore of Schenectady. The hope is that 

the active participation of the Schine and 

Smalley circuits will be obtained, also that 

management employes of those circuits will 

sign up with TOA as associate members in 

line with its new membership plan. 

Sullivan said an active Albany unit is 

badly needed now to combat possible adverse 

legislation, including a New York City ticket 

tax. He said he knew definitely that such 

a tax was a real threat, and he added that 

if it became fact, other cities might follow 

this city's lead. 

TOA will work closely in Albany with representatives 

of the Metropolitan Motion Picture 

Theatres Ass'n and Independent Theatre 

Owners Ass'n, Sullivan said. 

Al Fitter Made Hugh Owen 

Assistant at Paramount 

NEW YORK—Al Fitter, upstate sales representative 

for Paramount, has been made an 

assistant to Hugh Owen, eastern and southern 

division manager. His headquarters will 

be in New York. 

Fitter was New Orleans office manager and 

head booker before becoming sales representative 

operating out of the Buffalo exchange. 

Prank Saviola, Buffalo office manager, will 

replace him and Tony Mercurio will take 

over Saviola's post. 

David Katz to Succeed 

Balaban in Roxy Post 

NEW YORK—David T. Katz, managing director 

of the Roxy Theatre for the past ten 

years, will become executive director of the 

house January 1, succeeding A. J. Balaban, 

who will retire from the post but will remain 

as advisory consultant for three more years. 

Katz, who came to New York from Toledo, 

was in the Fox Film Co. home office before 

joining the Roxy 18 years ago. A new managing 

director will be named shortly. 

In New RCA Victor Posts 

NEW YORK—W. L. Rothenberger has been 

named as manager of the eastern region of 

the RCA 'Victor division of Radio Corp. of 

America. A new region also has been created, 

the northeastern, with R. M. Macrae, now 

assistant regional manager in New York, as 

manager, effective January 1. 

Warner Club Party Dec. 15 

NEW YORK—The Warner club will hold its 

annual Christmas party for children of the 

members at the Warner Theatre December 

15. Gifts wiU be presented to the youngsters, 

who will see films and stage acts. 

Pre-Chnsimas Lull Starts on B'way; 

Two Tickets,' Till the Cup Big 

NEW YORK—While the start of the Chrl.stmas 

shopping .season i.s beginning to have 

its effect on the grosses in the Broadway 

first runs, several of the newer pictures 

registered strong first week grosses, notably 

"Two Tickets to Broadway," the 25th anniversary 

picture at the Paramount. "Come 

Fill the Cup" also had a good opening week 

at the Warner and "Too Young to Kiss" was 

good enough in its first week at the Radio 

City Mu.sic Hall, where it will stay only two 

weeks before the annual yuletide show comes 

in early in December. 

Two 20th Century-Fox pictures, "Golden 

Girl" and "Fixed Bayonets," were slightly 

above average in their first weeks at the 

Roxy and Rivoli, respectively, and "Warpath" 

was fair in its opening week at the Globe. 

"Quo 'Vadis" continued to do excellent business 

in its third week at both the continuousrun 

Capitol and the two-a-day Astor and 

"Detective Story" held up well in its third 

week at the Mayfair. The only other holdovers 

up in the money were the art house 

films, "The Clouded Yellow," which had a 

second week's gross second only to "Oliver 

Twist" at the Park Avenue, "The Lavender 

Hill Mob." in its sixth week at the Fine Arts 

and "The Browning 'Version," which picked 

up in its fourth week at the Sutton. 

Only four art houses brought in new films 

during the week, two of them British, "Pool of 

London" and "A Christmas Carol." one 

Hollywood film, "Man With a Cloak." 

(Average Is 100) 

Astor—Quo Vadis (MGM), 3rd wk. of two-a-day-115 

Bijou—Tales of Hoffmann (Lopert), 34th wek- of 

two-a-day 80 

Capitol—Quo Vadis (MGM), 3rd wk. of continous 

run 125 

Fine Arts—The Lavender Hill Mob (U-I), 6tfl wk.. 110 

Criterion— Tlie Blue Veil (RKO), 5th wk 105 

Globe—Warpath (Para) 100 

Loew's State— Across the Wide Missouri (MGM), 

3rd wk 105 

Mayfair—Detective Story (Para), 3rd wk 125 

Paramount—Two Tickets to Broadway (RKO), plus 

stage show 120 

Paris—The River (UA), llth wk. of two-a-day 100 

Park Avenue—The Clouded Yellow (Col), 2nd 

wk 115 

Radio City Music Hall—Too Young to Kiss (MGM), 

plus stage show 120 

Rivoli—Fixed Bayonets (20th-Fox) 110 

Roxy—Golden Girl (20th-Fox), plus stage show....! 10 

Sutton—The Browning Version (U-I), 4th wk 110 

Trans-Lux 52nd Street—Red Badge oi Courage 

(MGM), 6th wk 90 

Trans-Lux 60th Street—Laughter in Paradise 

(Stratlord), 2nd wk 100 

Trans-Lux 72nd Street—The Unknown Man (MGM), 

2nd wk 95 

Warner—Come Fill the Cup (WB) 115 

Victoria—Ten Tall Men (Col), 5th wk 100 

"Detective Stor-y' Cops 

Best Buiialo Business 

BUFFALO — The Thanksgiving holidays 

helped boxoffices all along the line and business 

was outstanding in a few spots, notably 

"Detective Story," which really went to town 

and copped one of the most arresting weeks 

in many a moon. "Ten Tall Men" and 

"Golden Girl" were also up there at the 

I 

WANT TO RENT 

SILENT RUDOLPH VALENTINO FILMS 

For Educational Groups For One Night Showings 

Contact Andrew Bertine 

76 Bellrock St., Maiden 48, Moss. 

top. The .stage show at the Buffalo headed 

by Debbie Reynolds and Champ Butler failed 

to attract average buslne.ss with "Love Nest" 

en the screen. "Starlift" was also off but 

"An American in Paris'" continued to attract 

excellent buslne.ss In its fourth week. 

Buffalo—Lov* Nasi (20th-Fox), plui ilaga show.... 85 

Center— SlorlUl (WB) - 90 

Conlury— Goldon Girl (20th-Fox) 105 

Cinema—Tho Emporor's Nighlingols (Rembrandt), 

2nd wk - 85 

Lafayette- Ton Tall Men (Col) „ 110 

Paramount— Dotoctivo Story (Para)..... 125 

Tcck--An American in Pari* (MGM), 4th d. t. wk.-llO 

'Worlds Collide' Leads 

Philadelphia With 120 

PHILADELPHIA—First run situations had 

their ups and downs. The best average was 

scored by "When Worlds Collide," which did 

120 in its second week at the Stanton. 

Aldine—Rhubarb (Para) _ ...100 

Boyd—Texas Carnival (MGM), 3rd wlc 65 

Earle—The Magic Carpet (Col), plus stage show_ 90 

Goldman—Ten Tall Men (Col) -.115 

Maslbaum-The Blue Veil (RKO), 4lh wk 80 

Midlown—The Strange Door (U-I) - - 90 

Randolph— An American in Paris (MGM), 3rd wk .115 

Stanley—Starlift (V/B; 65 

Stanton—When Worlds Collide (Para), 2nd wk 120 

Baltimore Goes Musical; 

Holiday Activity Helps 

BALTIMORE— Holiday bustle has invaded 

the downtown area, with the stores now open 

two nights per week till Christmas. The influx 

of shoppers these nights has added a 

.slight lift to the boxoffice. Musicals were the 

order of the day as "Texas Carnival," "Starlift," 

"Golden Girl" and "Two Tickets to 

Broadway" continued to battle it out for top 

business. Action films like "Detective Story" 

and "Ten Tall Men" are getting a goodly 

share of the hypoed boxoffice. 

Century—Texas Carnival fMGM) _ _ 110 

Town—Two Tickets to Broadwoy (RKO) 107 

New—Golden Girl (20th-Fox) 109 

Stanley—Starlift (V/B) _ __ 111 

Hippodrome—Ten Tall Men (Col) 110 

Keith's—Detective Story (Para) 114 

Fine Arts—Hotel Sahara (UA), 2nd wk. -_ 89 

Mayfair—The Raging Tide (U-I) _10I 

Valencia—An American in Paris (MGM), 4th wk...ll4 

lames M. Orchard Becomes 

Paramount TV Executive 

NEW YORK—James M. Orchard has been 

named as a sales and account executive for 

Paramount Television Productions, Inc., by 

John Howell, director of sales and merchandising. 

This is another move in an expanding 

plan of program production and distribution. 

Orchard has been with station KOTV, 

Tulsa, for the past year as program director. 

He had previously been with WJAR-TV, 

Providence. During World War II he was a 

pilot with the rank of lieutenant. 

FILMACK,5/ia:^TRAILERS 

ARE THE BEST 

FROM ANY 

ANGLE!" 

Wî—^fND rOUR 

CHICAGO, 1327 S. Wahash 

NEW YORK, 630 Ninth Ar. 


. . . Roy 

. . . Many 

. . 

. . Arthur 

Along New York's Filmrow 

By TED GOTTFRIED 

•THE 20th-FOX FAMILY CLUB enjoyed its 

Thanksgiving party at Areles restaurant 

Blumenheim of Walter Reade Theatres 

has been promoted from assistant booker 

to assistant to Walter Reade jr. . . . Irving 

Steiner, owner of the Charles and Palestine 

theatres, visited Ben Drexler, Brandt booker, 

at the Brandt office Monday t26i ... Employes 

of the MGM exchange sent a Christmas 

package to Mike Levitt, former cashier, 

who is in a Korean hospital recuperating from 

Carol Segal, 

wounds received in action . , . 

daughter of Etta V. Segall, Monogram head 

booker, suffered an attack of appendicitis and 

was operated on Wednesday (21). The sales 

and booking department gave her a nylon 

nightgown. 

Ray Mitchell has resigned as booker for 

Prudential. Tom Pozin replaces him . 

The UA exchange is still clinging to first 

place in the current sales drive and members 

are already figuring up the split. The contest 

ends December 31 . . . Joe Ingber, Brandt 

buyer, returned to work Monday (26) following 

an absence of one week on jury duty 

MGM employes attended the wedding 

of Helen Levy Saturday (24). 

, 

The Bryant Theatre on 42nd street, has 

been sold to Jean Goldwurm and George 

Schwartz by Julius Joelson. They will refurbish 

it and show first run pictures 

John Collins is the new secretary to Edwin 

Gage, secretary of Walter Reade Theatres. 

He replaced Bob Cook, resigned . . . Rose 

Deut.sch replaces Roy Blumenheim as 

ant booker of Walter Reade Theatres . 

assist- 

. Max 

Polinsky, Brandt booker, returned to work 

Monday (26). He had been ill with a cold. 

Local B-51 of the Film Exchange Employes 

union is .scheduled to meet Monday (3) 

Jimmy Davidson, who has been at the U-I 

home office for the past two years, is at the 

exchange, replacing Fred Mayer as head 

booker. Mayer was promoted to salesman 

Sylvia Seiden, Republic biller, became engaged 

Monday (26) . . . Happy birthday to 

James Montana, RKO cashier, December 8 

. . . Bernice Hamer has resigned as secretary 

to Walter Reade jr. . . . Judith Tanney 

daughter of Joseph A. Tanney, head of SOS 

Cinema Supply Corp., has become engaged 

to Lloyd E. Hamburger, now with the army 

The wedding will be held in the Waldorf- 

Astoria next June 7. 

Happy birthday to Richard Brandt and 

Richard Margolin, both of Brandt Theatres 

and both of whom will be 24 on December 

6 . . Shirley 

. Gottlieb, MGM biller, returned 

last Monday from an ab.sence due to grippe 

She will leave on vacation this Monday 

Arthur Mossinger, former Columbia boxoffice 

statement clerk, left for the army Wednesday 

(28). Allen Paul has been hired to 

replace him 

. . . Audrey Hartman has been 

rehired by the RKO boxoffice statement department; 

she left a short time ago to be 

married 

. . . Helen Stern, UA stenographer 

has bought another poodle and named the 

thoroughbred 14-Carat . . . Bess Goldstein 

Allen, secretary to Alex Arn.swalder 20th-Fox 

salesmanager, will celebrate her birthday De- 

GROANER GREETS SHOWMAN — 

During a recent trek to southern California 

and the film colony, Sid Goldman, 

left, house manager of New York's famed 

Radio City Music Hall, and Mrs. Goldman 

dropped in at the Paramount studio. 

There they were shown about by Bing 

Crosby, currently starring for the company 

in 'Tamous." 

cember 14 . . . Rose Levine and Molly Ross 

are new inspectors at MGM; both were formerly 

with 20th-Fox . . . The RKO exchange 

canasta team challenges all comers . . . Gasper 

Campo has been promoted from U-I office 

boy to a clerical position . . . Hannah Zimmerman, 

20th-Pox secretary, will celebrate 

her birthday December 15 . . . Becky Dederian. 

MGM bookers clerk, started her vacation 

Monday (26) . . . Agnes Blaisuis, former employe 

in the MGM boxoffice statement department, 

visited the exchange Tuesday (27) 

with her 6-month-old baby Eileen. 

. . . 

The Capitol in Brooklyn has closed . . . The 

Island circuit will buy and book for the 

Tompkins and the Comet theatres in Brooklyn 

and the Plaza in Jamaica . The Windsor 

Theatre. West Orange, N. J., has been 

. . 

reopened by the JEMD Amusement Corp. 

. . . Louis Fischler of Cinema circuit will book 

for the Astor in Poughkeepsie Brandt 

Theatres closed the Embas.sy in Mount 

Vernon 

. M. Sharby has reopened 

the Inwood in Forest Hills. The Island circuit 

will buy and book. 

. . . 

Edward Goodman, former manager of the 

Mayfair Theatre, will replace Samuel Kenny 

as manager of Raybond's Earl in Jackson 

Heights The building, fixtures and 

property of the Palace in Morristown, N. J., 

will be sold by Walter Reade Theatres at 

public auction Saturday (8) . . . Ann Cooper, 

formerly of the McCann-Erickson advertising 

agency, is the new assistant and secretary 

to Nicholas J. Matsoukas, director of advertising 

and publicity for Skouras Theatres. She 

replaces Alice Tompkins, who resigned to 

become a reporter for the White Plains Reporter-Dispatch. 

20th Donates 200 Pints 

NEW YORK—Over 200 pints of blood have 

been donated to the armed services in the 

past six months by employes of the 20th 

Century-Fox home office. The Red Cross 

bloodmobile visited 20th-Fox twice for plasma 

given under the supervision of Charlotte 

Berger, company nurse. 

Harvey B. Day Dies; 

Veteran Film Man 

NEW YORK—Private funeral services for 

retired eastern production 

Harvey B. Day, 75, 

representative for Jules Levey, were held at 

Conway's funeral home, Jackson Heights, 

November 26. Day died November 24 at his 

Jackson Heights home after a long illness. 

Cremation followed the services. 

Day, who was born in Glencoe, Minn., 

started his theatrical career as advance agent 

and manager of various roadshows. He entered 

the motion picture field in 1912 with 

George Kleine in Chicago and. in 1914, he 

opened the first Fox Film exchanges in Pittsburgh 

and Cleveland. He served as home 

office manager and east district sales manager 

for Fox from 1915 to 1917. 

Day was with Stanley Mastbaum in Philadelphia 

in 1917 and opened the first Select 

exchange, which he operated as an independent 

business until 1920. when he sold it to 

become sales manager for International 

Newsreel. In 1923. he became sales manager 

for Kinograms and he was later named general 

field representative for Educational 

Films. In 1932, he became general sales manager 

and vice-president of Terrytoons. cartoon 

short subjects. Day became eastern representative 

for Constance Bennett in 1945 

and for Levey the following year. He retired 

in 1947. 

Day is survived by his wife, the former 

Elfie Anderson; a son, Harvey B. Day jr.; 

a sister, Mrs. George Cox, and three grandchildren. 

Mrs. Nellie Witting Dead; 

Was in Industry 30 Years 

NEW YORK—Mrs. Nellie Witting, former 

assistant secretary of Monogram Pictures 

Corp., died Thursday (22) at a sanitarium in 

Glen Cove, L. I. She had been in the industry 

since 1921, when she joined Arrow Films. 

She later became secretary to Norton V. 

Ritchey of the Ritchey Export Corp. When 

Ritchey became president of the Monogram 

International Coi-p.. she joined the company 

as his secretary. 

Mrs. Witting assumed the duties of assistant 

export manager while Ritchey was in 

the navy during World War II. She left 

Monogram a year ago due to the illness which 

resulted in her death. 

Howard Cullman Adds 2 

To Palsy TV Committee 

NEW YORK—Howard S. Cullman, chairman 

of the Port of New York Authority who 

is actuig as chairman of the United Cerebral 

Palsy Ass'ns' "Celebrity Parade for Cerebral 

Palsy." a 14-hour television show scheduled 

for WJZ-TV December 8 at 9 p. m.. has added 

two members to his committee. They are: 

Jack H.Tusman, vice-president of M. Hausman 

& Sons, who will be vice-chairman, and 

Peter Grimm, chairman of the board of 

William A. White & Sons, who will be treasurer. 

The executive committe includes Leonard 

H. Goldenson, president of United Paramount 

Theatres and president of United Cerebral 

Palsy. 

Sign the 1951 'Christmos Solufc'— Variety Clubs- 

Will Rogers Memorial hospitol—and "help core for 

j ,iili 

42 


. . Morgan 

Postpone Movietime 

Star Tour in Albany 

ALBANY—The Movietime U.S.A. tour of 

the Albany and Buffalo exchange districts, 

scheduled to take place the week of November 

25, has been postponed again, at least until 

January. The co-chairmen in both areas felt 

that the time to arrange appearances of 

Hollywood personalities was too short. The 

week of December 9 was set tentatively, but 

the Buffalo group, headed by William Dipson 

and Dave Miller, decided this was too near 

the Christmas holidays. 

Harry Lament, co-chairman for the Albany 

territory, planned to ascertain during a visit 

to New York Wednesday and Thursday, from 

Robert W. Coyne, executive assistant to 

National Chairman Robert J. O'Donnell, 

whether a new group would be available in 

January. A holiday expedition of some 40 

screen artists, writers and directors to Korea 

may deplete the number of touring people 

available. 

There had been several changes in the list 

of personalities slated for swings through the 

Albany and Buffalo zones this week. Albany 

had four toppers here for a Movietime luncheon 

October 8, but no outside cities were 

covered. 

Paramount Staff Shifts 

Are Made in Buffalo 

BUFFALO—In the wake of the appointment 

of Edmund C. DeBerry as Paramount 

manager, there have been a number of 

changes in the sales and office forces. Al 

Fitter, former chief booker and office manager 

and more recently sales representative 

in the Rochester, Syracuse and Binghamton 

districts, has gone to New York to become 

an assistant to Hugh Owen. 

Succeeding Fitter in the same territory is 

Frank Saviola, for several years head booker 

and office manager. Tony Mercurio, assistant 

to Saviola, has been upped to the chief booker 

and office manager spot. A newcomer at 

Paramount is Suzanne Mulligan, who is in 

charge of the switchboard. 

Ed Fitzgerald who recently was called back 

into the army from the Paramount branch 

managership, now is chief of the army and 

air force recruiting department in New England, 

with headquarters in Boston. 

AAAA Union Attempting 

TV Actors' Agreement 

NEW YORK—The board of 

the Associated 

Actors and Artistes of America, AFL union, 

plans to set up a committee to work out an 

equitable agreement between the Screen 

Actors and Screen Extra guilds and the 

newly formed Television Authority, which is 

in rivalry with SAG-SEG over jurisdiction 

in the field of actors working in television 

films. 

In the publicists' field, the workers in the 

United Artists home office voted for District 

65, Distributive, Processing and Office Workers 

of America, as their collective bargaining 

agent in an election conducted by NLRB. The 

Motion Picture Home Office Employes Local 

H-63. represents Universal. Paramount and 

most of the other home office workers in the 

east. MOM home office workers are not 

affiliated with any union. 

ALBANY 

T Meyer Schinc, president of the Schine circuit 

and Schine hotels, returned from two 

weeks on the west coast . . . The Variety Club 

honored Gene Vogel, former manager for 

Universal, and former crew member, at a dinner 

Monday night. Vogel recently left the 

industry to become upstate representative of 

a sports apparel company. 

Dick Hayes, one time Paramount salesman 

and now operator of a Tupper Lake hotel 

and interested in a drive-in there, visited 

here Monday . Ryan, general manager 

of the Schine-owned WPTR since June 

and former ABC network executive in New 

York, resigned Monday. George B. Chelius 

jr., manager of the Ten Eyck hotel, also a 

Schine property, assumed temporary charge 

of the station . . . Louis Sunberg. a member 

of the Variety Club, will be executive director 

of the Albany TOA if plans for its reactivation 

go through. Sunberg accompanied 

Harry Lamont. temporary chairman, to New 

York Tuesday night for a conference with 

Gael Sullivan, national executive director. 

. 

Jim Cole, former Warner Theatres chief 

sound engineer upstate, is now an Altec man 

in New York City. He started with the latter 

company in New Haven. Cole visits his home 

here on weekends The Colonial played 

"The Lavender 

. 

Hill 

. 

Mob" at 74 cents evenings. 

Saturday and Sunday. Student rate 

The Strand did nice business 

was 55 cents . . . 

The new screening 

with "Starlift" . . . 

room on the upper floor of the Warner Theatres 

offices in the Strand building is a honey, 

industry men say. A cement floor was laid 

and other installations were made. Painting 

started Monday. The studio is now in use. 

Hank Baylis is the projectionist as he was 

at the former Warner Little Theatre at 70 

North Pearl St. . . . Dick Perry, former 

United Artists salesman, now is working the 

territory for Lippert. 

Word was received here of the death in 

Passaic, N. J., of Harold Blumenthal, 52, general 

manager of Fabian Theatres New Jersey 

division. Blumenthal had attended several 

Fabian functions here and had many 

friends in the local industry. A wife and 

three daughters survive . . . Leo Rosen, transferred 

from the Fabian drive-in regional 

operation to the circuit's New York offices, 

spent the weekend here. His new position is 

understood to be connected with the television 

phase. 

Mike Nuzzola, former 20th-Fox salesman 

in Albany, appeared on the Arthur Godfrey 

CBS television network program with his 

marine corps dog. Boots. Nuzzola, who put 

the canine through a series of tricks, had 

run Boots through similiar routines at the 

Delaware Theatre, a Variety Club meeting 

and in film exchanges. Nuzzola trained 

Boots for combat duty. The dog landed with 

the marines on Iwo Jima and Guam. The 

Godfrey show was kinescoped over 'WTIGB, 

Schenectady. 

Fred I. Archibald, Times-Union publisher, 

was among those attending the final performance 

of "Legend of Sarah" at the Playhouse. 

Archibald, a Variety Club member, 

recently spent some time in Los Angeles on 

an assignment for Hearst publications. He 

attended several Hollywood parties. 

Nate Winig Is Elected 

Tent 9 Chief Barker 

ALBANY— Nate Wiiug. local msurance man 

and one of Variety Club's hardest workers 

since 1942, has been elected chief barker, 

succeeding Leo Rosen. WInig .served as treasurer 

for one term and as a crew member for 

several years. 

Charles L. Dortic, first assistant chief 

barker, declined to move ahead, explaining 

that his duties as Columbia branch manager 

took him out of town frequently. Nate Dickman, 

Monogram manager and property master 

for the last year, was named first sussLstant 

chief barker, and George Schenck, Tri- 

State Automatic Candy Co. manager, was 

named chief dough guy. 

The new group took over administration of 

Tent 9 Monday night. Normally, they would 

not have taken charge until the first week In 

December, but the continued absence of 

Rosen, transferred by Fabian Theatres to 

New York, led to the earlier date. 

The Big Brother drive, which starts here 

Monday (3) was discussed on station WPTR 

by Harold Gabrilove, chairman of the drive 

for Variety Club: Charles A. Smakwitz. chairman 

of the Heart fund, and Nate Winig, new 

chief barker. Goal of the Big Brother drive 

is $20,000, to enable 500 boys to take two-week 

vacations at the Variety-Albany Boys camp 

on Thompson's Lake. 

Next summer will be the tenth season that 

Camp Thacher has been kept in operation 

through the financial support of Tent 9. 

The camp is conducted by the Boys club 

under the direction of Tom Bender. 

Victory Luncheon Given 

In Buffalo for E. F. Lux 

BUFFALO—A host of friends of Elmer F. 

Lux from both exhibition and distribution, attended 

the Victory luncheon staged in honor 

of the council president-elect last Monday 

noon in the Delaware avenue headquarters 

of Variety Tent 7, which sponsored the event. 

Lux, who is a past chief barker of Tent 7 

and is general manager of Darnell Theatres, 

recently was elected head of the city council 

of which he has been amember for several 

years in the capacity of councilman at large. 

Members of the motion picture industry 

went allout to help Lux in his campaign and 

he came through with a handsome majority. 

Murray Whiteman, chief barker, acted as 

emcee and Lux was given a beautiful desk 

set. Many city officials were present. 

Loew's Declares Dividend 

NEW YORK—The directors of Loew's. Inc., 

have declared a quarterly dividend of 37V2 

cents per share on the common stock, payable 

December 21 to stockholders of record 

December 11. 

W/tNTED 

700 USED THEATRE SEATS 

Must be less than 4 years old in good condition. 

Available for inspection. Write details to 

BOXOFFICE, 22 Chjrch St. 

Boston, Moss. 

BOXOFFICE :: December 1, 1951 43

. . . Abe 

. . Microfilm, 

. . George 

BUFFALO 

pimer F. Lux, general manager, Darnell Theatres, 

and Myron Gross, booker in western 

New York for Schlne Theatres, have been 

appointed Buffalo area exhibitor chairmen 

for the Christmas Salute of the Variety Club 

Will Rogers Memorial hospital fund drive . . . 

William Dipson and George H. Mackenna, coexhibitor 

chairmen of the Movietime U.S.A. 

campaign in the Buffalo area, presided at a 

meeting in the Variety Club headquarters to 

discuss plans for the local appearance of stars 

who soon will make a belated visit to the 

Buffalo territory. 

Max Vincent, manager of the Liberty Theatre 

in Rochester, is going to town staging 

special matinees for children and is getting 

splendid cooperation from neighboring merchants 

in the promotion of prizes awarded in 

contests staged at the parties . . . The Children's 

hospital is doing superior work for 

children with celebral palsy in very limited 

quarters. Dr. Harold Westlake, director of the 

Northwestern university speech and hearing 

clinic, said after a visit to the Buffalo Variety 

Club-sponsored clinic. 

A special student performance of "Die 

Fledermaus" was arranged by Vincent R. 

McFaul, general manager of the Shea theatres 

for Thursday afternoon. Public, parochial 

and private schools throughout western New 

York were invited to participate. Two evening 

performances were given in the Shea 

flagship house Wednesday and Thursday 

nights . . . Jack Mundstuk, manager for MGM 

here, is back from New York where he had 

several conferences with home office officials 

Harris, who had been confined in 

the General hospital in Rochester, has recovered 

from his illness and is back on the 

job as an MGM salesman . . . Abe Bernstein, 

MGM exploiteer, was in town working on 

"Quo Vadis," which is expected to be shown 

in Shea's Buffalo during the holidays. 

Richard T. Kemper, zone manager, Dipson 

Theatres, put on a great show as ringmaster 

of the Saints and Sinners show-luncheon at 

the Hotel Statler, when Senator Homer Capehart 

of Indiana was the fall guy. The affair 

was a sellout. It was limited to 500. Charles 

B. Taylor, Paramount Theatres, was advance 

man . . . Some 250 children from the German 

Catholic orphan home were guests of 

Manager Michaels in the Mercury Theatre 

to see "Christmas Carol." Charlie Baron of 

the United Ai'tists exploitation staff has been 

in Buffalo working on this production and 

"The Well," current at Basil's Lafayette. 

Manfred E. Pickrell, president of Eastern 

Theatre Supply Co. at 946 Pearl St., reports 

many theatres in the area are renewing equipment 

. which was u.sed in 1870 

during the siege of Paris, is on display in 

Eastman Hou.se in Rochester. It is part of a 

new exhibit showing examples of historical 

microphotography. The exhibit also includes 

the first example of V-mail letters on microfilm. 

It was sent to Abraham Lincoln in 1861. 

"An American in Paris," now in its fourth 

week in Buffalo and currently at Shea's Teck, 

got a plug the other night when the Buffalo 

Philharmonic orchestra featured the musical 

score of the Ger.shwin work in its concert 

In Kleinhans Music Hall. The theatre got a 

lot of publicity and art on the program, one 

photo .showing George D'Anna, at one time 

a member of Shea's Buffalo orchestra, about 

to blow a real Paris taxi horn—one of the 

effects called for in the orchestration. 

John Zimmerman, manager of the Niagara, 

a Paramount community house in Buffalo, 

soon will put on a dancing school show in 

cooperation with Evelyn's School of Dance, 

operated by Mrs. Evelyn Peschio, who will 

present many of her pupils in an hour dance 

program on the Niagara stage as an "extra 

Like most housewives, Mrs. 

attraction" . . . 

Elmer F. Lux, wife of the Buffalo city council 

president-elect, keeps an eye on where 

the money goes and all the details of budgeting. 

She recently informed her husband, 

who also is general manager of Darnell Theatres, 

that his four years as a councilman-atlarge 

cost him $6,000, over and above his 

$3,500-a-year council salary. Both agreed, 

however, the loss could be offset by Lux's 

private business income and repaid by a 

sense of civic contribution. 

"Plenty of evidence of the importance of 

the director in filmmaking has appeared on 

the screens of America within the past year," 

said George L. David the other day in the 

Rochester Democrat & Chronicle. "That is, 

evidence which should have arrested attention, 

for one could not have conceived of the 

unusual results in numerous pictures being 

achieved without an exceptional hand in control," 

declared David . . . Mary Pickford and 

Charlie Chaplin sold 1918 war bonds on the 

screen of the Dryden Theatre in Eastman 

House, Rochester, the other day. The stars 

appeared on a program giving an historical 

survey of newsreels from 1895 to 1950. Starting 

with a Lumiere topical showing the 1895 

convention of the Photographic Society of 

France, the program covered many events. 

The history of moving picture news reports 

was brought up to date by showing scenes of 

action in Korea. 

George H. Mackenna, manager, Basil's Lafayette, 

was a member of the committee that 

staged a Get Well party for WBEN sportscaster 

Ralph Hubbell in the Ray-Ott restaurant 

Ethel Tyler, 

in Niagara Falls . . . 

biller at National Screen, and Ann Beals, 

booker at NTS, have signed up for civil defense 

service. The girls recently completed 

a nm'sing course of 12 months in Sisters 

hospital. 

Mary Phelan, former secretary to Vincent 

R. McFaul, general manager. Shea theatres, 

is now a member of the office staff at Gay 

Sheet Metal Works . Eiff, former 

assistant manager at the Regent in Rochester, 

has been appointed assistant at the Paramount 

in Kodak town, succeeding James 

Dorafy . . . Schine's Lake Theatre has reopened 

in Rochester. It has been closed for 

many months. 

Lou Jaffe, manager of Shea's Elmwood, last 

Saturday afternoon presented the Chantesuta 

Indians dancers of Canisius college on 

the Elmwood stage and attracted a lot of 

extra business at that community house . . . 

Albert Florack, projectionist at the Regent 

in Rochester, is recovering after a recent illness. 

Al Becker of Buffalo 

Golden Anniversary in 

BUFFALO—In connection with the Movie- 

campaign and the golden jubilee 

of the American motion 

picture theatre, a 

member of the indus- 

time U.S.A. 

try here also is celebrating 

a 50th anniversary 

in the business. 

He is Al Becker, who 

came to this city in 

1901 representing Percy 

L. Waters of the Kinetograph 

Film Co. to 

^how motion pictures 

uf the funeral of President 

William McKinley 

at the old Garden 

Al Becker 

Theatre. 

At that time. Becker said, Vincent R. 

McFaul, for many years head of the local 

Shea interests, was checking bicycles at 

the same theatre. Becker also recalled that 

Joseph Schuchert then was manager of the 

General Film Co. office and the late Dan Savage 

was his booker. Dan was the father of 

Homer Savage, present prominent citizen. 

Harry Marey and John Sitterly operated 

a film exchange on Swan street and Wai'- 

ners also had an exchange there, Becker said. 

In 1928 when the Buffalo Screen club was 

organized, with clubrooms at 10 Court St., 

Becker was apiôinted a committee of one 

to go to New Yoik and arrange for several 

"Help care for our own"—sign the 1951 'Christmas 

Salute'—Variety Clubs-Will Rogers Memorial hospitol. 

Celebrates 

Industry 

screen stars to attend the club's fii'st dante. 

He got Francis X. Bushman and Beverly 

Bayne and Fatty Arbuckle, and a few others. 

At that time, Becker said, there were only 

two film distributing companies in New York 

City, the Kinetograph Co. and the Biograph 

Co. on Nassau street. 

Before coming here, Becker operated a 

picture machine at Hubers museum in New 

York, at Coney Island and the World in 

Glass on the boardwalk in Atlantic City. 

He operated the first theatre supply company 

in Buffalo. He sold this business, after 

operating it for a quarter of a century, to 

National Theatre Supply, which still is doing 

business here. 

Becker said the first talking picture was 

shown in the Court Street Theatre, where 

a phonograph was used. It was placed on 

the stage and connected with a strong string 

running to the booth on the gallery to the 

motion picture machine. It was hand-operated, 

the reel consisting of four three-minute 

subjects—the first, a man talking: the second, 

a dog barking, and Becker said, if 

yovn- hand wasn't steady, the dog would be 

barking while the man was talking. 

When the Western Electric Co. put sound 

on the market, the Lafayette Theatre here 

was the first to show it with "The Jazz 

Singer." Becker still is in the theatre supply 

business, working from his residence at 488 

Crescent Ave. here. 

44 BOXOFFICE :: December 1, 1951

PHILADELPHIA 

•LTenry Fonda appeared at the Forrest in the 

stage production of "Point of No Return." 

Gloria Swanson, David Niven and Alan Webb 

appeared at the Walnut in "Nina" . . . Francis 

Kelly. 20th-Fox booker, returned from an 

upstate trip . . . Ben Harris. American Film 

Co.. suggests that exhibitors drop those corny 

jokes they have been telling him since his 

entrance into the antique business . . . Variety 

Tent 13 held a Thanksgiving dance. 

Joe Miller's Merrymakers furnished the music 

. 

and there was a fashion show by Milton Jaffa. 

Rose Kaplan, Screen Guild-Lippert, was on 

vacation ... A reader, Earle D. Moore of 

Westmont, N. J., wrote a local newspaper, the 

"Inquirer": "This year, above all others, our 

American motion picture industry merits the 

highest praise the public can bestow upon 

it. But, knowing moviegoers, it is doubtful 

such praise will materialize. This year I became 

acutely conscious of the frustration 

creative artists must have felt as they saw 

distinguished achievements plummet into the 

boxoffice world of no-return. If a cynical 

crank can find the time to pen a four-page 

outcry against the industry, surely a few 

cultured fans can spare the two or three 

minutes it would take to drop a postcard 

word of praise and encouragement." 

IVUldred Martin, critic for the Inquirer, is 

supervising the paper's 19th annual Best Ten 

round-up. Write-in voters list their ages 

when they cast their ballots on the 309 films 

eligible since adults and juniors have separate 

classifications. The polls will close at 

noon December 12 . . . Mrs. Elizabeth Ziegler. 

UA office manager, vacationed at the Pocono 

mountain resort . . . William A. Gray's law 

firm has filed motions for summary judgment 

against the major distributors and National 

Screen Service for Harry Vogelstein, 

Baltimore poster renter; David Mitchell, Dallas 

independent poster renter, and Jack Riff, 

formerly a poster renter in Boston. 

. . . 

Eli Ginsburg has resigned as Monogram 

salesman to join Lippert-Screen Guild 

Horace McMahon, who stars in "The Detective 

Story," was in town to help promote 

the picture . . . Nelson Wax, Boxoffice 

tui-es, reports that Francis Anthony, 

Pic- 

manager 

of the Rialto Theatre in York, Pa., shared 

in the third prize on Realart's national exploitation 

contest on "Salerno Beachhead" 

and "The Fighting Sullivans." 

George Schwartz, former U-I manager, 

will take over the lease of the Shore in Atlantic 

City . . . Eddie Gabriel, Capital Films, 

announces that "Sinners' Holiday" is scheduled 

to play first rerelease run at the News. 

Herman Margies, former manager of the 

New Mayfair, has become manager of the 

Unity Theatre . . . James Schwartz, vice-president 

in charge of sales for Y&Y Supply Co., 

completed an extensive business trip . . . 

Everett Callow, advertising and publicity chief 

for Stanley-Warner Theatres, has been 

granted a leave to return to the marine corps. 

A major in the reserves. Callow went to 

Washington for a briefing and then he is 

scheduled to report to Tokyo where he will 

act as public informations officer. 

Are you doing all you con to "help core for our 

own" by getting all your employes to sign the 1951 

'Christmas 

Salute'? 

\V.\SHIN(iT()N IIKST NIGIITERS— 

The premiere of "The Lavender Hill Mob" 

at Roth's Plaza Theatre in Washington, 

was attended by the ambassadors of 

England, Canada and Norway, and also 

by some of the better-known personalities 

of Washington's diplomatic and governmental 

circles. Here is Roth circuit general 

Manager John G. Broumas and 

Joseph Gins, local U-I manager, greeting 

Mrs. Tom Clark, wife of the Supreme 

Court justice. Supreme Court Justice 

Harold Burton is at extreme right. 

No More $25 Licenses 

For Quaker City Shows 

PHILADELPHIA—Tax officials have estimated 

that at a conservative estimate the 

city has lost more than $100,000 in revenue by 

its failure to collect a $100 yearly license fee 

from theatres under a 1908 city ordinance. 

Thirty-eight motion picture theatres, some 

operating as far back as 30 and 40 years, 

have not been paying the $100 fee. Instead 

they have been oeprating under an archaic 

1879 city ordinance stipulating a $25 yearly 

fee. Fire Marshall Kington and John Judge, 

Mayor Bernard Samuel's license clerk, uncovered 

the situation in a cross check of the 

city's amusement places. Kington doubted 

whether the city would take legal action to 

recover the full amount of fees. 

The theatres which paid only $25 have been 

billed for the full $100 fee for this year. 

Five Majors File Actions 

Against Va. Exhibitors 

ROANOKE, VA.—Loew's, Universal, United 

Artists. 20th Century-Fox and RKO filed separate 

percentage actions November 23 against 

Rives Brown, Bernard Depkin, Franz M. 

Westfall and the Martinsville Theatre Management 

Corp., alleging under-reporting of 

receipts on percentage pictures. The theatres 

involved are: Ritz Theatre, Danville. Va., and 

Martin (formerly Bee-Dee i. Rex and Rives 

theatres, Martinsville, Va. 

The Richmond law firm of Hunton, Williams, 

Anderson, Gay & Moore represent the 

distributors with Sargoy & Stein of New 

York of counsel. 

Salemson Joins Dougfair 

NEW YORK—Harold J. Salemson has been 

named eastern advertising, publicity and exploitation 

head of the Dougfair Corp. by 

Douglas Fairbanks jr. Salemson was previously 

exploitation director for Stanley Kramer 

Productions. 

WASHINGTON 

The hunting season i.s open in Virgniia and 

many exhibitors have been out trying their 

luck, including E. L. Farries, Schoolfield 

Theatre, and Bill Dalke jr., Dalke circuit . . . 

Paul Glascock, Marshall. Va.. named his baby 

son Paul Jr. . . . Mrs. McCoy of the Grand in 

Moorefield, W. Va.. who has been ill is on the 

mend . . . Sympathy to the family of Mrs. 

McLellan, Nelson Theatre, Lovlngston, Va.. 

who died. 

. . Mabel 

. . . 

E. E. Ours is closing his Royal Drive-In in 

Winchester this Saturday. His son is at 

Waddell 

an 

air corps base in Alabama . 

of the Hollywood Theatre in Middleburg 

distributed many ba-skets of food and fruit 

Jimmy 

during the Thanksgiving holiday 

Pritchett was planning a trip to Bristol . . . 

Walter Lee, Colonial in Salem, is accepting 

wagers from nearly every one in town on the 

Army-Navy game. Walter's choice is Navy. 

. . 

. . . Ellen 

Willis Grist of the Paramount in Lynchburg 

prepared a terrific campaign on "Carnival in 

Texas" which included a huge cutout of 

Esther Williams for di.splay in a large store 

window The Bernheimer circuit has 

taken 

. 

over the Atlas and Senator theatres 

from the K-B Amusement Co. and will 

operate both for Negro patronage 

McDonald, Tony Muto's secretary at Fox 

Movietonews, was home iU several days . . . 

Joe Oulahan of Gloucester and Calloa rushed 

his wife to Doctor's hospital for an operation. 

Joe's mother, who Uves here, is seriously ill 

with a heart ailment. 

. . 

Gus Lynch, Schine Washington manager, 

spent last week in Gloversville attending a 

series of meetings . . . Arthur Silverstone, Ed 

Callahan and Bill Gehring, 20th-Fox executives, 

conferred at the local branch with 

Manager Glenn Norris and his "dollar delivery" 

crew . Anne Griffin, former booker 

at the branch who now is at the Minneapolis 

office, was a visitor . . . George Giroux, Technicolor 

representative, was here on his annual 

visit to the exchanges . . . Universal was 

in first place in the FUmrow Bowling league 

with 20th-Fox second. 

Milton Q. Ford, disk jockey at radio station 

WWDC. will leave for Hollywood next week 

to be the best man at the wedding December 

14 of screen star Marie Wilson and TV producer 

Robert Fallen, his brother. They hail 

from Memphis, where Ford got his start in 

radio and Fallon was prominent in acting 

circles. 

ELMER H. BRIENT & SONS 

925 New Jersey N.W. 

Washington, D. C. 

We Help You Make 

Movies Better 

Than Bier 

EVERYTHING FOR YOUR CONCESSION 

CANDY—POPCORN—SEASONINGS—ETC. 

STANDARD VENDORS. Inc 

921 E. Fort Avenue 

Baltimore 30, Maryland 

BOXOFFICE : 


45

UA Foreign Activities 

Shift to Profit Side 

NEW YORK—An increase in revenue during 

1952. resulting in profits for the first 

time in many years, was predicted for the 

foreign department of United Artists by 

Arnold Picker, vice-president in charge of 

foreign distribution. Picker, who recently returned 

from a three-week visit to UA offices 

in London and Paris, based his forecast on 

increased production, reorganization of the 

foreign sales department, the number of contracts 

signed with exhibitors throughout the 

world and circuit sales deals currently being 

negotiated. 

Picker said that UA business in Britain is 

up, that administrative offices will be transferred 

from London to Paris where Walter 

E. Gray will be head, and that he has added 

to playing time in South Africa through a 

deal with African Consolidated Theatres. 

Herbert O. Horn, former RKO general 

manager for Germany, has been made special 

representative there, succeeding John 

Swanink. resigned. Keith Goldsmith, who 

has been surveying the Far East, has been 

made supervisor there. UA will open a new 

office in Formosa. George Kalman, special 

Far Eastern representative, now here recuperating 

from an operation, will get a new 

assignment shortly. 

Picker will make a series of visits to all 

countries throughout the world during the 

coming year. He will meet the Caribbean 

managers before Christmas, and then visit 

South America. 

MPAA Entertains British 

Production Executives 

NEW YORK—Reginald P. Baker, president 

of the British Film Producers Ass'n and 

chairman and managing director of Ealing 

studios, and Sir Henry L. French, directorgeneral 

of BFPA, were entertained by the 

Motion Picture Ass'n of America Tuesday 

(27) at a reception at Hampshire House. 

Sir Henry and Baker sailed that evening 

for London. They had been here two weeks 

as the guest of MPAA to look into the prospects 

for marketing more British films in the 

U.S. 

Among the guests at the reception were 

John Davis, managing director for J. Arthur 

Rank, and Ronald Leach, financial adviser. 

They .sailed the following day. They had 

arrived November 19 to survey Rank holdings 

in the U.S. and Canada and to seek details 

of the proposed merger of Decca Records with 

Universal Pictures. Rank is a large stockholder 

in Universal. 

Fire at Eastman Factory 

Not to Halt Deliveries 

ROCHESTER — Eastman Kodak Co. does 

not expect delivery delays for any of its 

products as a result of the recent fire at the 

plant, according to James E, McGhee, vicepresident 

and general sales manager. 

The tire, which caused damages of $2,000,- 

000, destroyed the fifth floor of a building 

containing heavy supplies of photographic 

paper ready for emulsion coating. No damage 

was done to the stocks of sensitized paper, 

either cut or in rolls. 

separate 

area. 

These were stored in a 

Holiday Magazine to Give 

Film Awards on Dec. 7 

HOLLYWOOD—Filmdom will begin to reap 

its annual harvest of awards for cinematic 

achievement when on Friday (7) Holiday 

magazine will pass out kudos for the industry's 

"contributions toward the improvement 

of America's relations with the rest of 

the world." 

At a luncheon session to be hosted here by 

Holiday editor Ted Patrick the citations will 

go to: 

"The Well," a Harry Popkin production 

being distributed by United Artists. 

Shelley Winters, for her performance in 

Paramount's "A Place in the Sun." 

"An American in Paris," an Ai-thur Freed 

production, starring Gene Kelly, for Metro. 

Man of the year—Steven Bosustow, president 

of United Productions of America, which 

produces animated cartoons for Columbia 

release. 

MPEA Approval Delayed 

On Spanish Film Pact 

NEW YORK—Approval by the Motion Picture 

Export Ass'n of a tentative Spanish pact 

ran into difficulties late in the week when 

the board carried over consideration of its 

details from Thursday (29) to Friday. John 

G. McCarthy, vice-president of the Motion 

Picture Ass'n of America, answered questions 

about the pact at both meetings and there 

was a lively discussion. 

The pact would take the issuance of import 

licenses from Spanish producers, who 

have been overcharging for them, and place 

the responsibility with the government, which 

would tax each film imported about $4,000. 

Licenses would be limited to 60 for MPEA 

companies and 40 for U.S. Independent producers. 

The Society of Independent Motion 

Picture Producers has registered a strenuous 

opposition, holding that the pact gave MPEA 

the inside track and that the $4,000 tax was 

unjust and burdensome. 

Mochrie Holds Meeting 

Of RKO District Heads 

CHICAGO—Robert Mochrie, RKO vicepresident 

and general sales manager, presided 

at a meeting of district managers at the 

Ambassador East hotel Thursday and Friday 

(29-301. 

Those who attended from the New York 

office were: Walter Branson, Harry Gittleson, 

Nat Levy, Charles Boasberg, Sid Cramer, S. 

Barret McCormick, Dan Loventhal, Frank 

Mooney, William McShea and Leonard 

Gruenberg. 

Armando Massimelli Dies; 

MGM Manager in Italy 

NEW YORK—Word has been received from 

Rome of the death of Armando Massimelli, 

manager for MGM in Italy, November 6. 

Death was due to a heart attack. He was 61. 

Massimelli joined MGM in 1925. but closed 

the offices during the Mussolini regime. He 

again took charge at the end of World War 

II. 

Named MGM Manager in Sweden 

NEW YORK— Gosta Wad.sten has been 

named MGM manager in Sweden by Morton 

A. Spring, vice-president of Loew's International 

Corp. He succeeds the late Arne 

Hallin. 

Kaye Back From Korea 

Alter U.S.O. Tour 

NEW YORK—Danny Kaye, 

who recently 

returned from a month of entertaining the 

Korean field troops for the USO, reports that 

he "has never done anything more gratifying" 

to himself than playing before these boys. 

Kaye left the U.S. October 25 from San Francisco 

and then flew via Honolulu, Wake 

Island and Tokyo, to Korea where he and 

his troupe did approximately one show a 

day until he came back to California November 

23. 

Kaye, who spoke at a USO executive board 

luncheon in Washington Thursday (29), told 

the press in New York how important it was 

to the soldiers in Korea to see a familiar 

face from the entertainment world and to 

know that they are not forgotten. The news 

that Kaye would give a show for the troops 

was the talk of each division for weeks before 

and was discussed for weeks afterward, Kaye 

said. He often gave each day's show for several 

thousand soldiers, some of them having 

arrived three or four hours ahead of time 

to be sure of getting front seats for his 

performances. 

Gualino Returns to Rome 

To Report on U.S. Unit 

NEW YORK—Dr. Renato Gualino, managing 

director of Italian Films Export, has 

returned to Rome to report to his board of 

directors on establishment of the new organization 

here. He had been here about three 

weeks, during which time he named E. R. 

Zorgniotti U.S. representative. Zorgniotti received 

a leave of absence from Lux Films, 

which Gualino heads. Other executive appointments 

had been expected but were not 

made. Gualino is expected to consult with the 

board on the selections. 

While here Gualino told the press that it 

was up to the individual Italian producers 

whether they would apply for a production 

code seal but that he would not recommend 

that they do so. He said he would 

submit the matter at the next meeting of 

the International Federation of Motion Kcture 

Producers Ass'n, of which he is president, 

and try to establish a policy. 

Dr. Irving Wolff Named 

RCA Research Director 

NEW YORK—Dr. Irving Wolff, a 

specialist 

in ultra-high radio frequencies and a pioneer 

in radar, has been named director of research 

for the RCA Laboratories division of the 

Radio Corp. of America by Dr. E. W. 

Engstrom, vice-president in charge of the 

division. The headquarters of the division are 

the David Sarnoff Research Center, Pi-inceton, 

N. J. 

Canada Waives Taxation 

On U.S. Entertainers 

WASHINGTON—Canada has accepted a 

reservation in the recent tax treaty under 

which U.S. entertalner.s will not be taxed on 

earnings in Canada unless they remain in 

that country for more than six months, according 

to an announcement by the State department. 

This makes it likely that U.S. 

film producers will film more pictures on 

location in Canada. 


'teci; 

Mary McCall Elected 

VIEWS OF THE PRODUCTION CENTER 

iHollywood Office—Suite 219 at 6404 Hollywood Blvd.: Ivan Svear, Western Manager) 

As SWG President 

HOLLYWOOD—Another chapter in the 

turbulent history of the Screen Writers Guild 

was written when, in a hotly contested annual 

election, Marry McCall jr. was named to the 

presidency by a vote of 263 to 194 over the 

incumbent president, Karl Tunberg. 

The election meeting was marked by lengthy 

debate which resulted in disapproval by the 

membership of action taken by the previous 

executive board, which had laid plans to 

bring scenarists Adele Buffington and 

Michael Wilson before a disciplinary committê. 

The two scriveners had been charged 

with making false charges against board and 

officer candidates in campaign letters. A 

resolution calling for the cases to be dismissed, 

and all references thereto expunged 

from the record, was passed. 

Tlie McCall administration includes Richard 

Murphy and Richard Breen as, respectively, 

first and second vice-presidents; Howard 

J. Green, secretary; Wells Root, treasurer, 

and eight board members, chosen for 

two-year terms—comprising Ivan Gotf, Robert 

Pirosh, Robert Carson. John Monks jr., 

Everett Freeman, Barry Shipman, Dorothy 

Hughes and Harold Greene. 

A dispute between the lATSE and the 

Screen Cartoonists Guild concerning jurisdiction 

over pen-and-inkers at five cartoon 

plants will be settled via the ballot box in 

an NLRB-sponsored election to be held in 

January. The polling will be conducted among 

employes of Walt Disney, Walter Lantz, Warners, 

MGM and United Productions of 

America. 

* * * 

Four features were nominated by the Screen 

Directors Guild membership as finalists in 

the organization's quarterly choice for best 

megging achievements. Candidates for the 

August-to-October period are "A Place in 

the Sun" (Paramount), directed by George 

Stevens; "A Streetcar Named Desire" (Warners), 

Elia Kazan; "Detective Story" (Paramount), 

William Wyler, and "David and 

Bathsheba" (20th-Fox), Henry King. The 

winner will be announced at a meeting of 

the SDG later this month. 

To Film 'Sudden Fear' 

HOLLYWOOD—Shooting space was secured 

at Republic by Joseph Kaufman Productions 

for the filming of "Sudden Fear," a 

Joan Crawford starrer, which rolls in January 

for RKO release. David Miller will direct. 

Spy Receives Living-Room Debut 

In Ohio; London Opening for You 

HOLLYWOOD—On the heels of its Saturday 

(1) world premiere at the Leicester 

Square Theatre in London, Samuel Goldwyn's 

"I Want You," being distributed by RKO, 

will have its U.S. opening December 21 at 

the Hollywood Paramount Theatre. Directed 

by Mark Robson, the feature stars Dana 

Andrews, Dorothy McGuire, Farley Granger 

and Peggy Dow. 

* * * 

Bob Hope and a plane load of Hollywood 

personalities flew to Bellaire, Ohio, where 

the comedian and Paramount on November 27 

hosted the world premiere of his new starrer, 

"My Favorite Spy," in the home of Dr. and 

Mrs. P. M. J. Kuchinka. The "living-room premiere" 

was awarded Mrs. Kuchinka on the 

basis of her prize-winning letter in Paramount's 

"My Favorite Spy" contest. Accompanying 

Hope were Marilyn Maxwell, Rhonda 

Flaming, Jan Sterling, Gloria Grahame, Jerry 

Colonna, Les Brown and orchestra and other 

players. 

At the request of servicemen, Hope staged 

a second screening of the comedy at Camp 

Atterbury, Ind., November 28, for hospitalized 

veterans and other troops. 

* * • 

"Fixed Bayonets," 20th-Fox's new drama 

of the Korean war, will be given Its western 

premiere Wednesday (5) at Grauman's Chinese 

Theatre via a star-studded affair at 

which George Jessel will be the master of 

ceremonies. Produced by Jules Buck, written 

and megged by Samuel Fuller, the film stars 

Richard Basehart and Gene Evans. A guest 

of honor at the opening will be Capt. Raymond 

Harvey, winner of a Congressional 

Medal of Honor. 

* * * 

Cast toppers Robert Taylor and Deborah 

Kerr, Producer Sam Zimbalist, Director 

Mervyn LeRoy, a lengthy list of Metro studio 

brass and an array of other Hollywood celebrities 

were among the fu-st-nighters at the 

invitational debut of "Quo Vadis" November 

29 at the Four Star Theatre. The front of 

the showcase was embellished with an early 

Roman appearance for the reserved-seat, 

upped-price engagement of the film, which is 

day-dating at the United Artists on a continuous 

run basis. 

* * * 

Klieg lights, bleachers, radio broadcasts 

and other red-carpet appurtenances will highlight 

the local unveiling of RKO's Technicolor 

musical, "Two Tickets to Broadway," 

Friday (21) at the Pantages here. The stars 

of the film, Tony Martin, Janet Leigh, Gloria 

DeHaven, Eddie Bracken, Ann Miller and Barbara 

Lawrence, will make personal appearances. 

• • • 

Monogram and Lippert supplied both ends 

of the dual bill which opened November 28 

in four Fox We.st Coast first runs here. The 

Lippert entry, "FBI Girl," had Monogram's 

"The Longhorn" as its running mate in the 

Los Angeles, Uptown, Loyola and Chinese 

theatres. 

• * • 

Cecil B. DeMille's "The Greatest Show on 

Earth" will have its world premiere early in 

January at the Radio City Music Hall in New 

York. The multistar cast includes Betty Hutton, 

James Stewart, Cornel Wilde and Dorothy 

Lamour, with the Ringling Bros.-Barnum 

& Bailey circus also featured. 

John Rawlins Joins Royal 

For 'Suicide' in England 

HOLLYWOOD — John Rawhns, veteran 

megaphonist, joined Julian Lesser's Royal 

Productions as a supervisory executive and 

planed out for London to represent Lesser in 

the making of "Suicide Smith," being filmed 

by Lesser in association with Britain's Tempion 

Films, headed by Robert Baker and 

Monty Berman. 

Rawlins was, until recently, a partner of 

Frank Melford in Ventura Pictures, which recently 

produced "Fort Defiance" for United 

Artists release with Rawlins directing. That 

independent unit is inactive currently and 

Melford has organized Frank Milford Productions 

to embark on a new slate for 1952. 

RKO Cutting Rooms Trim 

15 Features Currently 

HOLLYWOOD—RKO's cutting rooms, under 

supervision of James Wilkinson, are 

bursting at the seams with 15 features and 

two two-reelers being edited. Additionally, 

daily rushes are being handled on two others. 

Being scissored are "A Girl in Every Port," 

"Macao," "The Las Vegas Story," "One False 

Move," "Jet Pilot," "The Big Sky," "Androcles 

and the Lion," "The Narrow Margin," 

"Crackdown," "3,000 A. D.," "Chuck-a-Luck," 

"Sons of the Musketeers," "The Half-Breed," 

"Road Agent" and two shorts, "Good Night 

Nurse" and "The Newlyweds' House Guest." 

Daily rushes are being cut on "Clash by 

Night" and "The Korean Story." 


was 

j 

STUDIO PERSONNELITIES 

Republic ;' 

and 'recto 

AL YBARRA as art director. 

20th Century-Fox 

Art direction 

HERBERT 

assignment 

DEANS and 

on 

Briefies 

GREGORY "What Price 

GAY. Starring 

Glory' i 

was handed 

Muriel Lawrence GEORGE 

' 

and 

DAVIS. 

William Ching, the musical 

is being produced by Herman 

to Millakowsky and 

"The Full 

Metro 

directed by OA9TOM 

Phil Ford. 

GASTON 

House" 

"^Vl^l"^ 

includes 

GLASS, unit manager; HENRY 

"The Mosconi Story," based on 

GLR, WEINBER-l 

assistant 

the career of the 

director, 

CATHY DOWNS was 

and 

inked for the 

world's champion 

femme 

JOSEPH 

lead 

McDONALD 

in 

"*-t^.. 

pocket cameraman. 

bilHard player, has been "Gobs and Gals." Booked 

added 

were EMORY PARNELL 

to Pete Smith's short subjects docket. GORDON JONES and LEONID KINSKEY. 

United Artists ! 

Pete Smith launched production on "Musiquiz," JAY C. FLIPPEN drew a THEOBALD character 

a 

lead HOLSOPPLE 

in 

short dealing 

Producer-Director 

Joseph Kane's signment 

drew the art direction 

with various strange ways of 

making 

"Minnesota." 

on as- 

Producer-Director Samuel Fuller's 

music. 

"Part 

Singing star RAY MIDDLETON was booked for 

Producer-Director 

Universal-Ltitemational 

Allan Dwan's "Song of Youth " 

Warners 

which stars Bill Shirley. 

Handed 

Singer Connee the art 

Boswell and Ada direction 

Leonard's chores 

all-girl 

on Our "Miracle 

orchestra Lady ol' 

of 

head the Fatima 

" 

'. 

cast of a musical 

EDWARD CARRERF 

featurette 

being produced 20th 

and directed by Century-Fox 

Will Cowan. ANNE FRANCIS was given a one-year hoist on 

Warners 

her acting ticket. 

Title Changes 

"They Float Through the Air," a two-reeler dealing FRITZ FELD and SIG RUMAN 

with U.S. navy 

drew 

parachute 

comedy roles 

operations, is being narrated 

in "T'he Full House," the five-episode 

by Wayne opus being 

Columbia 

Morris. The short was filmed at produced by Andre Hakim. 

the naval 

Jeanne Crain and air station 

Farley "Battle Stations" to OKINAWA. 

in El Centre, Calif., with the Granger star in the initial 

cooperation 

sequence, "Gift 

of 

of 

the naval 

the "The Mother" to 

reserve unit of the armed Magi," which 

PAULA. 

Henry King is 

forces 

directing. 

radio service. 

DAVID WAYNE drew the male starring role in 

Monogram 

Producer Nunnally Johnson's comedy, "We're Not "Whip 

^ 

Law" to NIGHT 

Cleffers 

Married," which 

RAIDERS. 

Edmund Goulding will direct 

GINGER 

"Starlight 

ROGERS and FRED ALLEN 

Canyon" to 

were DESERT PASSAGE. 

set for 

toplines. 

Paramount 

20th 

BOB 

Century-Fox 

SIDNEY was inked by Hal Wallis Productions 

as 

United Artists 

"Charmame" to WHAT 

the choreographer 

PRICE 

on "Jumping Jacks." Cast in "Red 

GLORY. 

Planet," being produced by Donald 

Hyde and Anthony Veiller, were GRACE LEON- 

RKO Radio 

ARD and 

United 

VINCE 

Artists 

BARNETT. Harry Horner directs 

Preparing the musical score with 

"Red 

Peter 

Planet" to 

for "Androcles and 

Graves and Andrea 

MIRACLE 

King 

FROM MARS. 

in the leadina 

the Lion" is LEIGH HARLINE. 

roles. 

^ 

Warners 

Universal-International 

Warners 

^°^ '^^ Marines" to 

Booked 

WE CAME 

for a character lead m "Scarlet Anael" FIGHTING°"' 

OUT 

..if*^,,f'''EINER is writing the musical score for was WHITFIELD CONNOR. 

Ihis Woman 

The Yvonne DeCarlo 

Is Dangerous." 

starrer is being produced in Technicolor by Leonard 

Goldstein, with Sidney Salkow megging. Eddie 

Meggers 

SUSAN CABOT 

Cantor Gives 

was 

Shows 

set for a lead with Audie 

Murphy and Faith Domergue in Producer Leonard 

Ooldstein 

For 

s Technicolor 

Navy in 

western, 

Columbia 

"Claim 

San Diego 

Jumpers " 

which Don Siegel directs. 

Producer 

HOLLYWOOD—Eddie 

Sam 

Cantor 

Katzman 

spent November 

28, 29 

inked WALLY GRISSELL Set 

o 

as 

direct 

the 

A leading 

Yank femme in 

in Indo-China," "Red Ball 

which 

Express " 

is slated ttie 

and 30 giving 

Aaron 

to roll next month. 

Rosenberg shows for 

production starring navy 

Jeff Chandler, 

was JACQUELINE DUVAL. Bud 

personnel in the 

Boitticher megging ?s 

San Diego area under auspices 

of the Hollywood Coordinating Com- 

Independent 

the World War II drama. 

King Eros. Productions ticket-d VURT NEUMANN 

mittee. 

t': Cirect 

Warners 

The banjo-eyed comic's itinerary included 

Camp 

Pachucc." 

Casting was completed on "Mara Maru," the 

Pendleton marine base and the 

starrer, with the 

Paramount 

Damn 

inking 

'^P." 

of NESTOR naval hospital 

KftiVA. 

in 

Gordon San 

Douglas 

Diego. 

is 

"Jumping directing Jacks," 

the next Dean 

David 

Martin-Jerry Lewis Weisbart production. 

• * » 

bf N^l^ÂfJ^'TA^R'^^G.^-'-''^-^- -"> ^'^ -^^'^^ For his services as a community leader, 

Scripters 

humanitarian and citizen, Dore Schary, MGM 

Options 

vice-president and production chief, will 

Metro 

receive 

the first 

JOHN LEE MAHIN is penning annual 

"The Girl Who 

One in 

Had 

a Million award 

Everything as an Ava Gardner starrer, to be produced 

(4) by the Pacific 

to be presented Tuesday 

by Armand Deutsch. 

Coast region of the National Jewish hospital. 

'" 

''"lP.°,!'i.°' Broderick Crawford in the 

were picture 

Republic 

Schary will be given the 

BARBARA 

kudos at a luncheon 

HALE and LLOYD 

de Toth BRIDGES. 

megs 'Ândrl "Marines Have Wings," a story of 

the 

U.S. 

Buddy marine hosted by the Adler 

Los Angeles production Ako 

women's division 

"'^^^^ "°^' '= ^^'"' '''''''°^^ 

mTlNEr"' 

SHAUGHNESSY and MARTIN malARD'"TREGL°Kll" ^^ of the hospital, which is located in Denver. 

Lippert Productions 

20th Century-Fox 

RICHARD SALE and MARY LOOS are 

o£;rPcS 

teamed on Errol 

'^°o'Bittr-i%' 

Palmer 

â^rl^g^r.^°S 

Gentlemen Sues MGM 

Prefer Blondes," from the novel and 

R^rFMnj*"""*!] u'A

L. 

] 

of 

[ 

Maria 

I 

i 

personal 

I 

Interstate 

1 Bi'oidy, 

I 

tionally, 

year in the making of both TV and theatrical 

films, William F. Broidy Productions made 

several changes in and additions to its execui 

W. F. Broidy Productions 

Gets Set for Big Year 

HOLLYWOOD—Preparing for an active 

tive personnel. Jack Jungmeyer jr., who for 

! several years has been affiliated with Edward 

L. Alperson's Al.son Productions, is joining 

the organization as a personal assistant to 

while Al Milton, who has been functioning 

as studio manager, was upped to 

a.ssistant to Wesley Barry, Addi- 

Jungmeyer and Milton will jointly 

assume management of the studio. 

* 

Television Corp., Monogram's 

new TV film subsidiary, rounded out the cast 

its new Raffles mystery series by inking 

Palmer, Rhys Williams and Konstantin 

Shayne for supporting parts in the half-hour 

subjects, in which George Brent and Nigel 

Bruce are featured. Earl McEvoy directs and 

Lee Savin is producing. 

* * 

"Rebound," a new television film series being 

produced and du'ected by Bernard Girard 

for Bing Crosby Enterprises, has been picked 

up for sponsorship by the Packard Motor Co. 

* « * 

Rene Williams set Catherine McLeod for 

the lead in "People at Sea," a 15-minute entry 

in his Invitation Playhouse TV series. Williams 

will include the subject in a package 

of six which he will offer for distribution as 

a theatrical 

feature. 

• * • 

Planning to produce religious films for TV, 

theatrical and church release, the Hollywood 

Religious Film Foundation has been organized 

with Ivan P. Betts as president and 

Oren W. Evans as vice-president in charge 

of production. Actor Porter Hall is also a 

vice-president. The company headquarters 

at KTTV studios. 

Supersleuth Tracy Gets 

Into TV Film Battle 

HOLLYWOOD—Supersleuth Dick Tracy, 

infallible hawkshaw of the comic strips, has 

unwittingly become involved in a legal hassle 

over the production of a TB film series based 

on his exploits. 

Snader Sales, Inc., headed by Lou Snader, 

filed a superior court action against Producer 

P. K. Palmer, seeking declaratory relief on 

the grounds Palmer misrepresented production 

costs and his ability to turn out the 

Tracy subjects, and that Snader's production 

unit was forced to take over the filming 

of the balance of the series after Palmer 

made six of them. 

Palmer, however, asserts he obtained from 

the syndicate handling the Tracy strip the 

sole rights to produce the subjects for video. 

The Snader organization contends the first 

six, made by Palmer, are of inferior quality. 

Pete Smith to Ad Club 

HOLLYWOOD—Pete Smith, MGM shorts 

producer, will be a guest speaker December 

4 at the Los Angeles Advertising club, at 

which the principal address will be made by 

Paul Jones, public relations director for the 

National Safety Council. Smith is the only 

preson to win the NSC's annual award three 

times, last in 1950 for "Wrong Way Butch." 

i^l OTEWORTHY for its renectlon of inj>gj| 

tegrity more than for the actual dollars 

and cents involved was the announcement 

by Dr. Herbert T. Kalmus, president 

and general manager of Technicolor, that his 

company would reduce its charges for certain 

services, effective as of Dec. 1, 1951. 

At a trade press conference and in a letter 

to the color firm's studio cu.stomers, Dr. Kalmus 

estimated that a reduction of .15 of a 

cent a foot in the processing cost of 35mm 

release prints, which he emphasized was "entirely 

voluntary," would mean a saving to 

the industry of some $775,000 a year. The 

price decrease, he pointed out, was made possible 

because of the elimination of the federal 

excise tax on raw films, which became effective 

Nov. 1, 1951, and was further implemented 

by Technicolor's decision to ab.sorb 

at least half— if not more—of increa.sed processing 

costs brought about by wage boosts 

and upped prices of raw materials. 

Dr, Kalmus' estimate of an approximate 

$775,000 annual saving was predicated upon 

Technicolor's volume for 1951. At the same 

time he optimistically predicted that there 

would be a normal increase in such volume 

during 1952 and a large increase when the 

company completes its new plant, which has 

already passed the blueprint stage, and for 

which materials are now being accumulated. 

So the $775,000 figure is sure to grow. 

Even at that, it will not mean that the 

trimmed costs for color photography and 

subsequent processing will be large enough to 

make or break any producer or. for that 

matter, any individual picture. Nor does it 

seem possible that it will have any immediate 

effect upon the financial status of either exhibitors 

or their theatre patrons. But it is 

significant that the new charges for Technicolor 

hit an all-time low in the organization's 

history. 

And that, at a time when the cost of virtually 

every other item entering into the 

making of motion pictures is continuing to 

climb, is a refreshingly welcome step in the 

right direction, a step for which Dr. Kalmus 

and his company rate an industry-wide vote 

of 

praise. 

While bows are being allocated, a I'il one 

toward Maggie Ettinger, for lo! these many 

years Technicolor's publicity representative, 

for the characteristically efficient and friendly 

manner in wiiicli she organized and operated 

the press conference at which Dr. Kalmus issued 

his price-cutting proclamation. If all such 

huddles were as well handled, they might 

cease to be the pet peeve of many Hollywood 

news outlets. 

From Howard Strickling's rover boys at 

Metro, the claim that "after a long lapse, 

billboard advertising has come back into its 

own in the Los Angeles area with both 'Quo 

Vadis' and 'An American in Paris.' Heavy 

schedules of 24-sheets were posted for both 

MGM pictures." 

An insult, nothing less, to Perry Lieber of 

RKO Radio's ravery. How about that monster 

—that revealing display on behalf of Howard 

Hughes' "His Kind of Woman" that Praise 

Pundit Perry cau.sed to be erected at Fairfax 

and Wilshire, and to one of the loudest and 

most vertiginous beatings of drums In Cinemania's 

history? That, too, was and still Is 

a billboard. 

John Flinn tickles the welkin with a momentous 

Monofrram manifesto that "a 'Flight 

to Mars' menu is being featured by Thrifty 

Drug Company's 108 southern California 

stores as part of a tie-up ..." Possible menu: 

Cosmic Consomme 

Celestial Celery Orion Olives 

Potatoes Pluto 

Roast a la 

Space Ship Salad 

Atomic .^pple 

Rocket 

Zooming Zucchini 

Pie 

Jovial Johnny failed to mention who's going 

to furnish the bicarbonate of soda which is 

indicated for the relief of Cinemanla reporters 

who are made lo eat their way through 

such publicity trivia, even though they can 

take or leave alone Thrifty's cuisine. 

Unusually fascinating are the announced 

plans of Producer Sol Lesser to send an expedition 

to South America in search of the 

lost emeralds of Illa-Tica. The exploratory 

party will be headed by Kenneth Krippene. 

author and expert on buried treasure, and 

the entire adventure will be photographed In 

color for Lesser, who plans to present a 

full-length motion picture story of the journey. 

While on the trek. Krippene also plans to 

investigate a legendary "City of Naked Women." 

which supposedly is in the general 

area of the emeralds in treacherous jungle 

country. 

Should Krippene and his intrepid explorers 

find the community of unclad femmes, 

Franchot Tone might be available for the 

picture's male topline. 

And should they uncover the alleged lost 

gems, various exhibitor groups might be 

induced to finance a second expedition, one 

to find the lost audience of the Bijou Theatre. 

From Teetering Teet Carle's Paramount 

praisery emanates a titillating tidbit to the 

effect that while Britain's Princess Elizabeth 

and her consort Prince Phillip were touring 

Canada they stopped at the small town of 

Penticton, B. C. and were advised by the 

mayor thereof that if was the birthplace of 

Alexis Smith. Elizabeth praised the player, 

according to the Carleian intelligence, as a 

"charming young lady and an extremely 

talented actress." 

What's more, Alexis has always spoken very 

highly of the princess. 


' 

j 

\ 

' 

^(mdoK ^c^tont 

TN TWO OR THREE YEARS the Hyams 

brothers, who turned from exhibiting to 

distributing, have pulled their company, Eros 

Films, to the top rank of the independent 

renters in Great Britain. They have done this 

mainly by a sound knowledge of the kind of 

films that the public wants to see and also 

by a very considerable flair for showmanship 

so that they succeed in putting the picture 

over once they have made or bought it. 

One of their happier inspirations was the 

formation of the Eros Lunch club, a body 

which meets at in-egular intervals usually. 

by coincidence, at a time when Phil and Sid 

Hyams have a particularly big picture to sell! 

The membership of the lunch club consists 

of Eros executives and the London film journalists 

representing trade and lay papers. At 

last week's lunch, given to coincide with the 

press show of the Bette Davis film, "Another 

Man's Poison," Phil Hyams disclosed that in 

the 18 months that Eros had been financing 

British pictures they had been responsible for 

21 films. A creditable record, although the 

pictures were a mixed bag of seconds, cofeatures 

and top features which were described 

by Hyams himself as "some good, 

some bad and some terrible." 

Phil Hyams also mentioned an important 

point in passing and that was the fact that 

Eros preferred to do business with new producers. 

Apart from Daniel Angel who has 

become an important independent producer 

since tying up with them there are several 

others who can thank Eros for bringing them 

up from very small beginnings. Monty Berman 

and Robert Baker are a team which 

started just over a year ago to turn out 

seconds for Eros and this week they find 

themselves in charge of the first of a new 

series of Anglo-American films which the 

Hyams have negotiated with Sol Lesser. 

Lesser has sent Mark Stevens over from 

Hollywood to co-star with Jean Kent in "The 

Lost Hour'." and David MacDonald is 

directing 

this for Baker and Berman at Korda's 

Isleworth studios. 

* * * 

THE BETTE DAVIS FILM, which was 

viewed after the lunch, turned out to be 

unworthy of it or indeed of any other meal 

except perhaps a funeral breakfast. Produced 

by Daniel Angel and directed by 

Irving Rapper, the film also stars Gary Merrill, 

Emlyn Williams and Anthony Steel, but 

Miss Davis must bear the brunt of respon.sibility 

for it. 

It is difficult to see how such a seasoned 

artist could deliberately have chosen to work 

in a script so out-dated and melodramatic 

that it might well have been made 20 years 

ago. Not only that, but almost every line and 

.scene shows evidence of its uneasy translation 

from a stage play with the characters 

entering right and exiting left and all the 

old situations of the Lyceum .school of drama 

appearing with regularity in every reel. 

This farrago of nonsense deals with a 

woman novelist who poisons her husband, 

from whom she has parted, when he comes 

to shelter from the police at her house. His 

accomplice arrives soon after the murder and 

after helping her to dispose of the body he 

poses as the missing hu.sband until she 

poisons him also. These little peccadilloes are 

By JOHN SULLIVAN 

contrived so that she may steal the fiance 

of her secretary and it is appropriate that 

she meets her own sticky end at the hands 

of the local horse doctor who gives her 

whisky from the fatal flask after she has 

had an attack of the vapors. 

Most of the critics felt like a good stiff 

drink of (unpoisoned) whisky themselves 

after sitting through 90 minutes of this. 

WARNERS BRITISH OFFICE is very much 

in the news this week when details were 

published in the tradepress of their new 

bonus scheme. Arthur S. Abeles announced 

details at their sales conference in London. 

This was the first conference, incidentally, 

that they have held since the war. . 

Abeles stressed that the only thing demanded 

of their branches was hard work 

and said that the quotas worked out were 

very reasonable. Every branch had been set 

a weekly billings quota starting from the 

fiscal year, which began in August, and the 

fact that this quota was attainable was 

evinced by seven branches on average already 

in excess of their quota. 

At the end of the year the branch staff 

would get a full week's salary as a bonus 

for every extra amount secured, which was 

equal to the weekly quota figure. In other 

words, if a branch does business equal to 

54 weeks in 52 then all the staff will draw 

two weeks salary as a bonus and so on in 

proportion. When the whole country exceeds 

rêciiîlae 

North: Myron Karlin, MGM manager in 

Venezuela, arrived for a three-week studio 

stay to view product and talk with company 

executives. 

* • * 

East: Producer Frank Seltzer, accompanied 

by Larry Lansburgh, headed for New York to 

set distribution on "Earthquake Lake," a 

semidocumentary adventure film, which Lansburgh, 

headed for New York to set distribution 

on "Earthquake Lake," a semidocumentary 

adventure film, which lansburgh produced 

and directed. 

* * * 

West: Howard Dietz, vice-president in 

charge of advertising and publicity for Loew's, 

arrived at the MGM studio for executive 

huddles. 

* * * 

East: Producer Hal Wallis headed for St. 

Benning, Ga., to supervise the launching of 

filming on a new Dean Martin-Jerry Lewis 

comedy which will be relea.sed by Paramount. 

He was accompanied by Director Norman 

Taurog and Wallis' production manager. Jack 

Saper. 

* * 

West: Ai'thur Loew, president of Loew's 

International, planed in from Gotham for a 

week of MGM studio huddles with Dore 

Schary, vice-president and production chief, 

and E. J. Mannix, general manager. Meantime 

the producing, directing and writing 

team of Norman Panama and Melvin Frank 

the average quota figure the head office 

staff also will participate on the same basis'. 

This is a very fair and equitable scheme; 

and one which should bring Warners some' 

substantial increases. 

* * * 

' 

SOME OF THE TREPIDATION withi 

which exhibitors have been regarding the new 

"X" certificate of the British Board of 

Film Censors has been calmed after the' 

experiment by Odeon of playing an "X" film 

in their circuit program. 

Until recently the board issued two main 

\ 

certificates, the "A" signifying that the film 

was more suitable for adult audiences, but 

to which children might go if accompanied 

by an adult, and the "U," meaning that the 

film could have a universal showing 

j 

and i 

could be seen by anyone. Apart from this 

the board occasionally issued an "H" certificate 

to a horror film and children were not 

admitted to these shows. 

Recently the new category "X" was formed 

and tagged to pictures, which were not in I 

themselves horror films, but were considered I 

completely unsuitable for children. First big 1 

picture to receive this certificate and to be 

booked by a circuit was Paramount's "Detective 

Story," which Odeon courageously decided 

to try out. The result is a triumph 

for the film, which is doing very good busi- 

; 

ness indeed in its second week of London 

release. The only money likely to be lost is 

. 

with the teenage trade, which takes itself 

to the movies here and usually persuades a • 

complaisant adult to escort them in to an 

' 

"A" film. Otherwise there is little likelihood 

' 

of a "X" picture losing money if it is good 

entertainment as the American habit of the 

whole family's going to the movies together 

is practically unknown here. 

^nxuiêU.^^ 

checked out for Washington for two weeks 

of research on an upcoming Robert Taylor 

starrer dealing with the career of Col. Paul 

Tibbetts. pilot of the B-29 which dropped the 

first atom bomb on Hiroshima during World 

War II. 

ji* 

* * * ] 

East: Gunther Lessing. vice-president of 

:^ 

Walt Disney Productions and board chairman 

of the Society of Independent Motion Picture 

Producers, left for Washington to attend 

a meeting of the State department's national 

advisory committee on information. He is a 

member of the group. 

* * * 

I 

East: Director Arthur Lubin headed for 

' 

West Point to shoot exteriors for a comedy 

which he is megging for Universal. 

* * * 

North: Mark Robson, director and partner 

of Robert Wise in Aspen Productions, independent 

unit, returned from Mexico City after 

surveying filming facilities there. 

* * » 

East: Douglas Fairbanks jr., president of the 

; 

Dougfair Corp., planed to New York for talks 

with United Artists executives concerning 

distribution plans for a Bette Davis starrer 

which was co-produced in England by Fairbanks 

and Daniel Angel. 

Mr. Exhibitor—oro you doing all you can on the 

1951 'Christmas Salute' to the Variety Clubs-Will 

Rogers hospitol? 

r 

'% 

;'Jitclii 

isim 

: It If 

].:2piiU 

aj Ii 

J-'Suie 

50 BOXOFFICE 

: 

: December 1, 1951

'«!, 

New Officers and Directors of Montana ITO Assn 

»t4 

"»«s 

Officers and directors of the Independent Theatre Owners of 

Montana at a recent meeting in Butte, Mont., took time out from 

business sessions to pose for this photograph. Left to right, front 

row: Herb Bonifas of Chinook, director; Clarence Colder, Great Falls, 

secretary-treasurer; Frank Morgan, Livingston, director; Clarence 

Sverson, Glendive, former secretary; Rex Flint of Baker and N. M. 

Stubblefield of St. Ignatius, directors, and Fred Arnst of Fort 

Benton, president. Rear row: Carl Veseth of Malta and Frank Faust 

of Forsyth, committee chairmen; D. E. Lockrem of Circle, E. M. 

Jackson of Livingston and J. II. Moran of Laurel and E. R. Munger 

of Helena, directors; Rotus Harvey of San Francisco, president of 

the Pacific Coast Conference of Independent Theatre Owners, a 

convention speaker, and J. M. Suckstorff of Sidney, vice-president. 

Nearly 100 attended the annual session. 

Las Vegas Variety 

Makes 1st Payment 

LAS VEGAS, NEV.—An initial contribution 

of $10,000 has been made by Variety Tent 39 

to its pet charity, the School for Handicapped 

Children, now under construction. Presentation 

of the check was made by Jake Kozloff, 

heart chairman, and Ben Goffstein, chief 

barker. It represents half of the original 

pledge. 

Marc Wolf, chief barker; Robert J. O'Donnell, 

ringmaster, and John H. Harris, big boss 

of Variety International, have praised the 

project. They said few tents had been able to 

raise such a sum of money within such a short 

time after receiving a charter. Grading and 

foundation work have been started. The 

school will incorporate many of the features 

of Variety Village in Toronto, which representatives 

of the Las Vegas tent visited in 

October. The schedule calls for completion of 

the first buildings before the international 

convention opens here in April 1952. 

Holiday Magazine First 

To Present Film Awards 

HOLLYWOOD— 'Tis the season to be jolly 

—and also the time of year when matters 

cinematic begin to be tossed up for grabs in 

the awards department. 

First under the wire in what is shaping up 

as a banner year for bow-taking is Holiday 

magazine, which will honor the industry and 

its creative artists at a luncheon here December. 

Winners of awards in various film 

categories will be announced at the session. 

Upcoming thereafter are such annual awards 

events as the Look, Redbook and Photoplay 

affairs, the New York Film Critics' selections, 

innumerable other "bests" polls and, of 

course, the Oscar sweepstakes of the Academy 

of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, slated 

for next March. 

R. W. Koenig Buys Luv-Vu 

From the Elmer Martells 

LOVELAND. COLO. — Acquisition of the 

Luv-Vu Drive-In by the University Theatre 

Corp. of Boulder was announced by Richard 

W. Koenig. The latter, who has owned the 

Motorena Drive-In at Boulder for three years, 

negotiated the purchase from Mr. and Mrs. 

Elmer Martell. Koenig said he will appoint 

a local manager for the house. 

Koenig is no stranger to Loveland. having 

attended the Garfield school and CSCE at 

Greeley. He will continue his residence at 

Boulder but has an aunt and grandmother 

here. The theatre can be reached from 

Berthoud in the mountain area. 

With his ownership of the Luv-Vu, Koenig 

stated that he would exhibit first run and a 

choice of second run pictures, a policy that 

has proven popular at Boulder. All bills will 

be single and children under 12 will be admitted 

free. A special children's program will 

be given at 7; 15 on Friday and Saturday evenings. 

Free treats, three cartoons and a 

selection of comedies will precede the regular 

picture those nights. The children's show 

will be .shown only once and will consume 

about 45 minutes. 

Charles Whiteside Quits 

To Fish; John Buck Named 

CORVALLIS, ORE.—John W. Buck, formerly 

with the Corvallis First Federal Savings 

& Loan Ass'n, was named full-time manager 

of the Whiteside Theatre, it was announced 

by Charles D. Whiteside for the owners. Buck 

has been an Oregonian since 1936 and is a 

district manager of Toastmaster International. 

Whiteside indicated he would continue 

to be acti\^ in the operation of the 

theatre but he would devote a little more time 

to his hunting, fishing, recreational and community 

activities. 

Ed Lowry to Direct 

HCC Christmas Units 

HOLLYWOOD—Supervisory chores on the 

four overseas Christmas entertainment units 

being assembled by the Hollywood Coordinating 

committee have been entrusted to Ed 

Lowry, who was executive secretary for west 

coast operations of USO-Camp Shows during 

World War II. Meantime Gary Cooper, radio's 

Bob Hawk and Hillary Brooke were the 

latest to be added to the roster of players set 

for the tours, for which a total of 80 personalities 

is being rounded up. 

Other volunteers include Walter Pidgeon. 

Keith Andes. Leonid Kinskey. Akim Tamiroff 

and the Taylor Maids. 

Meantime Danny Kaye and Monica Lewis 

returned from a four-week tour of the Korean 

battlefront. arranged by the HCC in cooperation 

with USO-Camp Shows, to describe the 

stint as "the most gratifying experience" of 

their careers. They gave 23 shows in 19 

days, with June Bruner and Sam Praeger 

going along as accompanists. 

Sid Cox Manages Drive-In; 

Ed Kelly Goes to Pueblo 

COLORADO SPRINGS— Sid Cox, assistant 

manager of the Chief Theatre for the past 

year, has been named manager of the 8th 

Street Drive-In. succeeding Ed Kelly, who 

has been transferred to Pueblo by Westland 

Theatres Co, 24, is a native of Jackson, Miss., 

and was in Denver, Salida. Fort Morgan, 

Lamar, Deertrail and Cheyenne Wells before 

coming here in 1948. He started as an usher 

at the Chief. 

Kelly will become manager of the Pueblo 

Chief, succeeding James Biu-gess, who left 

for service with the armed forces. Kelly was 

named manager of the drive-in last spring. 

He has been in the theatre business three 

years. 

BOXOFFICE : 

: December 1, 1951 51

| 

Hikes in Ausfralian Basic Wages 

To Cost Industry Large Amount 

By WILLIAM BEECHAM 

(Australian Bureau, Boxoffice' 

PERTH. W. A. — Australia's leading fUm 

trade journal, the "Film Weekly," estimates 

that the latest basic wage rises (Sydney, up 

14s. weekly to £10 7s.; Hobart up 12s. to £9 

19s.: Adelaide up lis. to £9 15s.; Melbourne 

up 10s. to £9 19s.; Brisbane up 10s. to £9 15s., 

and Perth up 9s. to £9 17s.) will cost the 

Australian film industry some £150,000 a year 

in dii'ect increases alone. It points out: 

"Since practically all other businesses pass 

on their increased costs, film concerns inevitably 

face cost increases for virtually all 

goods and services they require in doing business. 

Also disquieting to the industry is reflection 

on what effects of the basic wage 

rises on the country's economic state may 

have on the public's spending power. 

But it concludes on a note of optimism: 

"There is, however, an interesting if unexpected 

line of thought held in some quarters 

—that heavily increased price of beer, cigarets 

and suchlike 'luxuries' could react in the 

picture business' favor Proponents of this 

reasoning feel that lots of wage earners would 

rather spend on films than on things that 

have become unreasonably dear, and that 

where cost of drink or tobacco has become too 

steep for a man's purse he tends to cut them 

out This school of thought points to the experience 

that when the beer is off in the 

suburbs during a liquor 'drought' it helps 

the boxoffice." 

•How OLD 

Santa Claus? 

This particular Santa — the one 

you see on the Christmas Seals — 

is a very healthy forty-five! 

Yes, this is the 45th annual 

Christmas Seal Sale — a holiday 

custom that has helped save 

5,000,000 lives. Yet, tuberculosis 

kills more people than all other 

Infectious diseases combined. 

So, please, send your contribution 

today. 

Buy Christmas Seals/ 

HcruuMc lit f.ho iinportunto 

of llic shove 

rrnissano. thin apace has 

boon contributed by BOXOFFICE 

that the Common- 

The industry here feels 

wealth Jubilee Film competition might well 

be abandoned, and one authority describes it 

as "a meaningless, bungled, pinchpenny affair 

that would be an insult to the industry 

and to the amateur filmmakers of the nation, 

if it were taken seriously." It is pointed out 

that the first announcement of the competition 

was publicly made only six weeks before 

the closing date; that four weeks later judges 

had not been appointed; that no time or 

place has been decided for screening of winning 

entries; that prize money totals only 

£200 (less than many a municipal council has 

allocated for minor Jubilee contests) ; that as 

it was found that the scope of the competition 

was inadequate, an additional section for 

films made by non-Australian companies was 

later added; that there are now indications 

that the closing date may have to be extended, 

and that the authorities ignored offers 

from the industry which, acted upon, 

might have made the competition a reasonable 

one. 

. » * 

Exhibitors here still are concerned at what 

many of them describe as "loose distribution" 

of 16mm films, and some openly state 

that such distribution has been extremely lax. 

Factories and private homes, it is alleged, 

have access to such a variety of films that 

the people who see them lose some of their 

appetite for the commercial shows. Major 

oil companies and even newspapers give public 

screenings, not only in "wayback" townships, 

but also in the major cities. It seems 

that the whole matter demands more than 

passing attention. It needs, if reports to 

hand are true, through investigation. 

* * * 

MGM's "The Great Caruso" is breaking 

records throughout the country. Mario Lanza 

records are heard at all times of the day and 

night from almost every radio station (some 

sessions consist almost entirely of numbers 

by the star) and word of mouth publicity for 

the film is really extraordinary. Sixteen millimeter 

trailers are being used in leading 

stores with considerable success. 

* t * 

In Western Australia, traffic and fire 

authorities are viewing with some concern 

the blocking of laneways by autos of theatre 

patrons. In Perth, a city with narrow 

central streets, traffic congestion is particularly 

bad, and it is likely that legislation will 

be enforced to keep traffic flowing smoothly 

at all times. In suburbs the police have been 

insisting that theatre patrons who have 

parked in unauthorized spots leave the theatre 

and move their vehicles. 

* * * 

The Sydney office of MGM recently forwarded 

to Hollywood a 7-foot giant red kangaroo 

which will appear in "One Piece Bathing 

Suit," the life story of famous Australian 

swimmer of the early 1900's, Annette Kellerman. 

Animal was presented by philanthropist 

E. J. Hallstrom from his private collection 

after three states had been searched in vain 

for a suitable specimen. 'Roo was bred and 

reared in captivity, and after its work in the 

film it will go to the San Diego zoo. 

* * • 

A Sydney newspaper, calling for donations 

to its Christmas Comfort fund for Australian 

troops in Korea, had immediate response 

from the film industry. Hoyts Theatres 

headed the first list with £105. In addition. 

Managing Director Sidney Albright of 

' 

Fox 

| 

gave £10 10s.; Greater Union Theatres added ! 

£52 10s., and the Motion Picture Distribu- ! i 

tors Ass'n gave £100. 

Centennial in Seattle 

Recalls Film History 

SEATTLE—With Seattle's centennial focusing 

attention on the history of the 100- 

year-old city, oldtimers recall that the first 

regular motion picture theatre was opened 

in 1903 by a Mr. Lincoln under the name of 

the Edison. It was located on Second avenue 

and admission was five cents. Later it was 

sold and renamed the Crystal. 

Larger and moi-e impressive theatres soon 

appeared, beginning with John Hamrick's 

Class A in 1911 and continuing a year apart 

with the Clemmer, Colonial, Liberty and 

Coliseum. The latter three are still in operation 

under their original names, but the 

Colonial is now operated by Sterling Theatres 

and the Coliseum by the Evergreen 

chain. 

The first talking picture to be shown in 

Seattle was "The Lights of New York," which 

received its premiere at the Blue Mouse in 

1928; the first color film, "The Gold Diggers 

of Broadway, 1929," played at the Liberty 

in 1930. 

In 1941 another significant forward step 

was taken with the incorporation of the Seattle 

Motion Picture Council, the purpose of 

which was "to keep informed on all film 

legislation, to rouse in patrons a more discriminating 

taste in selection of motion picture 

entertainment, and to arrange Friday 

family night, or weekend films and junior 

matinees." 

Most recent development in Seattle film 

history has been the formation of the local 

COMPO unit, of which Will J. Conner, Hamrick 

executive vice-president, is chairman. 

Despite individual differences, all Seattle 

owners are active members and striving to 

promote goodwill between the industry and 

the public. 

Today, Seattle has almost 50 indoor motion 

picture theatres within the city limits and 

many more, plus a half-dozen drive-ins, in 

surrounding suburban areas, which is indicative 

of the growing interest over the years in 

this form of entertainment. 

James Griffith Succumbs 

TACOMA. WASH.—James V. Griffith, 44, 

well known in Tacoma theatrical circles, died 

at his home November 13. He was born in 

Wisconsin and lived here 30 years. He was 

a sound engineer for the Sportland Amusement 

Co. and a member of Joseph Warren 

Masonic lodge and of the projections Local 

175. He vcas president and business agent of 

Local B-22 and directed and. acted in many 

plays of the Tacoma Little Theatre. 

Jack Rhodes at Granada 

BOISE — The Granada Theatre has reopened 

with a new policy and Rodger Mendenhall, 

owner of the Granada and Pinney 

theatres, announced the appointment of Jack 

Rhodes as manager. He will be assisted by 

Bob Wilson. Rhodes managed the Natatorium 

last summer with the assistance of 

Wil.son. The Granada was closed during the 

summer for renovation but is now operating 

daily. 

'ki\ 

52 BOXOFFICE : 

: December 1, 1951

tstt 

Cooper Foundation Gets 

Permit to Remodel Trail 

COLORADO SPRINGS—The proposed 

remodeling 

of the Trail Theatre, which eventually 

will mean a modernistic front and 

modernization throughout, will get under 

way with a permit for $15,000 issued to the 

theatre last month by the office of the city 

engineer. According to the permit, the initial 

work is for a new floor and moving the 

concession stand. 

However, C. J. Freeman, city manager for 

Cooper Foundation, said that new seats will 

be installed, a modern front, carpeting and 

general remodeling undertaken as far as 

NPA will permit. The original plans called 

for a complete new theatre but it was held 

back by the government restrictions. Now, 

Freeman said, as much improvement as possible 

under existing regulations will be done. 

Koppingers and Cresslers 

Trade Theatre and Hotel 

MONTESANO, WASH.—Peter J. Koppinger 

has sold the New Montesano Theatre to Mr. 

and Mis. G. E. Cressler of Seaside, Ore. As 

part of the deal, the Cresslers sold the Beacon 

hotel at Seaside, which they have operated 

several years, to the Koppingers, 

The Cresslers announced that the theatre 

will be managed by their daughter and sonin-law, 

Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Dixon. Dixon 

comes here from California, where he ha.

. . Other 

. . . Mr. 

Portland 

i 

IPI 

SEATTLE 

John Hamrick's Music Box Theatre came to 

* the rescue of mothers with small children 

and lots of Christmas shopping to do by 

holding a children's matinee last Saturday 

(24), starting at 9:30 a. m. The program featured 

the English "Alice in Wonderland" 

film which merges life-size puppets and live 

action. 

. . 

Jo Furse, assistant booker at Columbia for 

many years, has resigned to Join the Pacific 

Fruit and Produce Co. Succeeding her at 

Columbia is Kay Clones, who has been secretary 

to the manager . Jack Burk, 20th-Fox 

manager, has moved into his new apartment 

at the Queensborough . . . On the Row 

were Mr. and Mrs. Chris Poulson of the 

Denali Theatre, Anchorage, and Don Glover 

of the Odeon in Pullman. They also attended 

the big game Saturday (24i at the University 

of Washington stadium. 

Miriam Dickey, Anchorage, was here after 

attending the premiere of "Quo Vadis" in 

New York . 

exhibitors on the Row 

included Elsie Miller, Spokane (she formerly 

owned the Ritz there which now is being 

operated by W. L. Scale); John Cane, Capital, 

Tacoma, and Pat Tappan and Mr. and 

Mrs. Charles Grieme, Wenatchee. 

. . . 

Herman Wobber, 20th-Fox western division 

manager from San Francisco, conferred at 

the local exchange Clinton McFarland, 

. . . Fostei, 

. . Vance Weskil, Colfax 

advertising and publicity director for Sterling 

Theatres, has appointed Donna Imis as as-i 

sistant. She replaces Lottie Jameson, whc 

has moved to San Francisco 

Blake. U-I western division sales manager 

and Barney Rose, district manager, were ai' 

the local exchange . 

and L. A. Gillespie, Okonagon, were on thf 

Row . . . Patsy Brooks, daughter of Jin 

Brooks, office manager at 20th -Fox, camt' 

home from Washington State college foi 

Thanksgiving and the game. 

Lippert's local office was in fifth place nationally 

at the end of the ninth week in the 

annual collection drive . . . ZoUie Volchok, citj 

manager for Sterling Theatres, entertainer 

with an Hawaiian hulu party recently at his 

home on Lake Washington. He even imported 

tropical food, including special South Seas 

fish and punch. Among those attending were 

Mr. and Mrs. Jack Engerman and Mr. ancj 

Mrs. Fred Danz of Sterling . . . Russell Miller 

owner of the Chief Theatre in Manson, flew 

to Nebraska recently to visit his parents. 

\ 

III 

:*' 

Jet 

.; 

iifflte. 

. :! list 

CLARENCE W. OKESON 

Owner and Manager of the 

GRAND THEATRE 

PARSHALL, NORTH DAKOTA 

Says: 

Miriam Dickey, Lathrop circuit, was on the 

Row . . . Chris Poulsen of the Denali Theatre, 

Anchorage, was in buying and bookini 

and Mrs. Les Theverkauf of the Realart 

Theatre, Tacoma, vacationed in Los Angeles 

and Long Beach . . . Also in California 

vacationing were Mr. and Mrs. Cosmo Rockej 

... Ed Johnson of the Garland in Spokane 

was on the Row . . . L. O. Seley, local manager 

for Manley, went to Walla Walla to install 

a new Aristocrat model in Midstate'sj 

Liberty Theatre. 

( 

Junior Mercy and Sid Turner were on the. 

Row from Yakima . . . Inez Godfrey of the 

20th-Fox staff has been been released froir 

General hospital after surgery. 

jiiii 

"We have been screening service from Reid H. Ray Film Industries 

for a long time, and we have been using their product exclusively 

for the past two years. 

"We found that these people are always eager to please, and their 

representative is a very high type, conscientious man. We, as well 

as the business men of Parshall, have found that Business Brevities, 

furnished by Reid-Ray, are tops in quality, and I am very glad to 

give this fine company and their product my enthusiastic endorsement. 

'I like to deal with them—they do a good job.' 

Thank you, Mr. Okeson. 

Everywhere — more and more exhibitors are turning to 

BUSINESS BREVITIES 

Local Screen Advertising of Quality 

RKO to Be Santa Claus 

HOLLYWOOD—RKO will play host to 10( 

children, including 52 from the Los Angeles, 

orphanage, at a Christmas party to be staged' 

December 21 at the studio under auspices o): 

the Compass Club, a Masonic organization 

Don Lindquist of the studio purchasing department 

is arrangements chairman and the' 

party will include a Christmas tree, gifts and' 

a program of cartoons. 

Kiddy Fun Party Given 

T-.iaJte 

;aose 

:s»rc 

-'Ml. 

'^ 

. 

BILLINGS, MONT.—A fun party "to top all, 

"*' 

parties" was sponsored by the Kiwanis clut 

at the Babcock Theatre. Free admittance wat 

given to the wearers of the best spook costumes 

along with a $10 first prize, a $5 second 

prize and a $3 thu-d prize. Included in the I-"'"! 

program was an ice cream-eating contest. 

QUICK THEATRE SALES! 

(fee 

/Zeid ^/f-, 

FILM INDUSTRIES, 

f

il 

. . Joe 

, 

n^mwf 

fere 5., 

SALT LAKE 

iiirarvin George, formerly with Texas Interstate 

in Waco and Brownsfield, has been 

named manager of the Studio Theatre here. 

He has been here for the last year, working 

previously with United Film Service . . . The 

Kenneth C. Friedman family had a narrow 

escape last week when a gas explosion blew 

out the walls of his house and damaged the 

entire dwelling to such an extent it will have 

to be rebuilt. Mrs. Friedman and the two 

daughters were at home when the explosion 

occurred. Ken was at work at National 

Screen Service, where he is manager. The 

family was not injured. 

Glen Yergensen, who recently purchased 

the Cedar City interests of John Rowberry, 

has sold his Monroe Theatre to Marius Nielsen. 

The transfer will take place the first 

Foster Blake and Barney 

of the year . . . 

Rose, U-I district and division sales executives, 

conferred with Buck Wade, manager, 

and the local staff. 

The Roxy Theatre at Glasgow, Mont., was 

gutted by a fire this week. Ed Davison has 

been managing the house . . Pete Bayes has 

. 

replaced Bob Quinn as Paramount exploiteer 

in this area . Rosenfield, who operates 

the local Lyric, was in town from his offices 

in Northwest, where he also has theatres. He 

wonders why business has been so slow in 

Salt Lake and holding well in other situations 

where he is located. 

Good weather (there was only one blizzard 

in November) found at least three drive-ins 

still operating in the area as November closed 

. . . Variety Tent 38 is expected to hold elections 

Don Tibbs, chief 

December 3 . . . barker, decided to become international canvasraan 

rather than to run for re-election. 

San lose Boys Town Gets 

$1,700 in New Theatre Bow 

SAN JOSE, CALIF.—More than $1,700 went 

into the coffers of the San Jose Boys' Town 

fund as a result of the recent benefit premiere 

staged here by the United Artists circuit 

in connection with the opening of its 

new United Artists Theatre. The new showcase 

is being managed by Bob Helm. 

Film celebrities including Forrest Tucker, 

Arleen Whelan, Frank Faylen, Gloria Grahame, 

Debra Paget, Scott Brady, Jesse White, 

Joyce Holden, Ann Kelly, Margaret Sheridan, 

Stephen Chase and Richard Anderson appeared 

in a 90-minute stage show. 

Black Cat Is Admission 

GREAT FALLS, MONT.—Anyone bringing 

a black cat to the Liberty on Halloween 

night was admitted free. A guarantee of a 

free ticket to another performance was also 

given to anyone able to sit through the 

spook show. 

I 

WANT TO RENT 

SILENT RUDOLPH VALENTINO FILMS 

For Educational Groups For One Night Showings 

BOXOFFICE : 

Contact Andrew Bertine 

76 Bellrock St., Molden 48, Moss. 


Postponed Tours for Movietime 

Completed in Salt Lake Area 

Gov. J. Bracken Lee of Utah talks to Noreen Michaels, a former IJtahan now a 

Hollywood actress, as others of the Movietime delegation look on. Included are Dane 

Lussier, Keenan Wynn, Dean Jagger, Marshall Thompson, Marilyn Nash, Keefe 

Brassell and Anson Bond. 

SALT LAKE CITY—Enthusiastic public reaction 

to the Salt Lake area's belated Movietime 

U.S.A. campaign was reported as the nine 

Hollywood personalities completed a week of 

tours, and returned home. 

The group visited scores of communities in 

Utah, Idaho, eastern Nevada and eastern 

Oregon during a whirlwind trip that was 

reminiscent of the bond tours during World 

War II. Everywhere they went they met an 

enthusiastic reception. They talked to students 

in school assemblies, appeared at hospitals 

and in community meetings in theatres 

and at civic luncheons. They found young 

and old alike anxious to know about Hollywood 

and its workers and how pictures are 

made. They met governors and mayors, showmen 

and chambers of commerce and club officials. 

And everywhere the reception was 

friendly. 

The group assigned to the Salt Lake exchange 

area included Keenan Wynn, Dean 

Jagger, Marshall Thompson, Keefe Brassell, 

Paula Raymond, Noreen Michaels, a former 

Utahn; Marilyn Nash, Anson Bond and Dane 

Lussier. 

After arriving in Salt Lake, they visited 

the Veterans hospital and participated in several 

television and radio interviews. Next 

day they met Gov. J. Bracken Lee of Utah, 

Mayor Earl J. Glade of Salt Lake City and 

were introduced at a Veterans of Foreign 

Wars luncheon. 

Their first contact with students came at 

South high school here, where they told 1,500 

pupils about Hollywood and faced a barrage 

of questions, such as: "Why must the hero 

always get the girl in the movies?" and "Why, 

when Hollywood buys a book, does it change 

the context?" 

Monday evening they were the main attraction 

at Salt Lake City Variety Tent 38's 

cerebral palsy banquet at the Newhouse hotel. 

Nearly 300 persons attended this affair at 

$.50 a plate, and all proceeds went to the 

heart of Variety. 

Tuesday morning the stars split into three 

groups, with one section traveling through 

W 

communities to the south of Salt Lake, another 

to tho.se in the north and another visiting 

Idaho towns. They also visited Ely and 

Elko, Nev., and Nyssa, Ore. 

Various phases of the tour were arranged 

under the supervision of Helen Garrity, Sidney 

L. Cohen, Giff DavLson, Ray M. Hendry, 

Don V. Tibbs, William F. Gordon, Cliff 

Miller. Breck Fagin, Willard Ostlund, Bill 

McFarland, George Smith, Robert Hedges, 

Otto Jorgenson, Ross Glasmann, Julian Bills, 

Sam Gillette, Chester L. Price, J. R. Mendenhall 

and Irv Harris. 

However, the man whose unfailing optimism 

and work kept the exhibitors of the territory 

from dropping Movietime when the October 

tour was canceled, was unable to take his 

bows at the event itself. Ralph Trathen, who 

has worked diligently day and night on the 

campaign for more than four months, was 

confined to bed with a serious illness. All 

others who worked on Movietime acknowledged 

his tireless efforts in their behalf and 

for the campaign. 

Have you signed the 1951 'Christmas Salute' to 

your Variety Clubs-Will Rogers Memorial hospital? 

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SAN FRANCISCO 

North Coast Theatres, had a bad head cold 

Reader, Fox West Coast Theatres, 

said his prediction for the annual big game 

was a sorry miss. 

pilni stars visiting in the city included Eddie 

Cantor, who toured area hospitals, taped Hal Neides, Blumenfeld Theatre circuit, 

a radio show, then appeared in a two and returned from a vacation in Palm Springs 

one-half hour one-man show at the Opera 

Zimmerman, secretary at Blumenfeld, 

returned from a week's vacation. 

House, and Jack Bailey, who made the 

rounds, taping five "Queen for a Day" shows 

The Screen Test party, held at Variety 

and sending all his friends to the New 

Club, proved to be a great success and the 

Fillmore Theatre to see the film. "Queen for 

turnout far surpassed expectations. 

a Day" 

The film 

. . . Duncan Renaldo. the Cisco Kid, 

will be run off at another Variety 

met 

Club 

with 

party 

members of the local Variety Club 

. . . The long-darkened Downtown Tlieatre 

as well as with children at a local department 

is ablaze with lights and the hypnotic doings 

of Franklin, the hypnotist. The 

store . . . Anthony Dexter, well known 

for 

attraction 

is booked into the theatre for 

his role as Rudolph Valentino, visited 

Oakley. 

an 

indefinite stay. 

Earl L. Bowles said his new 500-seat house 

Reports are that the El 

in Crescent 

Captain 

City, now 

Theatre, 

San Francisco subsequent run 

under construction, 

will feature radiant 

operated 

heat. The entire structure 

will be 

by Fox West Coast, will discontinue its matinee 

policy 

built of fireproof blocks . . . 

Eddie Bracken 

. . . The Stage Door Theatre 

took 

outside 

lobby is displaying 

over the stage of the 

Golden a selection of 

Gate Theatre 

objects 

from India, 

with the opening of 

"Two loaned 

Tickets 

by a local department 

store. The film, "The River," 

to Broadway." A large Greyhound 

bus, advertising 

currently 

the film, was parked 

at the Stage 

in 

Door, is 

front 

entering its 

of the theatre 

third month 

several days. 

Burke is the new booker at Universal, 

coming here from the New York of- 

Downtown houses were helped by the opening 

of "Quo Vadis" at the Warfield. The 

fice. Burke replaces Dewey Copenhaver, who 

overflow from the theatre stimulated business 

at the neighboring houses. Mervyn Helen Simone, secretary to Barney Rose, dis- 

resigned 

. . . Mary Ti-iffon, secretary, and 

Leroy, director, was up for the opening of 

trict manager of U-I, resigned their jobs. 

"Quo Vadis" 

. Belter, publicist for Taking over Mrs. Simone's post is Peggy 

Nicholin. who was stenographer for Betty 

Gamble, booker at U-I. 

Ray Summers is the new manager of the 

El Presidio 

Now 

and the 

. . . RCA ready 

Marina theatres. He was 

moved here from the Laurel Theatre in San 

Carlos . Baum is the new manager 

of 


the Guild Theatre. Prior to World 

War II, Baum managed the Marina for 

Baron & Nathan and with his new post 

Find out how the RCA Modernization 

Plan can help you get, right 

at the Guild returns to show business after 

a lapse of ten years. 

Along the 

now, Row 

the 

were exhibitors 

equipment you 

Clarence 

need to Wasserman, in from his Roxie Theatre, Sacramento; 

Charles Harris from his Coalinga 

give your house greater patron 

Drive-In, Coalinga, 

appeal and and 

boost 

Arthur Perkins 

boxofFice. 

of 

the Starlight Drive-In, Redding. 

Get full story 

Call us . . . today 

All States Opens Terrace 

ALBUQUERQUE—The Terrace Drive-In 

opened with 

WESTERN 

what the 

THEATRICAL 

owners say is the 

largest screen tower in the country. 

EQUIPMENT 

The projection 

booth sits back 550-feet. James Grit- 

CO. 

337 Golden Gate Avenue 

ting is manager of the new unit in 

San 

the 

Franrcisco 

circuit 

2, California 

of All States Theatre Co. of Abilene, Texas. 

The ozoner has a ramp walk down the center, 

an all-paved parking area and a nursery for 

children. 

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SAN FRANCISCO: 14] »I4» 1.11 l.i . nu, .||l| . SUTTlIl 111! >•») l.i. . Illl.ii 1)41 

DENVER 

£JlIsworth Hayes, booker at 20th-Fox, has 

resigned and has been succeeded by Joe 

Forgeron, who was promoted from assistant 

shipper 

. . . The directors of Allied Rocky 

Mountain Independent Theatres will hold a 

winter meeting at the Denver headquarters 

January 15. The group will elect officers and 

make plans for the 1952 convention. The 

membership is voting at present on whether 

to hold the convention at Denver or Colorado 

Springs. The national Allied board will meet, 

at Colorado Springs in the spring. 

Frank H. Ricketson jr., president of Pox 

Intermountain Theatres, who is visiting England, 

was given an audience by Queen Elizabeth. 

Ricketson has just completed a tour of 

Europe. Last year Ricketson was given an 

audience by the Pope . . . Ann Francis and 

William Lundigan, stars of "Elopement," will 

head the Hollywood delegation to attend the 

world premiere of the film at the Denver 

December 10. The festivities will include an 

hour-long stage show, with the Denver Symphony 

orchestra participating. The premiere 

is being held in connection with a fundraising 

drive by the Loretto Heights college. 

Robert Hill, Columbia manager, went to San 

Francisco to attend a sales meeting . . . Hazel 

Morgan has resigned as cashier at 20th-Fox 

and has been succeeded by Janie Mulcahy, 

assistant . . . John Ash, MGM auditor, was 

in for a periodic check. 

Tom Bailey, Lippert franchise owner; A. G. 

Edwards, office manager, and Joe Clark, salesman, 

will go to Chicago immediately after 

Christmas to attend a sales meeting . . Mrs. 

. 

Bonnie Timmins. secretary to the manager at 

Columbia, and her husband went to Butte, 

Neb., to have Thanksgiving dinner with her 

family. 

Theatre folk seen on Filmrow included 

Oscar Conwell. Truth or Consequences, N. M.; 

Herbert Gumper, Center; Robert Smith, 

Steamboat Springs; George Besse, Gunnison; 

Lloyd Greve, Eagle; 

R. D. Ervin, Kemmerer; 

Tom Murphy, Raton, N. M.; John W. Murray, 

Springfield; Mike Joseph, San Luis; James 

Peterson, Littleton; Verne Austin, Brighton; 

Bernard Newman, Walsh; Mr. and Mrs. Leo 

Farrell, Sidney, Neb., and W. M. Houser, 

Lafayette. 

Bill Dwyer in Chugwater; 

Norman Bentz to Gilette 

CHUGWATER. WYO.—Bill Dwyer arrived 

this month to take over the management of 

the Ramona Theatre. Norman Bentz, who 

has been here the past two years, has been 

transferred to his old home of Gilette to 

manage the theatre there. Dwyer comes here 

from Glenwood Springs. Colo., where he 

worked as assistant under the former Wheatland 

manager, Dan Cornwall. 

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SHIFT IN MANAGERS—Dave Edwards, 

left, vice-president and general manager 

of Joseph L. Lawrence Theatres in Salt 

Lake City, congratulates Harold Green, 

new manager for Columbia, as W. G. Seib, 

who has retired as manager because of ill 

health, looks en. Edwards gave Harold his 

first work in the theatre industry, a job as 

usher at the old Paramount-Empress 

Theatre in Salt Lake in 1934. Seib bad 

been manager for the last 12 years. 

Paramount's Old Seats 

Travel Far and Wide 

SEATTLE—When Oscar Chiniquy of the 

local National Theatre Supply office recently 

completed reseating the Paramount Theatre 

with 1,565 American retractor chairs, he was 

faced with the problem of disposing of 1,565 

used but usable seats taken from the theatre. 

That pile is now largely depleted, however, 

with some of the chairs going to Alaska, 

some to the southern part of the state and 

some being used right here in town. 

R. J. Peratrovich of Klawock, Alaska, 

bought enough of the used seats to reseat 

his Bayview Theatre, located in Klawock; 

some more were purchased by a Baptist 

church here in town, and Frank Willard of 

Yelm, who is rebuilding his Yelm Theatre 

which burned recently, bought enough for 

his theatre, which he plans to reopen soon 

after the first of the year. 

John Lee Building New 

Ozoner for Soap Lake 

SOAP LAKE, WASH.—John Lee, 

owner of 

the Columbia Basin chain of theatres, is constructing 

a $12,000 drive-in in the Lakeview 

park addition of Soap Lake. Present arrangements 

allow a 300-car capacity with plans for 

an expansioii of facilities later on the eightacre 

tract which is located near the Lakeview 

Golf and Country club. 

Lee said he has had all the materials and 

equipment on hand for more than a year and 

expects to have the ozoner ready for operation 

late next spring. 

'Missoun Breaks Denver Record; 

Los Angeles Gives 'World' 160 

DENVER—"Across the Wide Missouri" 

broke the house record at the Broadway, day 

by day and for the week, and Is holding over. 

"Detective Story" is holding at the Denham 

and the "Blue Veil"-"Whip Hand" dualer 

holds at the Orpheum. "Golden Girl" and 

her Bowery Boys running mate were big 

enough at the Denver and Esquire to move 

to the Rialto for an extended run. Thanksgiving 

put all but two theatres over average. 

(Average si 100) 

Aladdin, Tabor and V/ebber — Th« Lady From 

Texas (U-I); Reunion in Reno (U-1) 115 

Broadway Across the Wide Missouri (MGM) 275 

Denham Detective Story (Para) 160 

Denver and Esquire—Golden Girl (20th-Fox); 

Crazy Over Horses (Mono) 175 

Orpheum—The Blue Veil (RKO); The Whip Hand 

(RKO) 

130 

Paramount No Highway in the Sky (20th-Fox) 

Thunderhead (20th-Fox) 

90 

Vogue Face to the Wind (Souvaine) 

95 

"Paris' Holdover, "Worlds' 

Pace Los Angeles Rialto 

LOS ANGELES—With "An American in 

Paris" still leading the boxoffice parade, carding 

180 per cent in its third week, another 

record-smasher made its appearance on the 

local first run rialto as "When Worlds Collide" 

opened to hefty 160 per cent average 

day-dating in two theatres. Only other attraction 

to top the normal mark was "The 

Blue Veil," continuing strong at 125 per cent 

in its second stanza. 

Chinese, Uptown, Los Angeles, Loyola Golden 

Girl (20th-Fox); St. Benny the Dip (UA) 100 

Downtown Paramount, Hawaii When Worlds Collide 

(Para) 160 

Egyptian, Slate An American in Paris (MGM), 

3rd wit 180 

Fine Arts The River (UA), advanced prices, 6th 

wl; 100 

Fox Wilshire Detective Story (Para), 5th wl: 90 

Globe, El Rey, Iris Tales of Hoffmann (Lopert), 

2nd wk 90 

Hillstreet, Pantages—The Blue Veil (RKO), 2nd 

wk 125 

Hollywood Paramount A Place in the Sim (Para), 

3rd w!: ICO 

Warners Beverly A Streetcar Named Desire (WB), 

10th wk 90 

Warners' Downtown, Hollywood, Wiltern—^tarliH 

(WB), 2nd wk 90 

"Worlds Collide' Scores 

135 at Seattle 

SEATTLE—Only — three films managed to 

rise above average "Anne of the Indies" with 

140, "When Worlds Collide" with 135 and "A 

Streetcar Named Desire" with 125. "Two 

Tlckel-s to Broadway" reached 100 In a fiveday 

holdover. 

Flue Mou3p—On the Loo«« (RKO) 75 

Cohs'um— Anne of the Indies (20th-Fox): 

Elephant Stampede Mono) 140 

Fifth Av'.nio Two Ticket* to Broodway (RKO); 

The Whip Hand (RKO), 2nd wk 100 

Liborly— Honeychile (Rep), Sea Hornet (Rep) 55 

Music Box—n Trovatore (Globe); Pagliacci 

(MPS) 80 

Music Hall—A Streetcar Named Desire (WB), 

2nd wic, . 125 

Orpheum—Close to My Heort (WB) 70 

Paramount—When Worlds Collide (Para); The 

Lady and the Bandit (Col) 135 

'Detective 

Story' Easily 

Tops San Francisco 

SAN FRANCISCO—"Detective Story." receiving 

fine reviews from local critics, al.so 

received fine attention from local theatregoers 

and rated a lusty 175 per cent opening 

at the St. Francis Theatre. Second spot 

honors went to "Mr. Imperium" with a rating 

of 130 per cent but, on the whole, business 

at the first runs was average. 

Cinema—The Desert Fox (20th-Fox),- Disc loekey 

(Mono), 5ih v/k 100 

Fox Adventures of Captain Fabian (Rep); The 

Sea Hornet (Rep) 100 

Golden Gate—The Blue Veil (RKO), 2nd wk 100 

Orpheum— Cattle Drive (U-I); The Lady Pays Oti 

(U-I) 90 

Paramount—FBI Girl (LP); Tales of Robin Hood 

(LP) 100 

St. Francis—Detective Story (Para) 175 

State The Tanks Are Coming (WB); Bride of Ibe 

Gorilla (Realart), 2nd wk 100 

United Arlfsts—Mr. Imperium (MGM) 130 

Warfield—Texas Carnival (MGM), 2nd wk 90 

'American in Paris' Leads 

Portland in Second Week 

PORTLAND— "An American in Paris" 

proved the highlight of the week with a boxoffice 

estimate of 150 per cent in its second 

week. It is scheduled for a third and possibly 

a fourth w'eek at the United Artists. Another 

surprise attraction was "Anne of the 

Indies," with a 135 score. "The Red Shoes," 

in a popular priced rerelease, ran up 175 per 

cent—a better boxoffice than its roadshow 

opening here in 1949. 

Broadway—Starlift (WB) 130 

Guild—The Red Shoes (UA) _ _ _..I7S 

Mayfoir-No Highway in the Sky (20th-Fox) 90 

Music Box Alice in Wonderland (Souaine) 50 

Orpheum, Oriental Detective Story (Para) UO 

Paramount Anne of the Indies (ZOth-Fox) 135 

United Aiiists An American in Paris (MGM), 

2nd wk __130 

HANDY SUBSCRIPTION ORDER FORM 

Seligman House Closed 

SELIGMAN, ARIZ.—The Seligman Theatre 

here has closed its doors. The house was 

managed by Mrs. J. B. Knadler and operated 

by Harry Nace, Arizona theatreman. 

Industry members afflicted with tuberculosis ore 

depending on you. Sign the 1951 'Christmos Solute' 

to the Variety Clubs-Will Rogers Memoriol hospitol.

' 

' 

LOS ANGELES 

n visiter from the east was Charles Moss, 

executive director of of the B. S. Moss 

chain, who is taking a gander at new product 

for booking into the circuit's Criterion 

Theatre in New York . . . Harold Wirthwein, 

Monogram-Allied Artists western sales manager, 

planed out for the midwest on a twoweek 

trek, planning stopovers in Omaha, 

Des Moines, Milwaukee, Chicago, St. Louis 

and Kansas City. 

. 

Puppy owners: Columbia salesman Jerry 

Purcell is in the market for a pooch at the 

insistent request of son Gary and daughter 

Diedra . . George T. Munton has been given 

an okay by the fii'e department to reopen 

his San Carlos Theatre after making the 

necessary changes to conform to the municipal 

code ... A bow toward Republic: The 

entire executive staff, sales force and shipping 

room crew went en masse to the Red 

Cro.ss for blood donations. 

Up from Blythe on a booking-buying expedition 

were Mr. and Mrs. Dave Jarvis . . . 

J. C. Lyon is shuttering his Orange Theatre 

in Orange, temporarily at least, effective Saturday 

(11 ... In the reopening category. Milt 

Arthur's Cabart circuit switched the lights 

back on in the LaShell and Brayton theatres, 

both long dark, in the Long Beach area 

. . . Sam Decker disposed of his Palms Theatre 

in Palms to James Allen and Merritt 

"Duke" Stone. 

Sick list: Bill Warner, United Artists salesman, 

is recuperating, but still hospitalized, 

after a recent illness; back on the Row (but 

just a visitor) was Burt "Red" Lentz, salesman 

at the Columbia branch, who has been 

on sick leave for the past several months. 

He looks fit as a fiddle . . . Ben Pish, Samuel 

Goldwyn's sales representative, checked in 

from an eastern business jaunt and took off 

again immediately— this time with Salt Lake 

City as his destination. 

After 13 years as a United Artists salesman. 

Jack Drumm has resigned to take over 

the operation and management of the Big 

Sky Drive-In near Monrovia, in which he is 

a partner with Lou Berman. The latter is 

heading for Ventura to manage the 101 

Drive-In, which he and Drumm have acquired 

from Reeves E.spy ... A vistor at Republic 

was Earl Collins, former branch manager, 

who now heads Republic's TV film sales subsidiary, 

Hollywood Television Service. 

Congratulations are in order for Francis 

A. Bateman, Republic's western district sales 

managerf, and his wife, who are celebrating 

their 28th wedding anniversary 

. . . George 

A. Smith, western division chief for Paramount, 

came in from San Francisco after 

talks with the Bay city branch personnel . . . 

Leon S. Snider, Australian circuit operator 

and a member of that country's Parliament, 

headed, for San Francisco en route back home 

after a .short stay here. 

round-the-world cruise. 

He has been on a 

Smoking Ban in Theatres 

To Be Enforced in Mexico 

MEXICO CITy—National authorities have, 

as many times in the past, again issued a 

strong statement saying that the practice of 

smoking in Mexican theatres will no longer 

be tolerated. Threats of arrest and fines 

were put forth in the latest attempt to control 

smoking, which heretofore has filled even 

the first-class houses with such dense haze 

that the air is scarcely breathable and the 

quality of the film projection is lowered considerably. 

Authorities are asking the public to cooperate 

in enforcement of the ban on smoking 

in theatres, not only by complaining but 

also by pointing out violaters to inspectors 

assigned to each theatre. 

In the opinion of BOXOFFICE correspondent 

Emil Zubryn the question of whether 

the new drive to abolish smoking in theatres 

will succeed is a moot one. Outraged theatregoers 

who do protest, says Zubryn, may be 

in for trouble since most offenders are rather 

tough characters. 

The move on the part of the authorities 

of the federal district, which includes the 

boundaries of the city proper, came as a 

result of many complaints on the part of 

theatregoers, who have said that the pall of 

cigaret smoke made filmgoing in this city 

uncomfortable and even a hazard to the lives 

of the patrons. Many a careless cirgaret 

smoker has been responsible for fires in 

Mexican neighborhood theatres catering to 

the poorer classes. 

Indio Minister Files 

Objection to Airer 

INDIO, CALIF.—Formal opposition to the 

proposed construction of a 650-car drive-in 

here has been filed with the city council by 

the Rev. Thomas Griffith of the Church of 

God. The ozoner is planned for erection at 

an estimated cost of $100,000 by a syndicate 

represented by J. Frederick Rosen, attorney 

from Coachella, Calif. 

Four reasons were cited by Griffith in 

opposing plans for building the theatre: It 

would not be showing respect for the church, 

since the ozoner would be located right next 

door: there is sufficient theatrical entertainment 

available in the area without the 

addition of another showcase; it would create 

a traffic hazard around the church, and 

there might be some question as to whether 

the city's municipal code permits the erection 

of a drive-in in that zone. 

The city council has taken the protest 

under advisement. Plans for the ozoner are 

now in the hands of architects. 

Bend's Capitol Reopened 

BEND, ORE.—The Capitol Theatre, closed 

since July, has been reopened by Manager 

Earl B. Jones. The date of the seasonal closing 

of the Bend Drive-In has not been determined, 

he said. Jones said the house would 

show double features and a new staff of girl 

ushers would be employed. 

Here and There 

— 

^ 

pranksters set a smoke bomb outside the ' 

air conditioning intake unit of the Tower 

Theatre in Denver earlier this month, driving I 

' 

400 patrons from the building. Pungent smoke 

filled the theatre, according to Manager Vin- ; 

cent Dunn, but there was no panic and pa- i 

trons returned to their seats when the air 

cleared . . . The Eaton Theatre at Eaton, I 

Colo., staged a baby photo contest with $500 

in ca.sh prizes . . . Bauer's Drive-In at Fort 

I 

Morgan, Colo., sponsored a local amateur t 

talent show. A large stage, one of the few 

\ 

of its kind at drive-ins, was erected in front 

of the screen. It was 20x60 feet. 

More than 150 youngsters took advantage 

of the hospitality offered by McCarthy & 

Feinstein, owners of the Lincoln Theatre at 

Limon and the Gem Theatre in Hugo, Colo., 

when a free show and free swim were offered 

by the showmen late this summer. 

Youngsters from Limon were transported to 

Hugo, scene of the party, in a school bus. 

At a contest at the swimming pool after the 

show, two youngsters were named "Miss 

Gem" and "Mr. Lincoln" and will be admitted 

free to any show at either of the theatres 

for the next year. "March of the Wooden 

Soldiers," the old Laurel and Hardy feature, 

was the film fare and, needless to say, the 

kids greatly appreciated the fine gesture on 

the part of the theatremen. 

PORTLAND 

n rthur Greenfield, U-I manager, reports 

"Bend of the River" will be world-premiered 

at the J. J. Parker Broadway Theatre 

here January 23. Tlie picture was filmed in 

the Mount Hood and Columbia river areas last 

July, James Stewart, Julie Adams and other 

members of the cast are expected to attend. 

On January 24 the film will open a saturation 

booking run in the northwest. 

Herbert Larson and Arnold Marks, drama 

editors of the Oregonian and Oregon Journal, 

attended the screening of "Quo Vadis" in 

San Fi-ancisco . . . Martin Foster, manager 

of the Guild, reports his week-long Walt Disney 

festival enjoyed record attendance. 

Book by Montana Author 

Bought by Universal 

GREAT FALLS, MONT.—Motion picture 

rights on "Roughshod," latest novel written 

by Norman A. Fox, Great Falls 

author, have 

been sold to Universal Pictures Corp. 

"Roughshod" was published in August and 

is Fox's 20th book. The story concerns Reb 

Kittredge, Texas gunman, who was imported 

to Wyoming where he fought in the famous 

Johnson county cattle war of 1892. 

Following the war, Kittredge came to Montana 

to accept a job with a man who sought 

to dominate part of the cattle country. Most 

of the setting is fictitious. 

House Reopened Weekend Okay Tax on Drive-ins Helena Hails Him Hoon 

LEWISTON, MONT.—The Broadway Theatre 

was reopened last month on a weekend 

policy hy Don Campbell, manager. Remodeling 

work done last year included painting the 

interior and installing a new screen and projection 

equipment, Campbell said. 

SAN FRANCISCO—The board of supervisors 

in San Francisco approved for second 

reading a license tax for drive-in theatres. 

The tax would be 30 cents per auto space 

equipped with a speaker, the fee to be paid 

quarterly. 

HELENA, MONT.—Kirby Hoon jr., 

son of 

Mr. and Mrs. Kirby Hoon and a former 

Helena resident, will be starred in the James 

Oliver Curwood story. "The Call of the 

Klondike," at Monogram. His screen name 

is Kirby Grant. 

Y 

I 

54-D 

BOXOFFICE December 1, 1951 

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INorlhwesl Variety 

Elects New Crew 

MINNEAPOLIS—Northwest Variety Club's 

new board of directors will meet within the 

I 

next fortnight at Chief Barker Art Anderson's 

call to elect officers for 1952. The crewwas 

elected at the club's annual meeting, following 

reports by Anderson and Bill Elson on 

the workings of the heart hospital at the 

University of Minnesota and the need for additional 

funds for the philanthropic project. 

From the slate submitted by the nominating 

committee of which Elson was chairman, 

and nominees from the floor, members 

elected the following crew: 

Bennie Berger, Tom Burke, Maitland 

Frosch, George Granstrom, Clem Jaunich, 

Lowell Kaplan, Gilbert Nathanson, Eddie 

Ruben, LeRoy J. Miller, Sim Heller and 

Charlie Rubenstein. Past chief barkers who 

will serve with them on the board include 

Elson, Anderson and John Branton. Elson 

was elected one of the two delegates to the 

national convention. 

The club gave Anderson a rising vote of 

thanks and acclaim for his great accomplishments 

as permanent chairman of the hospital 

committee and refused to permit him to re- 

.sign the post. 

Elson detailed Anderson's work and also 

told of the charitable work being done by the 

hospital, citing instances where funds provided 

by the Variety Club enabled needy 

children to receive treatment. 

"When an institution as insignificant as 

this club is permitted to have its name emblazoned 

across this wonderful hospital, the 

only one in the United States devoted exclusively 

to treatment of heart ailments and 

research in the field on the campus of a leading 

university, Minnesota, what a monument 

it is for us,'.' Elson pointed out. "I think this 

is the biggest project of any Variety Club 

in the world." 

Anderson called attention to the fact that 

the club is committed to provide $25,000 annually 

for the hospital to be used in caring 

for needy patients. He said theatre collections 

now being made to help raise funds 

are proceeding in encouraging fashion, according 

to reports received to date. 

A letter from the Mount Sinai hospital 

thanked the club for the $3,000 slide projection 

gift and told how much it was aiding in research 

work. Elson said that Christmas and 

birthday parties are being planned for children 

patients at the heart hospital. 

Seven Salesmen Receive 

Allied Movietime Awards 

North Central Allied 

Plugs for Help to UA 

MINNEAPOLIS—North Central Allied in a 

recent bulletin goes to bat for United Artists, 

asking members to extend it as much help as 

po.ssible. 

"We are all familiar with the past troubles 

and difficulties, financial and otherwise, of 

United Artists, and they need no repeating 

here," says the bulletin. "However, the company 

under new, young and vigorous leadership 

is in the process of making a terrific 

comeback and deserves the unstinted support 

of every independent exhibitor. 

"Every time an exhibitor 

helps a .so-called 

'little company' he helps him.self. It is only 

through keeping such companies as United 

Artists in business and successful that the 

exhibitor has any protection from the bigger 

companies' demands. It is true that when a 

'little company' becomes big, it can be just 

as exorbitant in its demands as any of the 

little fellows. But that is beside the point 

and is a problem that can be handled when 

it arises. 

"We urge every independent exhibitor to 

give United Artists full support. We hope 

you will buy and book its upcoming good product 

during December and coming months. 

If United Artists is successful in its efforts 

to pull itself up by its bootstraps and delivers 

the kind of product on which both it 

and you can prosper, everyone will benefit. 

Let's all help this company regain its former 

position in the industry." 

Reopen Manhattan State 

MANHATTAN, KAS.—The State Theatre, 

closed since the July flood, was reopened last 

week, according to City Manager Dave Dallas. 

The house has been completely redecorated 

and reseated and had what Dallas terms a 

new "facelifting operation" in all departments. 

KAN.- A 

' 

salesmen of Shares 

of Shov. lii.iii .ii.p In the Movietime U.S.A. 

drive received special recognition Friday at 

the Allied Independent Theatre Owners of 

Kan.sa.s and Missouri all-industry Movietime 

ball. 

Sponsored solely by the regional Allied 

group, the ball brought out one of the biggest 

all-industry crowds in the history of film 

busine.ss in this area. The awards given to 

the film sale.smen were presented at the ball 

on behalf of the board of directors of Allied. 

The awards were based on top sales of Shares 

of Showmanship in the .seven districts set 

up for the Movietime drive. 

Winners were Harold Ca.ss, WB, who worked 

the Movietime territory headed by Jim Lewis. 

RKO manager; Johnny Long, 20th-Fox, in 

the territory handled by Harry Hamburg, 

Paramount manager; Earl Dyson, RKO, in 

Republic Manager Bob Winters' territory; 

Bud Riley, Republic, in Tom Baldwin, Columbia 

manager's territory; Dwight Borin, WB, 

in MGM Manager William Gaddoni's territory; 

George Regan, 20th-Fox. in UA Manager 

Ralph Amacher's territory, and Bob 

Ringler, RKO, in U-I Manager Jack Langan's 

territory. 

The Warren Durrett orchestra played for 

the Movietime ball, which was free of charge 

to all members of the industry. There was 

no stage show, but dancing was broken up 

for the presentation of the awards to the 

film salesmen. 

The ball followed the annual one-day fall 

convention of the Allied regional unit, also 

held at the Continental. Highlights of the 

convention included a luncheon at which 

Irving Mack, head of Filmack, Chicago, was 

speaker and luncheon entertainment by the 

StroUin' Troubadours. 

The business meetings included a report 

on the Allied States convention, discussions 

of the new federal admissions tax structure 

and discussions of theatre insurance. 

A film clinic in the afternoon was conducted 

by Sol Frank as moderator and was 

followed by a cocktail party. 

St. 

Louis Lippert Branch 

Set Up by Kaycee Staff 

KANSAS CITY—R. R. Thompson, branch 

manager for Lippert Pictures here; Betty 

Caruso, cashier at the local exchange, and 

Morgan, salesman for LP here, have 

given a charter by the secretary of 

for the new Lippert Pictures of St. 

Inc., St. Louis, Mo. 

Under the St. Louis exchange setup, 

Thomson is listed as president; Miss Caruso 

as secretary-treasurer, and Morgan as vice- 

Bernie McCarthy, formerly with 

Lion Classics and United Artists here, 

will head the Lippert exchange in St. Louis 

as branch manager. McCarthy has been a 

salesman for Lippert in the St. Louis territory 

since last June. The new Lippert branch 

will begin operations December 1. 

OLD FRIENDS GtT TOCiETHER—When four old friends met in Des Moines 

recently, they posed for the photograph shown here. They are MjTon Blank, president, 

Central States Theatres; A. H. Blank, president, Tri-States Theatres; Jesse L. 

Lasky, MGM producer who now is working on "The Big Brass Band," and Charles 

Hoffman, MGM studio writer. 

BOXOFFICE : : December 1, 1951 MW 55

. . . Amos 

. . Our 

. . Rich 

' 

OMAHA 

•Three points in Omaha were as busy as army 

headquarters on D-day minus one last 

week: Republic's branch office, Tri-States 

quarters in the Orpheum Theatre building 

and Mickey Gross's Suite 407 at the Blackstone 

hotel, where operations for "Salute to 

the Strategic Air Command" and the world 

premiere of "The 'Wild Blue Yonder" were successfully 

dir-ected . . . Bob Daley, RKO salesman, 

was back on the job after several days 

illness. 

Arnold Meierdirks, exhibitor at Pender, is 

attending the Prigidaire school at Sioux City 

in connection with his appliance business 

. . . Reggie Gannon of the Sky Theatre in 

Schulyer reported his area a "duck hunter's 

paradise" and did plenty of shooting himself 

. Ralph Goldberg, president of R. D. Goldberg 

. . 

Theatre Corp., has scheduled a New 

York trip . . Mi-s. Georgia Rasley, opera- 

. 

tor of the Royal Theatre, O'Neill, Neb., is 

confined to her home by illness. 

The MGM staff was high in its praise of 

"Westward the Women" at the local screening 

. . . Sixty-four David City, Neb., business 

firms and the State Theatre are giving 

free tickets to children in the county for 

a ten-week period. 

Ralph Morgan, Lippert salesman at Kansas 

City, and his wife were holiday guests 

of Ml", and Mrs. Jack Renfro. Jack, of the 

Theatre Booking Service, formerly was in the 

industry in Kansas City . . . Mr. and Mrs. 

FILIVIACK(5/z^»^TRAILERS 

^ 

ARE THE BEST^ ' 

SBND YOUR^ 

ANGLE! 

CHICAGO, 1327 S. Wabash^NEW YORK, 630 Ninth Av. 

One of a series of Think 

Pieces about Improving 

your theatre and its 

equipment. 

RCA products are 

among the best to 

be had—buy wisely 

Emergencies! 

When repairs are 

needed AT ONCE—call 

us. We act fast! 

H. W. Leriger of the Plaza at Lyons, Neb., 

hope to have their new home completed in 

time for a Christmas house warming . . . 

Mrs. Tillie Nebe, RKO cashier, reports her 

daughter has returned home after confinement 

at Children's Memorial hospital with 

polio and is making progress in her recovery. 

. . . 

M. G. Rogers of the Film Transport Co. 

has been home ill for three weeks and son 

Mai'k is carrying on. Son Johnny is with 

the army engineers in France . . . Herman 

Blankenau and his younger son are operating 

the theatre at Dodge, Neb., while an 

older son, who owns the theatre, is serving 

in the army in Korea Mr. and Mrs. 

Marvin Jones of the State Theatre at Red 

Cloud, Neb., don't let icy roads worry them. 

They flew in last week to do their booking. 

Exhibitors along Filmrow: Jim Hosic, Milford; 

Mr. and Mrs. W. Berney, Wolbach; 

Ed Kugel, Holstein; Doc Naultus, Mapleton; 

Byron Hopkins, Glenwood, Iowa, and Bellevue. 

Neb.; Mrs. Ai'ch Conklin, Griswold; 

Woody Simek, Ashland; Arnold Johnson, 

Onawa; Mons Thompson, St. Paul; Tony 

Polanka, Shelby; Leonard Leise, Randolph, 

and Carl Harriman, Alton. 

Joe Jacobs, Columbia manager, visited Falls 

City, Fairbury and exhibitors in the southern 

part of Nebraska last week ... A guest 

of Mr. and Mrs. Jacobs was Mrs. Bess Popkin, 

a friend from Columbia's Minneapolis 

office, who was in Omaha for a convention 

"Happy" Moehler, employed at the 

Hamburg. Iowa, Theatre, paid his annual 

visit to Filmrow. Happy had a birthday 

Thanksgiving day. 

The Omaha loge of the Colosseum discussed 

new problems and the results of the recent 

national convention held at the Fontenelle 

hotel . . . Janet Brocker, secretary to MGM 

office manager Evelyn Cannon, received high 

acclaim for her piano recital at Joslyn Memorial 

Museum. She is a student of piano, 

voice and organ . . . Ray Brown, Harlan, 

Carpets Sell Tickets 

Many a woman gets half of 

her movietime pleasure from the 

glamor you provide at your sho'w 

Colorful carpets that caress and soothe the 

foot—that radiate unusual luxury and inspire 

with delightful color! They provide personal 

enjoyment that weaves bright threads of romance 

into the very fabric of living— into the 

stories the films present . floor coverings 

do not COST you anything. They pay 

their way, every day . patterns are 

good—our quality the best—our prices are 

reasonable. Come in—let's talk! 

WESTERN 

THEATRE SUPPLY CO. 

214 N. Firteeiith, Omalta, Neb. .. Plioiie: Atlantic 9046 

Iowa, exhibitor, is home from the hospital 

', 

after a recent illness. 

Bill Wink, Warner salesman, had the wind- 

'. 

shield of his car cracked when a pheasant 

flew against it while he was di'iving between 

Newman Grove and St. Paul, Neb. Driving 

; 

from St. Paul to Grand Island, gravel kicked 

up by a truck finished the job . . . Frank 

McCormick, MGM booker formerly of Minnei 

apolis, drove to Sioux City to see teams from 

the two towns in a hockey game. ; 

Dode Kosiut, MGM cashier, spent the weekend 

with 11 other Omahans at a retreat at 

Conception seminary. Conception, Mo. . . . 

The Community Theatre at Springfield, Neb., 

operated by merchants for some time, has 

closed . . . Harry J. Sliumow, former Omaha 

MGM branch manager who was transferred 

to Milwaukee and has retired, visited friends 

in Omaha with his wife . . . Bill Matson of 

Bridgeport, Neb., is a new student booker at 

MGM. 

Film visitors were Mel Kruse, Pierce; 

Walter Austin, Plainview; Ed Kugel, Holstein; 

C. N. Robinson, Blah; M. Coyle, Holdrege; 

Jim Burrus, Crete; James Booth, Harlan; 

Ed Opocensky, Newman Grove: Dee 

Butcher, David City; Earl Cowden, Sidney; 

Wayne Johnson, Clay Center; Mons Thompson, 

St. Paul, Neb.; Phil Lannon, West Point; 

Mr. and Mrs. Earl Wilson, Pierson; Art Sunde, 

Papillion; Ralph Martin, Moorhead; Harold 

Qualsett, Tekamah; Hazel Dunn, Valentine; 

Bob Fridley, Ida Grove; Morg Reynolds, Elwood; 

Mr. and Mrs. C. D. Fore, Shelby; Walter 

Gunther, Syracuse; Mat Wuebben, Canton, 

S. D.; Sol Slomenski, Loup City; Frank 

Hollingsworth, Beatrice; Jim Ti-avis, Milford, 

and Mr. and Mrs. Rudy Stastny, Hooper. 

M. F. Wuebben Purchases 

Theatre in Canton, S. D. 

CANTON, S. D.—Math F. Wuebben, manager 

of the Canton Theatre for the last seven 

years, has purchased the business from Dean 

Nash of Sioux Falls, S. D. The building remains 

the property of Nash, who also owns 

theatre properties in Beresford, S. D., and 

Jackson and Fairmount, Minn. Wuebben has 

been in the theatre business for 21 years. 

Wuebben's brother Al is an exhibitor at 

Parkston, S. D. 

Halt Daily Matinees 

MANHATTAN, KAS.—The management of 

the Carlton Theatre, a Midcentral house, announced 

a change in policy inaugurated last 

week. Hereafter, there will be no matinees 

except on Saturdays and Sundays when 

performances will be continuous. The Carlton 

specializes in foreign films and second runs. 

FOR SALE - THEATRE CHAIN 

Group of 4 DE LUXE THEATRES in octive city 

of 25,000. SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. NO 

COMPETITION. Near large permanent NAVAL 

RESERVE. Includes equipment, leaseholds and 

large equity in one theatre building. ESTI- 

MATED 1951 NET $75,000. Illness forces sale. 

$150,000 cash. Bolancc to be arranged. 

SAMUEL KLEIN 

1914 S. Vermont Avenue, Room 11 

Los Angeles 7, California 

.—» 

j 


areue; 

Twin City First Runs 

Fair in Winter Blast 

MINNEAPOLIS—More zero temperatures, 

deep snow, slippery walks and streets have 

hurt local boxoffices plenty, but a number 

of offerings came through in good style last 

week. "A Streetcar Named Desire" was good 

in its third stanza and "An American in 

Paris." "Across the Wide Missouri" and "Detective 

Story" held well in their second weeks. 

The last named actually made a better showing 

at the Century, comparatively, than it 

did in its first week at the much larger Radio 

City. 


Century— Detertive Story (Para), 2nd wk 120 

Gopher—Across the Wide Missouri (MGM), 2nd 

wit 110 

Lyric—When Worlds Collide (Pate), 2nd wk 90 

Orrheum-The Strange Door (U-I), stage show 95 

Pan—A Streetcar Named Desire (WB), 3rd wk. 115 

P,x—The Blue Veil (RKO), 3rd wk , 100 

Radio City- Golden Girl (20th-Fox) 85 

StateAnne of the Indies (20lh-Fox) 95 

World An American in Paris (MGM), Snd wk 200 

"Detective Story' Gets 

150 in Kansas City 

KANSAS CITY—First run grosses in Kansas 

City continued to show strong improvement, 

with every house in the city reporting 

average or over for the week. The Paramount 

led the first run parade grosswise 

with 150 per cent on its opening of "Detective 

Story." The Missouri with "Two Tickets to 

Broadway" had an excellent week and the 

Tower came up out of the doldrums with a 

banging 125 per cent on "Anne of the Indies" 

and "House on Telegraph Hill." 

Esquire, Uptown, Fairway and Granada Golden 

Girl (20lh-Fox), Joe Palooka in Triple Cross 

(Mono) 100 

Kimo— Oliver Twist (UA), 3rd wk 200 

Midland— Sirocco (Col); On the Sunny Side of 

the Street (Col) 100 

Missouri Two Tickets to Broadway (RKO); The 

Basketball Fix (Realart) 130 

Paramount Detective Story (Para) 150 

Tower Anne of the Indies (20th-Fox); House on 

Telegraph Hill (20th-rox) 125 

Vogue—The Lavender Hill Mob (U-I), 2nd wk 300 

Tide to 

TV Reversed; Editor Credits 

Hollywood Shift to 

lOLA, KAS.—The lola 

Register, local dally 

paper published by Angelo Scott, recently 

commented editorially on the effect of television 

on the motion picture industry. Under 

the heading, "Quality Counts Most," the editorial 

read: 

"When radio came in, the prophets foresaw 

the quick demi,se of the phonograph recording 

industry. But they were wrong. The record 

business .soared to new peaks, far outdistancing 

the moderate preradio levels. 

"Television's arrival produced similar glum 

forecasts of the death of motion pictures. 

Who would get out the car, drive downtown 

or to a neighborhood center, hunt for a 

parking spot and go to a movie when he could 

put his slippered feet on a hassock and be 

entertained without leaving his living room? 

"For a good while, it looked like there 

would be some substance to the moviemakers' 

fears. Theatres closed by the dozens across 

the country. The volume of business sagged 

painfully. Good films seemed an increasing 

rarity. 

"But those who thought the time had come 

to start choosing pallbearers have been confounded 

by the events of recent months. The 

boxoffice has picked up sharply. Hollywood, 

recognizing the threat to its existence, has 

poiu-ed energy and talent into pictures with 

determination seldom matched in its erratic 

Ajid, in dazzling succession, many of 

history. 

these films have won high critical acclaim. 

Quality Films 

"In the experts' judgment, it is this newstress 

on quality that has turned the tide. 

Careful scanning of the boxoffice figures 

shows the filmgoer exercising extreme selectivity. 

The good ones he supports with impulsive 

vigor, long lines outside the big metropolitan 

theatres attest to that. The turkeys 

he lets die a lonesome death. 

"Television has had .something of the Impact 

on movies that the latter had on the 

legitimate theatre. The films destroyed the 

market for run-of-mine stage fare. Why .see 

a play for a few dollars when you could see 

a picture Just about as good for 40 or 50 

cents? 

"TV, with its great .spate of studio dramas 

and its almost embarra-ssing emphasis on old 

films, is slicing away at the market for B 

pictures. The family that wants an evening 

of merely passable dramatic entertainment 

doesn't need to budge from the house. 

"But the thirst for top-grade cinema apparently 

has never really abated. In the 

dramatic mirroring of life, in the creation of 

light-hearted fancy, the films can occupy a 

unique place. With unsurpa.s.sed technical 

facilities, with abundant resources, with cameras 

that can range the face of the earth, the 

movies are equipped to contribute to art and 

entertainment in their own special way. 

"Too often in the past, the filmmakers 

have sadly underestimated the increasingly 

dLscriminate nature of their audience. Too 

often they have measured their task narrowly, 

in terms of superficial entertainment routinely 

and unimaginatively offered. 

"The recent run of excellent pictures raises 

hopes that, under the spur of TV competition. 

they are at last out to make the most of their 

rich potential. In the end, there may be something 

like a merger or compromise with TV. 

But a continuance of present trends will at 

least assure that this will be a meeting of 

equals . . . the movies are not going to yield 

by default so long as quality is their insignia." 

'Streetcar' Keeps on Going 

After 200 Omaha First 

OMAHA—"A Streetcar Named Desire" held 

up for a 100 per cent second week at the 

RKO Brandeis. following a thumping 200 

score for the first week. First runs were 

bucking an eight-performance stand of "Guys 

and Dolls" on the Orpheum stage, which 

netted $65,000 in its Omaha showings. 

Omaha—Cave of Outlaws (U-I); My True Story 

(Col) 95 

Orpheum Sunny Side of the Street (Col); The 

Magic Carpet (Col) - 95 

Paramount Detective Story (Para) 100 

RKO Brandeis—A Streetcar Named Desire (WB), 

2nd wk 100 

State—Close to My Heart (WB) 105 

Town Fighting Caravans (HP); Fighting 

Westerner (HP); Spy Hunt (U-I) 90 

Mons Thompson Buys 

ST. PAUL, NEB.—Mons Thompson, St. 

Paul exhibitor, has bought the theatre at 

Edgar, Neb., and plans to remodel and recondition 

the layout. Thompson will continue 

to buy and book for the theatre at Fullerton 

until further arrangements can be made following 

the death of Lou Heal, owner of the 

house, and his wife's hospitalization. 

Gloria Dallas 111 

MANHATTAN, KAS.—Gloria Rae Dallas, 

daughter of Dave Dallas, city manager here 

for Midcentral, was taken to the hospital 

last week for an emergency appendectomy. 

Allied Counsel Decries 

Appeasement Policy 

MINNEAPOLIS— S. D. Kane, executive 

counsel, writing in the bulletin of the North 

Central Allied, expressed deep disappointment 

over the Allied States Ass'n decision 

to adopt an appeasement policy through 

arbitration to settle exhibitor-distributor 

quarrels. He said he hoped the policy would 

be reversed soon. 

"We can't rest on our oars or wait for the 

day when distribution agrees to the arbitration 

of such things as film rentals," said 

Kane. "Anyway, while in many circumstances 

and most businesses arbitration is an excellent 

idea, there are certain people with whom 

you just can't arbitrate. 

"The old saying is that 'they have rights 

who dare maintain them.' The authority for 

our rights is the highest court in the land. 

Why maintain them by negative action? 

What is there to arbitrate?" 

Kane subscribes in the bulletin to Allied 

States stand on competitive bidding as nowconducted, 

contending that "by hook or 

crook, bidding is used to favor large circuits 

and affiliated theatres, that bidding shouldn't 

be forced on an independent exhibitor who 

doesn't w-ant it and that it must be policed 

and favoritism to large circuits and affiliated 

theatres ended." 

Mrs. E. R. Golden Returns 

From Trip to New York 

KANSAS CITY—Mrs. E. R. Golden, wife 

of Eddie Golden, owner of Golden Theatre 

Service and the Vogue Theatre, local art 

house, has returned from a trip to New- York 

where she attended the wedding of her 

brother, E. W. Moss, formerly of KMBC 

here and now advertising manager for station 

WOR-TV in New- York. 

Mrs. Golden contacted several distributors 

of foreign and art films w-hile in New York 

City and visited numerous art houses. 

Satisfaction — Always 

MISSOURI 

THEATRE SUPPLY COMPANY 

I. L. KIMBRIEL, Manager 

Phone BAltimore 3070 

^— 115 W. ISlh Kansas City 8. Mo. ^^ 

^DCIIT \I1ICPTCDM 

STAGE EQUIPMENT COMPANY 

.UIILMI nLlllLIIII. 

I 

rVCRTTHING FOK THE STACC - AUDITORIUM • LOBl 

BOX OFFICE • 1324 Grand A«r., Kanfta» City &. 


. . 

' 

' 

'. 

' 

I 

Around the Midwest 

T\uane Tritt, an employe of the theatre for 

several years, was appointed manager 

when the Kansas Theatre in Pratt opened 

its doors recently for the winter season. It 

had been closed since last spring. And he 

received a rather different type of floral 

greeting on the occasion. Tritt's bouquet 

contained assorted weeds and milo stalks, 

designed probably to give hay fever to anyone 

who sniffed it. It was the gift of S. 

Frank, manager of the Drive-In Tlieatre. 

The Star and Skyline theatres in Clay 

Center, Kas., tied in with merchants to sponsor 

a contest with a trip to Hollywood as the 

prize . . . The Delpheum Theatre at Delphos, 

Kas., gave up its Saturday night recently 

and showed Friday instead when the Furst 

show was scheduled in the city auditorium 

for Saturday. 

Owen Anderson of the Palm Theatre in 

Bayard, Neb., installed an amplifier to replace 

the 25-year-old equipment. The showman, 

who ha.s been there since June 1. said 

it would get rid of many of the breakdowns 

which occurred in the past. Anderson came 

to Bayard from South Dakota and has been 

in the theatre business for 15 years . . . Workmen 

repaired the corner of the Plaza Theatre 

in Burlington, Kas., which was damaged 

by lightning this fall. Damage done by the 

July flood was also being repaii'ed as rapidly 

as possible and quite a few improvements 

are being made. 

The Gregg Theatre at Caney, Kas., had a 

line form at 7:15 and stretch around the 

corner to the Chronicle office when it gave 

away an Admiral refrigerator recently. A 

Copan woman won it and gave a shriek of 

joy from her balcony seat. 

Bob and Dorothy Malek were hosts to theatre 

owners and their wives from a threestate 

area recently at the Malek Theatre. 

Exhibitors from southwest Wisconsin, south- 

. . . Bob 

east Minnesota and northeast Iowa came to 

the Independence, Iowa, theatre to hear 

MGM representatives discuss promotional 

plans for the coming months 

Parker has organized a Trail Blazers club 

for children of grade school or under at his 

Trail Theatre in Olathe, Kas. The sessions 

are at 1 o'clock each Saturday. More than 

200 youngsters showed up in the rain for 

Parker's Back to School movie treat this fall. 

Merle J. Burns gave gifts to all when the 

Sun Theatre at Emery, S. D., was opened re- 

. . . Restrooms 

cently. Menfolk at the opening got cigaret 

cases, the ladies got salt and pepper shakers 

and the kids all got balloons 

in the Gem Theatre at Baldwin City, Kas., 

have been modernized with white linoleum 

tile trimmed in blue. 

Burglars visited the U.S. 69 Drlve-In south 

of Pittsburg, Kas., recently but left without 

any loot although the office and concession 

were thoroughly ransacked . The lola, Kas., 

. . 

Kiwanis club members were guests of John 

Krupp at the drive-in theatre for dinner 

served at the ozoner and a show later. 

Fred Meyer of Clarion, who went to Fort 

Dodge, Iowa, as manager of the Humota Theatre 

when Alva Hopper was expected to go 

into the armed forces, stayed on there . . 

J. D. King, manager of the Commonwealth 

theatres in Lawrence, Kas., says that the 

30 theatres operated by the circuit in six 

midwestern states have shown increased attendance 

over last year; attendance at conventional 

houses is up 4% per cent and 

drive-in business is up 14 per cent . . The 

. 

new theatre in Garnavillo, Iowa, the town's 

fii'st, is 124x30 feet, with the exception of 

a 29-foot lobby, the entire space is auditorium, 

with a capacity of 350. 

F. G. Weary III was telling recently that 

his Hiway 13 Drive-In at Henrietta, Mo., was 

three feet under water at the concession 

and booth in the July flood, and the apartment 

occupied by him and his wife had four 

feet of water in it. He was grateful none 

of the loudspeakers were damaged. The 

Wearys and their sons. F. G. IV and Rodney 

Allen, had to stay in Richmond. This year 

the drive-in got a playground, and a concrete 

walkway was laid around the concession and 

a patio built in front. The personnel of the 

airer includes Mr. Weary III. manager: Mrs. 

Weary III. concession manager; Mrs. Weary 

II. in charge of the Dari-Maid stand; John 

Walker, projectionist; Richard Stigall, popcorn, 

and Pattie See and Elaine Shiner of 

Richmond and Evelyn Abbott of Henrietta, 

concession assistants. 

When the Falls City, Neb., theatres were 

sold recently by Tri-States, Bruce Shelton 

was asked to continue his association with 

the company. But this would have meant his 

moving away and that's how come Shelton 

is the new manager of the Falls City Chamber 

of Commerce today. 

Tom Sandberg of the Grand Theatre at 

Ravenna, Neb., was the successful bidder on 

nearly 400 new theatre chairs put up for 

sale by the government as surplus. He put 

in a low bid but, apparently, was the only 

bidder for them. The army instructed him 

to come and get them in two weeks . 

The bookings at the Uptown Theatre in 

Strong. Kas.. were shifted to the Lyric in 

Cottonwood Falls recently when the ventilating 

system at the Uptown broke down. 

Hampel Fairleigh returned to Wichita from 

New York, where he was business manager 

last summer at the Sea Cliff Summer Theatre 

on Long Island. He will again be associated 

this winter with Mrs. William Floto 

at the Floto ticket office. 

The Dickinson circuit spent $7,500 remodeling 

the Pix Theatre at St. John. Kas.. 

according to Manager John Caylor. Glen 

Dickinson, who owns 46 other theatres, was 

here with Art Perry, engineer and district 

manager, and James Kimbriel of Missouri 

Theatre Supply, who furnished the seats, 

making the arrangements. The work was 

done in the daytime and after the performances 

at night. The lobby was enlarged 

and heating system changed to heat the 

lobby, which was not possible before. New 

floor covering was laid in the lobby and a 

colored sidewalk put outside. "Dick" told 

Caylor to post a $25 reward to prevent 

mutilation of the new .seats . . . Mons Thompson 

installed all new seats in his Rivera Theatre 

at St. Paul. Neb., while the house was 

closed five days. 

Sign the 1951 'Christmas Salute'—Variety Clubs- 

Will Rogers Memorial hospital—and "help core tor 

our own." 

Augusta, Eas.,Drive-Ir 

To Bow With 250 Cars 

AUGUSTA, KAS.—Additional detaUs havi 

been received on the new drive-in reportecl 

in BOXOPFICE recently to be constructed b;' 

Mr. and Mrs. Dave Bisagno and Mr. anci 

Mrs. Bob Bisagno of the Augusta and IsL-' 

theatres here. The Bisagnos have been con-1 

sidering such a venture for some time a;! 

Augusta's population continued to increast 

and demand for an outdoor theatre in this 

region became greater. 

The drive-in will be located on the Bisagno 

land about thi'ee-quarters of a mile north oli 

the city limits on Ohio street. The parking' 

area will cover 12 acres and include nine' 

ramps holding 450 cars when completed to' 

capacity. Only seven ramps accommodating! 

250 cars will be installed initially, however,! 

leaving room for expansion as needed. The 

eighth and ninth will be installed but not 

wired during the initial construction this' 

winter and next spring. 

! 

The 37'2x6P--foot screen will face east by 

north and cars will park facing a general 

westerly direction. There will be a curved 

screen, RCA projection and sound equipment 

and individual speakers. Although film poUcies 

for the ozoner are not definite at this 

• 

time, there will be no change in present 

policies at the Augusta and Isis. Bob Bisagno 

said recently. There is a choice of two dif- 

. 

t 

ferent bills during the week and thi-ee on 

weekends. 

Grading was completed at the site during 

November, septic tanks are in and building of 

structures has started. With the present rate 

of progress, it is expected that everything 

will be ready by March and a grand opening 

mits. 

Paul Ellsbury to Springs 

SALINA, KAS. — Paul Ellsbury set the 

closing date for the 81 Drive-In and left for 

Topeka. From there, a little later, he will go 

to Hot Springs. Ark., to manage one of the 

Dickinson Operating Company's theatres. 

When the thermemeter began flirting with 

zero, Ellsbury set the date and Ronald Hurst, 

who just closed the Shawnee Drive-In at 

Shawnee. Kas.. came here to take charge 

the final three days and close the outdoorer 

for the season. 

Herman Fields in Hospital 

CLARINDA, IOWA—Herman Fields, 

will be held when the "season" officially per- 

operator 

of the Clarinda and Rialto theati-es. is 

in Municipal hospital here recuperating after 

an operation for appendicitis. Manager Walter 

Keener is carrying on activities in his 

absence. 

Lowell Finecy Appointed 

SUTHERLAND. NEB. — The managership 

of the Star Theatre passed into new hands 

when Lowell Finecy took over the duties. 

William Conley had been manager of the 

situation for the past several months. 

THEATRE MARQUEES 

Attraction Boards 

Vertical Signs Neon Signs 

UNITED 

NEON COMPANY 

4507 Prospect. Kansas City. Mo.. Phone AR. 820S 

t' 

58 

BOXOFFICE :: December 1. 1951 

!

laii 

'i teJ 

beat; 

4- 

Iowa-Nebraska Allied 

Asks TV Ban on Stars 

OMAHA—Iowa-Nebraska Allied has scheduled 

its convention for April 22-23 at the 

Fontenelle hotel and its January board meeting 

tentatively for January 15 at the Hotel 

Savery in Des Moines. 

At its recent meeting in Omaha, Allied 

members approved actions of the national 

convention in New York and passed two 

resolutions dealing with television. They 

asked film companies to ban appearances of 

their top stars on weekend TV shows and 

asked that the national Allied board take action 

to keep pictures off TV until ten years 

after their release. 

Other discussions showed disfavor of "buck 

nights," dollar-per-car admission to driveins, 

and security picture contracts. Leo Wolcott 

of Eldora, Iowa, chairman of the board, 

explained that intermediate pictures at the 

present time have little 

value. 

Heading the group of approximately 85 

exhibitors were Al Myrick. Lake Park, Iowa, 

president; Charles Niles, Anamosa, Iowa, national 

treasurer, and Elmer Huhnke, Omaha, 

secretary. 

Twin Cities Football TV 

Again Is Unprofitable 

MINNEAPOLIS—The exclusive telecast of 

the Michigan State-Notre Dame football 

game drew only approximately 500 people at 

$1 a throw to Radio City here and 300 to the 

St. Paul Paramount last Saturday afternoon. 

This was unprofitable, of course, a considerable 

expense being involved in special advertising 

and to get the telecast. 

This was the second exclusive football game 

telecast for Radio City and the first bigscreen 

telecast of any kind for the St. Paul 

Paramount where the equipment has just been 

installed. The first here was the Notre Dame- 

Indiana game earlier in the season and it 

drew even less than last Saturday's. The only 

Radio City exclusive telecast was that of the 

Pep-Saddler featherweight championship 

fight and it. too, was unprofitable. Both football 

games telecasts were in competition with 

the University of Minnesota games which 

draw in excess of 50,000 a contest here. 

Paramount Takes Bids 

In Suburb of Twin City 

MINNEAPOLIS—Paramount here offered 

three independent theatres, plus, of course, 

its own affiliated house in the same general 

suburban area, the chance to bid for the district's 

first run of "A Place in the Sun." The 

independent St. Louis Park took advantage 

of the opportunity to bid in competition with 

The latter's 

the Paramount circuit's Uptown. 

bid was adjudged the better and the picture 

has been awarded to it. Two other independents 

who had the chance to bid declined to 

do so. 

Vaneks Close Cairo 

CAIRO, NEB.—Norman and Marvin Vanek 

of the Cairo Theatre have closed the house. 

Marvin was inducted into the army in October 

but Norman states that he and his 

family will continue to maintain their residence 

in Cairo. 

Defendants in Lebedoff Suif Say 

Run Setup Vital; Claim Chiseling 

MINNEAPOLIS — six major distributors 

and the Paramount Theatres circuit here 

presented testimony designed to show U.S. 

Judge G. H. Nordbye that a clearance and 

run system is economically neces.sary In the 

motion picture Industry, and that the distributors 

acted properly when they took the 

first run in its neighborhood area here away 

from Martin and S. G. Lebedoff's Homewood 

Theatre and gave it to the Paradise, owned 

by the late W. A. Steffes, who was president 

of the independent exhibitors organization 

at the time. 

CLAIM CLEARANCE VIOLATED 

The distributors and the Paramount circuit 

are defendants in a $500,000 damage 

suit brought by the Homewood. The Lebedoffs 

claim clearance discrimination against 

their Homewood in favor of the Paradise 

and other circuit hou.ses. They also charge 

clearance was conditioned on admission prices 

in violation of the antitrust law. 

Defense witnesses have included Martin 

Lebedoff; J. J. Donahue, Paramount division 

manager and former local manager, the film 

company branch managers here, and accountants 

who have checked the Homewood 

boxoffice statements. 

In their opening statements, David Shearer 

and Mandt Torrison, counsel for the defendants, 

declared they would introduce evidence 

revealing that the Homewood was a marginal 

operation since its inception, and that the 

Lebedoffs "consistently misled defendants as 

to grosses, and continuously under-reported 

grosses on percentage pictures and on films 

bought flat on which adjustments were 

sought." 

They also claimed that film rentals received 

from the Paradise were higher even 

before the Homewood had the preferred playing 

time. 

Reasons for the necessity of the clearance 

and run system, counsel asserted, were its 

capability to produce the most film rental for 

the companies, and, from the mechanical 

side, because of the limited number of picture 

prints and the need to put them to 

work to service as many accounts as possible. 

BAD FAITH CHARGED 

Fireworks were set off as Lee Loevenger, 

the plaintiff's counsel, charged defense lawyers 

with bad faith and unfairness in allegedly 

breaking pretrial agreements by failing 

to submit documents to him in advance 

for inspection, as directed by the court. 

Over Loevenger's objections. Judge Nordbye 

admitted a letter written by Martin 

Lebedoff to Warner Bros, in which Lebedoff, 

seeking an adjustment on a percentage picture, 

pointed out that the Homewood always 

was a "problem theatre," a losing venture 

before the war and, generally, a marginal 

operation that just about "could get by" on 

normal film rentals, but ran into trouble on 

specials. Called to the stand for cross-examination, 

Martin Lebedoff identified the letter's 

signature as his. 

Two accountants, one of them employed 

by Sargoy & Stein, New York law film engaged 

in auditing exhibitor boxoffice statements 

for distributors, told of examining 

Homewood boxoffice statements. Their compilations, 

submitted as exhibits, purported to 

show that from Jan. 13, 1937, to April 15, 

1947, the amount of Homewood grcsses reported 

to MGM was $8,604.67 less than the 

actual theatre boxoffice statemsnt figures 

and that from May 14 to 16, 1944, there was 

an underpayment of 20 per cent to 20th-Fox. 

Loevenger objected to the exhibits, claiming 

their introduction violated a pretrial 

agreement and also that they were Irrelevant. 

"Conceding, just for argument's sake, that the 

plaintiff chlsled on some pictures," he protested 

heatedly, "that fact would have no 

materiality with or be a defense against the 

charge of conspiracy injurious to the plaintiff, 

or the fact that the taking away of the 

first run and giving it to a competitor damaged 

it." 

Shearer pointed out that, on cro.ss-examination, 

Martin Lebedoff had testified he 

never knowingly had falsely reported a gross 

on any picture to a film company. 

Before the court ruled on the admi.ssabllity 

of the alleged chiseling testimony, the plaintiff's 

counsel received permission to examine 

all documents concerned in the matter and 

to present further objections. 

Lower Floor of Majestic 

Converted Into Theatre 

FAIRBURY, NEB.—The Majestic Theatre 

building was undergoing extensive repairs 

last month preparatory to the use of the 

lower floor as a motion picture theatre. 

Chairs have been ordered and are expected 

within the next few weeks. 

There has been no announcement as to 

the management but it was reported here that 

Ira Grain, former manager of the Bonham 

Theatre, who operated the drive-in theatre 

north of town, will be in charge of the 

new house. 

Sid Blackmore Denies 

Reported Retirement 

DULUTH, MINN.—S. J. Blackmore, president 

of Duluth Talkies. Inc., and an exhibitor 

for 45 years—eight of them in Canada 

and 37 in the U.S.—this week denied that 

he had sold the Granada Theatre here. 

Blackmore said that contrary to reports he 

had not sold the theatre and that he had 

not retired from the industry. 

Mrs. Leanna Powers Dies 

GLENWOOD, IOWA—Mrs. Leanna Powers, 

widow and mother of local showmen, died 

here last week (21i. She was the widow of 

William S. Powers and the mother of Karl 

Powers, former owners of the Gem and Ritz 

theatres. Karl Powers sold the theatres this 

sping following his father's death. 

Comstock Work Rushed 

COMSTOCK. NEB.—Work was rushed for 

a November opening of the Comstock Theatre, 

according to work from James Skolil, 

manager. Work on the building and also the 

installation of equipment was progressing 

rapidly. 

BOXOFFICE : 


59

. . Film 

. . Wesley 

. . New 

KANSAS CITY 

pimer C. Khoden sr., president of Fox Midwest 

Amusement Corp., has been elected 

as one of nine new du-ectors of the Saddle 

& Sirloin club, a promotional organization 

for the American Royal Livestock and Horse 

show, held here each year . . . T. R. Thompson, 

former branch manager for Monogram 

here, returned to Kansas City after a trip 

to New York City . executives were 

called to a meeting with the city welfare 

department at 1:30 p. m. Friday. Purpose of 

the meeting was not revealed at press time, 

but it was known that the film men. including 

Arthur Cole, dean of Filmrow and industry 

representative, were to meet with 

heads of PTAs and other organizations. 

Seim Lawler, director of advertising and 

publicity for Fox Midwest, has been elected 

a member of the board of directors of the 

Chamber of Commerce and vice-president in 

charge of publicity for that body. Lawler is 

believed to be the second man in the film 

industry to be placed on the CofC executive 

staff here. Elmer C. Rhoden sr. served as a 

director several years ago, it was reported. 

B. S. Murphy, RCA Service Co. field engineer, 

is in Wesley hospital in Wichita, Kas., 

for a possible operation. His territory is 

being handled by Joe Moore. RCA field supervisor. 

Kansas City . 

Bolen's Goveland 

Theatre at Quinter, Kas., burned re- 

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cently and he is buying new chairs and booth 

equipment. Bolen's brother-in-law Arthur 

Ganson operates the Ritz at Ashland, Kas. 

Don Clark, Columbia booker, has joined 

Paramount as booker . . . Bob Brown is new 

Paramount salesman replacing Prank 

Thomas, who joined Monogram several weeks 

ago. Brown formerly with was a film company 

in Denver . . . Fred Helwig, head 

booker at RKO. joined Paramount as head 

booker and office manager, replacing Eugene 

Jacobs, who has been promoted to city salesman 

and assistant to Branch Manager Harry 

Hamburg. Helwig at one time was with Columbia 

here. 

Nina Bridges, secretary to Walt Lambader 

at United Film Co., went to Council Bluffs, 

Iowa, with her mother over the Thanksgiving 

holiday 

. . . Harley Fryer has installed new 

seats purchased from National Theatre Supply 

at his Lamar, Mo., theatre . carpeting 

was bought from NTS by Midcentral 

Theatres, which took over the old TEI circuit 

houses recently, for the flood-damaged 

Carlton and State theatres in Manhattan, 

Kas. Midcentral. headed by R. E. Davis and 

Louis Higdon. is headquartering in the State 

building at Manhattan . . . Fox Midwest 

installed new Magnarc lamps at the Jayhawk 

in Topeka. 

Sam Abend of Exhibitors Film Delivery 

and Service Co. was honored with a birthday 

party Tuesday night (27) at the home 

of Mr. and Mrs. Abbott Sher. Mrs. Sher is 

Abend's daughter and Abbott is an executive 

of the Exhibitors Film Delivery. 

BOWLING 

KANSAS CITY—Standings remained unchanged 

in the Filmrow Bowling league play 

here. Ritz Theatre continued to be the unchallenged 

leader in the men's division, while 

Hartman's Allstars retained its one-game 

lead over the Finton Jones squad in the women's 

league. 

Men's league standings: 

Team Won Lost Team Won Lost 

Ritz Theatre 29 7 Fox Trotters 16 20 

Michael's 22 14 Fox Terriers IS 21 

MGM 20 IG Film Delivery 1 13 23 

Film Delivery 2....17 19 Screenland 12 24 

Women's league standings: 


Hartman's 25 11 U-I 15 21 

Finton Jones 24 12 Columbia Gems 12 24 

Foxy Five 20 16 C.S. Bureaucrats 12 24 

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Theatre Bookkeeping 

Service Is Started 

KANSAS CITY—Establishment of Theatre 

Booking Service to do an exclusive bookkeeping 

and tax job for motion picture theatres 

has been announced by United Business Co.. 

Inc., which has been handhng the business 

records of a large number of theatres in this 

area. 

This special service, which can be carried 

on through the mails, was created by two 

brothers, Richard and Henry Block, during the 

last two years. The idea of setting up a special 

bookkeeping and tax service for theatremen 

came as a result of handling a number 

of accounts for both circuit and single-theatre 

operators in this region. 

Under the system, all an exhibitor has to 

do is make out his customary daily reports 

and pay his bills. The bookkeeping service, 

according to the firm, does the rest. Upon 

receipt of this information, the company posts 

all information in double entry books, keeps 

a payroll ledger, reconciles and balances the 

bank account, provides a typical individual 

profit and loss statement, balance sheet and 

bank reconciliation statement. The service 

also includes all tax returns, including federal 

admissions, sales, social security and 

other withholding, unemployment compensation 

and income tax returns. 

This service is offered on a low monthly 

flat charge of $25 for theatres with 12 employes 

or less. Contracts are not required and 

the service may be canceled at any time, with 

all records being returned to the theatre. 

"We believe," said Richard Block, that this 

service enables the exhibitor to rid himself 

of all bookkeeping and tax problems and. at 

the same time, gives him assurance of professionally 

kept books and records." 

Theatre firms which are serviced by the 

company include the Frontier at Atchison, 

Kas.: the Bev and Fort at Leavenworth; 

Electric. Avenue and State in Kansas City, 

Kas.; 50 Highway Drive-In, Jefferson City; 

Cedars in Lebanon. Tenn.: Vista and Moto- 

Vu in Warrenton, Mo.: Bay in Los Angeles. 

and the Strand and Southtown in Kansas 

City. 

Mrs. Vera Davis Fills In 

CARSON, IOWA—Charles White, manager 

of the Carson Theatre, was inducted into the 

army last week. Mrs, Vera Davis of Carson 

will act as manager during his absence. White, 

son-in-law of Howard C. Brookings of Oakland, 

had filled the position 14 months. 

Brookings operates theatres at Oakland, 

Avoca, Carson and Walnut. 

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60 

BOXOFFICE : 

: December 

1, 1951

1 

MPA oi Kansas City 

To Meet on Monday 

KANSAS CITY—The Motion Picture 

Ass'n 

of Greater Kansas City will hold it.s annual 

business meeting Monday (3) at Benish's 

banquet room in the Twin Oaks South, with 

Elmer C. Rhoden. president of Fox Midwest 

and president of MPA, as host. 

Cocktails will be served at 6 p. m., with 

dinner to be served at 6:30. A business meeting 

will follow the dinner and cards will 

be played after the meeting. 

Purpose of this meeting will be to elect 

four directors to replace those whose terms 

expire this year and to name a new director 

to replace the late W. E. Ti'uog. who died 

last week. The foiu- new directors will be 

elected for four-year terms. 

Committee reports will be given at the meeting 

Monday and next year's MPA program 

of activities will be outlined. Other matters 

also will be taken up which require the attention 

of the full membership. 

Summonses Are Served 

For 'Detective Story' 

KANSAS CITY—That many people in Kansas 

City have guilty consciences was the 

deduction made this week by Harold Lyon, 

managing director of the Paramount Theatre, 

following an exploitation stunt on "Detective 

Story," current at the big downtown first run. 

Lyon had 125 summonses printed last week 

and had them distributed by "a man who 

looked the part" in the downtown area, and 

the theatreman said he "had a barrel of 

fun" with the idea. 

Signed by Lyon and Paramount exploiteer 

Jim Castle, the summonses carried the names 

of individuals and were handed out in person. 

Reaction, said Lyon, was sensational. 

He said one .summons was handed to a man 

downtown with the process server, saying: 

'T have a legal paper for you." 

"Well," said the victim, "I've been expecting 

this!" 

In another shop, Lyon said, the process 

server asked a clerk if the owner was in. 

The clerk pointed out the store owner and 

the process server gave her the summons. 

Before he could leave the store, the woman 

had started telling the clerk never to point 

her out to a process server. 

In another store where the summons was 

served at 4 p. m., the victim had personally 

told 40 persons about it by the 5:30 closing 

hour, Lyon said. 

In reply to one summons, served on Bsrl 

Berry, owner of the city's largest Ford dealership, 

Lyon later received an answering letter, 

in which Berry said he was out of town 

at the time and he did not know what action 

the judge would take, but would Lyon and 

Castle please at some future date "serve another 

summons." 

Audit Exhibitor Books 

MINNEAPOLIS—Sargoy & Stein, New 

York attorneys, are working in this territory 

in an extensive audit of exhibitors boxoffice 

statements, it was reported this week. 

Mrs. Lightner Improves 

MANHATTAN, KAS.—It is reported that 

Mrs. Douglas Lightner, wife of the Wareham 

Theatre manager, is making rapid recovery 

from a recent attack of polio. 

Ralph Amacher Is Named 

UA Head in Kansas City 

KANSAS CITY Italpli Amacher, who 

came here in August as acting branch manager 

for United Arti.st^ 

during the illness o: 

the late W. E. Truok,, 

has been appointed 

branch manager Vi 

succeed Truog, wli 

died last week. 

The appointment was 

made by William 

Heineman, United Artists 

vice-president in 

charge of distribution. 

Amacher formerly was 

branch manager for 

Eagle Lion in Portland, Ralph Amacher 

Ore., before joining UA in San Francisco. 

Meantime, the will of Truog has been filed 

in Jackson county probate court. Dated Sept. 

21, 1950, the will provides for a special bequest 

of $10,000 to a son, William E. jr., and for 

the remainder of the estate to be distributed 

equally among five children, William E. jr.. 

Daniel, Morton, Mrs. Sally T. Haydon and 

John B. Truog. 

Employe and $2,300 

Disappear at Regent 

KANSAS CITY—Local police are seeking 

an employe of the Regent Theatre here, who 

disappeared early this week along with $2,300 

from the theatre safe. 

Eddie Mansfield, manager of the theatre, 

told police that when he arrived at the theatre 

Monday the office safe was locked, but 

there was no money inside. Mansfield said 

he called the hotel where the employe lived 

and was told the man had checked out. The 

money represented weekend receipts, Mansfield 

said. 

The employe's job was to put the money 

in the safe when the theatre closed at 4 

a. m., Mansfield said. The man had been 

with the theatre for four years. 

Ed Rostermundt Given 

Variety Club Tributes 

OMAHA—The Variety 

Club paid honor to 

Ed Rostermundt, veteran film salesman, at 

a luncheon on the roof of the Blackstone 

hotel Saturday (1). Rostermundt, United 

Artists salesman 18 years who retired recently, 

was known throughout the area for 

his generous acts and for his calling card— 

a stick of Yucatan chewing gum. Chairman 

of the testimonial luncheon was Bill Barker, 

another Filmrow veteran. Rostermundt was 

presented a television set. 

Charles Elder Shifted; 

Linford Pitts Replaces 

OMAHA—M. E. Anderson, Paramount 

branch manager, announced the transfer of 

Charles Elder, salesman for the South Platte 

territory, to the Des Moines office to replace 

Jim Foley, who died from a heart attack. 

Linford Pitts was transferred from Kansas 

City to take over Elder's territory. Pitts before 

joining the Kansas City staff was at 

Oklahoma City. 

Sign the 19S1 'Christmas Solute'—Voriety Clubs- 

Will Rogers Memoriol hospitol—and "help core for 

our own." 

James Martin to Succeed 

Fox Salina's Earl Hilton 

.SALI.NA, KA.-^ h;irl VV Hilton, Salina 

manager lor Fox Midwest Theatres, has submitted 

his resignation effective December 6. 

He will be succeeded by James O. Martin, 

present manager of the Fox Orpheum Theatre 

In Wichita. 

Hilton has been In Salina since February 

1946 as manager of the Fox Wat.son In addition 

to his position as city manager of the 

Salina Fox houses. He has been Identified 

with Fox Midwest for 22 years and has been 

active in show buslne.ss more than 30 years. 

He was with the People's Amusement Co., 

which later became Capital Enterprises: Unlver.sal, 

Midland Theatres and finally Fox. 

Earl and Mrs. Hilton have made plans to 

establish residence in western Kansas, either 

at Dodge City or Garden City. Mrs. Hilton 

is the owner of land in Stevens county and 

her husband will take over its management. 

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REGAN SUPPLY CO. 

25 W. 31 St. KANSAS CITY, MO. 

11 1 p f> o "k 

E (.) Ill I Al t l> I ^4^^ aW 7.6^«•« ScÛiwf 

C .M I' A N Y BELTON, TEX.AS 

BOXOFFICE : 


61

. . Ben 

. . . Cherie 

MINNEAPOLIS 

r\espite fine promotion iand topnotch ads, 

"Detective Story" in its first week here, 

playing at the 4.000-seat Radio City, failed to 

click at the boxoffice in anywhere nearly the 

expected fashion. But the Minnesota Amusement 

Co. moved it over to the 1,600-seat 

Centmw for a second week. At the same time, 

the company framed some of the most effective 

newspaper ads for the picture to ever 

hit the local dailies. The JVIAC judgment was 

vindicated. In its second week, the picture 

did better than for its first and gave the 

Century a very big seven days, resulting in a 

holdover for still a third week. The newspaper 

ads got part of the credit. Minneapolis 

Sunday Tribune-Star critic and film editor 

Bob Murphy called the picture one of the 

year's best and added that it should find a 

place among 1951's ten best and be in line 

for Academy award consideration. 

Below-zero temperatures and wicked snowstorms 

continue to raise havoc with the boxoffice 

throughout the territory. As invariably 

in the winter here, all this makes the going 

tough for film salesmen who cover the territory. 

What hurts now is the fact that the 

severe winter has started considerably earlier 

than it usually does . . . "Tales of Hoffmann," 

which ran three weeks at the Lyceum here 

as a $2.40 roadshow picture, had a single 

week roadshow engagement at the St. Paul 

World last week . Hill, Meadowland 

exhibitor for the last three years, died from 

a heart attack. He was 55 and leaves a 

widow and son who are taking over the 

Meadowland Theatre and will operate it. 

The downtown independent Aster is still 

dark because neither the owners nor the 

booth operators will budge—the owners insist 

only one man to the booth at a time and the 

union demands two, as provided for in a 

contract that has only a few more weeks to 

run. The present owners acquired the contract 

when they bought the theatre from 

. . . 

the Minnesota Amusement Co. under the 

Paramount consent decree "Hy" Chapman, 

Columbia manager, is awaiting the print 

of "Ten Tall Men," much acclaimed picture. 

. . . U-I 

Herb Greenblatt, RKO district manager, 

was a visitor ... J. J. Donahue, Paramount 

division manager, was in from Chicago to 

testify in federal court in the trial of the 

Lebedoffs' Homewood Theatre $500,000 suit 

against his and other companies. He was 

local branch manager at one time 

is looking forward to a visit from Mannie 

Gottleib, district manager . . . Filmrow 

visitors included exhibitors Paul Perrizo, Blue 

Earth, Minn., and Harvey Thorp, Crosby, 

Minn. 

Going into the final week of the company's 

annual three-month playdate and billing contest, 

the local Paramount branch is in fourth 

place nationally. All of which means the 

boys here will participate in the prize money 

. . . The Hopkins, independent suburban theatre, 

has partially won its fight for the earliest 

clearance, 28 days. Three companies 

Universal, Columbia and United Artists 

have granted it, according to owner Louis 

Engler . . . S. P. Halpern and associates have 

sold the Northtown, local neighborhood theatre, 

to the Emerson Theatre Corp. Ray B. 

Lehrman, formerly a Columbia booker, heads 

the company. 

Don Lee Is Transferred 

To Chicago by Columbia 

OMAHA—Joe Jacobs, Columbia manager, 

announced that Don Lee, office manager and 

booker who came here from Des Moines about 

five months ago, was being transferred to 

Chicago as salesman, effective December 3. 

His home town is Baltimore. 

Eleanor Horwich has been moved from 

cashier to Lee's position and Edna Nass has 

been hired as cashier. 

Are you doing oil you can to "help care for our 

own" by getting oil your employes to sign the 1951 

'Christmas Solute'.' 

ORDER YOUR POPCORN SUPPLIES FROM US 

White Japufiese Hulless Popcorn Per 100 lbs. $13.95 

South American Yellow Hybrid Per 100 lbs. 10.00 

(Packed in 50 lb. bogs) 

Liquid "Popsit Plus" Seasoning Per Cose 15.50 

(Pocked 6 gallons per case) 

"Seazo" Coconut Oil Seasoning Per 50 lbs. 15.00 

Morton's Popcorn Salt Per Case 2.95 

10c Popcorn Boxes, 2 ounce Per 1000 11.25 

10c Popcorn Boxes, 1% ounce Per 1000 10.00 

1 lb. Popcorn Bogs, flat bottom, brown Per 1000 1.80 

1 lb. Popcorn Bags, flat bottom, white Per 1000 2.20 

Vi lb. Popcorn Bags, flat bottom, brown Per 1000 1.20 

l'/2 lb. Popcorn Bags, pinch bottom, white Per 1000 1.95 

DES 

MOINES 

Ctanley Dudelson, new United Artists salesman, 

has taken over the Iowa territory 

formerly handled by Herman Coffman. The 

Coffmans have left Des Moines for Florida 

where they plan to make their home. Mrs. 

Coffman was formerly with Warners here 

Jones Miller, former Warner employe, 

said her son Mark's picture won first 

prize of a $500 defense bond in the annual 

contest sponsored by the Professional Photographers 

of Iowa. The baby's father, Don, is 

in Korea and has not seen Mark since he 

was a few weeks old. 

. . . 

Stanley Soderberg, Warner salesman, spent 

the weekend in Minneapolis The Chuck 

Elders were fortunate in finding an apartment 

upon their return to Des Moines and Chuck 

has taken over his duties at Paramount as a 

salesman . . . Paul Webster journeyed to 

Omaha for the premiere showing of the Republic 

picture, "Wild Blue Yonder" . . . MGM 

has two screenings of importance scheduled 

soon— "Quo Vadis," to be shown to an invitational 

audience of exhibitors and press and 

radio representatives December 12 at the Uptown 

at 8:30 p. m. and "Angels in the Outfield," 

to be shown early in December to 

sports writers in the city. 

Several parties were held here for members 

of the cast of "Guys and Dolls," which had 

a week's run at the KRNT Radio Theatre. 

Sid Melton, star of several Lippert pictures, 

was guest of honor at a party given by Hal 

King at his home. Screenings were held at 

the Paramount screening room for the cast 

and one of the pictures was a recent film in 

which Maxie Rosenbloom had a part. 

. 

G. V. Fleming, exhibitor at Cumberland, 

Iowa, was on the Row last week . . . E. E. 

See is the new owner of Filmrow's favorite 

drug store on 12th and High streets . . . T. C. 

Ridells now is associated with National Theatre 

Supply, replacing Elsie Keenan 

Beverly Klanjac has resigned her 

. . 

position 

at Republic. 

Sidney Hale, 60, Stricken; 

Nashua, Iowa, Showman 

NASHUA, IOWA— Sidney Hale, 60. owner 

and operator of the Nashua Theatre for the 

last four years, died in Cedar 'Valley hospital 

at Charles City. Hale was graduated from a 

law school in 'Vienna, Austria, and came to 

the United States 14 years ago. He came to 

Nashua after a number of years in the theatre 

business In Texas. 

He is survived by a son, Pvt. Harvey Hale, 

former State university of Iowa law student 

who was inducted into the army three months 

ago, and a brother. Dr. Joseph Helman of 

New York City. The theatre will continue to 

operate under arrangements made by Harvey 

and Mr. Helman. Claudia Smith of Nashua 

is in temporary charge. 

1' 

H 

Special Softex % ib. Bags, white Per 1000 2.00 

Printed Sacks, 1 Ib. flat bottom, white Per 1000 3.10 

Printed noiseless, 1 Ib. pinch bottom Per 1000 4.60 

Prices Subject to Change Without Notice 

DES MOINES THEATRE SUPPLY CO. 

1121-23 High St. 

Des Moines, Iowa 

Mrs. Jerry Drennan Hurt 

PILOER. NEB.—Mrs. Jerry Drennan. operator 

of the Pilger Theatre, will be in the 

Lutheran hospital at Norfolk several montlis 

with a double fracture of the liip suffered 

when she slipped on some buckshot someone 

had scattered in the aisle of the theatre. Her 

daughter is handling the business in her 

ab.sence. 

62 


feu 51. 

Snapshot Sidelights on Carolina TOA Convention 

Harry Hart, BOXOFFICE representative, used his camera to 

do some "reporting" at the convention last weeli at Charlotte 

of the Theatre Owners of North and South Carolina. Here 

conversing in the lobby of the Charlotte hotel are, left to right: 

H. A. Anderson, Mrs. B. B. Anderson, D. B. Kizziah, B. B. Anderson 

and A. C. Phillips. The Andersons are from Mullins while the 

others .ire from { harloUe. In the right photo Itoy Koue of Burgaw 

tells the others about his candidacy for lieutenant governor of 

North Carolina. Next to him are Charles Piquet, Southern Pines; 

Claude Lee, Motion Picture Advertising Service, New ()rlean.s, who 

was toastmaster at the banquet, and Glen Fannin, salesman. 

The latter group were snapped after a meeting of dealers. 

In usual order are Peter Warren, Pepsi -Cola; Sam Wheeler, 

Wheeler Pictures, Washington; Herman Arenson and Francis White, 

Charlotte; Jack Dumstre III, Atlanta, Southeastern Equipment Co.; 

Bill Williams, Charles Swinney and Harry Paul of RCA. 

CHARLOTTE—Sidelights of 39th annual 

convention of Theatre owners of North 

Carolina and South Carolina: 

The most missed man who did not attend 

the convention was C. B. Hayworth of Pink 

Hill, N. C, who had sold his drive-in there 

and was in Hot Springs. Ark., for his and his 

wife's health. 

Charles Utley of Statesville, helped fill 

the large scrapbook that was on display In 

the lobby with pictures of Movietime stars 

and writers made during their Carolinas 

junkets. 

Howard Anderson and B. B. Anderson of 

MuUins are taking a very active interest in 

motion picture activities. B. B. claimed he 

did not get to spend much time with the 

theatres any more. 

* * * 

Roy Rowe from Burgaw who announced 

that he was a candidate for lieutenant governor 

of North Carolina has twice been president 

of the theatre association. He has been 

in the state senate since 1935 and has served 

as chairman of the aeronautics committee 

under two governors, and currently is a 

member of the board of trustees of the University 

of North Carolina. Roy has a good 

background in theatrical business. Before 

he became owner of the Pender Theatre at 

Burgaw and the Rowe at Elizabethtown, he 

Was with Warner Bros, and Paramount as 

salesman in the Carolinas. Roy has a host 

of friends. 

* * * 

S. J. Workman told friends that he would 

open another drive-in about April 1 at 

Woodruff, S. C, a 327-car situation. He now 

operates a theatre there and the Whitehorse 

Drive-In at Greenville, S. C. 

Howard McNally of Fayetteville and wife 

were in a hurry to fly to Vermont to bring 

back a car for his father, who operates the 

concession at the Boulevard Drive-In at 

Fayetteville. A brother of McNally is a car 

dealer up there. 

P. G. McGee of Winston-Salem told about 

the boy that he failed to prosecute for stealing 

.speakers from his drive-in there, who later 

killed a popular salesman. He now prosecutes 

those that are caught stealing speakers so 

that they won't commit other crimes. 

Bob Saunders related good naturedly the 

ribbing given him because be became lost 

with a film star while on tour with a Movietime 

troupe. Bob's reply was, "How'd you like 

to have got lost for a half hour with her?" 

Joe Accardi of the Skyline Drive-In at 

Morgantown was enthusiastic about recent 

promotions that had helped business. 

Every equipment dealer had a room with 

refreshments in the Charlotte hotel for the 

thirsty. 

Out-of-town equipment dealers included 

Ray Bussler. Tampa; H. L. McClung of Albany. 

Ga.: Jack Dumestra III. Atlanta: Nash 

Weil, Charley Forston of Wil-Kin Supply, 

Atlanta, and Oscar Howell, also of Atlanta. 

The latter attended the meeting of equipment 

dealers along with the ten from Charlotte. 

Everette Olsen disclaimed any special 

credit for his very successful chairman.ship 

of the Movietime tours in the Carolinas. but 

everybody knew he put in a lot of time and 

effort on the campaign. 

Arthur Bromberg, Atlanta, renewed acquaintances. 

* * * 

Gael Sullivan, executive director of the 

Theatre Owners of America, told the exhibitors 

that "the motion picture industry has 

no fear of any kind of competition if we 

have a quality product." Sullivan, speaking 

at the Monday afternoon session, .said: "In 

the next six months we will see the release of 

some of the finest film features ever made. I 

saw one of the new pictures just the other 

night and can say it unquestionably is one 

of the biggest packages of entertainment I 

have ever seen." 

Denise Darcel, MGM star who arrived 

Monday afternoon, attended the banquet and 

made a short talk. Toastmasters at the banquet 

were Jack Jackson of National Screen 

Service and Claude Lee of Motion Picture 

Advertising Service Co. 

Wives of exhibitors were entertained at a 

luncheon Monday given by the ten theatre 

equipment dealers here. The luncheon was 

held at the Chez Montet restaurant. 

Motion Picture Advertising Service, represented 

by A. E. Chadick of New Orleans 

and R. L. Simpson of Charlotte, hosted a 

party preceding the banquet. 

Everett Olson. Paramount exhibitor here 

(Continued on next page) 

BOXOFFICE December 1, 1951 SE 63

Here the camera catches a few individuals. Starting at left 

they are: Everett Olsen, telling about the JVIovietime tours in the 

Carolinas, for which he was chairman; H. H. Everett of Stewart 

& Everett Theatres; E. D. Martin, Columbus, Ga., who is chairman 

of the regional grievance committee; Alfred Starr, Nashville, one 

of the convention speakers, and resting a moment during lunch 

hour, Ben L. Strozier of Rock Hill, J. B. Harvey of Clover and 

Clinton Whitlock of Rockingham. 

Here are the new officers and board of the Theatre Owners of 

North and South Carolina. Seated, left to right: H. F. Kinsey, 

Alfred Starr, H. E. Buchanan, Mrs. Pauline Griffith (executive 

secretary), Howard McNally, Roy Rowe and George Carpenter. 

Standing: J. B. Harvey, W. H. Hendrix jr., Harry Cook, President 

Robert E. Bryant, Vice-President A. Fuller Sams, Worth Stewart, 

Vice-President Harold Armistead and H. A. Anderson. Directors 

Albert Sotille and J. H. Webster were absent. 

(Continued from preceding page) 

and Movietime publicity chairman, said: "The 

tour was a great success. The four Hollywood 

personalities visited 26 communities in the 

Carolinas in six days." The four were writer 

Isabel Dorn, starlets Penny Edwards and 

Lori Nelson and actor Craig Hill. 

Mitchell Wolfson, president of TOA, said 

"the single most important problem for the 

industry is the achievement of a system of 

arbritation to eliminate costly law suits . . . 

We are planning an important meeting in 

Los Angeles with representatives of the three 

branches of the industry: exhibition, distribution 

and production. These men will sit down 

and try to thrash out their problems." 

The largest crowd ever to attend a convention 

banquet crowded the floor at Hotel 

Charlotte. Some latecomers were denied admission 

because of space limitations. 

Gael Sullivan complimented the local press 

by calling the convention the "best covered 

theatre meeting in America." Sullivan wrote 

newspapers thanking them for the generous 

space given the meeting. 

Coca-Cola and Pepsi-Cola were vieing for 

exhibitors' favor. Pepsi was host to a giant 

cocktail-buffet party. Coca-Cola dispensed 

its drink to exhibitors at every turn. 

Son to William Sawyers 

MEMPHIS—William C. 

Sawyer, director of 

film payments for Malco Theatres, and his 

wife have a new son, named Tom Sawyer. 

The Sawyers have two boys and two girls. 

If you have a heart give—sign the 1951 'Christmas 

Solute' scroll—Variety Clubs-Will Rogers Memorial 

hospital. 

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Strickland Film 

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To Open by Christmas 

PALMETTO. FLA. — The $75,000 drive-in 

under construction here is expected to be 

opened by Christmas. The theatre will accommodate 

500 cars. 

MELBOURNE, FLA.—Plans are to open the 

new Brevard Drive-In on Christmas day. The 

tower has been completed and other work is 

being rushed. Jack Grayson will serve as 

manager. 

Alec Fortumas Back Home 

APALACHICOLA. FLA. — Alec Fortumas, 

owner of the Dixie Theatre, returned home 

after a vacation trip to his native Greece. 

R. C. Holliday to Selmont 

SELMA, ALA.—R. C. Holliday, former assistant 

at the Fairview Drive-In in Montgomery, 

is new manager of the Selmont 

Drive-In here. He succeeds Brooks Gandy. 

who is now in the service station business. 

M. A. Lightman Sr. Heads 

Bridge Ass'n Tourney 

MEMPHIS—Bridge players from Texas to 

New York were in Memphis to take part in 

the Tri-States Bridge Ass'n tournament 

which was conducted at Hotel Peabody under 

direction of M. A. Lightman sr., president of 

the Tri-States organization. Lightman, president 

of Malco Theatres, is one of the nation's 

top bridge players. 

Guatemala Wants U.S. 

Equipment 

Guatemala is a 100 per cent U.S. market for 

motion picture equipment. 

See us for 

A Floor Wat for Every Purpose 

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Southern Office—Atlanta, Ga. 

I 

64 

BOXOFFICE :: December 1. 1951

. . . Mrs. 

. . Joe 

Thealres in Mobile 

Test Theatre Tax 

MOBILE, ALA.—Mobile theatres went into 

circuit court to test the validity of the city's 

new amusement tax. The tax, which amounts 

to 10 per cent of admission charges to amusement 

events, went into effect October 1. Since 

that time the theatres have been paying the 

tax under protest. It is estimated the tax will 

produce $130,000 a year. 

In their suit the theatre owners allege 

that there is an enormous disparity between 

the tax imposed on them and that levied 

against other enterprises. They said this 

difference should "shock the conscience of 

the court" into declaring it invalid. 

The city until October 1. allowed an exemption 

of the first 10 cents for tax purposes on 

all admission tickets. This was removed to 

provide funds for a 10 per cent salary hike 

for city employes. 

The amusement tax suit was filed in the 

names of the following: 

Kenneth R. Giddens and T. J. Rester, partners 

doing business as Giddens & Rester, Inc. 

Paramount-Gulf Theatres, Inc. 

Bama Drive-In, Inc. 

E. M. Frenkel, doing business as the Century 

Theatre. 

Alex Gounares, doing business as the Roxy 

and Roosevelt theatres. 

C. H. King, C. B. King, and T. O. Collins, 

doing business as the Azalea Theatre. 

Hortselle Theatreman 

Asks Sunday Films 

HARTSELLE, ALA.—A plea for the authorization 

of Sunday night films here was placed 

before the city council at its regular meeting 

Tuesday (27), by John Pyatt, manager of 

the Strand Theatre. 

Pyatt, asking for Sunday shows after church 

hours, said that business at the Strand was 

off about 10 per cent from a year ago. He 

attributed this, in large part, to the recent 

increase in amusement tax. Pyatt also pointed 

out that many people here go to shows in 

other towns on Sunday night because the 

local theatre is not open. 

Pre-Xmas Bike Award 

MOULTON, ALA.— Starting November 21 

and continuing each week until Christmas, 

the Star Theatre here is awarding a Donald 

Duck bicycle to some lucky kiddy. These 

bicycles are being given in cooperation with 

15 Moulton business houses. 

Alabama Theatregoing Rises 

BIRMINGHAM—Theatre receipts 

continue 

on the upswing in Alabama. The University 

of Alabama's bureau of business research 

reports that the boxoffice sales in the state 

during August were 5.4 per cent higher than 

those for July. And, the report continues. 

August receipts were 3.9 per cent above those 

for the same month in 1950. The bureau's 

figures are based upon sales tax returns. 

JACKSONVILLE 

Exhibitors Service, recently opened In Jacksonville 

by Hank Hearn and Charles King, 

has a new account, the 400-car Fort Myers 

Drive-In. Fort Myers. Fla., operated by Nixon 

& Henn . . . Visitors to the Talgar office In 

Jacksonville learned of the death of Cella 

Brugh's husband. Mrs. Brugh has been secretary 

to O. G. Gryder for the la.st five years. 

A special midnight show, "She Shoulda No." 

was at the Palace November 24 . . . Cohen 

Bros, rented the Florida Theatre for Saturday 

morning (1) for a special children's party 

with Santa Claus in person . Charles, 

who was relief manager in Jacksonville, has 

been transferred to the Grand at Orlando as 

manager. No relief manager as been appointed 

here . . Jeanne Cavanaugh. bookkeeper 

. 

for the Florida State Theatres local 

houses, is in New York on a two-week vacation. 

Edith Smith is taking over during her 

Laurel Barton, in charge of the 

ab.sence . . . 

film rental department in the main office 

who has been away due to illness, is now 

able to resume her duties. 

Visitors to Floyd Stowe recently included 

Jack Galloway from Lippert in Atlanta; 

Jack Barrett, Monogram, Atlanta; Jimmie 

Bellou, Astor. Atlanta; Jack Flood. Columbia; 

Abner Camp, Paramount, and H. R. Kistler, 

Warner Bros. . . . Adeline Gawthrop, owner 

of the Linda Drive-In, Palatka, was in booking. 

Bill Beck, manager of the 5 Points Theatre, 

held "David and Bathsheba" for a third week 

Marcia Coburn McFadden, sister of 

actor Charles Coburn, died after a lengthy 

Florida State Theatres prints a 

illness . . . 

folder each week listing the coming attractions 

at each of its ten local theatres for the 

entire week. Under the name of each theatre 

are given the hours the theatre is open, 

the number of days it plays and the varying 

admission prices. Most of the downtown 

theatres open between 10 and 10:45 a. m.. 

THE 

NATION'S 

No. 1 

SCREEN 

GAME 

while the neighborhood theatres o;ji n between 

12:45 and 1 :45. 

Paramount welcomed the southern-eastern 

. 

division manager, Hugh Owen, on hLs recent 

visit here . . Oscar Morgan visited the 

home office as did Henry Goldberg, traveling 

Jack Rlggs, office manager for • 

auditor . . . 

Paramount for the la.st two years, resigned. 

The office force gave him a party and a piece 

of luggage. Dick Regan ha.s been named 

new office manager . 

now Is a 

. . Shirley 

booker and Mrs. 

Cowenhoven 

Ann Relff Is assistant 

booker. 

Florida Exhibitors Urge 

P.T.A. Amusement Plan 

JACKSONVILLE — Motion picture exhibitors 

in Florida will continue to work with the 

Florida Congress of Parents and Teachers. 

One of the re.solutions submitted to the convention 

delegates here recently, and passed, 

was as follows: 

"We urge that Parent-Teachers as.sociations 

and study groups continue to work on 

the improvement of radio, motion pictures, 

television and other amu.sement programs, 

and on a family and school program for an 

improved appreciation of good entertainment. 

Robbery at Demopolis, Ala. 

DEMOPOLIS. ALA. — Yeggs who forced 

their way into the .safe of the Marengo Theatre 

made off with approximately S200. according 

to Manager Henry Webb. Entrance 

to the building was gained by breaking the 

lock on one of the rear exit doors. 

FOUR (4) WEEK 

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Tries Vaudeville Bookings 

FALKVILLE, ALA.—Manager R. D. Gibbons 

s experimenting with occasional vaudeville 

bookings at the Mars Theatre here. 

Attendance will determine whether they will 

be continued. 

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,,| BOXOFFICE :: December 1, 1951 65

HART 

pRANCIS WHITE reports Consolidated Theatres 

expects to open its new Hilltop 

Drive-In on U.S. 1 near Augusta. Ga., about 

December 10. Consolidated 

has taken 

over operation of the 

Piedmont Drive-In 

near Greensboro, N. 

C. and has sold the 

Carolina Theatre in 

High Point to V. L. 

Hill, who operates 

the Rialto there. 

Standard Theatre 

Supply of Greensboro 

and Charlotte 

is building a clubhouse 

for employes and customers near 

Greensboro, complete with an artificial lake 

and barbecue pit. 

Bryant Theatre Supply of Charlotte had a 

very pretty window display of Bigelow carpeting. 

Paul Jones of the Tarheel Drive-In at 

High Point said that landscaping was almost 

completed and that attractive fencing 

JAX-POP 

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Phone 3431 — Night Phone 2015 

BEATS 

.By HARRY HART. 

is being build along the front of the theatre 

property. 

Doris and Frank Strange reported recent 

sales of Ballantyne equipment to the 200- 

car Robersonville (N. C.) Drive-In, which was 

opened November 15 by George James and 

Fred Herman; to the 400-car drive-in being 

constructed at Fayetteville, N. C, by Meiselman 

Theatres, and to Frank Allen for the 

airer he expects to open at North Wilkesboro 

about January 1. 

J. N. Wallace of Durham is building a 300- 

car drive-in on the Morris road near Columbus, 

Ga. 

James Hill is managing the recently opened 

Houston Avenue Drive-In at Macon, Ga. 

The new Kingsport (Tenn.) 400-car drivein 

will be opened in a few weeks by Max 

Wilson. 

The Hula Drive-In at Chinquapin, N. C, 

is a completely family-operated situation. 

Tom Sanderson i s 

owner and manager, 

his wife operates the 

boxoffice, a daughter 

runs the concession 

stand, a son supervises 

the parking of cars 

while daughter Nellie, 

15, operates the projection 

machines. 

The Knoll Drive-In 

at Augusta recently 

underwent a substantial 

Nellie Sanderson 

modernization program, 

necessitated by 

NPA limitation on the original expenditure 

for its construction. 

The new airer of Dixie Drive-In Theatres 

of Atlanta is expected to be opened Christmas 

day. The modernistic layout was designed 

by Lewis Saunders. 

Ed Rosenblatt, independent service expert 

of Charlotte, said he has signed a contract 

' 

with Woodrow Fussell to service his four 

theatres. 

Tom Britt of Laurel Hill, S. C, recently, 

opened his new Starlite Drive-In at Bennetts- 

ville. S. C. 

W. E. Baysden recently opened his new' 

River Drive-In at Jacksonville, N. C. He 

is re-equipping his Paradise Drive-In at 

Richland, N. C. with Simplex equipment. 

Louis Whitley of Concord, N. C, is building 

an airer near Wadesboro. 

W. G. Goodenough of Simpsonville, S. C, 

recently opened a 200-car drive-in there. 

Two Mississippi Houses 

Damaged by Flames 

MEMPHIS — With the coming of cooler 

weather and the use of heating plants in 

theatres, demon fire has again become a 

danger in the Memphis territory. 

The Carroll Theatre, CarroUton, Miss., was 

destroyed by fire, Mrs. Perry McCown, owner, 

reported. Cause of the fire was unknown. 

Fire of unknown origin broke out in the 

balcony of Superba Theatre, Charleston, Miss., 

and caused damage that necessitated a twoday 

closing for repairs, A. R. Prigmore, owner, 

reported. 

Open 

'Distant Drums' to 

At St. Augustine, Fla. 

NEW YORK — Warner Bros, will open 

"Distant Drums," color feature starring Gary 

Cooper, at the Matanzas Theatre, St. Augustine, 

Fla., December 22, followed by showings 

throughout Florida at Miami, Jacksonville, 

Naples and Ocala. The picture was 

filmed on location at Fort San Marco, St. 

Augustine and in the Everglades. 

Memphis Variety Tent 

To Meet December 3 

MEMPHIS—A full 

membership meeting of 

Memphis Variety Tent 20 was set for noon 

Monday (3) to elect a crew for 1952. The 

directors will meet at a later date and elect 

new officers. 

DOn'T KILL THE (Ilfln UJITH. THE FLUTE^ 

Transfer J. 

V. Caudill Jr. 

BOONE, N. C—J. V. Caudill jr., manager 

for the last four years of the Parkway Theatre, 

West Jefferson, N. C, has been transferred 

to the Motor Park Drive-In, Pink 

Hill, N. C. Dale Baldwin is now manager of 

I 

the Parkway. 

A good sound system should be capable 

of reproducing the entire sound 

frequency range recorded on the film 

from the lowest 40 cycle tones of the 

bass viol to the 10,000 cycle tones of 

the flute. 

FILMACK(5/z&v^TRAILERS 

mOTIOGRflPH SOUnD SySTEfnS 

(^

i 

will 

I 

stations 

I 

fact, 

I 

' 

i 

I PINE 

I 

. and 

. . Miss 

. . Robert 

. . William 

. . Hugh 

16 West Virginia Cities 

Allocated TV Channels 

HUNTINGTON, W. VA. — West Virginia's 

only 

television station, WSAZ, located here, 

be joined by nine other Mountain state 

next year, according to FCC plan. In 

television channels have been allocated 

to 16 cities in West Virginia. The freeze on 

station construction is expected to be lifted 

around February 1. 

The FCC has the following applications for 

license: 

Beckley, Joe L. Smith, Inc.; Charleston, 

Charleston Television, Inc.; Joe L. Smith jr., 

Inc.; Charleston Broadcasting Co.; Oak Hill, 

Robert R. Turner jr.; Huntington, Greater 

Huntington Radio Corp.; Wheeling, The Fort 

Industry Co.; Tri-City Broadcasting Co.; 

Fairmont, Fairmont Broadcasting Co. 

The FCC has allocated channels tentatively 

to 16 West Virginia communities; Beckley, 

Bluefield, Charleston, Clarksburg, Elkins, 

Fairmont, Hinton, Huntington, Logan, Martinsburg, 

Parkersburg, Welch, Weston, Wheeling, 

Williamson. Additional applications may 

be filed up to 60 days after the freeze is 

lifted. 

Sergeant in Korea Sends 

$10 to Rogers Hospital 

NEW YORK—A $10 contribution to the 

Will Rogers Memorial hospital fund was received 

from Sgt. Joseph C. O'Brien, former 

MOM shipper in Boston, who at last report 

was convalescing from pneumonia, contracted 

while on reconnaisance in Korea, O'Brien 

read about the fund drive in "The Distributor," 

MGM house organ, and mailed a check 

to William F. Rodgers, general sales manager 

of the company. 

O'Brien has been overseas for about a year 

and was promoted to sergeant two months 

ago. He wrote, in part, "I know it isn't 

much. I don't get paid very regularly over 

here. If I were home, I would donate more, 

for they say every little bit helps." 

Dolf Kastor Celebrates 

20th Year as Doorman 

BLUFF, ARK.—Dolf Kastor, door- 

man at the Saenger Theatre here, celebrated 

I 

his 20th anniversary with Malco Theatres, 

I Inc., on Saturday (24). Kastor has been 

doorman all of the time that he has been 

with the firm, despite many opportunities for 

advancement. He will be 59 years old on 

February 13. 

Paul Jones is manager of the Saenger here 

Bill Sockwell is district manager for 

Malco in North Little Rock. 

Churchgoing Appeal on Screen 

ST. PETERSBURG—All Florida State Circuit 

theatres and throughout the west coast 

run a short at every show, every day, urging 

everybody to attend the church of his choice 

on Sunday. Frank H. Bell, district manager 

for Florida State, is responsible for the use 

of the appeal. 

MEMPHIS 

Oale of two theatres in the Memphis trade 

, , . Better Films council 

territory was reported this week, H. L. 

Love, Jonesboro, bought the Star Theatre at 

Cash, Ark., from Mrs. J. H. Stevens, and 

H. O. Hall bought the Home Theatre at Holcomb. 

Mo. Both new owners will book and 

by in Memphis 

met at the Ellis auditorium to hear Dr. Harry 

B. Ettelson, rabbi. Temple Israel, discuss 

Broadway plays. 

. . . J. W. Lyles, 

. . . 

Ed Blair closed his Airvue Drive-In at 

Helena, Ark., for the season . Burnette 

closed his Bel-Air Drive-In at Centerville, 

Tenn., until spring 

owner of Kentucky Lake Drive-In, Benton, 

Ky., went into a weekend only operation 

closed the 64 Drive-In, Russellville, Ark., 

. . Clark 

Charles Woolner, owner, clo.sed the Lamar 

Drive-In, Memphis, for the winter . 

Shively. Smith-Shively, Inc., owner, closed 

the Skylark Drive-In at Clarksdale, Miss., 

for the season . B. Lowrey, owner, 

closed the Skyvue Drive-In, Jonesboro, Ark., 

for the winter . L. Spicer, owner, 

until 

spring. 

Duck hunting season opened in the midsouth 

territory—one of the nation's greatest 

spots for ducks at this season of the year 

and many exhibitors were away from their 

desks. Many had friends from other sections 

of the country to accompany them on 

the hunts . . . 20th-Fox Family club engaged 

Hotel Peabody skyway for the evening of 

December 14 for a dinner-dance as the annual 

Christmas party. Nancy Finch will be in 

charge of entertainment for the party. 

. . . Joanne 

Martha Esgro resigned as contract clerk at 

20th-Fox . Louise Stankoff, assistant 

cashier. Paramount, was married to 

Todd 

John 

was 

Norvell of Memphis 

promoted from assistant cashier to cashier at 

Monogram to replace Mrs. Fentress Ofenheusle, 

who resigned. Margaret Duncan was 

engaged as a new employe to replace Mrs. 

Todd as assistant cashier. 

. 

Lyle Richmond, Richmond, Senath, Mo., 

and Henry Pickens, Semo, Steele, Mo., were 

in town . Prom Arkansas came W. L. Moxley, 

Mox, 

. 

Blytheville; L. F. Haven jr.. Imperial, 

Forest City; Moses Sliman, Lux, Luxora; 

Zell Jaynes, Joy, West Memphis; Paul 

Myers, Center, Lexington; Mrs. J. R. Keller, 

Joiner. Joiner; John Lowrey, Plaza and 

Park, Bentonville, and his son, Jack Lowrey, 

[ji5jQ(Dâa[L[l 

p. O. Box 1029 

Lowrey, Ru.sscUvlllf; Tom KirK. New, Tuckerman, 

and Henley Smith, Imperial and Skylark 

Drive-In, Pocahontas. 

Louise Mask, Luez, Bolivar; Amelia Ellis. 

Ma.son, Mason, and W. O. Taylor, Uptown, 

Drenden, were among west Tenne.s.see exhibitors 

seen on Pllmrow . . . Visitors from Mississippi 

Included Jlmmle CahlU, Gloria, 

Senatobia; J. A. Thornton, Bruce, Bruce; 

T. N. Jourdon, Majestic. luka; C. N. Eudy, 

Houston. Houston; R. B. Cox. Eureka and 

Batesville. Bate.svUle; Howard Langford, 

Folly, Marks, and J. C. Bonds. Von. Hernando. 

Sponsors Football Vote 

ATMORE, ALA. — The Strand Theatre 

sponsored a contest to name the most valuable 

football player at Escambia county high 

school. A. J. Smith, manager of the hou.se 

for Martin Theatres, awarded a gold loving 

cup to the winner. A similar award was given 

by the theatre circuit to the most valuable 

player at Ernest Ward high .school. Walnut 

Hill. 

Knoxvllie, 

J. E. Mowry to Hallmark 

WILMINGTON, OHIO—John E. Mowry of 

Dayton has been appointed checker for 

Arkansas engagements of "She Shoulda Said 

No." Jack Thomas, vice-president of Hallmark 

Productions, said he replaces William 

Elliott, former manager of the Springs Theatre, 

Tampa, Fla., who has left the road temporarily 

because of illness. 

SELL YOUR THEATRE P RIVATELY 

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Hioliest renutation for know-tio* 

fair dealing. 30 years exoerience inclutliiij 

exhibition. Ask Belter Business Bureau, 

or our customers. Know your broker 

ARTHUR LEAK Theatre Specialists 

3305 Carutli. Dallas, Texas 

Telephones; EM 0238- EM 7489 

CONFIDENTIAL CORRESPONDENCE INVITED 

io4>, INC. 

Tennessee 

• CONTOUR 

MONAROni 

Theatre Supply, Int. 

CURTAINS 

• STAGE AND AUDITORIUM 

DRAPERIES 

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AND DIMMERS 

I 

THI-STATE THEATRE SUPPLY 

320 So. Second St Memphis, Tenn. 

BOXOFFICE : : December 1, 1951 

jl,B' 

MOST MODERN STAGE EQUIPMENT STUDIO IN AMERICA 

67

. . Local 

. . Manager 

MIAMI 

wrometco's Carib, Miami and Miracle theatres 

heralded the December 1 opening 

of "The Barefoot Mailman," a story by a 

Florida writer which features locales of Miami 

and vicinity, and numerous Floridians in 

extra parts. Jerome Courtland made a personal 

appearance at the premiere . . . Film 

producer Filippo Del Giudice has returned 

from a New York trip and is back at work 

on plans for Miami-produced pictures. 

The Claughtons had to turn the downtown 

Royal into a first run house in order to 

open "Rhubarb" at two houses, the second 

being the Miami Beach Variety. The regu- 

. . . 

lar Claughton first run, the Embassy, is 

trying to take care of the crowds jamming 

the entrance to see "An American in Paris" 

Fred C. Harwood, Springfield. Ohio, one 

of the executives of the Phil Chakeres organization, 

and his wife are guests in the 

Chakeres winter home in Miami Beach. They 

will remain until the first of the year. 

E. J. Melnicker, owner and operator of 

the Coral Way Drive-In, planned a turkey 

• MACHINE FOLD 

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• RESERVED SEAT 

• BOOK STRIP 

THEATER GIFT COUPON BOOKS 

SEASON PASSES — ONE TIME COMPS. 

-A&CU«AGY- 

SOUTHWEST TICKET & COUPON CO. 

2110 CORINTH ST. Harwood 7185 • DALLAS, TEX. 

giveaway for the Monday evening preceding 

Thanksgiving. Aside from mentioning the 

event to patrons at the gate and over the 

public address system for several days previous, 

he used no advertising. Six turkeys 

were given away and the theatre had its biggest 

Monday night to date. "No advertising 

like word-of-mouth," says the owner. Melnicker 

has purchased a home on Hibiscus 

island and plans to move in before the first 

of the year. 

The Biltmore put on a Friday night Family 

Fun party. A one-night showing of 

"Pygmy Island" was accompanied by ten 

cartoons . theatreman Sidney Meyer 

was pictured in the Daily News recently presenting 

3,000 theatre tickets to Mrs. Morris 

Alpert, membership coordinator of Greater 

Miami chapter of Hadassah, for new members 

in the membership drive . . Social 

. 

affairs among the younger set here are being 

planned to honor bride-elect Beverly Armstrong, 

who will marry E. N. Claughton jr. 

December 22. 

Barney Balaban, Paramount Pictures and 

ABC radio executive, was in Miami Beach to 

celebrate a wedding anniversary with Mrs. 

Balaban . Bob Daugherty has 

two fine bills for the two final weeks of 

vaudeville at the Olympia. Carmen Cavallero 

was the current hit, with Mischa Auer to 

follow. The first run picture policy, with 

no stage show, will begin December 5, opening 

with "Too Young to Kiss" ... A recent 

newspaper ad for the Roosevelt, requesting 

patrons to call "Mr." Alex Henig and "Mr." 

Bernard Lopata for reservations, turned out 

to have been a release sent out by the New 

York office and not edited here before publication. 

The distinguished "misters" got 

laughs from the men concerned, and friendly 

kidding from others. 

Suzi Claughton, daughter of the theatre 

owners, was one of a group from here that flew 

to Duke university for the homecoming game 

. . . Pi-eviewing things to come in the TV 

versus movie future, a Hollywood prognosticator 

tells the Daily News amusement page 

that before too long theatres all over the 

world will be able to turn on a switch and 

receive their picture programs via closed 

air waves, broadcast direct to their screens 

from the Hollywood production stages . . . 

Manager Bernard Lopata of Brandt's Roosevelt 

is vacationing in New York. 

HANDY SUBSCRIPTION ORDER FORM

i 

i 

and 

' 

I 

shade 

i the 

' 

said 

] 

Saxton 

' 

Service 

! 

atre 

. . The 

. . The 

r 

CHARLOTTE 

«Phe office of Republic has been repainted 

remodeled. Venetian blinds have 

been installed and walls painted a lighter 

to provide more light. Numerous other 

improvements have been made to give the 

exchange a new look and make it one of the 

most attractive on the street. 

A new Lippert Pi-oductions exchange is 

.scheduled to open soon in the office formerly 

occupied by ELC. A manager is to be named 

.soon Paramount was host to a screening 

. . . 

Sunday night of "Red Mountain" and "Hong 

Kong." The following night city and county 

detectives and government agents were guests 

at a screening of "Detective Story" . . . "Across 

the Wide Missouri" continued to do a phenomenal 

business at the Manor Theatre. 

The newly elected crew of the Variety Club 

met to discuss plans for the coming year's 

operations. Another meeting is scheduled in 

near futm-e. Chief Barker Donald Graham 

a statement regarding profits of the 

club-.sponsored "Parade of Quartets and Melodies" 

here recently will be issued soon . . . Bob 

and John Wood of Saxton's Booking 

Co. have acquired the Stanley Theat 

Stanley, 17 miles west of here. 

R. M. Savini of New York, president of Astor 

Pictures Corp., was at the Astor exchange 

several days. He was also in Atlanta to inspect 

the exchange there . Warner 

office is undergoing a thorough remodeUng. 

Herman Goldberg of New York came in to 

supervise the job, which includes building 

and painting of new salesmen's offices downstairs 

. . . Scott Lett, Screen Guild manager, 

returned from Memphis. His secretary, Viola 

Fender, is back from a visit to her twin sister 

and new baby in Texas. 

Iron Fist on Kid Rowdies 

Pays Off at North Miami 

MIAMI — M. A. Kirkhiul. who recently 

bought the North Miami Theatre, Ls well 

satisfied with the results of his new policy 

in handling obstreperous youngsters who patronize 

the Saturday and Sunday shows. 

Kirkhart, who took over the theatre In September, 

was faced with unruly juvenile audiences 

that had taken over the theatre as a 

kind of weekend playground. Their noise and 

destructiveness had driven away a large percentage 

of the theatre's adult patronage. 

Kirkhart now has the cooperation of the police 

department with an officer on duty during 

Saturday and Sunday performances. Teenage 

trouble-makers who continued their objectionable 

behavior are barred from the house. 

Kirkhart's firm stand "is paying off," as he 

expresses it. His youthful audiences are so 

much better behaved that gradually the theatre 

is winning back its lost adult patrons. 

"I believe we will average ten new adult 

patrons to each teenager we lose," said the 

owner. Neighborhood patrons tell him they 

"had given up coming to the North Miami at 

all." since they could neither hear nor watch 

the pictiu-e in reasonable quite and peace. 

Now, however, the word had gotten round 

that things are different and people are 

giving it another try. 

Kirkhart says his experiment has attracted 

the interest of other theatremen in this area 

and that he has had calls from a number of 

them commending him on his good sense and 

wanting to know if the presense of a policeman 

has worked out satisfactorily. 

. . . Joe Cutrell 

Dennis Ramsey of Rose Hill, J. B. Edwards 

of Aberseen, and Roy Rosser of Sanford 

were in booking at Republic 

Paramount salesman underwent an eye operation 

. . . Wanda Hendrix rode in the parade, 

crowned the Carousel queen and spoke at 

the mayor's luncheon. 

Lippert Productions will open a new exchange 

here soon . Ritz in Salisbury 

. . . 

has been reopened after being dark several 

months by E. L. Shelton and J. G. Corl 

Barney Slaughter has been named city salesman 

for Paramount, succeeding E. C. De- 

Berry, promoted to manager at Buffalo. 

Like Mother, Like Son 

John Winslow, the baby who appears in 

Warners' "Close to My Heart," is following In 

his mother's footsteps. Mrs. Jo-An Winslow 

made her debut in pictures at the same age. 

1^

Three Hollywood Movietime 

Units 

Tour New Orleans Exchange Area 

NEW ORLEANS—Movietime in Dixie— 

U.S.A.. which had a false start here several 

weeks ago due to the wide coverage necessary 

in this exchange area, has been designated 

as the week of December 2-8. Three troupes 

of actors producers, directors and writers will 

be routed through Louisiana, parts of Mississippi. 

Alabama and Florida. 

Arriving here by plane Sunday night (2) 

the entire group will stage a parade Monday 

up Canal street, ending at the city hall, where 

Mayor Chep Morrison will present them the 

keys to the city and join them for luncheon 

at the Roosevelt hotel to which 79 exhibitors 

in the city, civic and religious leaders have 

been invited. 

At 3 p. m. the group is scheduled to make 

a tour of the city's hospitals, returning to 

International House at 6 p. m. for a cocktail 

party. Tentative plans have been made to entertain 

the visitors with dinner at Antoine's 

restaurant and a tour of the French Quarter. 

The group will leave here at 8 a. m. Tuesday 

in a fleet of chartered buses for Baton Rouge. 

Governor Earl K. Long will entertain them at 

lunch and award each of the guests the honorary 

title of a Louisiana colonel. Following 

the luncheon, they will go to Jackson, Miss., 

by airplane where a parade is scheduled for 

the afternoon. Governor Wright will entertain 

them with a dinner party, then they will 

break up into three groups for the continuation 

of the tour. 

Festivities here in New Orleans will be 

handled by Ernest A. MacKenna, manager of 

the Joy Theatre, and Page Baker with Theatre 

Service. 

A tremendous amount of work has gone into 

the reorganization of the Movietime campaign 

here, according to MacKenna. He said that 

unless the entire territory could be covered, 

the campaign would have little promotion 

value. 

"Movie people are constant visitors here, but 

in the smaller communities, these people are 

a special event. We feel that the cause for 

better movies can be definitely helped by personal 

appearances throughout the territory," 

he explained. 

Unit 1, which will cover all of Louisiana, 

will be headed by Abe Barenson, vice-president 

of Allied Gulf States, and Doyle Maynard. 

This group will include actors George 

Murphy, Marget Sheridan and Jess White, 

Director Fred DeCordova and Robert Fellows, 

producer. 

C. J. Briant, branch manager for MGM, and 

Eldon P. Briwa, business manager for Movietime 

in Dixie, will conduct tour No. 2 through 

northern Mississippi. This group includes 

Eêston Foster and his wife, screen writer 

Dorothy Hughes, and Maxwell Shane and 

Joseph H. Lewis, directors, and actor Davi. 

Brian. 

Tour 3 will be headed by Henry G. Plitt c 

Paramount Gulf Theatres, and George Nun 

gesser of Monogram here. 

Covering southern Mississippi and parts c' 

Florida and Alabama will be actors Rober' 

Stack and Bruce Bennett, director Leonar' 

Stern and his wife, actress Julia Adams, Helei 

Deutsch, writer, and Producer Irving Asher. 

The Hollywood notables will return to Ne\j 

Orleans December 8 and leave for Hollywooii 

the following day. 

Texas Showmen Observe 

Film Trade in Europe 

DALLAS—Claude Ezell of Ezell & Associ 

ates and Harold B. Robb jr. and their wive;' 

returned home from several months sojourn ii' 

Europe where they drove over 5,300 miles ami 

took thousands of feet of film as well a:l 

stills. They traveled through England. Ire-i 

land, France, Belgium, Holland, Switzerland: 

Germany and Italy. 

Although Ezell said they went for a change 

from their business and for a good vacation' 

his observations on the motion picture in-| 

dustry in Europe were interesting. He said I 

"The motion picture situation seemed to bd 

very healthy in Europe. In most of thfj 

countries throughout Europe we saw long line." 

of people leading from the theatre boxofficeii 

waiting for them to open and traffic intti 

theatres appeared to be heavy through th(j 

performance hours. This was a general sit 

uation which led me to say 'healthy motior 

picture conditions.' 


, i iuslries. 

DelEdmiston Opens 

Drive-In at Eldorado 

ELDORADO, TEX.—Delbeit Ednii.slon of 

this city opened his 250-car Eagle Drive-In 

hei-e in November. The construction was 

reported in BOXOFFICE several weeks ago. 

Electricity to the airer is furnished by Southwest 

Texas Electric Co-op and water lines 

are being run out to the theatre from nearby 

lines. 

Erected at a cost of approximately $25,000, 

the Eagle is Eldorado's first drive-in. First 

run product was shown in the first week's 

programs. Tons of caliche were hauled to the 

area to provide all-weather parking and it 

was rolled and watered a number of times. 

The screen tower is covered with green asbestos 

siding. Remaining to be done after 

the opening were such smaller projects as 

growing sod for the children's playground and 

putting the finishing touches on the concession 

and restrooms. 

The Edmistons have lined up their employes 

locally. Mrs. C. C. McLaughlin is 

cashier, John Thomas Alexander is in the 

projection booth part time after a full-time 

job opening week, and Mr. and Mrs. Jack 

Halbert assist at the concession and ticket 

booths. All labor was local except some equipment 

installation from Houston. 

Del Edmiston has wanted to build a drivein 

for a long time. Recognizing that the 

city was ideally located for one, he began to 

think seriously about it last Christmas when 

he was home on furlough visiting relatives. 

Last spring the plans began to take shape 

and he took on the job of learning all he 

could about theatre operation, getting experience 

at the Post Theatre in San Antonio, 

talking with showmen and visiting theatres. 

He was released from service on August 17. 

His first step toward construction was 

locating a site. After inquiring around, he 

selected six acres which he leased from the 

Miller estate. The land is on the south side 

of the Menard highway just outside the Eldorado 

limits. Edmiston was reared here and 

served three years in World War II, 500 days 

as a prisoner of war in Austria. Edmiston 

said he has room to add 100 more speakers to 

the initial 250 and hopes he will have to do it. 

Theatre Manager's Fears 

Aroused by Vagrant 

SAN ANTONIO—Local police 

were holding 

a 27-year-old man after Aztec Theatre officials 

expressed fears a holdup was planned. 

Two policemen were summoned by the assistant 

house manager, who said a man in the 

office had aroused his suspicions. The theatre 

was holding three days' receipts and expressed 

belief the man might be getting ready 

to steal them. 

Through an open door, the policemen could 

see the man, who was pointed out by the 

acting manager. They called for uniformed 

support and, when scout cars began arriving, 

the man left the office but was detained inside 

the theatre by an officer. 

Theatre officials said he was trying to sell 

them protection in an "Interstate Protection 

Bureau," an organization they said a later 

check disclosed to be nonexistent. Booked for 

vagrancy and held for investigation was 

Denny Scarletto, who said he was from New 

Mexico. Police failed to find another man 

reported to have been seen outside the theatre. 

Analysis of Movietime in Texas 

Predicts 

DALLAS—The Movietime in Texa.s U.S.A. 

campaign is expected to bring 300,000 new 

patrons to theatres of the state each week. 

In a report to Texas COMPO Showmen, compiling 

results and expenditures of the Movietime 

drive, Paul Short and Charles E. Carden 

said the campaign had reached an estimated 

6,000,000 persons. 

Simultaneously with the financial report, 

Carden revealed that he would leave the 

Texas COMPO organization, for which he has 

served as coordinator for the last five months, 

to return to his duties with Interstate Theatres. 

He will be replaced by Kyle Rorex on 

the Texas COMPO organization. 

"If we get only 5 per cent of these as new 

customers and 5 per cent are a return of the 

.so-called 'lost audience' our campaign has 

been a signal success," the report said. 

"Actually, we will have 300.000 new patrons 

weekly and 300,000 'lost audience' attending 

weekly, or a total of 600,000 additional theatre 

patrons attending weekly." 

A total of $36,500, contributed by exhibitors. 

Their Identities Get 

Scrambled in Dallas 

x^^ 

300,000 New Patrons 

. . and then the confusion 

DALLAS—Filmrow has been chuckling 

over a mixed identity situation that is 

leading to many ludicrous and sometimes 

embarrassing mistakes. It all concerns 

two well-known Texas theatre personalities 

who look alike, whose names are 

almost exactly alike and whose activities 

involve the same group of exhibitors. 

One is constantly mistaken for the 

other, they get one another's mail and 

telegrams, their phone calls are invariably 

confused and even their laundry bundles 

are switched. To further complicate matters, 

their respective offices are on the 

same block. One is Charles E. Darden, 

and the other is Charles E. Carden. Darden 

is the popcorn man of the southwest 

and Carden is Interstate's assistant city 

manager at Fort Worth, who for years 

headquartered in that city. 

But when COMPO came into being. 

Carden was named executive director, 

moved to Dallas and set up business next 

door to Darden . 

really began. 

If you don't think Filmrow is confused 

just look at the photo. That's Carden on 

the left and Darden on the right. 

BOXOFFICE December 1, 1951 sw 

' 

circuit and ;ili was invested In 

the Movietiiri' in 1 'xas campaign, and the 

report estimated that return on the Investment 

has been $250,000. The report compared 

this cost, estimated at $15 per new 

theatre patron, with surveys which showed 

that it cost Neiman-Marcus an average of 

$375 to get a new customer; General Electric, 

$355: Amerlcal Airlines, $265; Rexall drug 

stores. $225; American Tobacco Co., $220. etc. 

For the expended $36,500. the report said 

the Movietime campaign had received 920.000 

lines of free publicity, or $185,000; 1.175 free 

.spot radio announcements, or $19,500; and 

ten and one-half hours free radio time on 

Texas networks, or $36,500. 

The report said that since the Movietime 

speakers bureau started functioning. 26 speaking 

engagements had been filled and there 

are more than 100 dates still to be filled. 

"In no other industry," the report continued, 

"will you find the public paying $1.50 for 

luncheon and $3 for dinner or a banquet to 

listen to an out-and-out plug for that industry." 

In the compilation of actual costs of the 

campaign. Short and Carden reported that 

the first Movietime meeting in the Majestic 

Theatre here, attended by 2,000 persons in the 

industry, cost $535.65. The cost of the press 

book to Texas COMPO to serve every exhibitor 

in the state was $3,350. 

A breakfast meeting held for film salesmen, 

branch and sales managers cost $255. 

while the regional exhibitor meeting, attended 

in 20 towns by exhibitor leaders cost 

S927.87. The first star tour cost $13,500 and 

the second tour $3,850. Thus far the speakers 

bureau has expended $258.60. 

Texas exhibitors purchased through the 

distributor salesmen accessories for posting, 

lobby and novelties amounting to $38,800. Exhibitors 

purchased trailers totaling $9,500; 

$6,700 in radio time, and $11,000 in institutional 

ads were used throughout the state. 

Skeet Noret Readies One. 

Maybe Two. Lamesa Airers 

LAMESA, TEX.—Plans to build a drive-in 

on the Lubbock highway, and possibly a second 

one on the Seminole highway, were disclosed 

by Skeet Noret, owner of the Sky-Vue 

Drive-In here. A building site has been purchased 

on the Lubbock highway just outside 

the city limits, and construction will begin as 

soon as government restrictions are eased, 

Noret said. 

Regarding the proposed second outdoor 

theatre, he said a site on the Seminole highway 

also has been purchased, where another 

drive-in will be constructed if the continuing 

growth of Lamesa justifies it. 

'Texas Rangers' Tops All 

In Dallas. Naturally! 

DALLAS—Even for Texas the 135 per cent 

scored by "The Texas Rangers" at the Rialto 

was a little surprising. In fact, it and "The 

First Legion" both outpointed a couple of 

much more expensive, more star-laden pictures. 

Coronet—The First Legion (UA) 115 

Majestic—Staililt (WB) ~ 

;;;;;v-;v 

kt 

Palace Too Young lo Kiss (MUM) — -SO 

?:;alto—The Texas Rangers (Col) 135 

71

. . The 

. . 

. . Other 

. . H. 

. . W. 

UJ 

OKLAHOMA CITY 

fJlr. and Mrs. J. Eldon Peek of Oklahoma 

Theatre Supply returned from a business 

swing through eastern Oklahoma and parts 

of Arkansas While in the latter state, they 

visited Mr. and Mrs. E. Wagner at their farm 

near Glenwood. Wagoner has a marquee sign 

letter company in Chicago . Woodward 

Theatre at Woodward, owned by Vance 

and Ben Terry, has a new RCA deluxe sound 

system, installed by Oklahoma Theatre Supply 

.. . Mr. and Mrs. Howard Rugh of the 

Mars in Dawson attended the University of 

Oklahoma and Iowa State football game at 

Norman, then came into Oklahoma City for 

an evening at the Variety Club. 

Mr. and Mrs. Wesley Hodges of Weatherford, 

Creal Black from Cordell and Layton 

Carter of Seminole were among the exhibitors 

booking and buying on Filmrow recently. 

Carter's brother, a banker in Eufaula, died 

The mother of Mrs. L. R. Creason 

recently . . . 

of Eufaula. who is the wife of an ex- 

hibitor, was buried recently in Quinton 

Mr. and Mrs, Truman Ellerd of 

. 

Blanchard 

Mr. and Mrs. 

were in town on business . . . 

BUILT TO TAKE IT- 

Griggs 

Chairs 

WITHSTAND 

TOUGHEST WEAR 

Comfort — the minute 

they're occupied! 

Their Beauty sparkles! 

WRITE FOR CATALOG 

GRIGGS E0UIP/V1E\T CO. 

Belton, Texas 

RCA 

CARPETS 

Custom Loomed 

for 

Tlieatres 

Boyd Adkinson of the Choctaw Theatre in 

Wright City were on the Row the previous 

week and attended the OU and Iowa State 

game at Norman the next day . R. 

Petty, formerly of the Okarche, now owns 

that theatre in Chattanooga. J. A. Fowler, 

onetime owner of the Jewel at Chattanooga, 

now owns the Rodeo in Roosevelt. Our records 

show George Myers as ex-owner of the 

Rodeo in Roosevelt. 

. . . Mi-, and Mrs. L. C. 

Paul Stonum, Anadarko exhibitor, and his 

son Cpl. Stan Stonum, who is just back from 

11 months in Japan and Korea, were Row 

visitors. Stonum's son, who is in the marine 

corps, will report to Hastings, Neb., when his 

leave terminates 

Carter of Spiro have a new baby son. Carter 

is building a new drive-in at the Y north 

of Panama . new parents are Mr. 

and Mrs. Hugh Robinson, who live in Okmulgee 

and operate a theatre in Morris. Robinson 

has been an exhibitor for the past six 

months. The new offspring is a girl. 

. . . 

Mrs. Myrtle Guthrie of Clinton was written 

up recently by Good Housekeeping magazine, 

which took pictures and did a story on how 

she operates such a spic and span motion 

picture house . S. McMurray of Dumas, 

Tex., was busy with the West Texas Chamber 

of Commerce's annual meeting at Amarillo. 

He's a board member Ben Adams of 

Sunray, Tex., is building a drive-in about two 

miles from town. He expects to open in the 

spring season. He alio owns the Palace at 

Sunray, where he started construction of the 

The A. D. Smiths of the 

300-car ozoner . . . 

Panhandle Film Service were proud of their 

5-year-old daughter's performance recently. 

Little Dorothy, an expression student, was in 

a recital. 

The annual election of Variety Tent 22 will 

be December 3 at 6 p. m. The monthly board 

meeting is called for 4 p. m., according to 

Chief Barker J. C. Hunter, Tulsa Downtown 

Theatres president. The monthly state ex- 

Faster Deliveries 

Extra-Long Wearing 

Beautiful Patterns 

Gorgeous Colors 

Best Buy in Carpels 

Now you can buy carpet custom loomed for use in your theatre 

requirements 

Your 

for long wear, your preferences in color your need for 

arresting patterns-have all been transformed into Wiltons 

standing of out- 

durability, beauty and low price in the new RCA Theatre 

To assure theatre owners of the best buy in floor covering, RCA has 

'p '^"P''."1"i'-'='"

. . . Doc 

. . Mrs. 

. . Mack 

. . 20th-Fox 

which operates the Center and State situations 

in Oklahoma City, drove to Lincoln, 

Neb., for the OU and University of Nebraska 

football game Saturday (24) ... Katherine 

Hendricks and Henry Simpson of BristoW.s 

Walmur and Princess theatres were in to 

book and buy ... In on business the day before 

Thanksgiving were Mr. and Mrs. W. A. 

LaBarthe of the Grant in Pond Creek. 

J. C. Hunter and wife of Wendell will have 

a daughter-in-law soon. Their son John and 

Norma Edwards, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. 

V. F. Edwards, also of Tulsa, will be married 

December 22. Plans are for an especially 

"swish" event. Hunter is president of Tulsa 

Downtown Theatres . Enterprises 

office on Filmrow will close December 1 . . . 

C. L. Lance of Ringling was in town for 

some film buying and booking, as were Mrs. 

Rhoda Cates of the Tower at Selling and 

Mrs. Dudley Tucker sr., Guthrie. 

Grady James, 20th-Fox salesman, has done 

it again. The angels are apparently working 

overtime for him as he walked away from 

another wreck. It happened November 24. a 

month to the day from his previous accident. 

His most recent wreck happened between 

Edmond and Oklahoma City. He had stopped 

at an intersection when a speeding car 

rammed into the side of his auto. His car 

(and, not the same one that he was driving 

in October) was badly damaged, and the 

vehicle that struck his car was completely 

demolished. The car in the October wreck was 

sold for salvage. It's estimated the repair 

on the car in the November accident will cost 

about $400. 

One of Tulsa's smaller theatres booked a 

major first run picture for Thanksgiving. 

R. V. McGinnis of the Cozy opened Paramount's 

"Silver City" on the holiday at advanced 

prices. With this film, the Cozy went 

to top Tulsa price, 65 cents, and will continue 

with the new price policy. The Cozy's 

opening with the first run product was for 

its Oklahoma premiere. 

Vernon Watkins of the K. Lee Williams the- 

. 

atre group, Texarkana, was a Row visitor 

Tuesday (20) ... Ditto for Virby Conley of 

Perryton, Tex. Dudley Tucker sr., 

Guthrie, was the Row recently . . . All 

on 

of Filmrow was closed down for Thanksgiving 

day, making the second legal holiday in 

a two-week period for all but a few on the 

Row. On November 12, all supply houses, 

exchanges and the like were shut down. Only 

the Video home office was operating at full 

The Gilbert Clarks of National 

force . . . 

Screen Service spent Thanksgiving in Dallas. 

The family returned the following Saturday 

Lumpkin of Sentinel was on the Row. 

PAINT UP YOUR THEATRE! 

REFINISH YOUR SCREEN! 

Drive-lns! 

DHIVE-IN THEATRE PAINTING 

E. L. EVANS & SOI^S 

THEATHE SEAT INSTALLATION 

2719 Maleur Ave. Dallas, Texas 

E. L Evans, Jr., FE-002S Evans. Sr., YU.3397 

E. L. 

THEATRE CHAIR INSTALLATION 

SEAT REPAIRING 

EXPERIENCED 

WORKMEN 

"Several thousand used theatre chairs ayailable" 

Forrest Dunlap, Jr. 

DUNLAP SEATING CO. 

2008 Jackson— Rl. 3595 Dallas. Texas 

YOUNG SHOWMEN TAKE OVER—The Dallas Theatre has been taken over in 

the city of that name by L. N. Crim jr, and Bob Hartprovp, youthful owners of the 

Cowtown Drivc-In in Fort Worth. A number of guests attended the offieial opening 

party given by Crim and Hartgrove to initiate their ownership of the house. Shown 

left to right are L. N. Crim jr., Jack Houlihan, Republic branch manager; Hartgrove 

and W. A. Lewis, manager of the Cowtown I)rivc-In. 

SAN ANTONIO 

nntonio Bravo and Augustin Insunza, 

Mexican film and stage stars, were in 

town putting in a stock company engagement 

at the Zaragosa. Following the week's 

. . Special western films were 

stand at the west side house, they left for 

New York . newsreel cameramen 

were in town shooting footage on women mechanics 

working on huge bombers at Kelly 

air force base . 

shown at nine theatres with proceeds going 

to the children's ward at Robert B. Green 

hospital. Sponsored by the Blue Bird circle 

of a local Methodist church, the matinees 

were held at the Broadway, Olmos, Woodlawn, 

Josephine, Harlandale, Sunset, Hi-Ho, Highland 

and Guadalupe theatres. 

. . . 

Fernando Obledo, chief booker at the 

Azteca Films exchange here is the father of 

a baby boy . . . Buying and booking Mexican 

product at the local film offices were Ed 

Brady of the Palace, San Benito, and Frank 

Fletcher, managing the Ritz, Houston 

Eddie Gray Edwards, chief of Clasa-Mohme's 

booking department here, said the company's 

Thanksgiving release was "Serenata en 

Acapulco." 

Morgan Hudgins, MGM studio representative, 

Los Angeles was in town conferring 

with local Interstate officials . . . Ernest Julius 

Biencourt jr., 2-year-oId son of the head of 

lATSE here, died. 

Paramount Manager Tags 

Along With Rev. Alexander 

OKLAHOMA CITY—C. 

H. "Buck" Weaver. 

Paramount branch manager, finds this afterdinner 

speaking a pretty interesting, but 

wearying activity. He accompanied the Rev. 

W. H. "Bill" Alexander, pastor of the First 

Christian church here, on a .swing of his 

speaking circuit. They left on Sunday by 

chartered plane and returned the following 

Friday. 

Both men are interested in the Hi-Park 

Drive-In at San Antonio, Tex., and Weaver 

is a deacon in Alexander's church. 

They flew to New Orleans, where there was 

a talk before 1,000 persons; to Miami Beach, 

where there was a speech before 4,000; Birmingham, 

another 1,000 people; St. Louis, 

where Alexander addressed 2.000; Indianapolis, 

where he talked to 500 attending the 

Indiana Allied Theatre Owners convention; 

New York City, where Alexander was a 

speaker for the Motion Picture Pioneers meeting 

in the Waldorf Astoria hotel. 

W. T. Joiner, Ray Emmons 

Buy Ulex in Port Acres 

PORT ARTHUR, TEX.—After being closed 

almost two months, the Ulex Theatre in Port 

Acres has been reopened by W. T. Joiner and 

Ray Emmons, both longtime Port Arthur 

residents, who purchased the theatre from 

D. E. Manning, Port Acres realtor. 

Joiner said that the Ulex would be redecorated. 

He told the townspeople they would 

do their best to make the Ulex a pleasant, 

comfortable theatre and felt that a new 

decor would be a step in accomplishing this 

end. He also said he and Emmons had booked 

far enough head to insure a steady supply 

of the best product on a second run pohcy. 

At present the house is on a four-change 

policy with former prices still in effect. 

SPÎZ. 

SpeciAL, 

.SERVICE GOj 

nSHVDESI. slirgaiicisco||aiif. 

BUFFALO COOLING EQUIPMENT 

lOth Fl., 2nd Unit. Santa Fe Bldg. BUFFALO ENGINEERING CO., INC. Dallas. Tex. 

BOXOFFICE : 

: December 

1, 1951 

73

Houston Tent Backs 

Xmas Eiddy Parties 

HOUSTON—Thousands of children will receive 

toys, candy and other goodies, talk with 

Santa Claus, and in general have the time of 

their young lives as special guests at four 

giant annual children's Christmas parties to 

be given this year by the Variety Club and 

Henke & Pillot. Inc. 

Any child from 3 to 12 years old of any 

race or creed may have a ticket to the big 

event merely by writing a letter to Santa 

Claus and asking for it. 

The letter must give the child's name, address, 

age and reason for wanting to attend 

the party, and it may be dropped in the 

special Santa Claus mailbox at any Henke & 

Pillot store before December 15. No stamp is 

necessary, and free tickets will be sent to all 

children who write, or have their parents 

write their letters to Santa, making sure to 

give a return address. 

The parties will be held on Saturday, December 

22, at Houston, Beaumont and Port 

Arthur, and on Monday, December 24, at 

Galveston. 

FILMACKc^/m^TRAILERS 

' 

ARE THE BEST^ ' 

FROM ANY 

ANGLE !- 

CHICAGO, 1327 S. Wabask^NEW YORK, 630 Ninth Av. 

AT DINNER FOR SALESMEN—Salesmen of all the Texas film exchanges received 

the commendations of industry leaders at a recent testimonial dinner staged for | 

them by Texas COMPO Showmen at Dallas. Snapped at one of the tables are, 

left to right: Wallace Walthall, veteran showman; Lynn Stocker, district manager for ! 

Theatre Enterprises; William O'Donnell, division manager for the Interstate circuit, 

and Ben Cammack, RKO district manager. 

Set as Christmas Attraction 

Warner Bros.' "I'll See You in My Dreams" 

has been set as the Christmas attraction for 

New York's Radio City Music Hall. 

Westerns-Features-Serials 

Tower Pictures Co. 

HAROLD SCHWARZ 

302 S. Harwood St. Dallas I, Texas 

Phone RA-7736 

Three New Members 

For Variety Tent 17 

DALLAS—Variety Tent 17 board of directors 

meeting here recently approved new 

members Joseph J. Hahn of Phil Isley Theatres. 

Dallas; John David Rutledge of the 

Katz Agency, Dallas, and Odls L. "Pop" Echols 

of radio station KSEL, Lubbock. 

The directors, elected at the recent Variety 

meeting, include Samuel B. Landrum 

Delegates to the national convention are 

C. A. "Pappy" Dolsen and Don Douglas, with 

alternates Wallace Walthall and Charles E. 

Darden. 

WAREHOUSES 

EQUIPMENT DISPLAY SALES 

HOUSTON — 1209 Commerce at DARDEN WAREHOUSE. 1209 Commerce at San J,icinto Street 

BEAUMONT-Iso 

OKLAHOMA THEATRE SUPPLY 

Main CO., 

Street 

629 West Grand, Oklalwma City, Okla. 

LUBBOCK — 1405 Avenue A SOUTHEASTERN THEATRE EQUIPMENT CO., 214 S. Liberty. New Orleans, La. 

• MACHINE FOLD 

• ROLL, SINGLE-DUPLEX 

• RESERVED SEAT 

• BOOK STRIP 

THEATER GIFT COUPON BOOKS 

SEASON PASSES — ONE TIME COMPS. 

of Jefferson Amusement Co.; J. S. Caffo of 

Theatre Enterprises; Matt Dowling, Theatre 

Enterprises; Kendall Way, Interstate Theatres; 

Phil Isley, Isley Theatres, and Charles 

E. Darden of Charles E. Darden & Co. 

A-G-GU-RAC-Y- 

SOUTHWEST TICKET & COUPON CO. 

3110 CORINTH ST. • Harwood 7185 • DALLAS.TEX. 

74 BOXOFTICE :: December 1, 1951

I 

100 

I three-sheet 

i 

I the 

' 

Louis, 

1 

stations, 

I 

tan 

I 

of 

I 

i 

1 

The 

I 

90 

' 

1 

tre 

u 

St. Louis 'Vadis' Shifts 

To Continuous Run 

ST. LOUIS—The premiere of "Quo Vadis" 

nl Loew's State Theatre Tuesday night last 

week (20) proved a success from every angle. 

A capacity audience of 3,200 included public 

officials, busine.ss and professional leaders, 

educators and clergymen, many exhibitors and 

others from the film industry and, of course, 

men and women from all parts of the city 

and county and the surrounding area in 

Missouri and Illinois. 

A sound truck and a large army spotlight 

shining constantly on the front of the theatre. 

a number of young men clad in Roman soldier 

garb in the lobby and other trappings, 

etc.. gave the proper atmosphere to the opening. 

Critics of the daily newspapers. Herb 

Monk of the Globe-Democrat and Myles 

Standish of the Post-Dispatch, reported the 

picture really rates the "supercolossal" 

classification. 

Great public response was indicated by the 

long lines that formed in front of the theasince 

the premiere, and the switch in the 

! theatre's plans regarding the sale of reserved 

I seats. In order to get in an extra show 

nightly, the reserve .seat policy was abandoned 

on Sunday (25) in favor of a continuous 

showing arrangement, with no seats reserved. 

doors open daily at 9:45 a. m. Prices are 

cents until 5 p. m. during the week and 

until 1 p. m. then $1.10 to 5 p. m. on Sundays 

and $1.50 thereafter. Children's tickets are 

50 cents. 

Russell A. Bovim. manager of the theatre, 

said that the dropping of the reserved-seat 

plan was "due to the demand of our patrons 

for an early evening performance." 

Oscar A. Doob, general theatre executive 

Loew's. Inc., came in from New York for 

opening. 

The advertising and publicity campaign arj 

j 

ranged by M. J. Cullen, Loew's division man- 

ager. and Bovim was very extensive. It included 

advertisements in several hundred 

j 

newspapers within a 150-mile radius of St. 

spot announcements on many radio 

extra-large space in the metropolipapers, 

window displays, etc. Ticket-sale 

ties were made with 200 railroad and 300 

Greyhound bus local agents in cities within 

a 150-mile radius. Billboard spots included 

24-sheets, 200 each of six-sheets and 

snipes. Advertising signs were 

carried on 500 newsstands and trucks. 

Kansas, 111., 

loy Closed 

KANSAS. ILL.—The Joy Theatre, a 200- 

seater, is dark again and its future appears 

indefinite. Walter Davis of Paris. 111., had 

been operating it under a rental arrangement 

for some two months, but he decided to 

close it after the show that night of November 

12. Prior to Davis taking over in September 

the theatre had been dark from July 27. 

when Delbert "Doc" Bell gave up his lease. 

The theatre building is still owned by M. W. 

Jessup of Brazil, Ind. 

Weather Shifts Bookings 

VEVAY. IND.—The unexpected arrival of 

winter closed the Alps Drive-In and shows 

scheduled for it in mid-November were moved 

to the Hoosier Theatre in Vevay. where the 

winter season has opened. 

Flexible Policy Is 

Urged 

On Upped-Price Pictures 

MILWAUKEE—A problem which will 

come 

in for searching analysis at the annual convention 

here of the 

Allied Independent 

Theatre Owners of 

Wisconsin December 

10-12 is the proper 

.selling by the distributors 

of high-budget or 

special attractions. 

Ben Marcus, president 

of Wisconsin ITO, 

in a special preconvention 

bulletin to members, 

emphasized that 

a rigid policy of a flat 

Ben Marcus 

admission hike for 

these special productions can do the industry 

more harm than good in the smaller situations. 

"Distributors as well as exhibitors must 

approach this problem in a very realistic 

manner." he said. "No film company should 

enact a rigid policy which cannot be 

adjusted where economic csnditions warrant." 

"Most distributor sales managers have expressed 

themselves as sympathetic to a flexible 

sales policy. However, we are convinced 

that the presidents and policy makers of the 

Herman Black Elected 

Colosseum President 

INDIANAPOLIS—The local Colosseum of 

Motion Picture Salesmen elected the following 

officers for 1952: Herman Black, president: 

Jack Meadow, vice-president; Clayton Bond, 

secretary, and Herman Hallberg, treasurer. 

Kenneth Dotterer was elected public relations 

officer, a newly created office. 

lames Ackron Helms Riley 

GREENFIELD. IND.—James Ackron has 

succeeded C. P. Jack.son as manager of the 

Riley Theatre. Ackron is formerly of Bellefonte, 

Ohio, and has managed theatres in 

Anderson, Fort Wayne and several other Indiana 

cities. Jackson was an employe at the 

Indiana state highway garage and is continuing 

in that capacity. 

Reopen Galesburg House 

GALESBURG. ILL.—Closed since last June, 

the Colonial Theatre at 56-58 Prairie St. has 

been reopened by Milton Brown, city manager 

of the Great Lakes Theatres. Ted Kussman 

will resume his position as manager of 

the house. Brown announced. Matinees will 

be weekends only. 

Renovate Arthur, 111., 

House 

ARTHUR, ILL.—The LaMar Theatre, owned 

and operated by William H. Hoffman, reopened 

Saturday (17) after being closed for 

redecoration. New seats were installed and 

there were other added comforts. 

Have you signed the 1951 'Christmas Solute' to 

your Variety Clubs-Will Rogers Memoriol hospltol? 

distributing companies have not yet .seen fit 

to adopt such a policy by putting It Into effect 

on a nationwide basts. 

"The question of proper merchandising of 

special attractions by the dtstributors merits 

the consideration of every exhibitor. Any 

plan adopted, however, mu.st give the small 

town exhibitors a chance to handle the special 

attraction In a sound economic manner. 

The large city first run theatre can add 

10 to 25 cents to its regular admLs-slon to 

reach a charge of SI.20 or SI.50 for a .special 

attraction, but to reach the same figures a 

small town exhibitor must increa.se his regular 

admi.ssion from 40 to 50 per cent. 

"The net result of such a dra.stic increase 

in a small town often is a lot of antagonism 

from the patrons, and very bad public relations 

for the entire industry. 

"Therefore, it behooves every distributor 

and exhibitor to study very carefully whether 

such terrific increases in a small town do 

the industry more harm than good. They 

must approach the problem of increasedprice 

attractions in a more intelligent manner 

in the future. 

"At the forthcoming convention of Allied 

Independent Theatre Owners of Wisconsin 

the subject will have a high priority." 

St. Louis Enabling Bill 

Is Defeated in House 

ST. LOUIS—The danger of various new 

municipal taxes, including some directly affecting 

motion picture theatres and other 

amusement places in St. Louis looms large because 

of the defeat in the Missouri house of 

representatives at Jefferson City November 20 

of an enabling act to permit the city of St. 

Louis again to impose and collect a municipal 

earnings tax. 

The measure obtained 73 favorable votes to 

only 46 against but fell five short of the 

constitutional majority of 78 required for 

passage. Two of the representatives who 

voted against the bill did so in order to be 

in a position to ask for reconsideration of 

the measure at some future date. The house 

has been in a Thanksgiving holiday recess 

and doesn't meet again until December 4. 

The enabling act. as voted on, would authorize 

the city to impose a tax of up to 1 per 

cent on the wages and salaries of persons 

residing and or employed in St. Louis, and 

on the earnings of business concerns. The 

maximum amount this tax could raise has 

been placed at $15,000,000 annually. During 

1947 and 1948 and up to July 1. 1949. the city 

had an earnings tax ordinance of 'i of 1 

per cent. 

Prodigal Back to Palatine 

PALATINE. ILL.—Tom Norman is back 

here after spending the summer managing 

a drive-in near Traverse City. Mich., and 

-aid he "certainly appreciates Palatine." Norman 

said he has received an attractive offer 

for next year but does not know if he wants 

to be that far away from his friends here. 

BOXOFTICE : 

: December 

1, 1951 

75

. . Herman 

. . The 

. . National 

. . Mrs. 

. . Edna 

' 

!f 

EXHIBITOR QUARTET — Helping entertain 

guests at the banquet winding up 

the recent annual convention of the 

MPTO of the St. Louis area was an exhibitor 

quartet (adjacent photo) composed 

of Tom Edwards jr. of Farmington, Mo.; 

Paul Krueger, St. Louis; Frank Plumlee, 

Farmington, and William T. Powell, St. 

Louis, with appropriate lyrics by Tom Edwards 

ST. They sang "Take Me Out to the 

Ball Game" prior to the talk by Bill Veeck, 

owner of the St. Louis Browns. 

Seen in the photos above are, left to 

right: Tom Williamson, RKO; Dean Davis, 

West Plains, and Mr. and Mrs. Frank 

Plumlee, Farmington; Caesar Baruch, St. 

Xmas Program Set 

HIGHLAND, ILL—The Christmas holiday 

program for Highland, being sponsored by 

the Veterans of Foreign Wars, will include 

four free shows at the Lory Theatre, a unit 

of the Kerasotes Bros, circuit, on the four 

Saturdays preceding Christmas. There also 

will be visits by Santa Claus to local schools 

and business districts, the Lory Theatre and 

the distribution of candy. Originally the 

Chamber of Commerce planned to participate 

in the sponsorship, but the VFW members 

voted to assume all of the expenses in appreciation 

of the financial aid given by the 

public and businessmen to the organization 

after a fire destroyed their club last year. 

THE^yfRE EQUIPMENT 

442 NORTH ILLINOIS STREET 

INDIANAPOLIS 

INDIANA 

"Everything for the Theatre" 

Cmi BEST fAOMIE OF 

TUl^TiPE EMeRflLtAED 

"SKID ROW 

W/Rf - WR/rf fHOHi 

- 

MACK ENTERPRISES 

Centralia, III. 

Box 445 Phone 3544 

James; Margaret Sullivan, the actress, and 

Mr. and Mr& Bill Wandell, Lebanon. 

Sosna Partners' Appeal 

Is Rejected by U.S. Court 

ST. LOUIS—The U.S. court of appeals here 

has dismissed the petition of Louis M. Sosna, 

Sam L. Sosna and S. Sanvic Sosna, partners, 

for a writ of mandamus to compel U.S. district 

judge George H. Moore here to enter orders 

rejecting the amended answers and counterclaims 

of Loew's, Inc., Warner Bros., RKO, 

20th-Fox, Paramount, Columbia, Universal 

and United Artists Co. in the Sosna's $450,000 

antitrust damage suit against the Frisina 

Amusement Co. et al., pending in the district 

court before Judge Moore. 

The action of Judges Sanborn, Woodrough 

and Johnson of the court of appeals means 

that the counterclaims of the eight film distribution 

companies must be heard and considered 

in the trial of the damage suit that 

grew out of the operation of the Sosna Theatre 

in Mexico, Mo., prior to its sale to the 

Frisina Amusement Co. of Springfield, 111. 

The counterclaims are based on additional 

rentals and damages allegedly due the film 

companies from the Sosnas in connection 

with their operation of the Sosna in Mexico 

and the Sosna at Moberly for periods ranging 

as far back as 1935. 

In seeking the mandamus writ the Sosnas 

contended the counterclaims had no proper 

place in the antitrust suit, that the consideration 

of 25 different issues for various periods 

and involving only some of the principal 

could only confuse the jurors in the case. 

Small Crowd Sees First 

Theatre TV in Indiana 

HAMMOND, IND.—A small crowd of some 

600 adults turned out recently for the grand 

opening of Indiana's first television theatre 

here. The Paramount made its TV debut 

with the Illinois-Michigan game and. despite 

the bad weather, the .screen image and sound 

both came through well. 

Realart of St. Louis 

Is Successor to SG 

ST. LOUIS—Realart Pictures of £' 

Louis, Inc., has been organized by Georj 

Phillips 

and Herman Gorelick as a successi 

to Screen Guild Productions of St. Loui 

Realart retains the old Screen Guild quarte: 

at 3326 Olive St. 

Tlie formation of Realart followed the sa 

by Phillips and Gorelick to Lippert Picturi 

of the fi'anchise rights on Lippert and Scree 

Guild product they have held in this are 

for the last five years. 

Lippert is opening an office at 3216 01i\ 

in the old Eagle Lion Classics quarters Ds 

cember 3. 

Realart will distribute Realart product an 

pictures from Favorite Films Corp.. Jac 

Broder Productions, 12 Zane Grey reissues, 

number of Lum and Abner reissues and fror 

12 to 15 pictures to be produced each yea 

by Mutual Productions, a new company. 

INDIANAPOLIS 

lyTonogram week has been announced by of 

fice manager Don MacLeod for Febru 

ary 10-16. It is the purpose of the week t 

place a Monogram picture on every screei 

in Indiana . Morgan, Republi 

salesman, is suffering with laryngitis, but ii 

active despite his handicap on talking . . 1 

Dorothy Robison, booker at Republic, re 

signed to join Paramount . . . The employe 

at RKO will celebrate Christmas with a din 

ner at the Variety Club December 17. 

. . . 

Mrs. Kenneth Maurice of the Wabash a 

Clinton is vacationing in Florida for 30 day: 

The Princess at Cayuga, operated b\ 

H. W. Boyd, has installed new sound equipment 

and a new screen Marthf 

Bennett, wife of 

. 

Don Bennett of the Rex a' 

Terre Haute, is visiting her parents in Florida 

Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Brant of thf 

. . . Vii-ginia, Terre Taute, visited their daughter 

a student at DePauw university at Greencastle 

Mr. and Mrs. George Landis 

. . . 

Amusement Enterprises, also visited DePauw 

univei'sity, to see their daughter, also a 

student there. 

^»\ 

The Linton Drive-In at Linton installed 

Peerless Magnarc lamps and Strong 85-A! 

The Ritz at Richmond, oper-. 

rectifiers . . . 

ated by the R. L. Hudson circuit, has a new 

Walker screen . Vonderschmitt Theatres 

installed a Walker plastic screen at the 

Vanity, Crawfordsville . Theatre 

Supply Co. is installing a Videofilm TV system 

in the Palace at Gary. 

j i 

December 18 has been set by employes of 

20th-Fox for a Christmas party at the Indianapolis 

Variety Club . . . Ellen Emmel, 

stenographer at 20th-Fox, is on the sickjl 

O'Deema Shain has returned to herj 

list . . . 

post at 20th-Fox after illness . . . Donnaj 

Elliott, who relieved her, now is in the book-l 

ing and billing department . . . Exhibitors} 

seen on Filmrow—A. Thompson. Park Ritz, 1 

North Vernon; Harry Douglas, Dana. Dana: f 

Oscar Fine, Fine circuit, Evansville; Earlf 

Payne, Switow Sons, Louisville, Ky. 

Donna Elliott replaces O'Deema Shain at 

the switchboard at 20th-Pox . Brown 

has joined the booking department, succeeding 

Vivian Smith. 


. . Larry 

. . Leo 

. . 

'Streetcar' in Front 

Of Chicago Spurt 

CHICAGO—Motion picture grosses spurted 

healthily last week, with the eight top attractions 

rating 135, 125, 125. 125, 120, 115. 

110 and 110. Respectively, they were "Streetcar," 

"When Worlds Collide," "American in 

Paris." "Hills of Ireland," "Meet Me After the 

Show." "Lavender Hill Mob," "Golden Girl' 

and "Love Nest." Stage shows accompanied 

"Golden Girl" and "Meet Me After the 

Show," two of the three 20th-Fox first runs 

in the Loop. Gordon MacRae heading the 

"in person" acts at the Oriental and Lauritz 

Melchior starring in the stager at the Chicago. 

"An American in Paris" was sparked by 

raves from all newspaper critics and the terrific 

draw of "Streetcar" was extending into 

its second week. Among the other attractions, 

"The River" was doing only fair in 

a fifth week, but "Blue Veil" ended a run of 

four good weeks to make way for "Anne of 

the Indies," which bowed in with good business 

at midweek. Weather was clear and 

cold and there were big parades and pre- 

Christmas festivities downtown. 

(Average Is lOQ) 

Chicago—Meet Me Alter the Show (20th-Fox), 

plus stage show 120 

Grand—A Streelcor Named Desire (WB); This Is 

Korea (Rep) -135 

Oriental—Golden Girl (20th-Fox), plus stage show. .110 

(Para); The Magic 

Roosevelt—When Worlds Collide 

Carpet (Col) 125 

Selwyn—The River (UA), 4th wk Fair 

State-Lake An American in Paris (MGM) 125 

Surt—The Lavender Hill Mob (U-I) 115 

United Artists Painting the Clouds With Sunshine 

(WB); Tomorrow Is Another Day (WB) 100 

Woods—The Blue Veil (RKO), 4th wk 100 

World Playhouse—Hills ot Ireland (Dugan) 125 

Ziegfeld—Love Nest (20th-Fox) 110 

Indianapolis First Runs 

Scrape Bottom of Barrel 

INDIANAPOLIS—Grosses at first runs 

were off last week as business scraped bottom, 

and competition from the Hollywood Ice 

Follies at the Coliseum didn't help matters. 

Circle—Thunder on the Hill (U-I); You Never 

Can Tell (U-1) 80 

Indiana— Golden Girl (20lh-Fox) 80 

Keith's—The Desert Fox (20th-Fox); Street Bandits 

(Rep), 2nd wk 80 

Loew's An American in Paris (MGM), 4 days of 

3rd wk 52 

Lyric Crosswinds (Para) 60 

Jerry Haugk Transferred; 

Margaret Cummings In 

DANVILLE, IND.—Jerry Haugk, manager 

of the Royal Theatre, resigned last month 

to accept a similar position with the Irving 

Theatre on East Washington street in Indianapolis. 

WiUiam Rosenthal of Indianapolis 

is the lessee of both the Royal here 

and the Irving there. 

Miss Margaret Cummings took Haugk's 

place as manager here in mid-November. 

ST . 

LOUIS 

JJoracc McMahun ha.s been here vlsllliiK 

members of the police department, plugging 

"Detective Story."' He rated a fine 

writeup in Bob Goddard's In Our Town 

column in the Globe-Democrat . Boy- 

Ian, who played the organ at the Prince.ss 

Theatre in Beardstown, 111., when that hou.se 

featured musical accompaniment for silent 

pictures, recently visited relatives and friends 

there. He now resides in Clinton, Mo. . 

Wally Helm, former St. Louislan, now exploiteer 

out of Chicago, has been here beating 

the drums for "The Well." Prior to that he 

had the assignment for "The River.", 

. 

Oscar L. Turner jr. of Harrlsburg, 111., returned 

from a hunting trip on which he 

bagged a deer Spalding of Flora, 

. . Exhibitors 

111., was back from a vacation . 

seen along Filmrow recently included Keith 

Coleman, Mount Carmel; Bob John.son, Fairfield; 

Herman Tanner. Vandalia; Joe Goldfarb. 

Alton: Tilden Dickson, Crystal City; 

Eddie Clark, Mattoon; Caesar Berutt, Rolla, 

operating theatres in Lebanon and Sullivan; 

John W. Hayton, Carterville; Robert EUery. 

manager. Gem City Drive-In, Quincy: Hot 

Gilliam, Arena, Paducah, Ky.; Ed Fellis. 

Hillsboro; Warren V. Snider. Dixon: Marc 

Steinberg, East Alton; A. Briggs. Gerald, and 

Charley Beninati, Carlyle . . . Harry Hoff of 

the staff of National Theatre Supply suffered 

a fainting spell while attending the 

premiere of "Quo Vadis" at Loew's State and 

was taken to his home. 

Harry C. Arthur, president and general 

manager of Fanchon & Marco, has returned 

to the west coast and plans to come back to 

St. Louis about Christmas. His brother Eddie, 

president of St. Louis Amusement Co., is due 

back from the coast about December 15 . . . 

Carson Rodgers, president and ganeral manager, 

Rodgers Theatres, Cairo, made a weekend 

hunting trip. 

Katherine Mary, born to Mr. and Mrs. 

George Phillips at St. John's hospital, is the 

, . 

first child ol the co-owner aiiti manager ol 

Realart of St. Louis. She l.s the granddaughter 

of Andy Deltz, general manager of Cooperative 

Theatres . Another baby born at 

Tucson. Ariz., Pamella Pollette, daughter of 

Mr. and Mrs Paul Pollette, made Ray G. 

Colvln. executive director of the Theatre 

Ekjulpment Dealers Ass'n, a great-grandfather. 

Mrs. Pollette Ls the former Nancy McCaleb. 

granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Colvln. 

St. Louis department store sales the week 

ending on November 17 ran 6 per cent ahead 

of the corresponding period of 1950 on a 

dollar volume basis, the Federal Reserve bank 

of St. Louis reports. The eighth re.serve dis- 

. . 

trict as a whole also recorded a gain of 6 

per cent. The previous week, due to 

Janet 

bad 

weather, sales were off 6 per cent . 

Elizabeth Schubert, daughter of Mr. and 

Mrs. Harry George Schubert, became the 

bride of Pfc. Clarence Milton Turley Jr. of 

the army, in a marriage ceremony performed 

at St. Michael Episcopal church. The groom's 

father, local office building operator and 

real estate man, is a partner of Charles and 

George Skouras in the ownership of the Amba.ssador 

and Missouri office and theatre 

buildings. 

Announcing 

Thehtre EquipmEHT Co. 

micHiGRn 

ADAMS 8107 

,"000000000-=-: 

EVERYTHING FOR THE THEATRE 

Personalized Service 

SL Louis Theatre Supply Company 

Arch Hosier 

3310 Olive Street, St. Louis 3. Mo. 

Telephone JEfferson 7974 

REALART PICTURES of ST. LOUIS, INC. 

SCREEN GUILD 

SUCCESSORS TO 

PRODUCTIONS 

DISTRIBUTORS OF 

REALART PICTURES—JACK BRODER 

PRODUCTIONS—FAVORITE FILMS 

MUTUAL PRODUCTIONS—LUM & ABNERS 

REISSUES AND SERIALS 

Realart 

Phone: Jefferson 6397 

Pictures of St. Louis^ Inc. 

George Phillips, Owners and Managers 

3326 0live, St. Louis3, Mo. 

Herman Gorelick 

BOXOFHCE December 1, 1951 

77

. . Harold 

. . Groll 

CHICAGO 

. . . The 

n terrific downpour of rain all day Thanksgiving 

clipped grosses at all Loop houses. 

However thousands oi persons jammed the 

Loop over the weekend and all first run 

houses did very big on Saturday and Sunday 

. . . Harry Dugan's all-color travel film of 

Ireland. "Hills of Ireland, " was held over for 

a third week at World Playhouse 

Chicago Theatre announced a new morning 

admission price, 46 cents until 1 p. m. . . . 

Harold Zeltner, MGM salesman for 16 years, 

five at the local exchange, has been transferred 

to the New York office . . . Phil dclomon, 

manager of B&K's Luna, has retired from 

show business after 17 years as manager of 

various Chicago houses. 

Federal Judge Michael Igoe scheduled a 

hearing on request for an extended first Chicago 

run of Samuel Goldwyn's "I Want You" 

for December 29. Under the Jackson Park 

decree, first run films cannot be shown for 

more than two weeks in Balaban & Katz or 

RKO theatres without special permission 

Warners circuit starts a 

from the court . . . 

showmanship contest December 1 which runs 

throughout the year. Awards will be given 

for best suggestions to increase business and 

their practical use. Increased concession sales 

will be another point that will be stressed 

by the management. 

James Coston, operating Coston Theatres, 

reports an order has been placed for RCA 

equipment for early delivery at the Jeffrey 

Theatre, and a complete RCA-TV job has 

been installed in the Riverside at Milwaukee 

and another is going into the Lido at Maywood 

. Costello, managing director 

of the Oriental Theatre, has returned from 

a few weeks sojourn at his ranch in Wyoming. 

Sol Cohen, salesman with Dezel, Inc., for 

several years has joined the Realart exchange 

sales department . . . Sammy Clark, veteran 

rmius THAT YOU wiu Mtvtn raaccr 

BRAND NEW • TERRIFIC 

Wire, write, phone 

MACK 

ENTERPRISES 

Stote Tlieatre Building Centrolio, Illinois 

press agent for Warner Bros., is the latest 

Chicagoan to return to town as the result of 

Danny Thomas' insistence his motion picture 

"I'll See You in My Dreams" be premiered 

here December 27. The film could easily become 

the only authentic Chicago epic to come 

from Hollywood. It's the story of Gus Kahn, 

the song writer, and portrays actual persons 

who lived here during the city's Tin Pan 

Chicago Theatre operator 

Alley era . . . 

and song publisher Maurice Weiss and his 

wife have written "I Found a Rose," a sentimental 

ballad. 

The director of Joan Crawford's next motion 

picture was a weekend visitor. He's 

searching for sites here and in New York to 

be used in "Sudden Fear," which will be produced 

by ex-Chicagoan Joe Kaufman ... La 

Rabida Jackson Park sanitarium started its 

annual campaign for funds Thanksgiving day. 

Many Variety Club members are making contributions 

to this institution for the care of 

the cardiac child. 

Kramer Theatres, Inc., East St. Louis., has 

been organized by Bernard and Beatrice 

Kramer and Marvin Goldenharah . . . The 

George Flori advertising agency has taken 

over the advertising of the DeVry Corp. and 

the Deforest TV school . . . William F. Harris, 

B. J. Harris and William Rutherford have 

organized the Peoria, 111., Theatres Co., to 

operate theatres in downstate Illinois ... J. J. 

Arnsfield, advertising manager for Adler 

Silhouette Letter Co., and his wife returned 

from an extended European vacation. They 

visited their son Phillip who is attached to 

the U.S. air force in England. 

. . 

The Woodlawn, operated for several years 

by Gollos circuit but now closed, will be reopened 

soon by the building owners ... Sol 

Cohen, salesman with the Dezel exchange 

here several years, has resigned The St. 

Andrews Greek Orthodox 

. 

congregation still 

is dickering for the Granada Theatre . . . 

City theatre tax collections reached $97,115 

for October as against $105,432 for the same 

period last year. The tenth month take 

for the city is $945,769 as compared with 

$1,106,000 for like 1950 period. 

Al Lowenthal of the Famous Artists syndicate 

returned from new conferences . . . R. 

J. Cunningham has been appointed manager 

of film and radio operations for Chicago office 

of Foote, Cone & Belding, advertising 

agency 

. . . R. A. and A. D. Chipman are 

building an outdoor theatre opposite the airport 

near Ionia, Mich. They now have one 

at Big Rapids, Mich. . 

Theatre 

Supply Co., managed by Gus Anders, is planning 

to erect a new building on the near 

north side . . . L. J. Cass was named assistant 

manager of Warners' Cosmo. 

Partnership Legality 

Rules Out Tax Claim 

INDIANAPOLIS—An Indianapolis 

theatn' 

owner was denied a $51,000 tax rebate November 

13 by the circuit court of appeals ii 

Chicago, which upheld a federal court decision 

of Nov. 20, 1950. George Settos, 56 

owner of the Ohio Theatre at 40 West Ohio 

had appealed on the ground that his wif( 

Violet was a partner with him and Judge M 

Krapp in the operation and management o;, 

several motion picture theatres under the description 

of Settos & Krapp. 

The partnership also owns the Grove ir 

Beech Grove and is remodeling the old Howard 

in West Indianapolis for reopening b} 

January 1. 

Settos demanded a rebate of $51,323.65 paid 

from 1940 to 1943. The court of appeals ruled 

that although Settos agreed to turn ovei 

popcorn and candy vending profits to his wife 

for her assistance, it did not constitute a 

partnership since Judge Krapp, the other 

partner, was not a party to the agreement. 

City Delegation to Probe 

Film, Advertising 'Morals' 

ROCK ISLAND, ILL.—Operators of the 

Spencer Theatre here soon will have a delegation 

of city officials in the theatre audience 

to check on complaints concerning the 

moral standards of motion pictures shown 

there. The inspection call was ordered by the 

city council November 13 following a formal 

protest from the Rock Island Council of 

Parents and Teachers. 

The written protest against the shows and 

advertising of the theatre also included an 

expressed desire that "all such shows be 

abolished in Rock Island." 

Mayor Pi-o Tem E. W. Robinson jr. designated 

the council's inspection committee to 

make the theatre probe along with Police 

Chief claus C. Miller. The committee includes 

Alderman Adolph C. Cawi, chairman; 

Russell H. Mahin and George J. Scherer. 

Theatre Aids Hospital 

ANNA, ILL.—Net proceeds of a recent 

benefit picture program presented in the 

Rodgers Theatre, a unit of the Rodgers Theatres 

circuit of Cairo, 111., have been presented 

to the Union county-Anna city hospital 

women's auxiliary. The total was about $800. 

This sum, when added to other fimds in 

sight, clinches the auxiliary's second installment 

on its pledge of $1,000 for the hospital's 

operating fund. All proceeds of the benefit 

show, except a nominal rental for the film 

"El Paso." were turned over to the auxiliary 

by Manager Howard Henderson. 

>• 

i'Jt 

John Doerr, booking manager for the Alliance 

circuit, and Pete Panagos, promotion 

manager, returned from Seattle conferences 

with executives of the Midstates theatre circuit, 

a subsidiary of Alliance . . . Oscar Brotman 

has moved his law offices to 1 North 

LaSalle St, He also is manager of the Acaloe 

Theatre 

. . . Monmouth Theatre Co., Monmouth, 

111., has bought the Bijou Theatre 

m the same city from George A. Howard. 

The company also operates the Rivoli in Monmouth 

. . . Arthur Covilli has been appointed 

manager of Lyric in Gillespie, 111. 

FOR SALE - THEATRE CHAIN 

Group of 4 OE LUXE THEATRES in active city 

o» 25,000. SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. NO 

COMPETITION. Neor lorge permanent NAVAL 

RESERVE. Includes equipment, leaseholds and 

large equity in one theatre building. ESTI- 

MATED 1951 NET $75,000. Illness forces sale. 

$150,000 cash. Balance to be orronged. 

SAMUEL KLEIN 

1914 S. Vermont Avenue, Room 11 

Los Angeles 7, California 

» ' 

78 

BOXOFFICE : 

: December 1, 1961

I 

.80 

'«»e 

Hat 

""fti, 

j 

Upped-Price 

WESTERN PA. 

FRED A. 

Convention in Pittsburgh 

Joins Lineup Against 

Films 

r^H|H 

PITTSBURGH—Fred A. Beedle. Canonsburg, 

was re-elected president of the Allied 

MPTO of Western 

Pennsylvania at the 

^^^^1 

closing session of the 

^^^H 31st annual convention 

^^B here Tuesday (27). 

a)ORSE NATIONAL STAND 

Local Allied upheld national Allied's stand 

against increased admission prices for special 

pictures and against enforced sales policies 

on percentage pictures. The western Pennsylvania 

group went on record as favoring 

some type of all-inclusive arbitration, this to 

include clearance on prints, competitive bidding, 

rental, forcing, illegal increased admission 

prices, runs and all other problems. 

Allied wOl bring its messages to exhibitors via 

paid advertising in tradepapers. 

William H. Fox delivered the ways and 

means reports and suggestions of the committee. 

Other committee reports were made by 

Charles R. Blatt. Ray Woodard. Ben Amdur 

and Fred J. Herrington. 

It was Herrington who put into nomination 

the names of two proposed directors that 

ALLIED RENAMES 

BEEDLE AS PRESIDENT 

Registered at the Allied Convention 

PITTSBURGH—Registering for the 31.st 

annual convention of the Allied Motion Picture 

Theatre Owners of Western Pennsylvania 

here Monday and Tuesday (26. 27 » were: 

A P. Way 

Anthony Antonoplos 

Milton Antonoplos 

Ted Manos 

Mike Winograd 

William R. Wheat II 

Len T. Houghton 

Ray Allison jr. 

Ike Browarsky 

Lou Luiz 

Maurice Markley 

Mark Serventi 

Norman Chussett 

Harry Fleishman 

Norman Fleishman 

Sam Fleishman 

Bob Leiber 

loe Shapiro 

Fred ]. Herrington 

Ray Woodard 

Frank Panoplos 

Russ Wherle 

Max Arnold 

David Hadburg 

William Zedaker 

L. M. Conrad 

lames Bell 

Ben Rosenberg 

Theodore Grance 

r. Elmer Hasley 

Norman Mervis 

Ray Mervis 

lack Mervis 

Morris Roth 

Charles R. Blatt 

William Blatt jr. 

broke the slate of the nominating committee. 

Pittsburgh newspaper critics were the subject 

of much discussion in the first day's session, 

and two of the critics, those of the 

Post-Gazette and the Sun-Telegraph, were 

accorded full blasts by the exhibitors, who 

said they could not understand why producers 

and distributors allowed the '"newsboys" 

to destroy their product by flip and 

unkind statements, picture after picture and 

year after year. 

Kap Monahan. critic of the Press, was 

praised, however, for writing his film reviews 

as a spectator who enjoyed entertainment. 

Television came up for discussion, 

and exhibi*ôrs. 

who have been checking TV. said 

they noted that dramatic offerings on tele- 

Msion have improved, while vaudeville-advertising-vaudeville 

shows apparently have 

lost their appeal. 

Members attending the convention were 

greeted by David Hadburg, convention chairman, 

and Fred A. Beedle. president of the 

regional Allied unit. Monday afternoon 

speakers included Dan Terrell. MGM director 

of exploitation; Jerry Pickman, director of 

advertising and publicity for Paramount: 

Max Youngstein. UA vice-president, and Jack 

Jackson, National Screen Service. 

Beedle appointed the following committees: 

Resolutions—Ted Manos, chairman; Aaron 

Rosenzweig, Ben Rosenberg and Harry Handel. 

Constitutional amendments — William H. 

Fox. chairman: Norman Mervis, William Walker 

jr.. William Serrao and Theodore Grance. 

Nominations — Ray Woodard. chairman; 

Frank Panoplos. Morris Finkel, Earl Beckwith. 

William R. Wheat III. 

Elections—Ben Amdur. chairman; Ray 

Mervis. Norman Chussett, James H. Nash. 

Memorial—Charles R. Blatt. 

Ozoner as Wayne's First 

CORRY, PA. — Nearby Wayne township, 

which has never had movies at any time, 

recently approved Sunday movies by a vote 

of 88 to 49. Now an outdoor theatre is t-o 

be built as soon as materials can be obtained. 

Ffcjnk Lewis 

R«giB Burns 

Earl Beckwith 

William H Fox 

Charles Clipper 

George Heidrick 

Fred A Beedle 

Morns Finkel 

Mickey Steissinger 

Vincent McKay 

John D. Walsh 

John J. Moloney 

Ralph Pielow 

Max Shabason 

Eddie Moriarty 

Irving Jacobs 

Bob Clark 

Watty Watson 

Milton Brauman 

Perry Nathan 

Charles Truran jr. 

Jake Pulkowski 

David Kimelman 

Bob Caskey 

ManiiicT itautvnbvrg 

Ell Kaulman 

Fred Solomon 

David C Silverman 

Earl Sweigert 

lack Kahn 

Newt Wilhama 

Harry RuBsetl 

Irving Frankel 

Harrv Rees 

Abe Weiner 

Ike Sweeney 

A! Levy 

George Ball 

Max dhulgold 

Sam Milberg 

Lou Hanna 

lack ludd 

Bert M Stearn 

Andy Battiston 

|ud Spiegle 

Adolph Haas 

Raymond Showe 

Bob KlingensrTii'h 

Clark-Warner Deal 

Ensues Co-Op Split 

DETROIT — The decision of Cooperative 

Theatres of Michigan not to buy Warner 

Bros, product appears to be resulting in a 

break for several houses booked by Clark 

Theatre Service. Results of a deal negotiated 

by Joseph Baringhaus and Walter Collins 

of Warners with William Clark include: 

Several Detroit houses have become 

"neighborhood first runs" on Warner 

product, starting with "Jim Thorpe—All 

American" paired with Dezel Productions' 

"Seven Days to Noon": 

Upstate. Clark-serviced houses playing 

opposition to Co-op have taken over 

Warner films first run: the Huron at 

Ubly replaces the Bad Axe Theatre at 

Bad Axe and the Tecum.seh replaces the 

Clinton, both effective with "Painting 

the Clouds With Sunshine" on Christmas 

day: 

In Flint, the Lincoln and Star are 

expected to move into third run on Warner 

product, taking the runs surrendered 

by the Nortown and Rialto. 

Similar runs have been given in Clinton 

and Ubly by U-I. Republic. United Artists 

and Lippert. Clark said. 

Commenting on the omission of Warner 

product. James F. Sharkey, film buyer for 

Co-op. told BOXOFFICE that it was strictly 

a matter of price with Co-op members unwilling 

to buy at the prices offered, but they 

presumably would be ready to buy if prices 

were right. 

Warner Recount Fails 

BROOKVILLE. PA.—Warner Theatres financed 

without success a recount on the 

November Sunday movie referendum vote. 

There was a loss of one vote in favor of 

the measure, giving the opponents a 36-vote 

majority. It was the third time voters here 

rejected the proposal. 

BOXOFFICE December 1, 1951 ME 79

. . William 

. . 

. . . Park 

J 

' 

'. 

' 

PITTSBURGH 

lV/[r. and Mrs. Michael Manos, circuit exhibitors, 

were to depart late this week for 

Miami where they will spend the winter . 

Mr. and Mrs. Phil Brozier of Avella, exhibitors 

there for many years until several months 

ago, have announced the engagement of their 

daughter Marianne to Lieut. Thomas C. Mc- 

Dermott jr. of Dormont, now stationed at 

The completely remodeled 

Scott Field. 111. . . . 

and modernized Academy at Meadville 

opened with "An American in Paris" . . . 

Ralph H. Shadley, who has owned and operated 

the Academy since 1926, personally supervised 

the extensive remodeling and redecorating 

program. 

Celebrating its 15th anniversary Dipson's 

Bradford at Bradford featured a three-foot 

anniversary cake in the lobby and women 

were given golden yellow roses . . . Ben "Bud" 

Rosenberg, McKees Rocks exhibitor, was hospitalized 

recently because of a sinus condition, 

but he is much relieved and active again 

. . . George Wain, former head bookkeeper 

for Republic, who became the father of a 

second son last week, is scheduled for release 

from the navy within a few days . . . Herman 

Lorence, Erie theatre owner, forwarded a picture 

postcard from San Juan Capistrano mission, 

stating he is raceiving his BOXOFFICE 

every week. 

. . . George 

Jack Ellstrom resigned sales duties with 

Republic after only one week. He had withdrawn 

from the 20th-Fox payroll after many 

years to accept the Republic job . . . Shirley 

Lee Shapiro has been promoted by Republic 

from the bookkeeping to the booking department 

. Leibovitz of the Penn at 

Mount Pleasant is mourning the death sf his 

sister, the mother of Ed "Hip" Siegel, formerly 

of the local industry 

Wheeler, booker for the District Theatres circuit 

was a Filmrow visitor . . . 

Eleanor Manz, Screen Guild booker, vacationed. 

Warner circuit pulled remaining dates on 

"The Desert Fox" and will not exhibit the 

picture . . . "Snow White" stage show played 

single performances at the Memorial, Mc- 

Keesport, November 23; Warner, Erie, 24: 

Manos, Indiana, 27. 

Beaver Falls council, meeting last week, 

failed to amend its amusement tax ordinance. 

Morris Feldman, bowling center proprietor, 

appeared before the taxing body to inquire 

what had happened to council's promi.se of 

SAM FINEBERG 

TOM McCLEARY 

84 Van Braam Street 

PITTSBURGH 19, PA. ^^ 

Phone Express 1-0777 

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OUTSTANDING CRAFTSMANSHIP AND CNOINtCRINO '^ 


J

. . . Joe 

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. . 

. . 

'Streetcar' in Fast Run 

In Slow Detroit Week 

DETROIT—Business is just holding its own, 

local exhibitors report, with even the Thanksgiving 

holiday doing little to boost grosses. 

Neighborhood matinees were off generally, as 

well as the downtown houses. "Streetcar" in 

Its third week made the comparatively best 

showing. 


Adams—The Blue VeU (RKO), 3rd wk 70 

Cinema—Tales ol Hoffmann (Loperl), 10th wk 115 

Fox—Golden Girl (20lh-Fox), Love Neat 

(20th-Fox) 100 

Madison—A Streetcar Named Desire (WB), 

3rd wk 120 

Michigan—Two Tickets to Broadway (RKO); 

The Sea Hornet (Rep) 125 

Palms-State—When Worlds Collide (Para); As You 

Were (LP) 100 

United Artists-Too Young to Kiss (MGM); The 

Unknown Man (MGM) 105 

Gets Through 

'Streetcar' 

Heavy Cleveland Snow 

CLEVELAND—If the first run grosses look 

rather frightening this week, be it known at 

once that heavy weekend snowstorms that 

tied up traffic and pre-Thanksgiving film 

programs combined to register generally poor 

boxoffice results. Sunday business was practically 

a standstill as both walking and driving 

were hazardous. Half of the eight downtown 

attractions were holdovers. The new 

pictures got little public support but "Streetcar's" 

third week made the best showing 

with 110 and "Strange Door" rated 115 in 

a moveover second after a 100 per cent first 

week. 

Allen—A Streetcar Named Desire (WB), 3rd wk...llO 

Hippodrome Love Nest (20th-Fox), 4 days 75 

Lower Moll—Tales of Hoffmann (Lopert), 2nd wk...l20 

Palace—Let's Make It Legal (20th-Fox) 80 

Ohio—The Red Badge of Courage (MGM), 

2nd wk 100 

State—Submarine Command (Para) 80 

Slillman Crosswinds (Para) 80 

Tower—The Strange Door (U-1), 2nd d. t. wk 115 

'Racket' Only Attraction 

Over Par in Cincinnati 

CINCINNATI—It was the week before 

Thanksgiving and business was under recent 

weeks. "The Racket" was the only picture 

to pull over par, and the only one to remain 

in town, moving over to the Lyric. Next week's 

figures are expected to show a big improvement. 

Albee—The Racket (RKO) 120 

Capitol—Golden Girl (20th-Fox) 100 

Grand—On the Loose (RKO); Her First Romance 

(Col) 70 

Keith's—You Never Can Tell (U-1); The Lady 

From Texas (U-I) 65 

Lyric—Two Tickets to Broadway (RKO), 2nd 

d. t. wk 100 

Palace—The Tanks Are Coming (WB) 80 

'American in Paris' Tops 

Pittsburgh Third Week 

PITTSBURGH—On the grossing top for the 

third week was "An American in Paris" at 

Loew's Penn. Other offerings hit under the 

average mark. 

Fulton—The Golden Horde (U-1) 85 

Harris-No Highway in the Sky (20th-Fox) 85 

Penn—An American in Paris (MGM), 3rd wk 100 

Stanley—The Tanks Are Coming (WB) 90 

Warner—Warpath (Para) 85 

Distributors 

for the State of 

Michigan 

RINGOLD THEATRE EQUIPMENT CO. 

106 Michigan St., N. W., Grand Rapids 2, Mich. 

DETROIT 

paul Broder, circuit and producing company 

executive, is building a new home 

in north end Huntington Woods and hopes 

to move in lime for New year's . . . Wlspcr 

& Wetsman circuit has closed the Picca- 

. 

dilly, which runs in opposition to their own 

Fenkell Just down the street . . Dale Patrick, 

. 

head of Theatre Trucking, ha.s taken 

over the Jimax Service from Max Goldsmith 

Dro.ss, head of Detroit Popcorn 

Co., finds that .son Jimmie Stephen, 

now 16 months, keeps him well occupied at 

home evenings. 

Edward Robinson has moved back to his 

old stand at the E.squire Theatre in Gro.sse 

Pointe following a stand at the Rogers . 

William C. Guent-sche, E.squire manager with 

40 years of show business experience, views 

the present business low as just one phase 

of a familiar cycle. 

William Waddell headed north for hunting 

and James Gagnon went into northern 

Canada for moose . Parsons, 

operator at the Lakewood, went to northern 

Quebec and bagged a 2,100-pound moose. 

There was enough meat to feed the entire 

village where they made headquarters and 

it took five farmers to bring it out of the 

woods. 

Kenneth L. Ross, son of Charles C. Ross, 

formerly operator at the Campau in Hamtramck, 

is now a captain on the headquarters 

staff of a marine unit . L. "Sonny" 

Schwartz is doing good Saturday matinee 

business with a weekly yo-yo contest, Manager 

Arthur Tennant reports . . . Mike 

Basone, who was in charge of the Parkside 

bowling alley, has taken over the additional 

duties as manager of the theatre, following 

the tragic death of Lewis Stavale. 

Nightingale notes: Roy Thompson ran 

Eddie Waddell's 622 a close race until he 

hit a bad split in the last frame of the 

last game and dropped to 602 . . . Jack 

Colwell had the time of his life with the real 

heavyweight bowler . Thompson and 

family are eating turkey—he won on a toss 

from William Cadmus and took home the 

turkey Joe Wisper put up as a mystery prize 

Foresta, an oldtime member, Is 

out bowling again and getting acquainted 

Walter Rosmys is 

with the new fry . . . 

reported giving his tries for a high average 

this 

season. 

. . . B. G. Kranze of the 

. 

Jack Ferentz, former musicians union chief, 

was back here for a quick weekend trip 

from New York 

office staff was a visitor . . . 

Universal home 

Frank Strong has joined Victor Lopez Herrera 

as a partner in the Azteca, foreignlanguage 

house on Michigan avenue 

Gladys Archer, petite secretary to Del Delbridge, 

is now the bride of Les Payne, 

orchestra leader. 

Al Champagne, 20th-Fox booker, headed 

north for a week of hunting . . . Dillon M. 

Krepps, UA manager, celebrated with a family-size 

turkey . . . Norman Lougee, formerly 

of Pittsburgh, is now on the local Fox sales 

Thomas J. Kilbride has moved the 

staff . . . 

Pointe Concession Co., formerly in the Globe 

Theatre building, out to 14539 Charlevoix St. 

Walter P. Conlan has taken over as manager 

of the Globe. 

Now . . . RCA ready 


Find out how the RCA Aôdemizatlon 

Plan con help yoo get, 

now, the 

right 

equipment you need to 

give your house greater patron 

appeal and boost boxofFice. 

ERNIE 

0»t Ml story 

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BOXOFFICE :: December 1, 1951 81

. . . Also 

. . Warners' 

. . 

' 

Bellaire Premieres 

'Spy' With Elks Show 

BELLAIRE, OHIO—This city of 13.000 

population was selected for the world premiere 

of Bob Hope's "My Favorite Spy," held 

Tuesday (27 1. Anne Kuchinka won a national 

contest and the Pilot club, of which she is 

a member, helped promote the event. The 

Pilot club is a group of professional and business 

women who seek new industry and new 

business for their town. The program included 

a parade, a broadcast and a personal 

visit from Hope and some Paramount stars 

and starlets. 

WHEELING, W. VA.—Not satisfied with the 

list of celebrities coming to the Bob Hope 

premiere celebration in Bellaire, Ohio, Bellaire 

Elks added a novel twist to the parade 

feature. The Elks of the area came up with 

"doubles" for famous personages who met 

the Hope plane at Stifel field and escorted 

the real celebrities in a parade through 

Wheeling, on the way to Bellaire. The Elks 

"doubles" represented Clark Gable, Jimmy 

Durante, Paul Whiteman, Jack Benny, Bing 

Crosby, Harry James. Betty Grable, Hopalong 

Cassidy, Arthur Godfrey, Phil Baker, 

Luke Easter. Abbott and Costello. Santa 

Claus and noted Bellaire author Francis Wallace. 

Bellaire Board of Trade was among other 

groups cooperating in the exploitation which 

brought the initial showing of "My Favorite 

Spy" to the living room of Dr. and Mrs. 

M. J. Kuchinka on Belleview Heights, Bellaire, 

a privilege which they won in a contest. 

The attack on Bellaire and the Hope premiere 

celebration by Time magazine broke 

like a bombshell on indignant townspeople. 

A storm of special delivery letters from the 

irate citizens went into the mail last week 

addressed to the magazine. Time talked about 

"unsuspecting Bellaire" and called the Hope 

premiere the "corniest publicity gag of the 

year." 

Lorain Palace Damaged 

LORAIN, OHIO—A lighted cigaret in a second 

floor billiard parlor trash can was blamed 

for a $200,000 fire which hit the Palace Theatre 

building downtown recently. The building 

is owned by a holding company of Warner 

Bros., according to Bill Harwell, Palace 

manager. There was .some water damage to 

the lobby of the 1,700-seat theatre, threatened 

by the flames several times. However, except 

for the lobby, the house itself was not 

damaged. 

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82 

CLEVELAND Cleveland Crowds 

fJenry Greenbereer of the Community cir- 

. . . 

cuit was in Columbus to attend a meeting 

of the ITOO board of directors . . . Meyer 

Fine, president of Associated circuit, is again 

in circulation after nursing a strained back 

"The Emperor's Nightingale," distributed 

by Imperial Pictures, will be the Christmas 

attraction at the Lower Mall, where it is being 

exploited by a campaign involving the Cleveland 

public library and all of its 34 branches, 

the public schools from first grade through 

high schools with a special 35-cent student 

ticket, and window displays in all book stores 

and book counters. Two private girls' schools. 

Laurel and Hathaway Brown, will dismiss 

classes to permit students to see the picture. 

Belatedly the three members of the Cleveland 

Film Critics circle got around to naming 

their selections as the best pictures shown 

in downtown Cleveland during October. "A 

Streetcar Named Desire" (WB) won first 

place. "The River" was a close second. Other 

winners were, in order, named: "Bright Victory" 

(U-I), "Tony Draws a Horse" (Fine 

Arts), and "The Desert Fox" (20th-Fox). 

Leonard Greenberger has booked United 

Artists' "Christmas Carol" at his Pairmount 

starting December 5. Fairmount on the east 

side and the Yorktown on the west side of 

town are playing a day-and-date first run 

of "First Legion" . Uptown. 

Variety. Colony and Vogue, all neighborhood 

theatres, stepped up into a first run classification 

when they simultaneously played J. 

Arthur Rank's "Cage of Gold" also an Imperial 

release. 

Charlie Deardourff, retired after some 30 

years as promotion and exploitation representative 

for MGM, stopped the lobby show 

on "Quo Vadis" opening night. Everybody 

stopped to greet him and congratulate him on 

his first public appearance in several months 

. . . Eva Urdang, secretary of M. B. Horwitz, 

head of the Washington circuit, spent 

the holiday weekend with relatives in Lima 

. . . Bob Lefko, son of RKO District Manager 

Morris Lefko and a freshman at Syracuse 

univei'sity, was home for the holiday 

home for Thanksgiving were Lewis 

Horwitz, son of M. B. Horwitz, from Ohio 

State university and Marcia Miller, daughter 

of the Dick Millers and granddaughter of 

M. B. Horwitz, also an OSU student. 

Tony Martin flew in from New York for 

a single appearance on the stage of the 

Palace on Thanksgiving evening, where he 

was greeted by a full house and as many 

standees as the fire warden would allow. On 

the screen was his picture. "Two Tickets to 

Broadway." Martin's appearance knocked 

into a cocked hat RKO exploiteer Joe Longo's 

plans to spend Thanksgiving in Boston. 

. . The 

Movie Blood Donors day, December 17. Contact 

Sol Gordon for an appointment . 

Jack Sogg, MGM manager, has recovered 

from a quickie indisposition . . . Universal's 

Eddie Bergman joined the army of cold victims 

. . . Bill Elliott of Tampa, Fla.. where 

he managed the Springs Theatre, has joined 

Hallmark Productions as checker 

Hallmark show, which has been 

. 

such a hit 

at previous conventions, has been booked into 

Allied of Michigan convention at the Book- 

Cadillac hotel, Detroit, December 5. 

Line Up for 'Vadis' 

By ELSIE LOEB 

CLEVELAND—There's nothing the matte' 

with motion pictures that "Quo Vadis" won' 

cure. After watching a solid double line stand 

ing in the rain from Loew's Stillman Theatn 

and reaching two blocks west to East Nintl 

street, it was obvious that the glamor o 

the screen has not dimmed by comparisoi 

with other avenues of entertainment. An( 

contrary to the reports of many critics, no 

one single complaint was registered becausi 

of the advanced admission scale set at 9l 

cents until 5 o'clock and $1.50 thereafter. 

"We have completely sold out for ever; 

performance since our opening on Tuesday.' 

the local Loew office reported, and many paic 

the advanced admission price for standing' 

room only. The SRO attendance was noi. 

confined to Thanksgiving day but has continued 

every day to date. The tremendou; 

selling plan, both national and local, is paying 

dividends in Cleveland where the public 

was presold and where satisfied customer.' 

are spreading the word that "Quo Vadis' 

fulfills all advance claims as large-scale en-' 

tertainment. 

The "Quo Vadis" run at the Stillman contradicted 

pet exhibitor alibis that il) the 

public is done with movies; (2i that the public 

won't go downtown to see a movie because 

of parking costs and difficulties, and i3i that 

advanced admission scales keep patrons away 

from the theatre. 

BOWLING 

I 

DETROIT—The teams in the Nightingales 

league all switched places, with McArthmmoving 

up to the top by a slim margin. The 

standings: 


McArthur 20 12 Local 199 1 13 

Lorenzens 19 13 NTS ..._ 13 19 

Carbon 18 14 Altec ...13 19 

Amusement Sup...l7 15 Ernie Forbes 12 20 

| 

» i » 1 

Open letter to Larry Shafer, Local 160 

Bowling league, Cleveland. Dear Larry; All 

the match game bowlers of the Nightingales' 

are glad to know that youse are gunning 

for us. Keep your eyes on the scores, as 

they are getting bigger. A most successful 

season to you. Larry, and best regards to 

Tom Fitzgerald and Tom Smart. ( Signed i 

Floyd H. Akins, secretary. 

CLEVELAND — The Local 160 bowling 

league, meeting weekly is now in full stride 

with the Oliver Theatre Supply team in the 

; 

lead. Current standings, as reported by Secretary 

Larry Shafer 

Team Won Lost Points 

Oliver Theatre Supply 14 7 19 

National Theatre Supply. ...11 10 15 

Cloverleaf Drive-In 10 11 14 

Suprex Carbon 7 14 8 , 

Clarence Kramer's 552 and Bob Bullock's 

544 enabled the Cloverleaf team, captained 

by Kramer, to take two games from the 

Suprex Carbons, while the Olivers scattered 

the pins all over the alle.vs to establish 

a record 949 game and 2.549 for a three-game 

total, to take two from NTS. Earl Gehringer 

with 571. John Noonan with 539. Gordon Bullock 

with 512, all of Suprex, and Fred Lane, 

National Theatre Supply, with 511, led the 

.scoring. 


hit 

mssV

Theatre Business 

Rises in Hartford 

HARTFORD—Business is on the upswing 

again in tlie Hartford territory and exhibitors 

base the mounting boxoffice gross on topdrawer 

films, such as "The Blue Veil." "An 

American in Paris." "Detective Story" and 

"The Mob." 

Jim McCarthy, manager of the Warner 

Strand, said the 1.600-seat downtown first 

run broke the three-year house opening record, 

held by "Johnny Belinda." with "The 

Blue Veil." The drama did holdout business 

for days in spite of inclement weather 

which had patrons—predominantly women 

standing in line for hours. 

"It's like the old days of 'Johnny Belinda' 

and the top hits," commented McCarthy at 

the height of "The Blue Veil" run. 

"The Mob," Columbia release, did impressive 

business in a two-week engagement at 

the 1.200-seat E. M. Loew's, and Paramount's 

"Detective Story" opened well above average 

at the 1,800-seat Allyn. "An American in 

Paris" was the first film in weeks to go two 

weeks at the Palace. 

Theatremen attribute part of the rising 

trade to a stepped-up promotion on the part 

of every major distributor in the industry. 

"The Movietime U.S.A. campaign apparently 

is beginning to pay off some of the 

long-range public relations," said George E. 

Landers, Hartford division manager for E. M. 

Loew's. "We certainly never expected to see 

Movietime start paying off so soon and so 

handsomely." 

"Now we're hitting on all cylinders—or at 

least starting to hit—we shouldn't lose our 

grip, but should drive away with promotion, 

promotion and even more promotion." was 

the way Joe Giobbi. manager of the 800-seat 

Crown, independent downtown sub.sequent 

run commented. 

Si Fabian to Be Speaker 

At Annual lENE Dinner 

BOSTON—Si Fabian, president of Fabian 

Theatres, will be the principal speaker at the 

banquet of Independent Exhibitors, Inc., of 

New England December 4 at the Copley-Plaza 

hotel. At the afternoon business session, 

.speakers will be Trueman Rembusch, president 

of national Allied: Abram F. Myers. 

Allied counsel: Wade Jones, New England 

Confectionery Co.: Jack Jack.son, National 

Screen Service; Leon Hamburger, RKO, and 

Henderson Richey, Loew's. 

The morning business session will be devoted 

to film clinics, with luncheon served 

in the Sheraton room. Schenley distributors 

will host a cocktail party before the banquet 

in the foyer of the ballroom. 

A special feature of the banquet will include 

a drawing for 36 awards given by the 

Motion Picture Advertising Service of New 

Orleans. Prizes will include silver hors 

d'oeuvre trays, fruit bowls, pitchers, sugar 

and creamer sets, table lighters, compacts, 

RCA portable radios and women's handbags. 

A special program for the women has been 

planned with the highlight a tour of the 

Gardner museum, which includes a musical in 

the Tapestry room and tea in the Dutch room. 

The Ti'ad Television Corp, will demonstrate 

its new dual large-screen direct projection 

theatre television equipment in the State 

BOWLING 

BOSTON—Harry's Snack Bar took . four 

points away from the Macaulay post of the 

American Legion to move into first place in 

the ninth week of the Theatrical Bowling 

league. The standings: 

Team 

.\rranginK special events for women 

attending the Independent Kxhibitors of 

New Knf;;land convention in Boston December 

4 are, left to right: Mrs. Marjorie 

Deininger, Hingham, secretary at (jardner 

museum; Kay Feeley, executive secretary 

of Independent Exhibitors, and 

James Guarino, convention chairman. 

suite during the convention. Joe Gifre, local 

Motiograph distributor, will handle the sales 

and service of this equipment in the New 

Enaland territory. 

New England Variety 

Elects Crew for 1952 

BOSTON—Variety Club of New England 

elected its crew members for 1952 with 65 

members in attendance. Dr. Sidney Farber 

of the Children's Cancer Research foundation 

addressed the group. 

Members elected to serve on the crew are 

Philip Smith. Martin J. MuUin. Arthur 

Lockwood. Walter Brown. James Marshall. 

Myer Stanzler. Theodore Fleisher. Louis 

Richmond, Michael Redstone, Max Levenson 

and Harry Browning. This group will meet 

within a week or two to elect officers for 

the 1952 season.

. . John 

. . Marshall 

E W HAVEN 

T atest drive-ins to close 

were the Lake and 

. . 

. 

. . . 

Pine. Waterbury. Still open are the 

Waterford, the Pike in Newington, and the 

Starlite in Stamford . The Colonial Theatre, 

Bridgeport, Strand Amusement's 580-seater. 

is closing except for Saturday and Sunday, 

beginning December 1 ... In to New 

York for Thanksgiving turkey were Phil 

Gravitz of Metro; Max Birnbaum, Warners, 

and Alec Schimel, U-I Feloney, 

acting manager at 20th-Fox, was in Boston 

Norman J. Ayers, Warner eastern district 

manager, was in the New Haven district. 

Pete LeFleur, 51, booth operator and assistant 

to Art Smith at New Milford, died 

following a heart attack . Fred Dandio is 

running the State. 

. . 

New Haven, Friday, Saturday 

and Sunday only until mid-December, 

BOOK IT 

NOW!!! 

WAHOO is the world's most thrilling 

screen game. NoW being used 

successFuliy by hundreds of indoor 

and outdoor theatres all over America. 

Send for complete details. Be sure 

and give seating or car capacity. 

Hollywood Amusement Co. 

831 S. Wabash Avenue, Chicago 5, III. 

when his lease expires . . . Bill Brown of the 

Pickwick, Greenwich, no longer is booking 

for the Ridgeway, Stamford. Booking now is 

out of the New York office of Sam Seider 

The 984-seat Music Box. New Britain, 

now is keeping active with a six-day program, 

three of which are devoted to Polish films. 

The house is closed on Monday . 

Reardon, Will Rogers Memorial chairman, 

says salesmen are receiving cooperation of 

exhibitors on exchange of scrolls and collections. 

Lee Kissner, RKO office manager, is back 

from a week's vacation . . . Ann Lamonea, 

RKO branch manager's secretary, was married 

to Don Beraduce of New Haven at St. 

Anthony's 

at Carnevale's. 

church, with a reception 

The RKO Pep 

following 

club gave a 

Kravits, Warner home office representative, 

gift . . . Sol 

was in town . Frank Ferguson 

of 

. . 

the Whalley, president of the New Haven 

Tuberculosis and Health Ass'n. is responsible 

for distribution and sale of Christmas seals. 

Frank is appearing on radio, TV and at 

meetings. 

Gillespie Milwain of National Theatre Supply 

reports progress on the Blue Hills Drive- 

. . 

in, Bloomfield, which will be ready for business 

next spring 

using 

. 

money and gift 

Several theatres 

admissions 

are 

book idea 

for Christmas. Some are using nine-cent 

bargain ticket books for children's gifts . . . 

At the Meriden Theatre, big displays in the 

lobby of a $700 living room suite, used as 

giveaway, definitely promoted business . . . 

Greetings were received from Mike Langello, 

. . 

former MGM shipper, who is with the 43) 

Division in Germany . "Wild Blue Yondei 

is set to break at the Paramount, New Have: 

December 13, and the Allyn, Hartford, Dr 

cember 12, and the office is plugging Wende; 

Corey, who met fans on his recent Movietiir 

appearance here. 

. 

Walter Silverman, Columbia manager, she 

a bobcat on his hunting vacation and wa 

rewarded by the state of Maine. His com 

panion bagged a deer Stauffe 

has left the Colonial, Southington, for 

new line of business, and no replacemen 

Harry Shaw, Loew's Poll divisio. 

yet . . . 

manager, was in Worcester this week . . 

Marshall Pitkin, son of Barney, RKO, ha 

been transferred from Parris Island to Ran 

dolph Field, Calif., following a short furlougl 

. . . Lieut, and Mrfs. Richard Platcow, formerl; 

Gloria Germaine, daughter of Paramoun 

manager, is stationed at Fort Dix . 

ley played the Alice in Wonderland puppe 

version at Friday and Saturday matinee 

during the Thanksgiving holiday. 

Christmas Parties Set 

NEW HAVEN—Various exchanges have se' 

dates for their annual office Christma. 

parties. Columbians will dine at Donafs De' 

cember 13. gathering after office hours a 

the exchange. The 20th-Fox family will gi 

to Casey's for dinner December 18. Republii 

will have its Christmas tree and refreshment: 

at the exchange December 20. The Metn 

Pep club has scheduled its get-together foi 

December 17. 

"Help core for our own—sign the 1951 'Christmor 

Soiute'— Voriety Clubs-Will Rogers Memorial hospital 

GOODWILL AWARD AND BANKNIGHT 

will get the people out of their homes away from the 

radio and television 

And to Your Theatre 

There are over 100 theatres in the New England territory 

proving it every week. 

IT'S 

THE LEGAL WAY AND THE PROVEN WAY 

Write or call us and we will see you 

GOODWILL ADVERTISING COMPANY 

22 Church Street Liberty 2-9305 Boston. Mass. 


. . Irene 

. Kathleen 

. . . Morris 

. . Bob 

, . About 

Holdovers Hold Back 

Business in Boston 

BOSTON—Holdovers in all tirsi runs save 

one brought most grosses down to average 

or below. The new bill was "The Raging 

Tide" dualed with "Reunion in Reno. An 

American in Paris" completed four weeks and 

"Detective Story," "Come Fill the Cup" and 

"T^vo Tickets to Broadway" each completed 

two-week stands. Continuing their runs are 

"The River," "Streetcar" and "Lavender Hill 

Mob." 


Aslor—A Streetcar Named Desire (WB). 5th wk. 100 

Beacon Hill—The River (UA), 8lh wk.; new 

price policy 125 

Boslon—Tlie Raging Tide (U-I), Reunion m Reno 

(U-I) 95 

Exeter Street-The Lavender Hill Mob (U-I), 3rd 

^1; 160 

Memoriai—Two Tickets to Broadway (RKO); 

Highly Dangerous (LP), 2nd wk 115 

Metropolitan— Detective Story (Para); Crazy Over 

Horses (Mono), 2nd wk 110 

Paramount and Fenway Come Fill the Cup (WB); 

Two-Dollar Bettor (Realarl), 2nd wk. ^ 

90 

State and Orpheum—An American in Paris (MGM), 

4th wk 90 

'Blue Veil' Holtds Them Out 

Over New Haven Weekentd 

NEW HAVEN—Most downtowns enjoyed a 

good weekend but busines died the Monday 

through Wednesday before Thanksgiving. 

"The Blue Veil" held them out over the weekend. 

Bijou-An American in Paris (MGM), 2nd wk 100 

College—He Ran All the Way (UA); Criminal 

Lowyer (Col), 9 days 105 

Loews Poll—Two Tickets to Broadway (RKO); 

Journey Into Light (SOth-Fox), 9 days 95 

Paramount When Worlds Collide (Para); The 

Sea Hornet (Rep) 100 

Roger Sherman—The Blue Veil (RKO); The Whip 

Hand (RKO) 108 

'American' 

Third Week of 

Grosses 145 at Hartford 

HARTFORD — Theatremen here contend 

that business is gradually getting back to 

normal, what with better quality product and 

stepped-up advertising and publicity activity. 

Allyn—Detective Story (Para); Two-Dollar Bettor 

(Realart) 140 

E. M. Loew's—Ten Tall Men (Col); The Son of 

Dr. lekyll (Col) 110 

Loews Poli—Golden Girl (20th-rox); The Longhorn 

(Mono) 115 

Palace An American in Paris (MGM), 3rd wk 145 

Regal—The Blue Veil (RKO); Lilli Marlene (RKO), 

2nd wk 135 

Strand—Slorliit (WB); Sky High (LP) 105 

WORCESTER 

fônstance Davis of the Westboro Red Barn is 

. . . 

touring with "The Rose Tattoo" 

old Shaw of the Playhouse is 

. . . Har- 

advance man 

for Dunninger . 

Corlett, formerly of 

the Playhouse, is an angel for the Broadw-ay 

hit, "Remains to Be Seen" Alan Gray 

Holmes, who operated the Theatre-in-the- 

Round here this summer, has dropped plans 

to run an arena-type playhouse here this 

winter as he did last season. 

Murray Howard, manager of the Warner, 

received a letter addressed in a childish scrawl 

and enclosing 30 cents with no explanation 

Harlem Globetrotters packed the Auditorium 

for their basketball game . . . Tommy 

. . . 

Dorsey and Vaughn Monroe brought their 

orchestras to town on the same night, which 

gives an idea of the opposition the theatres 

sometimes get. 

Mrs. Lillian Johnson, mother of film actress 

Rita Johnson, has been visiting here, her 

former home before she moved to Hollywood. 

AT SNOW WHITE' LUNCHEON—Pic Cured ;it the KKO lun< ht-on at tlie ( opleyriaza 

hotel when Terry Turner and Nat Levy addressed a group of exhibitors, circuit 

heads and key-city managers on the promotional campaign for the rerelea,se of "Snow 

White and the Seven Dwarfs," which will play New England theatres February 15-24, 

are, left to right: James J. Dempsey, district manager for .ATt'; Tom Fcrmoyle. head 

booker for ATC; Mai Green, Interstate Theatres; Henry Swartzberg, head buyer for 

ATC; John Glazier, Western Massachusetts Theatres; William Canning, Vamins 

Theatres; Joseph G. Cohen, independent buyer and booker; Phil Bloomberg, Plaza, 

Salem; Bob McNulty, Warwick, Marblehead, and John Carroll, .\TC district manager. 

HARTFORD 

The Lockwood & Gordon circuit is renovating 

sections of the Danbury Drive-In. 

including installation of a new neon sign and 

an elaborate boxoffice. Jack O'Sullivan, manager, 

is supervising the remodeling . . . Doug 

Amos, division manager for Lockwood & Gordon, 

conferred with Russ Ordway at the 

Webb, Wethersfield, and Bill Howard, Plaza, 

Windsor. Ordway gave away 500 Abbott and 

Costello photos at a kiddy matinee show. 

Mike Masselli, former manager of the Star. 

Hartford, has been named projectionist at 

the Webb, Wethersfield, replacing Sal 

Catania, who has resigned to enter the lumber 

Sam Harris, partner. State, 

business . . . 

was due back on the job after several weeks 

of recuperation at St. Francis hospital after 

Eddie Nye, State, 

auto accident injuries . . . 

Jim McCarthy, Strand, 

was in New York . . . 

was in New Haven on Warner circuit business. 

. . 

Mrs. Ted Harris, wife of the State managing 

director, and her daughter Anne were 

shopping in New York Bernie Stevens 

of the Princess shifted 

. 

around his marquee 

letters and stopped crowds for "The Day 

the Earth Stood Still" . . . Mr. and Mrs. B. 

Gary Merrill sr., parents of Hartford actor 

Gary Merrill, are back from a Los Angeles 

trek and reported that the thespian has 

been working on an MGM drama with June 

Allyson and Gary's wife, Bette Davis, has 

been reading film scripts. 

Larry Kent is out of the hospital following 

an emergency appendectomy. The former 

Blumenfeld circuit executive hasn't disclosed 

future plans as yet. . . Jack Petroski. 

. . 

Palace, Norwich, worked up cooperation between 

various military and veteran units for 

street ballyhoo on "The Tanks Are Coming" 

Marks, E. M. Loew^'s candy 

girl, resigned. Joyce Simmons replaced her 

Dave Lustig. Columbia exploitation, was 

here on "Ten Tall Men" . Mrs. Fred Greenway, 

wife of the Palace manager, is out of 

The E. M. Loew circuit is 

the hospital . . . 

giving up its lease on the 1,800-seat Court 

Square, Springfield, as of November 29, with 

Sam Schechter shifting to managership of 

the State. Holyoke. according to George E. 

Landers, Hartford division manager. 

Jim Cotoia, former manager of the Hartford 

Drive-In, Newington, and at one time 

a Warner circuit manager, is now a salesman 

in the stationery department of G. Fox 

& Co., downtown Hartford department store 

Keppner of the Burnside, East 

Hartford, hopes to have his new home in 

Overhill road. West Hartford, completed by 

December 1 . . . Joe Lustig, Columbia exploiteer. 

was here on "The Mob" promotion. 

He left after E. M. Loew's campaign to do 

similar work at the Bijou. Springfield . . . 

Sam CornLsh, Niantic Theatre, Niantic, was 

Sam Harris of the State is out 

in town . . . 

of the hospital. 

Billy Moore, former manager of the Danbury 

Drive-In, is a sergeant with the 43rd 

division in Germany . Reeves, Lockwood 

& Gordon advertising department, was 

in from Boston . . . Aspasea Deligeorges is 

now chief cashier at the Niantic. with Virginia 

Adams and Teresa Briggs added to the 

crew as usherettes. Frances Adamo is another 

new cashier. 

. 

\Tt INIanson. Lopert Films, handled advance 

exploitation on "Tales of Hoffmann" 

at the Warner Art, Springfield . . . Helen 

Greenway, wife of the Palace manager, is out 

of the hospital . . . Morris Shulman of the 

Shulman theatre interests is back from a 

New York stay of a week S200 

was taken from a safe in the Meriden Theatre 

by thieves who managed to carry the 

safe about 300 yards to the rear of the 

building. Three crowbars and a pickax used 

to open the safe were left at the scene. 

Manager Bill Pilot reported to the police. 

Are you doing all you con to "help core for our 

own" by getting oil your employes to sign the 1951 

'Christmas Salute'? 

WaJVTED 

700 USED THEATRE SEATS 

Must be less than 4 years old in good condition. 

Available for inspection. Write details to 

BOXOFFICE, 22 Church St. Boston, Moss. 

BOXOFFICE : 

: December 

1, 1951 

85

. . . The 

. . The 

. . Julian 

. , Paul 

BOSTON 

Nuzzolo. president of projectionists Local 

Boston 

flbe Barry, head booker at Columbia, who 

162 Newbury Street 

started his film career in 1909, was went to Maine to try his luck during 

182, 

the 

honored by a certifi- hunting season. Roy Heffner jr. of Goodwill 

cate of meritorious Award bagged an 11-pointer . Brown, 

^^^ I 

^fl^^^^. 

service from the Ma- 

I 

^^^ ~ . I. caulay theatrical post 

Kf of the American 

Roy Brown, who operates the Park in Richford 

and the Savoy in Northfield, both in 

tp. Legion 

Pigskin Fever Grips 

Toronto in Weekend 

TORONTO—The people of Toronto went 

football crazy because of the national gridiron 

battle here between the Regina and Ottawa 

Rough Riders with celebrations and parades 

extending for three days and the city jammed 

with visitors. There was little thought for 

anything but football and it was a lost weekend 

for most theatres. On the other days, 

they enjoyed average to good business. The 

seven holdovers included "A Streetcar Named 

Desire" for a sixth week. 


Billmore—Flight to Mars (Mono) 100 

fairlawn—The Desert Fox (20th-Fox),- Blackmailed 

(lAFO), 2ncJ d 1 wk 100 

Kylcmd—The Lavender Hill Mob (lARO), 3rd wk... 95 

Imperial—Come FUl the Cup (WB) 105 

Loew's An American in Paris (MGM), 3rd wk 100 

Odeon—Valley oi Eagles (lARO) 100 

Shea's and Eglinton Detective Story (Para), 3rd 

wk 85 

Tivoli end Capitol Jim Thorpe—All American 

(WB); Painting the Clouds With Sunshine (WB), 

2nd d. t. wk 100 

Universily, Nortown—The Blue Veil (RKO), 3rd wk. 80 

Uptown—Man With a Cloak (MGM) 100 

Victoria—A Streetcar Named Desire (WB), 6th wk. 75 

Vancouver First Runs 

Share Weekend Weather 

VANCOUVER—The winter season got under 

way nicely here. While weekend weather 

was mild enough for motorists and those seeking 

the outdoors, first runs are sharing in 

well-distributed patronage. Biggest grosser in 

some time was "A Streetcar Named Desire," 

doing record-breaking busine.ss at $1 top. 

"The Desert Fox" was still doing well in its 

third week although matinees are light. 

Capitol Detective Story (Para) Good 

Cinema Darling, Hovr Could You? (Para); 

Cross^vinds (Para) Average 

Dominion A Place in the Sun (Para), 3rd d. t. 

wk 

Good 

Hastings-The Prowler (UA); "M" (Col), 2nd 

d. t. wk Good 

Orpheum Two Tickets to Broadway (RKO) ...Good 

Plaza—He Ran All the Way (UA); Joe Palooka 

in the Triple Cross (Mono) Fair 

State—The Great Jewel Robber (WB), plus stage 

show 

Good 

Strand A Streetcar Named Desire 

(WB) 

Record-breaker 

Studio Laughter in Paradise (IFD), 6th wk. Good 

Vogue The Desert Fox (20th-Fox), 3rd wk. Very good 

Football Doesn't Take Big 

Bite Like Santa Parade 

TORONTO—Despite the current football 

fever in Toronto over the annual East-West 

gridiron championship final, with its pregartie 

furor, many local theatres conducted 

juvenile shows Saturday (24) with fail- results. 

Tlie list included 17 units of Bloom 

& Fine Theatres and seven independent 

neighborhood houses of Allied Exhibitors. 

On the previous Saturday, the theatres 

generally forgot the kiddy programs because 

of the Santa Glaus parade which attracted 

an estimated 700,000 people. 

Former Usher Killed 

KENTVILLE, N. S.—The day before he 

was scheduled to start on leave, Hubert Legge 

of Kentville was killed in action in Korea. 

His father received a letter from his son and 

a telegram from Ottawa notifying him of the 

death on the same day. The young man ihe 

was 20), has a brother in the same unit, the 

Princess Pats. Herbert was on the staff of 

the Capitol Theatre at Kentville before enlisting. 

Ontario Censors Crack 

Down on 'Adult' Tag Use 

One-Man Union Isn't 

Majority in B. C. 

Vancouver—The British Columbia court 

of appeal agreed with Chief Justice Karris 

that one employe does not constitute a 

majority. The court dismissed the appeal 

of the Labor Relations Board from a 

supreme court order setting aside its 

certification of projectionists Local 348 

as bargaining agent for the one sound 

engineer employed by General Theatre 

Supply Co. When the chief justice set it 

aside six weeks ago, he said it was 

ridiculous to say that one employe should 

be considered a majority when the "group" 

he represented consisted only of himself. 

Marcus Loew's Theatres 

Shows Net Profit Drop 

TORONTO—In declaring the regular quarterly 

dividend of $1 for the final three months 

of 1951, payable December 31, Marcus Loew's 

Theatres, operating Loew's and the Uptown 

here, released its financial report for tlie fiscal 

year ending August 29 .showing a lower 

net profit compared with the previous annual 

period. 

Net was $84,140, equal to $11.22 a common 

share, compared with $111,531 in the previous 

12 months, equal to $14.87 a share, after all 

charges. Operating profit for 1950-51 was 

$279,290, a slight increase over the previous 

total, but charges, including income taxes, 

were higher. After payment of dividends, 

earned surplus last August was $525,263, compared 

with $471,123 one year before. 

Historic Garden Burned 

TORONTO—A two-alarm fire brought 

$25,000 damage to the Garden, a 526-seat 

theatre at 290 College St., during the early 

morning. The blaze started in the furnace 

room, according to owner Morris Rittenberg, 

who reported that the loss was covered by 

insurance. Thirteen pieces of fire-fighting 

apparatus had to be used. The Garden holds 

a historic place among Canadian theatres, 

being one of the first in Toronto to produce 

employes who later became prominent in 

theatre circuit business. 

FPC Dividend Shows Rise 

TORONTO—The regular dividend of 30 

cents on its common shares has been declared 

by Famous Players Canadian Corp. 

for the final quarter of 1951, payable December 

22 to stockholders of record Deceniber 

7. The notice was signed by N. G. Barrow, 

secretary and company director. Two years 

ago, the usual quarterly rate was 25 cents 

on the common. 

Wakaw 350-Seater Opened 

VANCOUVER—Steve Hryniuk recently 

opened his $40,000, 350-seat Gem Theatre in 

the farming community of Wakaw, Sask. It 

replaces his old 250-seater and is the town's 

only theatre. 

TORONTO—The Ontario general 

elections 

resulted in a landslide for the Progre.s.slve- 

Conservatlve party under the leadership of 

Premiere Leslie M. Frost, which, during the 

past year, had granted a second reduction in 

the ho.spital tax, otherwi.sc known as the 

amusement tax. In the midst of elections. 

Intimation came from the theatre inspection 

branch of the provincial government that 

regulations would be tightened with respect to 

the advertising of "adult entertainment" features. 

The warning was given that exhibitors were 

being checked regarding the use of the line 

"adult entertainment" in all advertising, including 

advance campaigns, for graded pictures. 

Such designation will have to be continued, 

it was pointed out, during the whole 

engagement of a feature. 

The department was considering the adoption, 

it was stated, of an official stamp for 

accessories which would read: "This picture 

has been graded 'adult entertainment' by 

the Ontario censorship board." It was believed 

that this policy would indicate to 

patrons that the grading is official and not 

a ruse of the theatre manager. 

Eight Weeks of 'Laughter' 

TORONTO— "Laughter in Paradise," a 

British release, continued for an eighth week 

at the International Cinema, operated by Mrs. 

Yvonne Taylor, wife of the general manager 

of 20th Century Theatres. The Towne Cinema 

offered "The Brave Bulls" after .seven 

weeks of "Tales of Hoffmann" at S1.75 top. 

the new picture being played at regular prices. 

The Studio, with its foreign language policy, 

showed "Life in Bloom," a Russian feature. 

Astor held "Four in a Jeep" for a second week. 

Ontario Curfew Sought 

TORONTO—The annual board meeting of 

the Federated Women's Institutes of Ontario 

adopted a resolution asking the provincial 

government to impose a ban on the 

holding of midnight shows at theatres and 

also midnight dances for holidays and Sundays. 

Founded in 1897, the organization, 

with its thousands of members, also asked 

for an embargo on obscene and immoral literature, 

including books. 

CAB Fights Tune Increase 

OTTAWA—The Canadian A.ss'n of Broadcasters, 

representing some 75 privately owned 

radio stations of the Dominion, has notified 

the copyright appeal board of an intention 

to di-scontinue the use of musical works in 

the catalog of the Composers, Authors and 

Publishers Ass'n of Canada if the organization 

is granted an increase in its performing-right 

fees in 1952. 

His Small Zoo Dlegal 

HALIFAX, N. S.—Bert Cooper was convicted 

in police court of keeping animals that 

are native to Nova Scotia without a permit 

two bears and a raccoon. Cooper screens films 

in the seasonal operation of a small psrk in 

the north end of Halifax. 

BOXOFFICE :: December 1, 1951 K 87

. . Dorothy 

. . The 

. 

. 

. . Famous 

VANCOUVER 

Turarvin Thoreau, Odeon maintenance manager, 

and Bob Kelly, concession manager, 

have both moved to the new Odeon 

district office in the Birks building . 

Bill Jones of RKO is spending the winter in 

California . . . John 

Girvan, head of Girvan 

. 

. . 

Studios, returned from a three-month trip to 

his native Scotland Graham is 

pinchhitting for manager Dave Gillfillan at 

JARO. Gillfillan is ill at Willow Chest Center 

in Vancouver . William Forward, manager 

of General Theatre Supply Co., bought 

a new car while on a trip to eastern Canada 

and is driving it back via the U.S.A. . . . 

Dave Smith of the Main Theatre became the 

father of a baby daughter, the fourth child 

for the Smiths. 

Members of F-71 and B-71 film exchange 

employes are holding their annual Christmas 

party at the Evergreen cabaret in South Vancouver 

on December 7 . . . Paul Gauthier of 

the Rex Theatre at Quesnel. in the Cariboo 

district, was a local visitor shopping for seats, 

equipment and furnishings for the new theatre 

which he expects to open in Quesnel in 

1952. It will be a 600-seater and replace the 

present Rex. 

Frank Soltice, manager of the Okanagan 

Drive-In at Penticton, reports a record season 

in the interior outdoor theatre recently 

closed for the winter. He said he has had 

plenty of trouble with teenagers who were 

stealing speakers. Since he caught one and 

had him arrested and got a conviction, he has 

had no further trouble. 

With Vancouver in the midst of a real cold 

snap, the only two drive-ins operating near 

here are expected to call it a day and close 

shortly . . . Howard Boothe, former Odeon 

district manager for British Columbia, is 

now located on Filmrow and represents a 

Toronto trailer company . Strand Theatre 

will interrupt its film program for a 

week's showing of the Sadler's Wells ballet. 

The show is a sellout. 

A Lethbridge, Alta., service club member 

and a drive-in theatre have been convicted 

of operating a gambling game. Thomas Hunt, 

chairman of the Lions club Jungo committee, 

and the management at the Green Acres 

Drive-In appeared in court. Hunt was fined 

$1 and the theatre $25 at the conclusion of 

the hearing into the operation of a bingo 

game called Jungo. The game was staged 

by the service club on the premises of the 

theatre during evenings last summer. All proceeds 

from the game went to the Lions club's 

charitable works. 

Phil Barber, chief inspector of theatres for 

the province of Alberta for the past 30 years, 

retired recently. A farewell gift was given 

him by the staff of the department and the 

presentation was made by C. Gerhart, provincial 

secretary. A succe.s.sor to Barber has not 

been appointed to date. 

The General Theatre Supply Co. of Vancouver 

has installed new Simplex X-L projectors 

with X-L upper and lower magazines 

in the Famous Players Capitol and Orpheum 

theatres in Vancouver, the Columbia at New 

Westminster and in the Capitol Theatre at 

Victoria, Bill Forward, GTS's manager, reports. 

Family Classifications 

Given Three Features 

NEW YORK—Three features are given family 

classifications in the November 15 listing 

of joint estimates of current motion pictures 

compiled by clubwomen. Eleven are classified 

for adults and young people and none for 

adults only. 

The family pictures are "Across the Wide 

Missouri" (MGM), "The Golden Girl" (20th- 

Fox) and "Slaughter Trail" (RKOi. The 

others are "Anne of the Indies" (20th-Faxi, 

"Bannerline" (MGM), "The Cave of Outlaws" 

(U-I), "The Man With a Cloak" 

(MGM), "Ten Tall Men" (Col), "Tom Brown's 

School Days" (UA), "Two Tickets to Broadway" 

(RKO), "South of Caliente" (Rep). 

"Utah Wagon Train" (Rep), "Valley of Fire" 

(Col) and "Whip Hand" (RKO). 

Reporting on child reactions to "Cattle 

Drive (U-I) and "The Harlem Globetrotters" 

(Col), previously reviewed, the clubwomen 

found them thoroughly satisfying in the first 

instance and enthusiastic in the second. 

OTTAW A 

T ou J. Skuce, 65, a native of Ottawa who 

gained fame as an artist, actor, playwright 

and athlete, died from a heart attack 

in Toronto. His funeral was held here. He 

had appeared as an entertainer in many 

theatres of Canada, the States and England. 

At the time of his death, a number of his 

drawings were being delivered to the Bell 

syndicate in New York. 

Manager Ernie Warren of the Elgin held 

"A Place in the Sun" for a fourth week and 

the end of the engagement is not in sight 

... A private showing of "The Lavender Hill 

Mob" was given by Manager G. D. Beavis 

at the Odeon last Sunday night (25) before 

a representative crowd of invited guests. 

Fern Marleau, who made a good showing 

in his first season as manager of the Cornwall 

Drive-In in eastern Ontario, has become 

manager of the 20th Century Theatres' 

Park at Welland. Verne Marriott, manager of 

the Britannia Drive-In, has returned to the 

Century in Ottawa . Players' Capitol 

in Ottawa will house the Metropolitan 

Opera December 3, 4 when the company 

from New York will present three performances 

of "Fledermaus" in the 2,300-seat house 

of which T. R. Tubman is manager. 

Graeme Fraser, assistant general manager 

of Crawley Films, reports the company now 

has a staff of 53 men and women. The 

latest development is the establishment of 

a still department under the direction of 

Irving Dooh. Crawley staged a premiere for 

300 government officials and diplomats in 

the National Art gallery of its color film, 

"Newfoundland Scene," a 45-minute picture 

which was made for Imperial Oil and will 

be shown across Canada by National Film 

Board. 

For the French Film night at the Francais 

in Ottawa, R. E. Maynard presented "Deux 

Amours," starring Tino Rossi, and "Un Flic" 

for large audiences. 

Raymond Ma.ssey. who didn't want to be 

a tycoon in the family's multimillion-dollar 

farm business, is playing a tycoon in WB's 

"Come Fill the Cup." 

MONTREAL 

"The Gray cup football final between Regii' 

Rough Riders and the Ottawa Roug; 

Riders lured a number of members of Mon 

real's film colony to Toronto. Among the:' 

who witnessed the game were Mickey Isma 

Montreal manager for Empire-Universal, ar,i 

George Destounis, booker at United Amus< 

ment Corp. . . . Bill Trow, president of Mon-j 

real Poster and Quebec Cinema Booking C(' 

and Mort Prevost, manager of Quebec Cinem 

; 

have been on a visit to theatres in tfjj 

Laurentian district . . . Mrs. Sam Kunitsk: 

wife of the Montreal UA manager, has bee 

called to St. John, N. B., where her fathi, 

is dangerously ill. 

Jack Roher, president of Peerless Film' 

will divide his time between the Toront 

head office and the Montreal branch. Mr 

Roher joined her husband in Montreal, whei 

they now reside . . . The Kent, most westerl 

theatre in Montreal, is planning a reserved 

seat policy for some outstanding pictures i 

January . . . Sam Langbord, head booke 

at Columbia, visited his parents in Toront 

over the weekend . . . Fashion week feature 

have been filmed by National Film Boar 

in its Canada Carries On series . . Dominio: 

. 

Sound Equipments is distributing a motio) 

picture projector which "broadcasts" soum 

through the ordinary living room radi' 

speaker . . . "String of Beads," a lyrica 

British picture, was one of three films show) 

here by the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, 

Windsor, Ont., residents are inclined ti 

chuckle over an announcement that CBC ha. 

selected that city as one of three areas to bi 

given television transmission after Montrea 

and Toronto. Windsor people now are able t< 

get free the pick of television shows fron- 

Detroit. If CBC enters the Windsor field 

however, residents will have to pay a licensi 

Robert "Pete" Delorme, well-knowt 

fee . . . 

Montreal projectionist, died ... J, Arthm 

Rank flew over a copy of "The Ivory Hunter,' 

titled in Britain "No Vultures Fly," and it was 

shown to Princess Elizabeth and the Duke 

of Edinburgh on their homeward voyage or 

the Empress of Scotland. 

Following her recent wedding, the staff oi 

Warner Bros, gave a party for Mrs. Marj 

Ann Burton-Lefebvre, reviser at that officei 

and gave her a brown leather handbag 

Revenue Minister McCann expressed the view 

that American television is "too commercial' 

and hoped that when Canadian television 'did 

arrive it would be "of a better brand" . 

"L'Institut Canadian du Film" founded it" 

1935, will henceforth be conducted as 

bilingual (French and English) associatioi 

with the object of promoting appreciatio; 

of films as a medium of education. 

United Amusement Corp. plans erection ol 

a two-story business block containing stores 

and offices, adjoining the Westmount Theatre 

Exhibitors in town 

on Sherbrooke street . . . 

were Philip Karibian, the Pine, Ste. Adele 

E. Poirier. the Caro, Windsor Mills: J. Val' 

here, the Vimy, Ferme-Neuve, and Albertj 

Fisette, the Mackayville. M.ickayville. 

Drive-In for Trail. B. C. 

VANCOUVER—George Donish of Trail.il 

B. C., has applied for permission of the city! 

council to build a 300-car drive-in on Merry's! 

Flats near the town. He hopes to have it openfl 

in the spring of 1952. 


j

. . One 

. . 

. . Following 

. . Before 

MARITIMES 

tiriien 

Paddy Edwards, veteran manager of 

the Popular Theatre in Grand Falls, 

Nfld., was sitting in the living room at his 

home recently, he looked out a window and 

saw a big bull moose wandering past his 

house. He could have used a rifle on the 

animal, as moose shooting is legal on Newfoundland 

during the season, but it was so 

easy he didn't have the heart. The moose 

ambled over the railroad tracks and disappeared 

from his sight. Edwards is planning 

on improving the lobby of the Popular, installing 

a new boxoffice and new candy and 

popcorn stands. Edwards has been a film 

exhibitor over 30 years. He also may increase 

the seating capacity of the Popular 

from 350 to about 500. 

Anne Moxon, II, of Fredericton, who blew 

into print last spring with a tale of having 

been trailed by two MGM talent scouts, was 

on a children's program of a Fredericton 

radio station recently. CFNB also sponsored 

a recent trip by Anne and her mother to 

New York City, where Anne was on a TV 

program. Anne specializes in warbling . 

At the Capitol in Yarmouth. Manager Ernie 

Hatfield hooked up with the local fire department 

in the promotion of a party, offering 

a bicycle, pair of skates and a wristwatch 

as the prizes for the best costumes by young 

participants. 

Under consideration at the Community, 

Yarmouth, is a plan to tie the theatre up with 

a local radio dealer in receiving TV programs 

from Boston stations. This is the only section 

of the maritimes getting such TV, although 

reception is not consistent. The reception 

is all across water along the Atlantic 

seaboard . night a week is Dinnerware 

night, at the Gaiety, Halifax. Whole 

sets are distributed among patrons at the rate 

of one piece a week. 

Although the chief duty of Cy Miller, a 

new associate of Malcolm Walker in the 

Walker chain, is to choose and book pictures 

for all the circuit's theatres, he also is devoting 

some attention to managerial business 

and occasionally visits the various units 

in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Headquarters 

are in the Halifax Gaiety building 

. . . There has been a rumor among exhibitors 

in the maritimes that the Armview in suburban 

Halifax may be sold or leased to a big 

chain. As the title indicates this theatre 

borders the Northwest Arm. 

Mrs. Shirley Brehaut, only child of the late 

Percy Fielding, owner-manager of the Goudey 

at Barrington Passage, has taken as manager 

there, but she isn't the only feminine member 

of the Fielding clan participating in theatre 

management. Her aunts, Mrs. Frank 

Audas of Parrsboro and Mrs. Arthur Fielding 

of Bridgewater, assist their husbands in 

theatre operations. Mrs. Brehaut, who had 

been living at Sydney before the death of her 

father, is now with here mother, Mrs. Irene 

Fielding, at Barrington Passage. Art Fielding 

is helping his sister-in-law and niece. 

many years. The chic-; reason U the advance 

in prices at the hockey games and an Increased 

number of contesUs. For Instance, the 

Maritime league has scheduled 90 games, an 

alltime record, and raised prices to the National 

Hockey league level. 

The executive of the maritime branch of the 

maritime branch of the Pioneers Is working 

on plans for a ball to be held under Pioneer 

auspices here during the Indoor .season, possibly 

in the early spring, Reg March Is president, 

Abe Smith vice-president and Les 

Sprague, .secretary-treasurer. The proceeds 

go for charitable purposes. 

Films, TV. Etc., Weaken 

Old Quebec Culture 

MONTREAL—Omer Cote. Quebec provincial 

.secretary, told the legislature that new 

forms of education threaten the existence of 

Quebec province as a Roman Catholic and 

French-speaking province. He .said motion 

pictures, the theatre, radio and television may 

be used by "pseudo-educators" to "infiltrate" 

the province and "seize our youth." 

"Television," said Cote, "will oblige fathers 

of families to impo.se control over a new system 

of education which tomorrow will come 

into our homes perhaps to .scandalize and deform 

our children." 

He said the Quebec government's constant 

concern is keeping the "mediocrity and uniformly 

of materialism" from the population 

of French Canada. 

Bethel, Cordova, Alaska 

Theatres Gutted in Fire 

VANCOUVER—The Bethel Theatre at 

Bethel, Ala.ska. was destroyed by a fire of undetermined 

origin, with a loss exceeding 

$50,000. 

The Cordova Theatre at Cordova was also 

burned in a fire which destroyed many buildings, 

including the theatre, in the Alaska town. 

Censors Label Eight Adult 

TORONTO—Eight features have been 

graded adult entertainment by the Ontario 

censor board: "Flame." "Tiger Man," "A 

Streetcar Named Desire," "Strange Door," 

"Woman With No Name," "Murder Without 

Crime," "Finders Keepers" and "Come Fill the 

Cup." 

TORONTO 

Jânagcr VV. C. Tycrs ol the Odeon cashed 

In on the Canadian football championship 

excitement by staging the MLss Canadian 

Football contest at the theatre Friday 

night 1 23) before a crowded house under the 

auspices of the Toronto Junior Board of 

Trade. The winner was Myrtle Balnbrldge 

of Reglna, Sask. Cheer leaders and a band 

enlivened the program. 

Supervisor William Summerville organized 

a "Show of the Week" for five units of Bloom 

& Fine Theatres playing "Sam.son and Delilah," 

these being the Bellevue, Donlands, 

Eastwood, Grover and LaPlaza . its 

opening at Shea's and the Eglinton, Manager 

Mac MacCammon of the suburban Village arranged 

a sneak preview of "Golden Girl" for 

a large and enthusiastic audience. 

Manager Ed Hubbard of the Cinema at 

Hamilton held "The Browning Version" for a 

second week. At the Hamilton Palace, Manager 

Sam Hebscher has adopted the policy of 

a late performance each night, the last complete 

show getting under way at 9:50 p. m. . . . 

The suburban Grant featured a color combination 

in its double bill, "Blue Blood" and 

"Red Light" . a Monte Carlo 

night November 30 at the Variety clubrooms. 

the w-omen's committee is holding its annual 

election of officers December 4. Proceeds 

from the Monte Carlo evening went to Variety 

Village. 

. . . Gordon 

James Chalmers, former assistant manager 

of the Famous Players' Palace in the Toronto 

east end, has been named manager of the 

nearby Odeon Danforth, where Al Sedgwick 

was in charge until recently 

Lightstone, committee chairman, reported a 

jump in advance sales for the Variety benefit 

show at the Imperial January 10, featuring 

Betty Hutton in person. The film attraction 

will be the premiere of "The Greatest 

Show on Earth." The tent hopes to raise 

$30,000 for the Variety Village School . . . 

Hamilton has a new neighborhood house in 

the Reo on Parksdale avenue . . . Larry 

Graburn. executive of JARO here, is celebrating 

the arrival of a second child, a girl. 

Echo to George Radowitz 

VANCOUVER—George Radowitz has purchased 

the 300-seat Echo Theatre from Ernest 

Jack.son in the town of Eckville, Alta. 

HANDY SUBSCRIPTION ORDER FORM 

The growing taste of Newfoundlanders for 

westerns is strongly illustrated at the number, 

where recently "Arizona Ranger" and 

"Dakota Lil" were screened on successive 

Theatres have been less affected at 

days . . . 

the boxoffice this season by hockey than for

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"Complete turnover in 

Results like this are reported frequently by 

BOXOFFICE advertisers from everywhere. Reach 

this tremendous market — these thousands of ex- 

Buy, 

hibitors with money to spend—with YOUR advertising 

and reap similar rewards . . . 

trade, find help or position through . 

. . 

2 weeks" 

sell, 

BOXOFFICE CLEARING 

HOUSE 

Want Ads That Get BIG RESULTS at Little Cost 

90 BOXOFFICE December 1, 1951 1 

3

fll(OfflCf( D DD 11 J l]i/ÛJD5 

The EXHIBITOR HAS HIS SAY about 

PiaURES 

An open forum in which, for the most part, exhibitors report on subsequent-run 

showings of pictures. One (•) denotes a new contributor: two (••) is one who 

has been reporting for six months or longer; (•••) a regular who has been 

reporting for one year or more. These columns are open to all exhibitors. 

COLUMBIA 

' 

Gasoline Alley (Col) — Scotty Beckett, 

Jimmy Lydon, Susan Morrow. This is very 

good. It was used as a second feature to 

"North of the Great Divide" (Rep) I like to 

. 

see a new series start off well like this did. 

—Audrey Thompson, Ozark Amusement Co., 

• 

Hardy, Ark. Area patrons. 

Santa Fe (Col) — Randolph Scott, Janis 

Carter, Jerome Courtland. Scott in a western 

is like money in the bank for the small 

town exhibitor, and this one is in Technicolor. 

Needless to say, business was good on Fri., 

Sat. Play it. Weather: Good.—E. M. Freiburger, 

Dewey Theatre, Dewey, Okla. Small 

town patrons. ' * * 

LIPPERT PRODUCTIONS 

Bandit Queen (LP) — Barbara Britton, 

Willard Parker, Philip Reed. This is a Robin 

Hood type of picture, only more up to date. 

It is better than "Renegade Girl." Comment 

was good and so was its draw. Played Fri., 

Sat. Weather: Rainy.—L. Brazil jr.. New 

Theatre, Bearden, Ark. Small town patrons. 

* * * 

METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER 

Excuse My Dust (MGM) — Red Skelton, 

Sally Forrest, Macdonald Carey. Red Skelton 

is well liked here. The trailer hurt the picture 

here—too much singing and dancing 

and not enough of Red. However, the picture 

is a honey. — Audrey Thompson, Ozark 

Amusement Co., Hardy, Ark. Area patrons. * 

Excuse My Dust (MGM) — Red Skelton, 

Sally Forrest, Macdonald Carey. This is just 

another one of Red's pictures. It does not 

have many laughs and we did rotten business 

with it. Comment from patrons — blank. 

Played Sun., Mon. Weather: Clear.—Virgil 

Anderson, C-B Theatre, Bucklln, Mo. Rural 

patrons. * * ' 

UFather's Little Dividend (MGM)—Spencer 

Tracy, Elizabeth Taylor, Joan Bennett. This 

is a very good picture. The crowd laughed 

heartily all evening. Business was above 

average, so we all left the theatre with a 

smile. It was at top price but worth it. 

Played Sun., Mon., Tues. Weather: Rain. 

G, P. Jonckowski, Lyric Theatre, Wabasso, 

* 

Minn. Rural, small town patrons. 

Night Into Morning (MGM)—Ray Milland, 

John Hodiak, Nancy Davis. This is just another 

picture which failed to draw. It would 

be cheaper to pay for these duds and never 

play them. The picture was not too bad, but 

no one wanted to see it! Played Thurs. 

Weather: Good.—E. M. Freiburger, Dewey 

Theatre, Dewey, Okla. Small town patrons. 

* * * 

Soldiers Three (MGM)—Stewart Granger, 

Walter Pidgeon, David Niven. I can't say too 

much about this as part of the patrons liked 

it and it was a rather dull picture at times. 

Too much English brogue in it to suit me but 

it does not deserve top billing. Played Wed., 

Thurs. Weather: Snow. — Virgil Anderson, 

C-B Theatre, Bucklin, Mo. Rural patrons. 

Strip, The (MGM)—Mickey Rooney, Sally 

Forrest, William Demarest. This Is a good 

picture but has a very poor title. Consequently, 

it did not do the business it should 

have done. A good title is very important. 

Played Sun, through Tues. Weather: Rainy.— 

M. W. Mattecheck, Mack Theatre, McMinnville. 

Ore. City and county patrons. • • • 

Vengeance Valley (MGM)—Burt Lancaster, 

Robert Walker. Joanne Dru. Say. brother, if 

your situation calls for a knock-down, dragout 

picture, try this one. Your operator will 

be knee-deep in blood at the end of the first 

show. It's a dandy. Played Fri., Sat. Weather: 

Fair. — Bill Leonard. Leonard Theatre. 

Cedar Vale, Kas. Small town, rural patrons. 

MONOGRAM 

Ghost Chasers (Mono)—Leo Gorcey, Huntz 

Hall, Lloyd Corrigan. This is still just as good 

as the others and the comments and draw 

were good on it. Played Fri., Sat. Weather: 

Cold.—L. Brazil jr.. New Theatre, Bearden, 

Ark. Small town patrons. * • * 

PARAMOUNT 

Lemon Drop Kid, The iPara)—Bob Hope, 

Marilyn Maxwell, Lloyd Nolan. It was a 

lemon in my situation and I tried to use 

Tim Holt to draw them in for this one on a 

double bill—results, lemon and plenty sour 

at that. Played Fri., Sat. Weather: Good.— 

Virgil Anderson, C-B Theatre, Bucklin, Mo. 

Rural patrons. * * ' 

Mating Season, The (Para)-Gene Tierney, 

John Lund, Miriam Hopkins. A good, wellbuilt, 

well-cast comedy. It is not big, just 

nice, clean, wholesome entertainment that 

will please the whole family. Played Wed., 

Thurs. Weather: Cool.—Bill Leonard, Leonard 

Theatre, Cedar Vale. Kas. Small town, 

rural patrons. ,* * * 

RKO RADIO 

Born to Be Bad (RKO) — Joan Fontaine, 

Robert Ryan, Zachary Scott. This one was 

already bad when it was born. It makes an 

His First Contribution 

In Praise of 'Rhubarb' 

pHUBAKB (Para) 

— Ray Milland, Jan 

Stirling, Gene Lockhart. I was afraid 

of this, since little advertising was given 

it, and due to its recent release, expected 

my patrons wouldn't be interested. It 

broke all house records and sent them all 

home happy. It has what it takes—human 

interest, sincere acting, a very funny 

story, and of course appeal for all animal 

lovers. The cat star himself was good 

and how! ... I should have said "hello" 

first, as this is my maiden letter to you. 

I enjoy BOXOFFICE and find I can't do 

without it.—R. K. Purdy, Onyx Theatre, 

* 

Perdue, Sask. 

Hello yourself and welcome to our 

forum. Glad you find BOXOFFICE so 

helpful. 

L. Brazil Jr. Gets Deer: 

New Lobby Ornament 

pKLI.OW cxliibitors will be inter

' 

The EXHIBITOR HAS HIS SAY 

(Continued from preceding page> 

story, with lots of laughs. Played Sun., Mon., 

Tues. Weather: Cold and damp.—Bill Leonard, 

Leonard Theatre, Cedar Vale, Kas. Small 

town, rural patrons. 

For Heaven's Sake (20th-Fox) — Clifton 

Webb, Joan Bennett, Robert Cummings. A 

fantastic story, definitely not in the super 

class. It is interesting in spots but the spots 

are few, and is not up to Clifton Webb's 

Played Sun., Mon., Tues. Weather: 

standard. 

Nice.—Bill Leonard, Leonard Theatre, Cedar 

Vale, Kas. Small town, rural patrons. * • * 

House on Telegraph Hill (20th-Pox)—Richard 

Basehart, Valentina Cortesa, William 

Lundigan. Not much of a picture and business 

was poor. If you never play it, you 

haven't missed anything. Played Tues., Wed., 

Thurs. Weather: Good.—E. M. Freiburger, 

Dewey Theatre, Dewey, Okla. Small town 

patrons. 

House on Telegraph Hill (20th-Fox)—Richard 

Basehart, Valentina Cortesa, William 

Lundigan. A very good mystery drama that 

will capture and keep the interest of adult 

patrons. It's a lot like "Gaslight," only it 

keeps you guessing. It isn't a regular whodunit, 

and there isn't much action, so I say 

play it midweek. I doubled it with a western 

on a weekend, and business was average in 

spite of snow—the first sign of old man 

winter. Played Fri., Sat. Weather: Zero 

temperatures.—Carl F. Neitzel, Juno Theatre, 

Juneau, Wis. Area patrons. * * * 

I Can Get It for You Wholesale (20th-Fox) 

—Susan Hayward, Dan Dailey, George Sanders. 

Here is a very entertaining picture and 

one that you will not have to apologize for. 

Your patrons will talk about it and sell it 

for you. A fine job of acting done in it— 

don't be afraid of this one. Played Sun., 

Mon. Weather: Clear and cold.—Virgil Anderson, 

C-B Theatre, Bucklin, Mo. Rural patrons. 

* * * 

Millionaire for Christy, A (20th-Fox) — 

Eleanor Parker, Fred MacMurray, Richard 

Carlson. We did about average business and 

on our best change, with this comedy that 

seemed to please our patrons. A good cast 

and story made this worth while. Played 

Sun., Mon. Weather: Cold.—Mayme P. Musselman, 

Roach Theatre, Lincoln, Kas. Small 

town patrons. * * * 

OOn the Riviera (20th-Pox)—Darmy Kaye, 

Gene Tiemey, Corinne Calvet. We may live 

in Central Africa but we do get our films 

soon after their release. We boast of nearly 

6,000 population, with a strange type of audience, 

so if we can fill every house for four 

nights running and two matinees, then this 

film must be good—and it is! It is Danny 

Kaye's best. Congratulations to Pox for giving 

him such good material, song and color. 

It is tops in entertainment. Keep Danny 

He Missed the Boat by 

Not Exploiting This 

piGHTING COAST GUARD (Rep) — 

Brian Donlevy, Forrest Tucker, Ella 

Raines. I very seldom comment on Republic 

because this company always has 

a fine array of program pictures for the 

small theatre, but here is one that really 

makes you sit up and throw your hands 

in the air. I mls.sed the boat when I 

did not give this a little more exploitation. 

If you have not played this one, by all 

means give it a good billing as it is different 

from other action pictures and has 

a wonderful story as itsi background. 

This is fine acting—give it your best. 

Played Fri., Sat. Weather: Cold.—Virgil 

Anderson, C-B Theatre, Bucklin, Mo. 

Rural patrons. * • * 

Kaye on the more serious side, with time 

out for clowning, and find any better 

comedian anywhere. Play this at all times. 

Time magazine is so correct—this is the 

finest musical comedy since 1949's "On the 

Town." The crowds are getting bigger, thanks 

to Fox. Hope they keep it up.—Dave S. Klein, 

Astra Theatre, Kitwe/Nkana. Northern 

Rhodesia. Mining patrons. * * * 

UMTED ARTISTS 

He Ran All the Way (UA)—John Garfield, 

Shelley Winters, Wallace Ford. A good gangster 

type of picture with a good story, good 

acting, and it has suspense. Played Wed., 

Thurs. Weather: Cold.—L. Brazil jr.. New 

Theatre, Bearden, Ark. 

Small town patrons. 

* * * 

Men, The (UA) — Marlon Brando, Teresa 

Wright, Everett Sloane. Here Is a honey of 

a film. We had the African premiere for this 

one, and what with the publicity and 

Kramer's name, we packed them in for each 

performance. It is beautifully done, exceptionally 

well acted and a winner all the way. 

Even the smaller towns could play this one 

Dave Klein Tells How 

To Exploit This One 

pOLLOW THE SUN (20th-Fox)—Glenn 

Ford, Anne Baxter, Dennis O'Keefe. 

This is one of the finest films of this 

year. Make no mistake about it—if this 

is well advertised to the entire public, 

you'll have packed houses as I did. Contact 

every golf member of your community 

through the golf clubs. Then send a 

personal letter to them mentioning the 

Ben Hogan angle, but also impress upon 

them the value of the film as family entertainment. 

I also contacted all surrounding 

town golf clubs. The response 

made both Fox and us happy. Play 

this—it is top entertainment. Played Fri., 

Sat. Weather: Fine. — Dave S. Klein, 

Astra Theatre, Kitwa/Nkana, Northern 

Rhodesia. Mining patrons. * * * 

and make themselves and their patrons 

happy. Everett Sloane is excellent in this 

as the doctor. Played Fri., Sat. Weather: 

Warm.—Dave S. Klein, Astra Theatre, Kitwe/ 

Nkana, Northern Rhodesia. Mining patrons. 

* * • 

UNIVERSAL-INTERNATIONAL 

Deported (U-D—Marta Toren, Jeff Chandler, 

Claude Dauphin. This is absolutely junk 

—terrible. Why do they sell pictures like 

this? I ran "Thundering Rails" with it but it 

didn't clean up the mess. Played Wed., Thurs. 

Weather: Fair.—Bill Leonard, Leonard Theatre, 

Cedar Vale, Kas. Small town, rural patrons. 

* * * 

Katie Did It (U-I) — Ann Blyth, Mark 

Stevens, Cecil Kellaway. We received a badly 

beaten film on this — parts upon parts 

missing. Print shortage, I guess. This is Ught 

entertainment with a few good laughs. We 

broke even on it—no super U-I on this. 

Played Tues., Wed. Weather: Snow and ice. 

—Ken Christianson, Roxy Theatre, Washburn, 

N. D. Small town patrons. * * * 

Ma and Pa Kettle Back on the Farm (U-I) 

—Marjorie Main, Percy Kilbride, Richard 

Long. This is the best of the Kettle series. 

It is just what 90 per cent of my customers 

want. Universal has some good money-makers 

you can pick them and not take too much 

if 

trasli,—Audrey Thompson, Ozark Amusement 

* 

Co., Hardy, Ark. Area patrons. 

(U-D—Wanda Hendrix, Audie Mur- 

Sierra 

phy, Burl Ives. They like Audie Murphy 

and Burl Ives, so attendance was good. 

Wanda Hendrix is a nice little gal and the 

story kept them interested. Played Tues.. 

He Likes Lippert Films, 

Especially This One 

OARON OF ARIZONA (LP)—Vincent 

Price, EUen Drew, Beulah Bondi. 

A very entertaining film with good acting 

and plenty of action. As far as we are 

concerned, Lippert Productions seem to 

pull them in. The titles are very good. 

There is plenty of action here to satisfy 

all. It is strong enough to play on its 

own. You chould be able to pick it up 

at a flat rental and make it pay. Played 

Wed., Thurs. Weather: Fine.—Dave S. 

Klein, Astra Theatre, Kitwe/Nkana, 

Northern Rhodesia. Mining patrons. * * * 

i 

Wed. Weather: Okay.—Frank E. Sabin. Majestic 

Theatre, Eureka, Mont. Small town, 

rural patrons. * • • 

Smuggler's Island (U-D—Jeff Chandler, 

Evelyn Keyes, PhiUp Friend. I can't see where 

Universal has such super product—some of 

the pictures take away the profit you make on 

the rest. This one is a waste of color and time. 

We lost what we made on "Francis" playing 

it. Played Fri., Sat. Weather: Warm.—Ken 

Christianson, Roxy Theatre, Washburn, N. D. 


• • • ' 

WARNER BROS. 

Along the Great Divide (WB) — Kirk 

Douglas, Virginia Mayo, John Agar. This Is 

a lusty romance with thrilling action—that 

gives you a vivid description of the picture. 

They really turned out for this one for me 

and the comments on it were all good. Played 

Wed., Thurs. Weather: Good.—Virgil Ander- : 

son, C-B Theatre, Bucklin, Mo. Rural patrons. 

* * • 

Bitter Half (WB)—Short. This is an excellent 

comedy—one of the best of the year. 

L. Brazil jr.. New Theatre, Bearden, Ark. 


* * • 

U Captain Horatio Hornblower (WB)— 

Gregory Peck, Virginia Mayo, Robert Beatty. 

This was an all-time flop in my neighborhood. 

The feature is well done, perfectly cast, 

and its stars are outstanding—but it laid an 

egg in my house. I can't understand why It 

didn't go over unless it was because of the 

second feature, "Strictly Dishonorable" 

(MGM) . 

Don't misunderstand me— "Horn- •? 

blower" will go over in some spots. Played h 

Sun., Mon., Tues,—William Graham. Majestic 

Theatre, Detroit, Mich. Neighborhood patrons. 

• 

Dallas (WB)—Gary Cooper, Ruth Roman, i f 

; 

Steve Cochran, This western is something a 

i 

to shout about. A swell story, a perfect ^ 

cast, beautiful color and good recording. 

Played Sun., Mon., Tues. Weather: Cool.— 

Bill Leonard, Leonard Theatre. Cedar Vale, 

Kas. Small town, rural patrons. • ' 

Played This Too Soon 

For Best Results 

Or«APTAIN HORATIO HORN- 

BLOWER (WB) — Gregory Peck, 

Virginia Mayo, Robert Beatty. This is a 

picture that storms the seas of the world 

and a wonderful .iob of acting isi done 

by the stars. It has a top story, the 

scenery is excellent—and our boxoffice on 

it was poor. It was not the picture's fault 

but my own. I played it before it was 

selected as the Blue Ribbon winner by 

BOXOFFICE. It is a fine picture and 

there is no reason for a small town theatre 

not to make some money, if it is 

bought right. Played Sun., Mon. Weather: 

Good.—Virgil Anderson, C-B Theatre. 

Burklin, Mo. Rural patrons. * * • 

BOXOFFICE BookinGuide Dec. 1, 1951 1

t InMfprtfl"* onolyilf of lay ond tradeprati r«vl««ri. Th« plui ond minui ilgnt IndkoU dtgrM of 

0» only; oudUneo eloiiifieoHon ii not rated. LIstingi cover current revlewi, brought up to dote regularly. 

11 deportment servei olto as on ALPHABETICAL INDEX to feature rcioosei. Numeral preceding title 

iMctun 

i]£VJ£iy DJfJIiJT 

1 

Guide Review page number. For listings by company, In the order of release, see Feature Chart. 

++ Very Good; + Good; — Fair; - Poor; = Very Poor. 

•> 

"5

REVIEW DIGEST 

•(+ Very Good; i- Good; — Foir; - Poor; = Very Poor. In the summary -H it rated 2 pluiet, = as 2 minuses. 

ei

'>h 

H V«ry Good; + Good; ^ Foif, - Poor; = Very Po In th e lummory n rored 2 pluici. 

E 

Puugi Wist (SO) Westrn Para 4-26-51 

'^"UiPayninl on Demand (90) Drama OKO 2-24-51 

+ +f',j3Jpeeos River (55) Western Col 12- 1-51 

lU'PeHni Expreit (85) Drama Para 

ijjjpjopit Atainst O'Hara (103) Drama MGM 

'!)12P

. W. 

. 

. 

I 

Fingerprints 

. Donald 

1 

fîlTllllf filJx]llT 

! 1 

Feature productions by company in order of release. Number in square is national release date. Ru m 

time is in parentheses. Type of story is indicated by letters and combinotions thereof as follows Q) 

Comedy; (D) Drama; (CD) Comedy-Droma; (F) Fantasy; (M) Musical; (W) Western; (SW) Superwe n 

Release number follows: Q denotes BOXOFFICE Blue Ribbon Award Winner. denotes color ph ai 

raphy. For review dates and Picture Guide page numbers, see Review Digest. 

COLUMBIA __tlA 

Greot Manhunt, The (97) D..331 

(Rev. as State Secret) Potiglas Fairbank'^ jr. 

Flying Missile, The (92) D. .335 

Glenn Ford, Vneca Lindfors, Henry O'Neill 

©Stoge to Tucson (82) W. .334 

Kod Cameron. Wayne Morris 

Proirie Roundup (S3) W. .363 

Gasoline Alley (77) C..301 

Scotty Beciiett, Jimmy Lydon. S. Morrow 

Gene Autry ond Mounties (70). .W. .351 

Born Yesterday (103) C. .344 

Judy Holliday. William Holden, Brod. Crawford 

Operation X (79) D. .333 

Edward G. Robinson. Peggy Cummins 

Revenue Agent (72) D. .312 

liotitlis Kennedy, Jean Willes, Onslow Stevens 

Counterspy Meets Scotland 

Yard (67) D. .307 

Yonk in Korea, A (73) D . . 346 

Ridin' the Outlow Trail (56). . . .W. .364 

©Al Jennings of Oklahoma (79) D. .327 

"M" (88) 

D..347 

Iiavid Wajne, Howard DaSilva, Ltilher Adier 

My True Story (67) D . . 308 

Willard Parker, Helen Walker, E. Risdon 

Flame of Stomboul (68) D. .314 

Richard Dennin',', Lisa Kcrraday 

Texons Never Cry (68) W. .352 

Gene .\utrv, Pat Buttram, Mary Castle 

Fort Savoge Raiders (54) W. .365 

©Volentino (105) D..320 

Eleanor Parker. Antbony Dexter, R. Carlson 

©Santa Fe (89) W. .330 

Randolph Scott, Janis Carter, Jerome Couitland 

Fury of the Congo (69) D. .329 

Johnnv Weissmnller. Sherrv Moreland 

Whirlwind (70) W. .354 

Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette, Gail Davis 

Brave Bulls, The (108) D. .321 

Mel Ferrer, Miroslava. .\nthony Quinn 

Her First Romance (73) C. .358 

Marsaret O'Brien, Allan Martin jr., J. Hunt 

©When the Redskins Rode (78) W. .339 

.Ion Hall. Mary Castle. James Seay 

Smuggler's Gold (64) D. .315 

Cameron Mitchell, Amanda Blake. C. B. Reld 

Snake River Desperadoes (54).. W.. 366 

ClKnles Starrett. Smiley Burnette. D. Reynolds 

©Lorna Doone (84) C..336 

Barbara Hale. Richard Greene, Ron Randell 

©Texos Rangers, The (74) W. ,325 

George Montgomery. Gale Storm. N. Beery jr. 

China Corsair (67) .D. .316 

Jon Hall. Lisa Ferraday, Ron Eandell 

Silver Canyon (70) W. .355 

Gene Autry, Champion, Gail Davis 

Sirocco (98) D . . 348 

Humphrey Bogart. Lee J. Cobb. Marta Toren 

©Hurricane Island (72) D . . 349 

Two of a Kind (75) D . . 350 

Edmond O'Brien. Lizabeth Scott. Terry Moore 

306 

Big Gusher (68) D 

W.ijiie .Morris. Preston Foster, Dorothy Patrick 

Bonanza 

©Mosk 

Town 

the 

(56) 

Avenger 

W..367 

.D. .359 

of (83). . . 

John Derek, .\nthony Quinn. Jody Lawrance 

Whistle at Eoton Falls, The (96) D. .322 

Lloyd Bridges. Dorothy Gish. C. Carpenter 

Never Trust a Gambler (79). . . .D. .326 

Dane Clark. Cathy O'Donnell. Tom Drake 

Pickup (78) D..357 

Beverly Michaels. Hugo Haas, .\llan Nixon 

Cyclone Fury (54) W. .368 

Charles Starrett. Smiley Burnette. F. Sears 

Chain of Circumstonce (68) . . D. .309 

. . 

Tlictianl Grayson, Margaret Field, D. Fowley 

. 407 

Saturday's Hero (111) D. ,401 

John Derek. Donna Reed. Sidney Blackmer 

Lody and the Bandit, The (79). .D. .337 

Louis Hayward. Patricia Medina. T, Tullv 

©Sunny Side of the Street( 71). .M. .408 

Frankie Laine. Billy Daniels, Terry Moore 

Magic Face, The (89) D. .402 

Luther Adler, Patricia Knight. W. L. Shirer 

Corky of Gasoline Alley 

Hills of Utah (70) 

(70).. D.. 302 

W. .356 

©Magic Carpet, The (84) C..410 

Lucille Ball, John Agar, Patricia Medina 

Criminal Lowyer (74) C^ . . 41 

Pat O'Brien. Jane Wyalt. Jerome Co.i o. 

Mob, The (87) D . 

Itrioleilek Crawford, Betty Bucblcr, R. Kiley 

Five (93) D. .371 

William Phipps, Susan Douglas, Earl Lee 

Jungle Monhunt (66) D. .411 

Kid From Am oril lo, T h e (56) . .488 

©Barefoot Mailman, The (83). .C. .404 

Itotierl Commlng^. Terrv Moio'e 

Harlem Globetrotters, The (80) C. .405 

Thiimas (iomi'Z, Harlem Globetrotters 

Son of Or. Jckyll, The . .0. (77). . .409 

Loois llavward, Jodv Lawrance 

Valley of Fire (63) W. .353 

Gene Autry. Put Buttram 

©Ten Toll Men (97) O . 

Burt L;iricasfer, J(»dv Lawranre 

©Man in the Saddle (87) D. . 

Itarolnlph ScotI, Joan Leslie 

Purple Heart Diary (73) D. .751 

I'raiHi-. Lani;ford. Tony Romano 

Family Secret, The (85) D. . 

Lee J. Cohh, Johti Derek. J, L.iwrance 

Pecos River ( . . ) W . 

Charles Rt-irrell, Smiley U.one'le 

LIPPERT 

I Three Desperate Men (71) W. .5009 

Preston Foster, Jim Davis, Virginia Grey 

(U Steel Helmet, The (84) D. .5006 

Gene Evans, Steve Brodie, James Edwards 

Don't Lie (56), . . .D. .5015 

Richard Travis, Sid Jlelton, Sheila Ryan 

Ml Mask of the Dragon (53) D. .5013 

Richard Travis, Sid Melton, Sheila Ryan 

HStop Thot Cob (56) 

C..5014 

Sid Melton. Iris .Adrian, Marjorie Lord 

M Danger Zone (56) D. .5017 

Hugh Beaumont, Edward Brophy, R. Travis 

@ Pier 23 (59) D. .5018 

Hu'-'h Beaumont. Ann Savage 

S Roaring City (57) D. .5016 

Hugh Beaumont, Richard Travis 

a Kentucky Jubilee (67) C..5007 

Jerry Colonna, Jean Porter, Jaraes Ellison 

m 

Little Big Horn (82) W. .5003 

John Ireland, Marie Windsor, Lloyd Bridges 

; Savage Drums (70) 

Sabii, Lita Baron, Sid Melton 

.W..5001 

[Ij G.I. Jone (62) C. .5012 

Jean Porter. Tom Ne.al, Iris Adrian 

BYes Sir, Mr. Bones (53) M..5019 

All-star Mbistrel Show 

itU Varieties on Parade (67) M..5020 

Jackie Coogan. .Ml-Star Revue 

gT] Lost Continent, The (82) D. .5004 

Cesar Romero, Hillary Brooke. Chick Chandler 

m Leave It to the Marines (66). . C. .5005 

Sid Melton. Mara Lynn 

a As You Were (57) C . . 5023 

William Tracy. Joe S.'lwycr 

a Sky High (60) C..5024 

Sid Melton, Mara Lynn 

^Highly Dangerous (81) D..5029 

Dane (lark. M.arsaret Loekwood 

511 Unknown World (63) D . . 51 01 

Bruce Kellogg. Marilyn Nash 

I9] FBI Girl (74) D. .5002 

Cesar Romero, .\udrey Totter 

P Superman and the Mole Men 

(58) D..5030 

George Reeves. Phyllis Coates 

[7l The Great Adventure (75). . 

Deiuiis Price, Jack Hawkins 

21' Talcs of Robin Hood (59) . . 

Robert Clarke, Mary Hatcher 

. . D. .5021 

D 5008 

M-G-M 

BlWateh the Birdie (71) C..113 

Red Skeilon. Arlene Dahl. Ann .Miner 

EI Grounds for Marriage (89) C..114 

Van Jotuison, KatlirjTl Grayson, Paula Raymond 

m U©Kim (113) 

D..11S 

Errol Flyrni, De.an Stockwell, Paul Lukas 

is Magnificent Yankee, The (88).. D.. 116 

Louis Calliern, Ann Harding. Eduard Franz 

ig ©Vengeance Volley (82) SW..117 

Burt Lancaster, Robert Walker, Joanne Dru 

£3i Cause for Alarm (73) D . . 1 1 

Loretta Young, Barry SuUivan, Bruce Cowling 

S Three Guys Named Mike (90). . .C. .119 

Jane Wyman. Van Joiinson. Howard Keel 

31 Inside Straight (87) D . . 123 

Daiid Brian. Arlene Dahl. Barry Sullivan 

m f„;©Royol Wedding (92) M . . 121 

Fred -Vstaire. Jane Powell. Peter Law ford 

In] (.^Father's Little Dividend (81)..C..124 

Spencer Tracy, Joan Bennett, Elizabeth Tavior 

m Soldiers Three (92) D. .126 

Walter Pidgeon, Stewart Granger, David Niven 

m Q©Greot Caruso, The (109) M. .127 

;Mario Lanza. ,\nn Blyth. Doiolhy Kirsten 

a ©Pointed Hills, The (68) D. .125 

Lassie, Paul Kelly. Gary Gray, Ann Doran 

El Home Town Story (61 ) D , , 1 28 

Crisp. Jeffrey Lynn, Marjorie Reynold^ 

gl] Go for Broke! (93) D,,129 

\'an Johnson. Warner .\nderson. L. Nakano 

. 1 32 

[g Night Into Morning (86) D . . 1 30 

Rav Miiland. John Hodiak. Nancy Davis 

SS No Questions Asked (81 ) D . 

.\rlene Dahl. Geoige Mui'phy. Barry Sulliv.an 

g ©Excuse My Dust (82) M..133 

Red Skelton. Sally Forrest, Macdonald Carey 

H Kind Lady (78) D . . 1 34 

Ethel Barrymore. Maurice Evans, A. Lanshury 

[G] Strictly Dishonoroble (94) D. .131 

Ezio Pinza. Janet Leigh, Millard Jlitehell 

m ©Show Boat (1 08) M . . 1 35 

Kathrvn Gra\son. Howard Keel. A\a Gardner 

S Law and the Lady (1 04) C . . 1 36 

Greer Garson. Michael Wilding, Marjorie Main 

Teresa (105) D..137 

Pier .Vngeli, John Ericson, Patricia CoUinge 

[U ©Rich, Young and Pretty (95). .M. .138 

Jane Powell. Vic Damone, Danielle Darrieus 

m Toll Target, The (78) D. .139 

Dick Po.vell. Paula Raymond. Adolphe Menjou 

JStrip, The (85) D..140 

Mickey Ttonney. Sally Forrest. Monica Levis 

Spencer Trac\ . John Hodiak. Diana Lvain 

. D. III Angels in the Outfield (102) 

Paul Iioiijlav Janet Leigii. 

. 

Keenan 

.202 

Wvnn 

SI ©Mr, Imperium (87) M..203 

Lana Turner, Ezio Pinza. Barry Sullivan 

Red Bodge of Courage (69) . . . . D. 1? .204 

Audie Murphy. Bill Mauldin, J. Dierkes 

Is] ©Texas Carnival (77) C. .205 

Red Skelton. Esther Williams. Howard Keel 

H Bonnerline (88) D. .206 

Sally Forre.t. Lionel Barrvmnre. K. Brassell 

E Man With a Cloak (81 ) D . . 207 

Raihara Sl.anwvek, Joseph Coften. L. Caron 

H ©Across the Wide Missouri (81) SW. .208 

Clark Gallic. John Hodiak. M. E, Maniues 

(H ©An American in Paris (I13)..M. 

Gene Kelly. Leslie Caron. Oscar Levant 

209 

IS Too Young to Kiss (91) C. .211 

Van Johnson. June .\llvsoii. Gig Young 

Unknown Mon, The (88) D. .210 

Wal ter Piilgenn. Ann Harding 

Light~Youch, The (107) D. .212 

Stewart Gr;iie.;er, Pier Angell. George Sanders 

Callowov Went Thatowov (81). C .214 

Dor.i'hy 51eGiiire. Fred MicMurrav. H. Keel 

Colling Bulldog Drummond (81). .D. .213 

Waller Pldt'eon. Margaret Leighlon 

MONOGRAM 

E Sierro Passage (80) 

\Vayne Morris. Lois .Albright, Alan 

EA Colorado Ambush (52) 

_ Joiinny Mack Brown, Lois Hall, U 

,21 Bowery Bottolion (69) 

Leo Goieev, lluntz Ilall, 

g©Blue Blood (72) 

Bowery 1 

B 11 Williams. Jîne .\igb, Arthur Bt 

Abilene Trail (64) . .- 

A 

Wliip Wilson, Andy Clyde, Noel Ne 

35 Rhythm Inn (71) 

Jane Frazee. 'Ivirby Grant. Charles 

51 Vicious Yeors, 'The (81) 

Tommy Cook, Gar Moore, Sybil lit 

i4j Navy Bound (61 ) 

Tom 

Mon 

Neal. 

From 

Regis 

Sonora 

Toomey. 

(54) 

Wendy V 

Eij 

Johnny .Mack Brown. Lylc Talbot, L 

511 Gypsy Fury (63) 

Viveea Lindfors. Chri-tophcr Kent, I 

g Lion Hunters, The (73) 

Johnny Sheffield. Ann Todd. Morrb 

SI Canyon Raiders (54) 'i 

Whip Wilson. Fuzzy Knight. PhylUs' 

EH I Was an American Spy (85).. 

.\nn Dvorak, Gene Ev.ms. Douglas K 

a Ghost Chasers (69) 

Hiintz H.ill. Leo Gorcey. Bowery Boj 

[6] Blozing Bullets (51 ) > 

Jolinnv Mack Brown. Lois Hall 

El ©Covolry Scout (78) ' 

Audrey Lon^. Kod Cameron. Jim Da 

@ According to Mrs. Hoyle (60).. 

Spring Byin^ton. Tanis Chandler, Ere 

^Nevada Bodmen (58) > 

Whip Wilson. Fuzzy Knight, Phyllis 

>lII1( 

Robert Clarke. Virginia Welles 

E Father Takes the Air (61) i 

Raymond Walburn. Walter Catlett 

M Montana Desperado (51) V 

Johnny Mack Brown. Lois Hall 

3^ Coso Monona (73) 

[8] Yukon Monhunt (63) l|5i:J 

jll*' 

fciK"' 

I'lJiitti 

Kirliv Grant. Chinook. Gail Davis 1 

TS Stagecoach Driver (52) VlSISl 

Whip Wilson I 

I 

SI Let's Go Navy (68)

in 

. W. 

.C. 

liRAMOUNT 

JrSiided (94) W. .5009 

t IU| I 7i Udil. Mil" Freemiiii, Charlrs Blckford 

.t-ilWor With the Army (93) . .C. .5014 

|ln M«rtln. Jerry Lewis. I'oUj Berteo 

.,, Fliembsr AHoIr (104) D. .5012 

' 

jiMi KOTitlliie. Jo.scph Gotten. Jes'ilM Tandy 

' 

iir.ol MUiourl Rold, The (85) 0. .5013 

gdell tVey. Kllin Drew. Ma«loiiaJd Carey 

RKO RADIO S I.- 

, 

*- tt a 

fij 

SI Hunt the Man Down (68) ....D..111 

.M;iry Aiiuerson, CIk Young, l.ynne KoberU 

Company She Keeps, The (83) . ,D. .109 

Llznhelli Sciili, Jane (ireer, Dennis O'Kee/e 

a Double Deol (65) D . 

. 1 1 

Marie Windsor, Richard Denning. Fay Baker 

gj Gambling House (80) D. 110 

Victor Mature. Terry Moore. William Bendis 

Ifol Cry Donger (79) 0.115 

Dick Powell. Rhonda Fleming. Richard Erdman 

! Law of the Badlands (60) D. 

Tim Uolt, Richard .Uurllii, low Dlioo 

111 

REPUBLIC 

> 

g 

'rid 

Si 

H Pride of Maryland (60) D. .502) 

Stanley Clranila. Prgnj Hlxiart, Frankle Darro 

9t Belle Le Grand (90) .5006 

V.â llaUtufi, John Carroll. Ilotw Kmer«un 

9* Rough Riders of Durange (60). .W. .5058 

Alla/i Lane. Ailne Town*. Rou Kord 

(B Spoilers of the Plains (67) W. .5041 

Roy Rogers, Peony Cdnardi. Gordon Jooo 

n Missing Women (60) D..5025 

l>iin> Bdi4arils, James Mllllcan, 

a Night Riders of Montana (60) 

Alvln 

.W. .5059 

J. 

Allan Lane, aaudia Barrett, Chubby Johnson 

FEATURE 

CHART 

20TH CENTURY-FOX 2 5» 

Mudlark, The (99) D. .101 

Irmr lirififip. Aire Gulnnepolntnient With Danger (90) D. .5019 

j[i Ladd. Jan Sterling, I'liylUs Calvert 

Lost Outpost, The (89) D . . 5020 

nald R'agan. Rhonda FlPinlng. Peter Hanson 

Itar Brot (82) 0. .5021 

j;na Freeman, Edward Arnold. Billy DeWolft 

2) D . . 5030 

amonB, Michael Rennle. Anne Crawford 

Possoge West (80) W. .5022 

hn Payne. Arleen Whelan. Dennla O'Keefe 

3 Carnivol, The (112) D. .5023. . 

(Ret. as Ace In the Hole) 

Irk Douglas, Jui Sterling, Porter HaM 

IS Poyment on Demand (90) ....D..171 

Belte Datla, Barry Sullkan, Kent Taylor 

'Ul Torion's Peril (79) .D 172 

Lei Barter. Virginia Huston. Otorge Macread.\ 

Thing 

1 

From Another World (86) D. .174 

Ediiard Frana, Margaret Sheridan, James Arneas 

(D Soddle Legion (60) W..117 

rira Holt. Dorothy Malone. Richard Martin 

33 Footlight Varieties (61) M..1U 

Jack I'aar, Red Buttons. Leon Brrol 

a My Forbidden Post (70) D..I14 

Ava Gardner. Melryn Douglu. Robsrt MItchum 

T Tokyo File 212 (84) D..175 

Florence Marly. Robert Peyton. K. Halda 

m Kon-Tlkl (73) D. .173 

Thor Heyerdahl. Knut Haugland 

SS Seoled Cargo (90) D..118 

Dana Andrews. Claude Baliis. Carta Balenda 

; 

•o 

flan Dalley, Ru.san Harvard, 0. Sanders TO 

14 Hours (91) 0.114 

Paul Douglas. Blebard Basebart. B. Bel Qeddea 

. 1 13 

Follow the Sun (90) 0. .112 

(;ierin Ford. Anne Baiter. Dennla H'Keete 

Rawhide (86) SW 

Tyrone Power. Susan Hayward. Hugh Harloee 

©On the Riviera (89) MC. .115 

Danny Kaye. Gene TIemey. Corlnne Calfet 

. 1 1« 

©Half Angel (80) D . 

Ij'reira Young. Joseph Cotten. Cecil Kellaway 

House on Telegraph Hill (93) . D. .117 

IMchard Basebart. Valentloa Corteaa 

As Young As You Feel (77) .. C..120 

Monty Woolley. ITlelma Bitter. Dsild Wayne 

Guy Who Came Back, The (91) .0.118 

Paul Douglas. Joan Bennett. Linda Darnell 

©Take Care of Little Girl (93) M..119 

Jesnne Craln. Jean Peters. Dale Robertson 

OFrogmen, The (96) 0..122 

Dana Andrews. Gary Uerrlll. Blehard WIdmark 

•klDfl Express (15) D. .5024 

iseph Cotten. Corlnne Calvet, BdmaDd Gwenn 

lot's My Boy (98) C. .5026 

can Martin. Jerry Lewis. Ruth Hussey 

Worpoth (95) D .5025 

dmoDd O'Brien, Dean Jftgfer, Forrest Tucker 

•re Comes the Groom (114) . .C. .5101 

Ing Crosby, Jane Wyman, Francbot Tone 

loce In the Sun, A (122) D. .5102 

lontgoiDery ClKt. Elizabeth Taylor 

huborb (94) C. .5103 

ay UUlasd, Jan Sterling. Oen« Lorkhart 

a Flying Leotherneeki (102) D. .261 

John Wayne, Robert Ryan, Jaola Carter 

Roadblock (73) D. .204 

Charles MrGraw, JoaD Dlxoo 

Pistol Horyeat (60) W. .205 

Tim Holt. Joan Dlion. Lowell Gllmore 

a Hit Kind of Woman (120) D. .201 

Bohert Hltckum, Jane Bussell. Vlnceot Price 

iB On the Loose (74) D . .202 

Joan Evans. Melvyn Douglas, Lyon Barl 

gS Behave Yourself I (81) CD. .206 

Farley Orasger, Shelley Winters. W. Dtmarset 

igXhli li Korea (SO Doc. 5127 

& Fort Dodge Stampede (60). . .5062 

Allan "Bocky ' Lane. Uary Ellen Kay 

a Arizona Manhunt (60) W .5068 

Michael Chapln. Ellene Janssen. James Bell 

@ Havana Rose (77) D..5124 

Estellta Rodrlgues. Hugh Herbert. B ffUUaiu 

Secret of Convict Lake, The (83) D. .123 

Glenn Fori. Gene Tlerr.ey. Ethel Barrymore 

Mr. Belvedere Rings the Bell (88) C 124 

Clifton Webb. Joanne Dm. Hugh Marlnwe 

©Meet Me After the Show (86) M. .125 

Bttty Qrable. Mscdooald Carey. Rory Calhoun 

People Will Talk (110) 

C..126 

Cary Grant. Jeanne Craln. F. Currle 

Millionaire for Christy, A (90)..C 127 

Fred MacMiirray. Eleanor Parker. R Carlson 

Day the Earth Stood Still (92).. D .129 

Michael Bennle. Patricia N'eal. H. Marlowe 

Xresswinds (93) D. .5104 

its Payne, Rhonda Fleming. Forrest Tucker 

•rilng, How Could You! (96). .C. .5108 

Fontaine. John Lund, Mona Freeman 

Hot Lead (61) W. .209 

Tim Holt. Richard Martin, Joan Dlion 

©Slaughter Trail (78) W. .207 

Brian Donlevy. Virginia Grey, A. Devinc 

^ ©Drums in the Deep South (87). .D. .211 

James Craig, Barbara Payton, Q. Madison 

a The Blue Veil (114) D. 263 

Jane Wyman, Cbarlea Laugbton. J. Blondell 

m Adventures of Cpt. Fablon(IOO) D. .5101 

Errol Flynn, Michellne Prelle, V. Prlct 

a Sea Hornet (84) D. .5102 

Rod Cameron, Adele Mars 

!5 Utah Wagon Train (67) W. .5054 

Rex Allen, Penny Edwards 

E5 South of Callente (66) W. .5151 

Roy Rogers, Dale Bvans 

Desert Fox, The (87) D. .130 

James Mason. Jessica Tandy. C. Hardwicke 

Journey Into Light (87) D .132 

Sterling Hayden. Vlteca Llndfors. T. Mitchell 

No Highway In the Sky (98). . .0. . 121 

James Stewart. Marlene Dietrich. G. Johns 

Love Nest (84) C.JSl 

June Haver. WUllao Lundlgan, Frank Fa; 

O(-1 

o 

OS 

iteclWe Story (103) D..5111 

tirk Douglas. Eleanor Parker. W. Bendli 

Ubmerlne Command (87) D,.5107 

Ullaiii Hijlden. .Nancy Olson, W. Bendis 

bWhen Worlds Collide (81) D. .5106 

llehud Derr, Barbara Husb, J. Hoyt 

Racket, The (90) D. .210 

Robert Mltcbiim. Llzabeth Scott 

Jungle of Chong (67) D. .208 

Documentary of Thailand 

©Two Tickets to Broodwoy (106). M. .264 

Janet Leigh, Tony Martin 

Whip Hond, The (81) D. .212 

Elliott Reld, Carta Balenda. L. Tuttle 

Street BandlH (54) D . . 51 30 

Penny Edwards, Robert Clarke 

Desert of Lost Men (54) W. .5063 

.Kllan Lane, Mary Ellen Kay 

Stormbound (60) D. .5032 

Constance Dovrllug (Itallan-Ianguaie) 

Let's Moke It Legal (77) C. .113 

Claudetle Colbert. Macdonald Carey 

©Anna of the Indies (81) D..134 

Jean I'eters. Louis Jourdan. Debra Paget 

©Golden Girl (111) M . . 1 36 

Mitil Gaynor. Dennis Day, D. Robertaoo 

^ 

•llTif City (90) 

D..5112 

|TO«llle DeCarlo, Kdmond O'Brien, R. Arlen 

(ly Povorlte Spy (93) C..5110 

Hops. Hedy Lamarr 

jlob 

I Want You (102) D. .251 

Dorothy McGiilre. Dana Andrewa. F. Granger 

Double Dynamite (80) C. . 

June Hnssell Frank Blnatra. Groucho Man 

On Dangerous Ground (..) D.. 

Id:l Luplno, Robert Rian 

Overland Telegraph (..) W. 

Tim Holt, Gall Davis 

Wild Blue Yonder, The (..)... D . . 

Vera R.ilston. Wendell Corey, Phil Harris 

Woman in the Dark (..) D. . 

Penny Ed«ard>, Ross Elliott 

Pals of the Golden West (. .). .W. . 

Roy Rogers. Dale Evans 

Elopement (81) C. 141 

Clifton Webb. Anne Francis. Wm Lundlgan 

©I'll Never Forget You (..)....D.. 

Tvrooe Power. Knn Blyth. Michael Bennle 

Girl on the Bridge, The ( . . ) D . 

Hugo Haas. Beverly Michaels 

Fixed Bayonets ( . ) . D . 

lilchard Bajshart. Ulefaaal O'ShM

I 

Blue 

] My 

D. 

.C. 

. . .D. 

. DAiiirlif 

.Jimmy 

' 

' 

' 

UAÛCi 

' 

FEATURE 

CHART 

>- 

< 

s 

UNITED ARTISTS g 1° 

wicked City, The (76) D. .205 

Maria .\tuiili>z, Ulll Palmer, J. P. Aumont 

Milter Universe (90) C. .208 

jHi-k I'arsoii. Jaiil8 Paige, Bert Lahr 

Koreo Patrol (57) D. .211 

llliliard Emory. Benson Foni, Terl Duna 

Sun Sets at Down, The (71) ...D..046 

nailer Keed, BtUy Parr, Philip Shawn 

UNIVERSAL-INTL g ti 

. 108 

©Frenchie (80) W . 

Joel Metres, Shelley Winters, Paul Kelly 

OHorvey (104) C. .107 

Jame6 Stewart, Peggy Dow, Josephine Hull 

Under the Gun (83) D . . 109 

Richard Conta. Audrey Tatter, Sam Jaffe 

WARNER BROS. 

(S Highway 301 (83) D..012 

Steve Cochran, Virginia Grey, Gaby Andre 

gl Operation Pacific (109) D. .013 

John Wayne, Patricia Neal, Ward Bond 

FOREIGN 

FIUAS 

AUSTRALIA 

Bitter Springs (73) 

(Bill) . .Chips Rafferty, Tommy Trin. 

BRITAIN 

Alice in Wonderland (80) u 

(Smivaine) , .Carol Marsh, Stephen ^rl, 

U- Co'"" 

< 

UJ 

es 

CO 

> 

o 

m They Were Not Divided (102) . .D .275 

BUward Underdomi, Kalpb ClantoD, H. Cherry 

Lamp, The (84) D. .016 

Jack Warner, Jlmmj Hanley, Dirk Bogarde 

Naughty Arietta (86) C. .226 

Outiow Brother (82) D. .209 

(Itei. as My Brother, the eutlaw) 

51 Second Woman, The (91) D. .639 

Hubert Voung. Betsy Drake. John Sutton 

Circle of Donger (86) D. .207 

Itay Mllland. Patricia Roc, Marlus Goring 

a So Long ot the Foir (85) D . . 270 

m Badman's Gold (56) W. .262 

[T Scorf, The (86) D. .644 

!S| Long Dark Hoi), The (86) D..214 

When I Grow Up (90) D..215 

Sklpalong Rosenbioom (72) W..213 

Mai Knsenbloom, Mai Baer, Jackie Coogan 

Oliver Twist (105) D. .216 

Men From Planet X (70) D. .647 

B) Try ond Get Me (92) D. .643 

(Iter, as Bound of Fury) Frank Lovejoy 

m First Legion, The (86) D. .648 

Charies Buyer. Lyle Bettger, Leo G. Carroll 

ES Odette (105) D. .652 

.Anna Neagle, Treror Howard, Marina QorlJlg 

H Prowler, The (92) D . . 650 

Van Heflln, Evelyn Keyes, John Maxwell 

. 

m Fobiolo (96) D..651 

.Micliele Morgan. Henri Vldal, Michel Simon 

dl Mon With My Face, The (75) .659 

Barry Nelson. Lynn Ainley, C. Mattllewa 

111 Three Steps North (85) D. .657 

Uoyd Bridges, Let Padoraol, Aide Fabrlil 

W Queen for a Doy (107) D. .645 

Pliyllla Avery, Iiarren McOavln 

H He Ran All the Way (77) D. .646 

John (larfield, Shelley Winters. W. Ford 

@ Cyrano de Bergeroc (113) ....D..660 

Juse Ferrer, Mala Powers, WlUlam Prince 

gl Hoodlum, The (61) D. .653 

Lawrence Tlerney, Allene Rotwrta, L. Oolni 

Pardon My French (81) C...1402 

Paul ilenreld. Merle Oberon, P. Boniras 

Four in a Jeep (97) D . 1 1 39 

VIvfca Lliidrurs, Ilalpb Meeker, M. Medwln 

©New Mexico (74) D . . 649 

Left Ayres, Marilyn Maxwell, Andy Derine 

St. Benny, the Dip (80) C. .658 

Dick iiaymes. Nina Focb, Roland Young 

Two Gais and o Guy (70) C. .654 

Jania Paige, Robert Alda, James Oleas on 

Obseised (77) D.1188 

David Piirrar. Gcraldlnt Fitzgerald 

Gold Roiders (56) W.1172 

(ieorge •'lirlen, Rhella Ryan, L. Talbot 

Mister Drake'! Duck (76) C..655 

Douglas l

I 

I 4803 

I 

4431 

I 

i 

5455 

, 4432 

i 

1951-52 

! 4501 

! 4601 

I 

! 

COLOR 

• Merry-Go- 

I 

4602 

I 

j 

4603 

I 

6-14-51 

I. Hwft ••bkeli, »«t»d by company. In order of roloaio. Running tim* tollewi tltlo. rirrt dot. b notional 

rtlooM, •«»'"* ''•

SHORTS CHART 

6310 Teresa Brewef •rd Firehouse 

Five Plus Two(15)6-27-51 + 6-30 

1951-52 SEASON 

7301 Tommy Dorsey and His 

Orchestra (15) 11- 7-51 ± 11-10 

7302 Woody Herman's Varieties 

(15) 12- 5-51 -f 11-17 

TWO-REEL SPECIALS 

6202 Arnold the Benedict 

(IS) g- g-51 

. 


± 7-14 

7201 Danger Under the Sea 

(161/2) 12-10-51 ++ 11-10 

TECHNICOLOH CARTUNES 

(Reissues) 

. . 3-19-51 + 3-24 

6326 Woody Dines Out (7) 

. 

6327 Andy Panda Goes Fishinj 

(7) 4-23-51 -f 5-19 

6328 Springtime Serenade (7) 5-14-51 ± 5-12 

6-23 

6329 Jungle Jive (7) 6-18-51 -|- 

6330 Who's Cookin' Who? (7) . 

7-16-51 

6331 Pied Piper of Basin Street 

(7) 8-20-51 

6332 100 Pygmies and Andy 

Panda (7) 9-17-51 

6333 The Fox and the Rabbit 

(7) 10-15-51 

VARIETY VIEWS 

6343 Springboard to Fame (9) 3- 5-51 ± 3-24 

6344 Hickory Holiday (9) 4-30-51 ± 5-19 

6345 Finny Business (9) 5-21-51 -|- 6- 9 

6346 Clubby Cub (9) 6- 18-51 H 5-12 

6347 Romeo Land (9) 8- 6-51 -f 7-21 

6348 Monkey Island (9) ... 9-10-51 ± 7-14 

WOODY WOODPECKER CARTUNES 

(Technicolor) 

6352 Sleep Happy (7) 3-26-51 + 4-21 

6353 Wicket Wackey (7).... 5-28-51 ± 5-12 

6354 Sling Shot 6% (7) . . . . 7-23-51 + 6-30 

6355 Redwood Sap (7) 10- 1-51 ± 9-15 

6356 Woody Woodpecker Polka 

(7) 10-29-51 -I- 

9-15 


7351 Destination Meatball 

(7) 12-24-51 -f 11-10 

H 

Warner Bros. 

Prod. No. Title Rel. Date Rating Re»'o 

BLUE RIBBON HIT PARADE 

(Technicolor Reissues) 

7307 Lite With Feathers (7) 3- 3-51 

7308 Peck Up Your Troubles 

(7) 3-24-51 + 4-21 

7309 Odor-Able Kitty (7)... 4-21-51 

7310 Book Revue (7) 5-19-51 

7311 Staoefright (7) 6-23-51 

7312 Sioux Me (7) 7-21-51 

7313 The Stupid Cupid (7) . 9- 1-51 


8301 Holiday for Shoestring 

(7) 9-15-51 

8302 Lady in Red (7) 10-13-51 

8303 Sniffles and Bookworm 

(7) 11-10-51 

8304 Goldilocks Jivin' Bears 

(7) 12- 1-51 

BUGS BUNNY SPECIALS 

(Technicolor) 

7721 Rabbit Every Monday (7) 2-10-51 -|- 4-21 

7722 Bunny Hugged (7) 3-10-51 + 4-21 

7723 Fair-Haired Hare (7).. 4-14-51 -^ 6- 2 

7724 Rabbit Fire (7) 5-19-51 ff 6-30 

7725 French Rarebit (7) 6-30-51 

7726 His Hare Raising Tale 

(7) 8- 11-51 -(- 9- 8 


8723 Ballot Box Bunny (7).. 10- 6-51 4+ 11-24 

8724 Bio Top Bunny (7) .. .12- 1-51 

FEATURETTES 

7104 Roaring Gun> (19) 

(reissue) 3-31-51 

7105 Hunting the Hard Way 

(20) 5-26-51 

7106 Uw of the Badlands (20) 8- 4-51 


BlOl The Knife Tlirower (20). 9-29-51 H 10-20 

8102 A Uugh a Day (..). .11-24-51 

8103 I Won't Play ( . ) 12-29-51 

. 

HIT PARADE OF GAY NINETIES 

. 2-10-51 

7804 Clilldhoo* Days (10) . . 

York (9) . . 4-28-51 

7805 In Old New 

7806 Musical Memories (9).. 6-30-51 

lOE McDOAKES COMEDIES 

7484 So You Want to Be • 

Cowboy (10) 4-14-51 ± 5-26 

7405 So You Wint to Be a 

Psperhtnger (16) 6- 2-51 + 7-14 

74*6 Si You Want to Buy i 

Used Cv (10) 7-28-51 ±9-8 


8401 So You Want to Be 

Bachelor (10) 9-22-51 + U-10 

8402 So You Want to Be a 

Plumber (..) 11-10-51 

MELODY MASTERS BAND 


8801 U.S. Army Band (10) . .10-13-51 + 12- 1 

8802 Jan Garbet and Orch. 

(..) 11-17-51 

MERRIE MELODIES 

(Ctlor) 

7709 Corn Pluttrad (7) S- S-51 + 4-21

Opinions on Current Productions; Exploitips 

(FOR STORY SYNOPSIS ON EACH PICTURE, SEE REVERSE SIDE) 

On Dangerous Ground 

F 

Drama 

RKO Radio ( ) 82 Minutes Hoi. Dec. '51 

RKO may very well have a "sleeper" in this tense action 

thriller which is highlighted by two superb performances by 

Ida Lupino and Robert Ryan. The early sequences, which 

play up Ryan as a hard-hitting, embittered police detective, 

have much of the force of "Detective Story," while 

Ida Lupino, whose blind girl characterization doesn't appear 

until the film is half over, gives the later scenes all the 

poignancy of "Johnny Belinda." Properly exploited, it should 

do strong business in 

the action houses while Miss Lupino's 

name value and favorable word-of-mouth will boost business 

generally. Nicholas Ray deserves high praise for his 

taut directorial job, especially during the suspenseful chase 

sequences over rocky, snow-covered terrain, which will hove 

the male patrons on the edge of their seats. And Miss 

Lupino's touching portrayal will elicit tears from the majority 

of women fans. Photography is excellent. 

Ida Lupino, Robert Ryan, Ward Bond, Charles Kemper. 

Anthony Ross, Ed Begley, Ian Wolfe, Sumner Williams. 

riil"> 

'orlhii/ 

mit. ) 

Ore / 

It's a Big Country F 

""""""^ 

MGM ( ) 89 MinutoB Bel. 

No better description can be found than appears on the 

picture's main title, to wit: "This is a 'message' picture. The 

message: "Hooiay for America." Seldom on celluloid has the 

flag been more vigorously and engrossingly waved—and 

with less stuffiness. Eight unrelated episodes—each with 

the same basic thought—project the greatness of these United 

States, and with the productional, directorial and thespian 

mastery indicated when considering the glistening array ol 

writers, mummers and megaphonists that participated in 

their making. Some of the sequences are good, others are 

excellent. It's the kind of film that will more than satisfy 

spectators once they are attracted to the theatre, and there 

is so much obvious material—principally cast and subject 

for exploitation that any showman worthy of the title should 

have no trouble attracting them in profiiable numbers. Produced 

by Robert Sisk with seven top-bracket directors. 

Ethel Barrymore, Gary Cooper, 'Van lohnson. Gone Kelly, 

Janet Leigh, Fredric March, William PowelL 

Sailor Beware 

F 

"""''' 

Paramount (5114) 108 Minutes Rel. Feb. '52 

It's a cinch that because of their current and phenomenal 

popularity Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, whose specialty is 

comedy of the zaniest variety, can do no wrong in the 

laugh department. Most exhibitors will recall the profitable 

bookings they enjoyed with "At War With the Army," in 

which the duo subjected GI life to their inimitable brand of 

buffoonery. Herein the M. and L. combination exposes Uncle 

Sam's navy to the same brand of allout, slam-bang clowning. 

Adhering to their standard technique, the comics rely on a 

long series of gags and slapstick situations, most of which 

will be appraised as extremely funny by the average ticket 

buyer. The mirthful proceedings reach what is probably their 

highest pitch in a hilarious boxing contest. From past experiences, 

showmen will easily recognize the boundless exploitation 

possibilities of the Hal Wallis production. Expertly 

directed by Hal Walker. 

Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, Corinne Calvel. Morion Marshall, 

Robert Strauss, Leii Erickson, Skip Homeier. 

Fixed Bayonets 

p 

Drama 

20th-Fox 92 Minutes 

ReL Dec. '51 

Timeliness is the greatest asset of this grim, harrowing 

drama of the Korean campaign. Written and directed by 

Samuel Fuller, who attracted attention with his low-budget 

picture for Lippert, "Steel Helmet," this also features Gene 

Evans, in a similar portrayal of a tough, bearded sergeant, 

but it has no strong names in its all-male cast. With the 

current news headlines about Korean truce talks, the picture 

should do strong business in action houses, where male 

patrons predominate. However, feminine fans undoubtedly 

will shy away once they learn it deals with combat warfare 

with never a mention of a woman during the entire picture. 

Several of the episodes, particularly one dealing with the 

soldiers trying to sidestep buried mines, are extremely suspenseful, 

but there are no lighter moments to relieve the 

tension. Evans and Richard Basehart are both good, but it is 

Skip Homeier and Richard Monahan whose scenes stand out. 

Richard Basehart, Gene Evans, Michael O'Shea, Craig HilL 

Richard Hylton, Skip Homeier, Richard Monahan. 

^ 

Week-End With Father 

F 

Comedy 

Univ.-Int'l (206) 83 Minutes Rel. Dec. '51 

Some very charming people are seen in a light romantic 

comedy about a widow with two sons and a widower with 

two daughters who romance under the critical eyes of 

their offspring and a TV star who has designs on the widower 

during a weekend stay near the mountain camps. The kids 

do all the things they are not expected to do and the 

parents do what the kids trick them into with resultant 

laughs and emotional touches that make this lively entertainment 

for whole families. Van Heflin, as the father and 

Patricia Neal as the mother provide the adult appeal. Little 

Gigi Perreau is a standout among the children. Virginia 

Reynolds is the TV star. Ted Richmond produced and 

Douglas Sirk directed. The screenplay was by Joseph Hoffman 

from a story by George F. Slavin and George W. 

George. 

Van Heflin, Patricia NeaL Gigi Perreau, Virginia Field, 

Jimmy Hunt, Janine Perreau, Tommy Rettif, Gary Pagett. 

The History of Mr, Polly 

F 

Comedy 

Drama 

International Releasing 94 Minutes Rel. 

A gentle and charming study of British middle-class life, 

this J. Arthur Rank produciion will delight most art house 

patrons but seem slow-moving and uneventful to the average 

moviegoer. Based on the novel by H. G. Wells and produced 

by John Mills, who also stars and whose name has become 

familiar to U.S. fans since "Great Expectations," it should 

do good business in class spots, practically none elsewhere. 

Mills is the very personification of England's "little man," 

who leaves his humdrum life in search of adventure and 

happiness. Finlay Currie, who also attracted in "Great 

Expectations" and is now featured in "Quo Vadis" and "People 

Will Talk," does another frightening portrayal and, as 

usual in British films, there is an abundance of superb 

character performances. The film ends on a peaceful and 

placid note. Directed by Anthony Pelissier. International 

Releasing is at 400 Madison Ave., New York City. 

John Mills, Sally Ann Howes, Finlay Currie, Betty Ann Davies, 

Edward Chapman, Megs Jenkins, Wylie Watson. 

Pecos River 

Columbia (751) 55 Minutes 

Western 

Rel. Nov. 28, '51 

The popularity of the Durango Kid has been proven, and 

this offering should draw if exploited as the latest in the 

series. It should do well where westerns ere popular and 

the Saturday juvenile attendees will find plenty of fistfighting 

and shooting to suit their tastes. It will stand 

up in action houses as the lower half of a double bill. 

Charles Starrett is competent in a dual role and Smiley 

Burnette carries off the broad comedy well. Delores Sidener 

is pretty and vivacious, but it is hard to estimate her ability 

from this, her first role. She will be seen soon as the feminine 

lead in a Mickey Rooney picture under her new name, Anne 

James. Dialog is kept at a minimum, but the plot sustains 

interest throughout. Colbert Clark produced and Fred F. 

Sears directed from a screenplay by Barry Shipman. 

Charles Starrett, Smiley Burnette, Jack Mahoney, Delores 

Sidener, Steve Darrell, Edgar Bearing, Frank Jenks. 

Ma Pomme (Just Me) 

F 

Comedy 

Drama 

Discina International 90 Minutes Rel. 

Maurice Chevalier tries his hand at a Charlie Chaplin-esque 

portrayal in a French-language comedy drama with only 

occasional interludes. The great French star's mature charm 

still shines through a ragged, dirty hobo's outfit even if the 

story is long-drawn-out and intermittently amusing. Although 

it is a dozen years since Chevalier's last Hollywood film, his 

name will still exert a strong appeal to the older women, 

particularly, and the picture should do well in key city art 

houses. It will hove little boxoffice draw in general situations. 

The title song, which the star introduced several years ago as 

"The Hobo's Serenade," is the best of several ordinary tunes 

but Chevalier delivers them with his customary skill. Several 

attractive French actresses are seen in important roles but 

Jane Marken, as a grasping, middle-aged hat-check girl, contributes 

the most convincing performance. Marc-Gilbert 

Sauvajon directed. Discina is ct 250 West 57th St. 

Maurice Chevalier, Sophie Desmarets, Jean Wall, Jane 

Marken. Jacques Baumer. Vera Norman.

. . The 

FEATURE REVIEWS Story Synopsis; Adiines for Newspaper and Programs 

m 

THE STORY: 

"It's a Big Country" 

Unfolding in eight episodes, this has one central theme— 

that the U.S. is not one unit, but many, depending upon 

the viewpoints of the people who dwell in different sections 

and earn their livings in various ways. Into each 

episode is woven proof that through tolerance and mutual 

understanding the nation is certain to progress even beyond 

its present high standards of achievement and wealth. 

Exemplifying this message in the various sequences are, 

among others, Ethel Borrymore as a retired Boston lady who 

thinks the census-taker has forgotten her; Gary Cooper, as 

a Texan; S. Z. Sakall, as a Hungarian immigrant; Keefe 

Brasselle, as a wounded Korean war veteran; Van lohnson, 

as a young clergyman, and Fredric March, as head ol a large 

Italian family. 

CATCHIINES: 

It's the Land of the Free . . . And the Home of the Brave 

It's a Big Country . . .And After You See This Wonderful 

Movie . . . You'll Be Prouder Than Ever . . . 

That It's Your 

Country. 

I 

THE STORY: 

"On Dangerous Ground" 

Robert Ryan, after years of association with crooks and 

informers, is a lonely, embittered police detective. When 

another policeman is slain, Ryan savagely beats up a smalltime 

crook to learn where the killer is hiding out. Ryan's 

superior is then forced to send him out of town. While assisting 

a county sheriff run down the murderer of a schoolgirL 

I^^ Ward Bond, the girl's father, who is 

Ryan clashes with 

ti'' determined to kill the slayer. On the search, Ryan meets 

Ida Lupino, a blind girl, and learns that it is her mentally 

defective young brother who is responsible. Ryan promises 

to save the boy from Bond's vengeance but, in a chase 

over icy ridges, the boy falls and is killed. Ryan starts back 

to his city job but decides to turn back to the country, where 

he and Miss Lupino can find a new life together. 

CATCHLINES: 

A and Contentment With a Blind 

Lonely Man Finds Peace 

One oi the Most Thrilling and Suspenseful Dramas 

Girl . . . 

of the Year . . . Ida Lupino in Her Finest Characterization 

Robert Ryan is His Most Powerful Portrayal ... to A Chase 

the Death Over Rocky, Snow-Covered Country. 

THE STORY: 

"Fixed Bayonets" 

In the Korean mountains Richard Basehort, a frightened 

corporal, is unable to fire at the Red soldiers although his 

sergeant. Gene Evans, tells him that he is not killing a man 

—only his enemy. Evans warns him that there are only three 

others between Basehart and the leadership of the platoon. 

Trying to reach the river at the end of Bayonet Pass, the 

regiment sets up a roadblock and lays a mine field. The 

men hole up in a cave and first his lieutenant and then 

Michael O'Shea, another sergeant, are killed, leaving only 

Evans over Basehart. Evans "smells" the enemy and then is 

killed as a bullet ricochets oil the cave. Basehart, who is 

now in command, holds his men's fire until an enemy tank 

is only a few feet away. They then smash the tank just 

before reinforcements arrive to relieve the tired soldiers. 

CATCHLINES: 

The Heart-Soaring Story of the Foot-Sloggers . . . The Mud- 

Pushers . . . The "Joltin' Joes" of the U.S. Infantry . . . The 

Stirring Tale of the Corporal Who Hated to Kill a Man But 

Learned to Fire at the Enemy . Biggest Story in the 

World Today—Told While It's Happening. ^' 

THE STORY: 

"Pecos River" 

Steve Baldwin, alias the Durango Kid (Charles Starrett), is 

a postoffice investigator. This fact is a secret between him 

and Ed Dearing, stagecoach driver. Smiley Burnette is held 

up by an outlaw gang. Dearing, in helping Burnette, kills 

one of the bandits and is murdered for revenge. Jack 

Mahoney, his son, arrives from college and swears vengeance. 

Baldwin and Mahoney take jobs as stagecoach drivers. 

Delores Sidener is their boss. Baldwin arranges to have the 

gang hold up the stage. He is really trying to trap them. 

As the Durango Kid, he catches them in the act. Mahoney 

finds his father's murderer is the leader of the gang. Mahoney 

and Delores fall in love and bid farewell to Steve Baldwin. 

ii 

THE STORY: 

"Sailor Beware" 

Jerry Lewis, a hypochondriac who is violently allergic to 

women, and Dean Martin, a night club singer, join the navy 

and incur the enmity of a burly petty officer, Robert Strauss. 

In boot camp Marion Marshall, a Wave, and Jerry are 

attracted to each other. Dean spreads the report that girls 

just can't resist Jerry, and Strauss makes a bet that, when 

their detachment gets to Honolulu, Jerry won't be able to 

kiss Corinne Calvet, the navy's pin-up girl. Dean arranges 

a meeting between Corinne and Jerry, but finds he is 

falling for her himself. When Corinne learns about the bet, 

she mistakenly believes Dean is just trying to win, and 

doesn't really love her; but when the truth comes out she 

lets Jerry kiss her. She and Dean aie reconciled, and Jerry 

and Marion also get together. 

CATCHLINES: 

It's Heave Hoi for the Bounding Main . . . And Gobs of 

Fun ... as Martin and Lewis Join the Navy ... In the 

Maddest Movie Mirthquake You've Ever Seen . . . Anchors 

Aweigh for a Laugh Riot. 

THE STORY: 

"Week-End With Father" 

Brad Stubbs (Van Heflin), widower, TV executive and 

father of two girls, says goodby to his summer campi-bound 

youngsters at the Grand Central station at the same time 

that Jean Bowen (Patricia Neal), widow, and mother of 

two sons, says goodby to her offspring. Both are lonesome. 

By the end of the week a romance is budding and Heflin 

has run into complications with Phyllis Reynolds (Virginia 

Field), TV star with an intention to marry Heflin. When she 

hears he has gone with Miss Neal to spend a weekend near 

the camps she follows. Between athletic contests, horseback 

rides, barn dances, "lost" children and Miss Reynolds' 

maneuvers there are plenty of laughs. 

Srl 

k 

CATCHLINES: 

. . . 

The Durango 

Durango Kid 

Kid Rides Again . . . The Straight-shootin' 

Brings Law to Pecos River ... No Trip Was 

Safe Until Durango Rode the Stage Blazing Guns in 

Pecos River. 

CATCHLINES: 

Papa Wants a New Mama and Mama Wants a New 

Two 

Papa, But Four Kids Gum the Works . . . Between 

Riotous Boys, Two Precocious Girls and Two Smart Dogs, 

a Widow and Widower Find the Going Rough . . . It's 

Loaded With Laughs. 

THE STORY: 

"Ma Pomme" 

Maurice Chevalier, a happy-go-lucky hobo, discovers that 

he is executor of and co-star to a vast fortune left by one of 

his ancestors. The other two heirs are Jean Wall, a greedy 

banker, and Jane Marken, a middle-aged hatcheck attendant 

with a penchant for gambling. The other two will get their 

share only if Chevalier accepts and he is more interest in 

a lazy life of a hobo. At the last moment, a fourth heir, Vera 

Norman, a young airline hostess, is discovered. When he 

learns that she is actually in need of the money, he accepts 

and starts leading a life of luxury. Miss Marken breaks the 

bank at the casino and dies of shock and the other heirs 

also have difficulties. Chevalier then decides to leave his 

money for the construction of a rest camp for hobos and he 

takes to the open road once more. 

CATCHLINES: 

The Inimitable Maurice Chevalier in 

Laden With Laughs and Songs . . . Dedicated 

Another Happy Film 

the 50th 

to 

. . Money 

Didn't Bring Happiness—Only Trouble ... Philosophical 

Comedy Set to Music. 

Anniversary of 

Him 

Chevalier as a Great Entertainer . 

A 

THE STORY: "The History of Mr. Polly' 

Mr. Polly (John Mills) is unhappy as a draper's assistant 

when his father's death brings him a windfall of a small 

legacy. He buys a bike and rides into the country, where 

he meets Sally Ann Howes, who giggles at him. On the 

rebound, he marries his cousin, Betty Ann Davies, and, after 

15 years, he is faced with bankruptcy. He sets fire to his 

shop but becomes a hero by rescuing an old lady. He again 

leaves his dull routine and goes to the country, where he 

meets Megs Jenkins, who hires him as handy man for her 

u iBK' wayside inn. After visiting his wife, incognito, and finding 

her contented with her widow's life, he returns to Miss Jenkins 

and rural happiness. 

CATCHLINES: 

John Mills, Star of "Great Expectations," in Another Delightful 

British Classic . . . H. G. Wells' "Mr. Polly" Springs to 

Vivid Life on the Screen ... A "Little Man" Who Longed 

for Big Adventure . . . The Charm and Tragic Humor of 

H. G. Wells' "Mr. Polly." 

AJ

, 

n 

. -ombination. 

I 

, 

I 

I 

other 

' Rclhowell 

y,ig. 15c per word, minimum $1.50, cash with copy. Four inaertiona for pric« oi thrae. 

"L^JING DATE: Monday noon preceding publication date. Send copy and answer! to 

'^^llS * Box Numbers to BOXOFFICE, 825 Van Brunt Blvd., Kansas Cily ' 1, Mo. • 

rassf 

»( 

HELP WANTED 

Mldvvo-sleni loviri. seven nights, 

""». Pictionist: 

ilirices No drinkers or drifters need apply, 

informullun. photo and references In 

Boxofflce, 4494. 

Iter. SIcady job. 

cjjtr anbcounterman combination, would 

r oiwriilor or manacer viilh some knmvlf 

edulpmenl and supplirs. Write details 

Thealrr .Supply. Oklahoma Clly. Okla. 

"4!L 

i company policy meiuis new money oppor- 

„i" for rnadshnw agents, advunee men and 

I'uiaiiers. Kspenses, mileage, no celling on 

ii 

,„ i Show business experience helpful. You'll 

ii iiirself years ahead by Imestlgating this 

a-ll(etlme offer. Tontart Hallmark I'rodiic- 

,11 Inc. Wilniintliin, Ohio. 

Stte.ôTmer manaoers, assistants and adier- 

II H-'reen -salesmen, experienceil in sellinn 

adicrtisemeiits. We feature Country Store. 

iiiille ami seventeen otiier approved Movie- 

.miVxas, Giveaway programs. Ambitious, sober, 

men only, should reply. Straight ;J0% 

lam lie 

enm ;slnn. Our eiuicern enjoys the best reputa- 

,ini Tesa.s. Write, giving personal and business 

I fur the last ten years. IVi-State Services, 

iiM & W. Tower Bldg., t)alla.s, Tex. 

POSITIONS WANTED 

Berienced operator desires position, liellabte 

iliber. Prefer northeast states. P. 0. Box IJ4. 

Jilioro. 

Vt. 

jectlonist, ten years experience, wants posl- 

Foit Lauderdale or Miami. Florida. 

iiiun operator, but would like to become 

[nice if possible. Boxoffice. 4498. 

hted; Opportunity to form partnership in 

>lled town with owner who is anxious to slow 

ito\4 Interested in town from 2.500 to 4.001) or 

l.irf nve years in Ibeatre liusiness. 40-year-nl(l 

1', willing to take advice and shoulder load. 

ifsent managing tlieatre. Contact us, eome to 

liHn and check on us. Boxoffice, 44fl5. 

BUSINESS STIMULATORS 

imo with mure action, $3.50 thousand cards. 

games. Novelty Games Co., 1434 

\; 

l :,:ii .\if.. Brooklyn 16, N. Y. 

[eaway New 1951 car. No cast to theatre, 

.000 jiopulation or over. Merchant A6- 

ing tieup. Interstate Theatre Service. 1115 

Ea .\rmour. Kansas City, Missouri. 

Tiic books available as premiums, giveaways 

at lur kiddy shows. Large variety, latest newssll 

editions. Comics Premium Co., 412B. Green- 

«1 St., N. V. C. Publications for premiums 

(cu.siveiy) since 1!>39. 

rtQO die-cut cards, 75 or 100 numbers, $3.50 

pe I. Premium Products, 339 W. 44th St., New 

V, 18. N. Y. 

pular, new approved 10c comii^ books, plus 

K( Uogers large colored photograph; 3c per combi 

inn! Roy Uogers official deputy sheriff badge. 

idiially mounted, plus Rogers photograph: 4c 

Sidney Ross, 346 W. 44th St.. 

\J Vork 18. N. Y. 

'»e us your slowest night, we will make it 

ipf your liest niglits! With our Country Store. 

1952 Automobile or any other seventeen 

'time U.S.A. Giveaway programs. We have 

nmendations from Eddie Joseph Theatres. Aiis- 

Tex.: Statewide Drive-In Theatres. San Antik; 

Windy D.iniels. Seguin. Te.x. ; Bill Pence. 

Pstlne, Tex., and others. All program-s are legal. 

yeost or work for the exhiliitor. Merchants 

faction guaranteed. For details. Tri-State 

res. 1-04 .M. & W. Tower Bldg., Dallas 

THEATRE TICKETS 

Tompt service. Special printed roll tickets. 

1 (too, $26 70; 10.000, $7. SO; 2.000, $4.95. 

E 1 

change in admission price, including change 

it color, $3 extra. Double numbering extra, 

f B. Kansas City, Mo. Cash with order. Kan- 

ICity Ticket Co., 109 W. 18th St., Kansas 

II Mo. 

Jriie-in theatre tickets. Send for samples of 

"[special printed stub rod tickets for drive-ins. 

Sf. distinctive, easy to elieck. Kansas Citv 

}'t Co.. Dept. 10. 109 W. 18th St., "Film 

I'.' Kansas City 8. iMo. 

EQUIPMENT WANTED 

-nmplcte booth and sound. Also 200 chairs for 

l! theatre. Boxoffice. 4497. 

STUDIO AND PRODUCTION 

EQUIPMENT 

: 

lUtrecves 35mm recorder iiutfii. rebuilt. $2,975; 

;i5/lijmm picture reduction printer, re- 

"' .?2,9!)5; sound cameras, single system, com- 

outfit. $3,950; complete Akeley 

"iitfit. $5,250; .\uricon 16ram professional 

ml camera. $495: lemm animation stand, com- 

'f. $2,250; Maurer BM recording system, com- 

''' »2.495; Moviola Soundpix UDS. rebuilt. 

11.15: new Bridgamatic studio production IGmm 

"matle developing machines. $995. Cash paid 

used studio production equipment. Trades 

111. Dept. C. S.O.S. Cinema Supply Corp.. 

? W. 52nd St., New York 19. 

'3X0FFICE : : December 

1, 1951 

GENERAL EQUIPMENT—USED 

For sale: Complete used theatre equipment, 545 

seats. Simplex projectors, etc. Boxoffice, 4477. 

For sale: Complete bootti criulpmcnt, machines, 

lamps, transverter. rewind, talking, good condition, 

.VII for $1,500. West Theatre. Terre liaule. Ind 

For sale: Used chairs, 2,266 Ileyitood-Wakefleld, 

fully upholstered, fair condition. J. H. 

Elder. 2019 Jackson, Dallas. Tex. PR 8401. 

Save 25% to 50% and more! Trade In yotjr 

old. wiirnoiil eiiulpment for modern projection and 

soUTuI, Buy on time, pay out of increased lioxofflce 

receipts. Send eipjipmetit list and seating 

capacity, llept. C, S.O.S. Cinema Supply Corp., 

ii02 W. 52nd St., New York 19. 

tine 105 blower. 7% h. p. motor. One 105 air 

washer witli pumi> and motor, $700. Joy Theatre, 

Bald Knob, .\rk. 

Now is the time to prepare for summer! For 

sale. 20-ton (Jetieral Electric air-conditioning system, 

good as [lew: used only three months. Sale 

for lialf price, including fan and electric switches. 

If interested, wire, write or see Peter M. Wi'llman. 

Cir.ird. 

Illliii. 

THEATRES FOB SALE 

cLtflfiine 

Theatre For Sale: Hrtectrd luiingi In Oreion 

and Washington now tiallable. Write for lUt. 

Theitre Eichanie Co.. Fine Arti Bld(., Portland, 

Ore 

Build double parkins Drlfe-In theatre* under 

franchlie Patent 2.102.718, reliuue 22.796. Up to 

,'10% more seating rapacity irlth little additional 

cost. l/)uls Josserand, 3710 .Mt. Vernon, Houston. 

Tei. 

Pacific Northwest thealrei for ule. Wrile In 

Bowron, sales manager. Theatre Sales (I>lv ). 

Fred B. Laidwlg, Brk. 4229 N. E. Broadway, 

I'ortland 13, Ore 

Modern small town thutrc. No correspondence; 

come see II. Charles Rook, Bushnell, Fla. 

For sale; Two Simplex projectors. Strong lamps 

Perfect family setup; 400 seals. Southwest. 

wltli rectifiers. Weslerti Klectrlc sound, film ealiinels. 

Rewind with motor. I'S 10:i Mower with Excellent eriulpment througtMiit. Very rexsonable 

5 h. 11. motor. ,\11 for $1,000. One 108 blower. for c.ish. Some terms to right party. laspertlon 

10 h. \K motor, one lOS air washer with pump Invited. No curious, please. Boxoffice, 4479. 

.inV 

$12,000 cash hiiy,> Iwtuillul de luie 750 M-al 

Ihrairr llnl) Iheatie In Ohio town i>( 3,1(00. Big 

factory piyioll Air rondlllaiKd. Reply Boiofflce. 

45lw; 

For sale or lease to energetic shownaji, onlf 

llieaire county seat Virginia town and ISO-car 

drlte-lii. $250 month aggreiEale per cent profitt. 

Il.nofllce. 4507 

Two-theatre 

circuit, 

con.sln. Kxcillent buy. 

Kmall towns central Wis- 

Boinfrice, 4.'>08. 

For sale: Ttieaires. driie-lns. U-onard J. 

Bchrader, 500 Vi Kist Green, I1iam|>alicn, IIL 

Phone !M)!l4 

For sale by owner: Oliver Theatre. South Bend, 

Ind. I>ownlown location, all rlay grind. 80O 

new seat5. very low rent with long term li-a.**. 

Retiring after 20 years. $20,000 down, balanct 

easy terms. 

New Mexico drl>e-ln theatre, 440 can. Air 

force base- J;!5."00 total price. Boxofflre. 4512. 

THEATRE SEATING 

Parts for all chairs. Send .ample for quotation. 

Kensin Seating Co.. Clilcago 5 

Chair supplies. Everything for theatre chain. 

Feasin Seating Co.. Oilcago 5. 

Used chairs, guaranteed good. Advise quantltj 

wanted. Photographs mailed with quolalltn. Ferula 

Seating Co.. Ctllcago 5. 

Seat covers; Sewed combinations, all makes, all 

styles. Send your sample for quotation. FeiHin 

Seating Co., Chicago 5. 

Patch-0-Seat cement. Patching cloth, solienl, 

etc. Fensin Seating Co., Chicago 5. 

Upholstery Fabrics: All kinds. All colors. Send 

your sample for matching. Fensin Seating Co., 

Oilcago 5. 

Tighten loose chairs with Permaslone anchor 

cement. Fensin Seating Co.. Chicago 5. 

No more torn seats: Repair with the original 

Patch- A-Seat. Complete kit, $6. General Chair 

Co., Chicago 22. 111. 

Chair Parts: We tumlsh most any part you require. 

Send sample for price, brackets, backs 

and seats. General Chair Co.. 1308 Elston Are., 

Chicago 22. Ul. 

Several thousand used opera chairs now in 

stock. Can furnish any amount you request. Full 

upholstered back, insert panelback, boxspring and 

spring edge seat. Write for photo and state 

amount and Incline. We also manufacture new 

chairs. General Chair Co., 1308-22 Elston Ate.. 

Oilcago 22. 111^ 

Many years In the seating business is yoar 

guarantee. Good used chairs are not loo plentiful 

hut we have the pick. Full upholstered, panel 

back and many other styles. We furnish proper 

slope or level standards to fit your floor. All 

size 18x21 -inch iliairs. Our prices are lowest. 

Write for exact plloto and price. We furnUh parti 

for all makes. Send sample. Good quality plastic 

coated leatherette 25x26-inch. all colors. 55c ea. 

Chicago Used Chair Mart. 829 South Slate St.. 

Chicago 5. 111. 

No more loose chairs: (iet "Firmastone" Anchor 

cement. $5 per ho-V. General Ctiair Co.. dlicago 

22. III. 

Theatre chairs, many reconditioned. Also late 

model. Lone Star. Box 1734. Dallas. Tex. 

Buy chairs from reliable source, that means 

S.O.S. Get our Cliair Bulletin showing outstanding 

values. Dept. C. S.O.S. Cinema Suisply Corp , 

602 W. 52nd St.. .New York 19. 

DRINK-VENDING MACHINES 

l.OOO-cup capacity Drink-O-Mats. factory rebuilt 

with Changemakers for 5c or 10c operation: 

3 flavor selections. $875; 4 flavor selections. $92S, 

FOB New York. Coldrini, Inc.. 234 West 56th 

St.. New York. N. Y. 

POPCORN MACHINES 

Popcorn machines, all makes. $100 up. Kettles 

for all makes popcorn machines. Consolidated Confections. 

1314 So. Wahash Ave.. Chicago. HI. 

Popper kettles for all makes of machines. 

Cretors. Star. Manley poppers. Candy com equipment. 

120 S. Hllited. Chicago 6. III. 

SIGNS 

Easy Way to Paint Signs. Use letter patterns, 

.wold sloppy work and wasted time. No experience 

needed for expert work. Write for free samples. 

John Rahn. B-1329. Central Ave,. Chicago 

51. 111. 

29

GET YOUR 

COPY 

• « 

5-'v?3-^_ 

. . . from your N.S.S. salesman 

or your nearest National 

Screen Service Exchange! 

ii 

M 

li 

...the most 

exciting assortment 

Xf 

^ 

tr,//.anr, 

colorful 

D^S^LA^^ 

^^^^^ 

everytlnng 

. . • 

? MLERS you neea 

j« 

of Holiday exploitatior: 

material you've ever 

seen... to make your 

Holiday season a 

standout Boxoff/ce 

success... 

,.5^

DECEMBER

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