%

Ijsuon. 

iwtcoie Jthou^wu/ 

% 

R J O'Donnell Named Exhibitor of the Yeor and Mosfer Showman by Look Magazine 

Iniroducing— 

PRODUCT FORECAST 

presenting 

An Analysis of MGM Releases 

Awards Story on Pogt 12 

Gdtfred a^ ittoai-t\M%% matter at the Post Office at Kjnsas 

City. Mo Publlsbed xeelilr by Anodalcd PiihWcallnns. 

%2J< Van Brunt Blvd.. Kansas Citr. Mo. gubscrlpllon ratfs 

8ei-llmiil Edition, $3 00 ncr >ear: National Edition. $7 30 

NATIONAL EXECUTIVE EDITION 

MARCH 1, 1952 

Ircludino tht SKtional Neoi Pages of All Editiont 

In Two Sections—Section One

" 

AN AMERICAN IN PARIS 

Producer: Arthur Freed 

Director: Vincente Minnelli 

Screen Play by: Alan Jay Lerner 

THE REDBOOK SILVER CUP 

AGAIN M-G-M! 

QUO VADIS" 

Producer: Sam Zimbalist 

Director: Mervyn LeRoy 

Screen Play iy; John Lee Mahin and 

S. N. Behrman, Sonya Levien 

One award after another, starting with Modern 

Screen Magazine, Photoplay Medals, Christopher 

Awards, Look Magazine — and now one 

of the most coveted tributes oftheyear,the Redbook 

Silver Cup, announced in March Redbook: 

4 

ak , 

"FATHER'S LITTLE DIVIDEND' 

Producer: Pandro S. Herman 

Director: Vincente Minnelli 

Screen Play hy: Albert Hackett and 

Frances Goodrich 

*^For their production of 

fine films throughout 

1951, Dore Schary and 

the M-G-M Studio win 

Redbook's Silver Cup.// 

SHOW BOAT" 

Producer: Arthur Freed 

Director: George Sidney 

nil Play A).- John Lee Mahin 

Memorable box-office hits of the year from the 

M-G-M Studio selected by Redbook editors {top to 

hottom at the ri^ht) : the gay, ilancing"An American In 

Paris"; magnificent and spectacular "Quo Vadis"; 

"Father's Little Dividend", a rollicking comedy; a 

revival of the great favorite "Show Boat", and the 

popular musical biography "The Great Caruso". 

"THE GREAT CARUSO 

Producer: Joe Pasternak 

Director: Richard Thorpe 

Screen Play hy: Sonya Levien and 

William Ludwig

! M-G-M 

AND 

IN 

1952 

TOO! 

Just a few of the 

many M-G-M 

Big Ones that 

will be leading 

contenders for 

honors. 

"SINGIN' IN THE RAIN' 

(Technicolor) 

"THE BELLE OF NEW YORK" 

(Technicolor) 

'SCARAMOUCHE" 

(Technicolor) 

"THE WILD NORTH' 

(new Ansco color) 

"SKIRTS AHOY!" 

(Technicolor) 

"LOVELY TO LOOK AT' 

(Technicolor) 

"IVANHOE" 

(Technicolor) 

XARBINE WILLIAMS 

i 

"THE MERRY WIDOW" 

(Technicolor) 

"BECAUSE YOU'RE MINE" 

(Tec/in/co/orj

THE PICTURE 

NAMED 

FOR MORE 

Academy Award 

Nominations 

THAN ANY 

OTHER PICTURE 

THIS YEAR 

IS 

"A 

Streetcar 

Named 

Desire" 

OTHER STREETCAR' AWARDS EVERYWHEREI ,V£H YORK BEST PICTURE OF THE YEAR SAN FRANCISCO BEST PICTURE OF THE YEAI 

HERE'S A PARTIAL LIST - MORE FILM CRITICS BEST ACTRESS OF THE YEAR CRITICS COUNCIL BEST ACTRESS OF THE YEA 

COMING IN ALL THE TIMEI AWARDS BEST DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR AWARDS BEST ACTOR OF THE YEAR

LTED FOI 

BEST MOTI 

BEST PERFO 

AN ACTRESS 

BEST PERFi 

T PERFOR 

'IVIEN LEU 

ACTOR 

MARLON BRANDO 

RTING ACTRESS 

BEST PERFORMA ARL MALDEN 

RTING ACTOR 

BEST O 

HjJbiJii KAZAi 

BEST BLACK-AND-WHITE 

^, CINEMATOGRAPHY 

BEST MUSIC SCORE 

P DRAMATIC PICTURE 

ALtjX JyUKItl 

WB^^rmfAN L 

A Streetcar 

Named Desire' 

AND 

KIM HUNTER KARL MALDEN screen play byTENNESSEE WILLIAMS 

DIRECTED er 

ELIA KAZAN 

From the Ploy rhol Won tht Putirzcr Priie and Critict Circl* Aworo 

plus Five more Warner Nominations 

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE 

"I WAS A COMMUNIST FOR THE F.B.I." 

BEST PERFORMANCE BY 

A SUPPORTING ACTOR 

GIG YOUNG in "COME FILL THE CUP" 

BEST BLACK-AND-WHITE 

CINEMA TOGRAPHY 

"STRANGERS ON A TRAIN" 

BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT 

"THE SEEING EYE" 

BEST ONE REELER "WORLD OF KIDS 

ER.\'ATIOi\AL 

L.M FESTIVAL 

AT VENICE 

THE 'SPECIAL AWARD" 

AND 

BEST ACTRESS AWARD 

ANNUAL Y.OVIE AWARD 

BEST PICTURE 

MAGAIIM. BEST ACTRESS OF THE YEAR MAGAZINE BEST ACTOR 

• 

A WA RDS BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS AWARDS BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR 

• BEST ACTRESS .^.^ 

BEST DIRECTOR \|^|r/

''H I fiH EST RATING 

'ONE OF BEST TH S YE 

TT 

laiMfiai 

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R^'-POST 

jfilMNiClcl 

nwORS %•*««# 

:rt-. 

1 

I 

I 

I 

\ 

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CENTURY-FO)

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Fî^ oft^ 7/Mwn T^Muie /ndiOh^ 

THE NATIONAL FILM WEEKLY 

Published in Nine Sectional Editions 

BEN SHLYEN 

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»:l no per year: Natlon.iI Edition. $7 50 

MARCH 1, 1952 

Vol. 60 No. 18 

FOR CONTINUING BENEFIT 

\\i\'\ 

{/{y 

tiia\ lie tnitifd llic Viilcdicttirv of 

Arthur I>. Mayer, executive vice-president nl 

COMI'O, contained a succinct suniniing u|), mil 

only of the past year's achievement of the organization 

hut also of what still remain as its 

goals, if it is to he placed on a firm, if not permanent, 

hasis of operation. 

Mr. Mayer was candid 

in his comments, giving praise where it was deserved 

and emphasizing some truths, even though 

ihey might not be so pleasant lo hc;ir. Still, what 

Mr. Mayer said, was entireh of a cotistructive 

order. 

His rejiort, which was published at length in 

last week's issue of Boxofice, represents a good 

accounting of accomplishment in the brief span 

of one of the industry's most turbulent years. 

It shows how much—and against great odds 

was accomplished at comparatively little cost 

through the industry's components getting together 

and working together. It is proof ])ositive 

that unitv can work in this business. des])ite 

the disbelievers. 

Mr. Mayer calls a spade a spade and h)oks with 

cold eye on figures and facts that involve this 

industry's future, from an external as well as 

internal viewpoint. He fullv recognizes tiuil 

there are conditions within the industry that mitigate 

against its well-being, as well as factors from 

without that are competitors or opponents. This 

is not exactlv new. but we like the way Mr. Mayer 

said it. For instance: 

"Everybody paid and still pays lip service to 

unity. Very few pay more. If our industry were 

threatened tomorrow by legislation depriving it 

of its raw stock, for instance, or closing our theatres, 

we would, overnight, raise a fighting fund 

of manv millions and every group in the country, 

however small, would be clamoring for admission 

to our councils. 

The threat to our existence 

is today even more critical. But thus far the 

steps we have taken in self-defense can only be 

described as pitiful and picayune compared to 

the phvsical and financial resources at our dis- 

|)osal and the emergency that confronts us. As 

to the nature and extent of this emergency, we 

have heard much wild speculation, far too much 

of it ill tiie public press due to the incredible 

lo(]uacity of some of our leaders." 

It has been observed through tlie \cars that 

ihc [icoplf of this business flock together and 

agree lo uork together only when trouble hits 

ihctii. It s a business that seems lo Ijruise easily 

but heals quickly—too (]uickly for that getting 

together to last long enough to i)roduce permanent 

values. Thus, there are always "emergencies" 

that are met with volunteer-fireman tactics, discarded 

the moment the "fire" is quenched, often 

leaving it still smouldering. 

There seems to be coiueni oiiK with the immediate; 

long-range thinking is little in evidence lieyond 

the talking stage. Let a good result come 

from concerted effort and even llic lalk goes oiil 

ihe window. 

With this sort of experience so miicli in the 

record, it is not surjirising that there are misgivings 

in some industry quarters about the desire, 

let alone the need, to continue such a fine 

movement as COMPO. The first battle has been 

won, so the individualistic notions come back into 

play ; the collective effort is viewed as out-ofdate. 

Which is exactly why these "emergencies" 

keep coming back to iiiaguc ihc indiislrs ; catching 

it off guard. 

The industrv should know belter now. but it 

keeps reverting lo a seeming willingness to give 

"millions for tribute, but not one penny for representation." 

Kepresentalion of itself, on behalf 

of itself, 

as an industry. 

Mr. Mayer presented a verbal blueprint of a 

program to be undertaken by COMPO which 

should be its minimal effort—but on a continuing 

basis it would be most effective. Il actually is 

low in cost, a fraction of what often is wasted on 

just one picture. But it would add immeasurably 

to the gross intake for all of the industry. 

At this writing, the new president-elect. Spyros 

P. Skouras, who is in Switzerland, has not accepted 

the post. 

It is hoped that he will accept it. 

for he is one of the industry's stanchest advocates 

of unitv and [irogressive action. 

Ned H Dcpitiet. who retires as COMPO's first 

president after two and one-half years of iiidefaligable 

effort, deserves the plaudits of llic industry 

for making COMPO a reality. It was he 

who said that COMPO must "crawl, before it can 

walk, before it can run." ("OMPO is at the walking 

stage now. It should be kept on the move, 

with ipiickened and resolute steps. 

CLÂif^

; 

TOA ARBITRATION PLAN CALLS 

FOR NATIONAL ADMINISTRATOR 

Would Be Appointed By 

Commerce Secretary, 

With Industry Aid 

NEW YORK—Two arbitration proposals 

are now before distributors for study with 

notifications that the two leading exhibitor 

organizations are ready for a conference. 

The latest to be presented is that of Theatre 

Owners of America. It was prepared by 

Herman Levy, TOA general counsel and was 

sent by Mitchell Woltson, president, with a 

letter stating that a TOA committee had 

been named to handle negotiations and was 

ready to meet. 

Allied's proposals were mailed to distributors 

by Abram F. Myers, general counsel, 

more than two weeks ago. 

ADD SOME AMENDMENTS 

The TOA plan is in the main the one 

adopted by the board of directors at Los Angeles 

January 28. Some amendments have 

been added. 

To become effective, amendments will be 

necesary for the industry antitrust decree. 

The plan is divided into nine sections. 

I. This calls for the appointment of a national 

administrator appointed by the U.S. 

Secretary of Commerce from a list of five 

names submitted with the approval of the 

Motion Picture A.ss'n of America and of the 

national and larger regional associations. The 

administrator can have no previous connection 

with any branch of the film business. 

The annual salary will be not more than 

$25,000 and the term of office shall be five 

years. His office will be in Washington. 

Under this plan the national administrator 

will establish a regional arbitration tribunal 

in selected exchange centers. The amount 

of busine.ss done in each will rule in the 

selection and the number of tribunals can be 

increased or decreased from time to time. 

II. Regional arbitrators. One will be selected 

by complainant, one by the distributor 

and exhibitor defendants and intervenors, 

and the third by the national administrator. 

While sitting, the arbitrators will receive up 

to $50 per day. plus traveling expenses, if any. 

The national administrator will determine the 

fee. 

LIST ARBITRABLE MATTERS 

III. What matters shall be arbitrable. "Any 

matters arising out of, or in connection with, 

the film contract, or any matters involving 

clearances, or runs, or any controversies concerning 

competitive bidding, shall be arbitrable." 

IV. Initiation of arbitration. "An arbitration 

proceeding shall be initiated by filing a 

Demand for Arbitration with the national 

administrator, and by paying a filing fee 

of $25. 

"The demand for arbitration shall be signed 

by the complainant and shall set forth: the 

name and address of the complaining party; 

the name and addres.s of each theatre involved 

in the controversy; the name and address 

of each exhibitor, or distributor, against 

MGM, Fox to Help Test 

Coast Conciliation 

SALT LAKE CITY—In a meeting fraught 

with more importance than any previous session 

of the organization, the Utah-southern 

Idaho unit of Western Theatre Operators 

Ass'n this week heard Rotus Harvey outline 

two important industry moves. 

Before a group of approximately 60 theatre 

owners, operators and managers from 

Utah, Idaho, Montana, Nevada and Wyoming, 

he announced that MGM and 20th-Fox 

have agreed to conciliation and arbitration 

committee proposed by WTO in western 

states. He also told of plans to conduct a 

survey in Utah and Idaho on exhibitor-distributor 

relations. 

The conciliation and arbitration committee 

plan will be worked out in the Salt Lake. 

Portland. Seattle and San Francisco exchange 

areas. Harvey declared. He said that the 

plan calls for selection of a three-man committee 

to work out differences between exhibitors 

and distributors. In case of a dispute, 

exhibitors will name a representative, 

distributors will select one. the two together 

will appoint a third man, and these three 

then will sit down and try to iron out the 

trouble. Both sides to the dispute would be 

bound by the finding. 

Harvey, president of the Western Theatre 

Operators, said the committee would concern 

itself with all types of disputes, except those 

involving film rentals. Every other trade 

practice in dispute would be open to arbitration. 

He said he hoped to have other companies 

agree to a similar plan. 

Concerning the survey, Harvey said it would 

be the same as that conducted by WTO in 

Montana. "Here," he declared, "we found 

whom complaint is made (hereafter sometimes 

referred to as the defending party) 

tfie name and address of each other exhibitor 

and distributor whose business, or property, 

it is believed by the complainant may be affected 

by an award in the proceeding, and a 

brief statement in simple language of the 

claim and of the relief sought. 

"At the time of filing the demand the 

complainant shall deliver to the national administrator 

sufficient copies of the demand 

to enable him to deliver one copy to each 

defending party and to each other exhibitor 

and distributor named in the demand, and 

the national administrator shall forthwith 

make such delivery. 

"Within ten days after the date on which 

the national administrator delivers a copy of 

the demand to a defending party (or. thereafter, 

for good cause shown to the satisfaction 

of the arbitrators), such party may sign and 

file with the national administrator a list 

certain unfair practices which we called to 

attention of distributing companies." He said 

that in Utah and Idaho any "unfair practices" 

would be exposed. 

Bidding practices also came in for some 

condemnation from the speaker, who said 

that bidding should be conducted in an open 

manner. Bids should be opened at a specified 

time and place and interested parties should 

be present when the bids are opened, he declared. 

Harvey also touched on other trade problems 

and gave a complete report of the recent 

COMPO meeting in New York. During his 

Salt Lake City stay of 36 hours, he visited 

officers of Variety Tent 38 and talked over 

Variety problems with them. 

Officers of the Utah-southern Idaho unit 

of WTO who played host to the visitors included 

Sam Gillette, Ralph Trathen, George 

Smith, J. A. Christensen and Arthur M. Jolley. 

Among the theatremen attending the 

luncheon were the following: 

Jack Moran, Laurel, Mont,; Earl Steele, Nephi; 

Otto Jorgenson, Garland; Mrs, M. G- Price, Poris, Ida.; 

George Leany, Lehi, Mr. and Mrs. C- S. Wroy, Afton, 

Wyo,; Mr. and Mrs. M. Moody, Delta; Ed Teetsell, 

Tooele; Roy Firmage, Milford; Chick Lloyd, Park City; 

Julian Bills, Bountiful; Roy Tullis and his son, Ogden; 

Jack Ivers, Hawk circuit; J. Rodger Mendenhall, 

Boise; Emil Ostlund, Springville; Bill Ostlund, Spanish 

Fork; John Borger, Ogden; Roger Marsh, Twin Falls. 

Also Keith and Cliff Miller, American Fork and 

Lehi; Horace Hayes, Tremonton; Vic Walker, Ely; 

O. K. Evans, Ogden, Mr, and Mrs, Lyie Tuttis, Brighorn 

City, and the following from Salt Lake, 

Dovid K, Edwards, Joseph L, Lawrence Theatres; 

Sidney L, Cohen, Intermountain Theatres; O, J, Hazen 

and Al Knox, Theatre Service Supply; Clyde Blasius, 

Weststates, Inc.; Eorl Stem, Simons Theatres, George 

Smith, Mogno; Sam Gillette and Rolph Trathen, 

Associated Amusements; Alvie Peterson, Richy Theatre; 

Dan Kostopulos, Broadway; Eric Peterson, Motor-Vu 

Drive-In, and his son Carl; Dick Morgan, Consolidated 

Theatres, 

giving the name and address of each exhibitor, 

or distributor, not named in the demand 

whose business, or projjerty. it is believed by 

such parties, may be affected by an award in 

the proceeding. 

"The national administrator shall forthwith 

deliver a copy of the demand to each 

exhibitor and distributor named in any list 

filed by a defending party. 

"Any exhibitor, or distributor, named 

either in the demand, or in any list filed by 

any defending party, and any other exhibitor, 

or distributor, whose business, or property, 

may be affected by an award in the proceeding 

may. at any time prior to the commencement 

of the first hearing lor. thereafter, for 

good cause shown to the satisfaction of the 

arbitrators!, intervene and thereby become a 

party to the proceedings by filing with the 

national administrator a statement which 

shall set forth his interests as an intervenor 

in the proceedings, and a written submission. 

(Continued on page 10) 

BOXOFFICE March 1, 1952

— 

DofJ OPENS FIRE OVER DELAY 

IN PARAMOUNT DIVESTITURES 

Government Asks the Court 

To Deny Application for 

New Postponements 

NEW YORK—The Department of 

FILE F&M AFFIDAVIT 

The government also filed a show cause 

affidavit for Fanchon & Marco and Paramount 

Hollywood Theatre Corp. having to 

do with transfer of stock, and a supplemental 

affidavit asking for the disposal of either the 

Polk or Palace theatres in Lakeland, Fla. 

The government asked that after entry of a 

court order, UPT notify the public and real 

estate brokers that no reasonable offers will 

be refused for the theatres it is required to 

divest. It also asked the court to rule that 

there shall be no change in playing policy 

at any of the theatres wliich UPT has to drop. 

UPT would be required not to move up the 

playing policy of a theatre or change its policies 

so as to hurt competition, during the 

five years from the date of the judgment of 

March 3, 1949, in towns where it has been 

required to divest itself of a theatre. 

The government .said that UPT had been 

permitted by the judgment to retain from 340 

to 640 theatres and "chose to keep the upper 

limit, making it the largest theatre circuit in 

the U.S.," with the number of theatres 

"greatly exceeding" 650. It noted the opposition 

of the Society of Independent Motion 

Picture Producers to any extension of divestiture 

time. 

ASK RUN POLICY RESTRAINT 

UPT also would be enjoined from moving 

up playing policy in towns for five years of 

any theatres retained, and would not act so a-s 

to adversely affect competition. 

The government noted a UPT statement it 

now retains only 32 theatres in Texas and 

questioned the statement, .saying no proof had 

been submitted. It said that no defendant 

in the antitrust cases has had its judgment 

amended as often at its request as has UPT 

more than 15 times in le.ss than three year.s 

and that the government had been lenient. 

Specific mention was made of the Sams 

estate, with the request that if certain theatres 

are not divested by April 7, a trustee be 

appointed to dispose of them promptly. The 

Arnall Attacks Request 

For New UPT Deadline 

NEW YORK—Ellis Arnall, president of the 

Society of Independent Motion Picture Producers, 

now on leave as 

price stabilizer, wrote 

Attorney General J. 

Howard McGrath this 

Justice 

has countered a request by United 

Paramount Theatres for extension of divestiture 

time by asking the statutory court 

here for an order denying the request and 

setting a time hmit of 90 days from signing 

of an order for severance of theatres in 

which it has joint interests and 60 days for 

severance of wholly owned theatres. Provision 

is made for the appointment of 

trustees if there is no compliance. 

The papers were filed in statutory court 

Tuesday i26i by Harold Lasser of the week (19) that the society 

D of J. They bore the signature of H. G. 

"is vitally inter- 

Morison, assistant attorney general, and ested in the efforts of 

Philip Marcus, trial attorney. 

the The court Department of Justice 

will hear the case March 7. UPT had asked 

to destroy the 

February 11 for an order extending completion 

monopolies, conspiracies, 

of divestiture under the consent de- 

collusive trade 

cree for two years to March 3, 1954. 

practices and illegalities 

existing within the 

motion picture indus- 

Ellis Arnall 

try." 

The letter said "some degree of relief has 

been envisioned," but that obtained so far 

does not measure up to "fond expectations" 

and that the "few remaining fruits of victory, 

such as they are, are now withering 

away by reason of the unwarranted dilatory 

tactics of the defendants in the cases involving 

motion picture exhibition monopoly 

and conspiracy." 

"We regret," he wrote, "that United Paramount 

Theatres has obtained a court order 

for the government to show cause why two 

years of additional delay should not be 

theatres were identified as one in Mount 

Airy, N. C; two in Lexington, N. C; three in 

Danville, Va.: two in Bluefield, W. Va., and 

three in Winston-Salem, N. C. It was charged 

that no progress had been made in divesting 

them. 

The government mentioned other situations. 

It said that in St. Cloud, Minn., a first run 

house had been divested but that a small 

house which had played subsequent run had 

been moved up to a first run position. 

The Justice department asserted that UPT 

had acquired theatres illegally, and the court 

was asked to order a list of all acquisitions 

since March 3, 1949, to decide if there had 

been contempt of court. 

An accompanying affidavit by M. A. Lightman 

.said that UPT had had the choice of 

acquiring either the Strand of Malco in Memphis, 

that it had taken the Strand and had 

then moved up the playing policy to first 

run and cancelled all Paramount pictures in 

the Malco in which he owns a controlling 

interest. He charged other theatres injured 

were Loew's State, Loew's Palace and the 

Warner Theatre. 

The Fanchon & Marco affidavit charged 

UPT with making no effort to sell or transfer 

its half interest, and expressed the fear that 

granted before compliance with the order 

of the court in the case of U.S. vs. United 

Pal amount Theatres. If this unreasonable 

and callous request is granted, the government's 

motion picture litigation will have 

ended in complete and absolute failure and 

disaster." 

Arnall asked that the Department of Justice 

bring every resource to bear to force 

UPT comply with the divorcement order previously 

granted. 

"Moreover," he wrote, "we of the society 

are increasingly concerned about the lack of 

policing of the decrees in the other motion 

picture monpoly ca.ses. We are prepared to 

furnish information as to collusive trade 

practices within the industry which are violative 

of the orders of the court, the consent 

judgment and decrees entered into by the 

defendants in the motion picture monopoly 

cases. 

"It is our hope that the department will 

not consider the motion picture cases closed 

merely by reason of apparent compliance with 

a court order, but we urge the department 

to assiduously, aggre.ssively and determinedly 

make sure that the decrees do not cloak 

illegality with legality and that trick bidding, 

the split of product and other such illegal 

devices be exposed and prosecuted." 

UPT will take over the Paramount Theatre in 

downtown Los Angeles when the F&M lease 

expires March 18 and become a competitor of 

F&M and the Paramount Hollywood Theatre 

Corp. in the procurement of pictures. 

Sale of Pictures to TV, 

COMPO Seminar Topic 

NEW YORK—Exhibitor opposition to the 

sale of films to television will be heard at 

the Council of Motion Picture Organizations 

seminar scheduled for July in Hollywood. 

Agreement to include the topic was reached 

during the COMPO annual meeting after 

Norman Glassman, New England exhibitor, 

wanted it discussed then. Gael Sullivan, 

Theatre Owners of America executive director, 

objected on the ground that COMPO does 

not take up trade practices. 

Full discussion of sales to television, past, 

present and future, is practical and possible 

at the seminar because this year the distributors 

will be represented as well as the producers 

and exhibitors who met last year. 

Eric Johnston, president of the Motion Picture 

Ass'n of America, told the COMPO meeting 

he would encourage a full attendance at the 

seminar. 


; 

'PuUe SeâU 

New England Exhibitors Set 

Up Grievances Committee 

Norman Glassman, president of Independent 

Exhibitors group, will head the committee 

and plans regional meetings, starting in April, 

for members to iron out difficulties with distributors. 

30-Day Stay Is Granted 

-K 

In Brookside Verdict 

Court of Appeals delays entering its finding 

upholding district court $1,125,000 antitrust 

damages in Brookside Theatre Corp., 

Kansas City, to allow major distributors to 

file U.S. Supreme Court Appeals. 

-K 

Lifting Ban on Theatre TV 

Color Equipment Seen 

Film industry hopeful as Administrator 

Henry Fowler of NPA says changes in order 

may come in a week; Paramount and 20th- 

Fox would benefit; government could rescind 

entire ban. 

+ 

Pathe Predicts Newsreels 

In Color by End of 1952 

Louis Mansfield, in charge of color operations 

at New York laboratories, sees some 

color sequences with black-and-white subjects 

in the first reels; complete color will 

come later. 

X 

Film Carrier Companies 

To Meet During March 

National Film Service, Inc. will hold board 

and stockholders meetings March 8-11; National 

Film Carrier, Inc. board and stockholders 

will meet March 12; both groups will convene 

at the Blackstone hotel in Chicago. 

* 

WATV Purchases TV Rights 

To 85 Republic Westerns 

Deal made with Bremer Broadcasting Corp. 

in Newark, N. J., for showing in the metropolitan 

area exclusively over the next 18 

months. 

¥ 

New Objections in Spain 

May Set Back Film Pact 

Agreement recently negotiated with help 

of Stanton Griffis, at that time ambassador, 

was set to start March 1 ; calls for 60 permits 

New Fi'ench talks to start in mid-March. 

Paul A. Walker Succeeds 

Wayne Coy As FCC Head 

Appointment made by President Truman, 

who also nominated Robert T. Bartley of 

Bonham, Tex., as a member of the FCC; both 

nominations must be confirmed by the senate. 

-K 

New Code for TV Industry 

Is Effective March 1 

Code review board of National Ass'n of 

Radio and Television Broadcasters amiounces 

77 of the 108 video stations in the country 

and all four TV networks pledge to adhere 

to new rules. 

Arbitration 

(Continued from page 8) 

and by paying a filing fee of $25 to the national 

administrator. The national administrator 

shall forthwith deliver notice of each 

intervention to each other party to the proceeding." 

V. Naming of arbitrators. "Not less than 

20 nor more than 30 days after the filing of 

the demand, as provided herein, the parties 

shall notify the national administrator of 

their choice of arbitrators, as provided 

herein." 

VT. Hearings. "Hearings shall be held at 

any place agreed upon by the parties, and by 

the arbitrators. 

"Hearings shall commence as promptly as 

possible after the appointment of the arbitrators. 

ON FIXING TIME AND PLACE 

"The arbitrators shall fix the time of the 

beginning of the hearing and may adjourn 

the hearing from time to time. 

"The national administrator shall deliver 

to the parties written notice of the names of 

the arbitrators, and of the time and place of 

the hearing, at least five days prior thereto." 

VII. Procedure at hearings. "Before commencing 

the hearing the arbitrators shall 

take the oath of office in the form prescribed 

by the national administrator. 

"Parties may be represented by counsel, 

or by others. 

"Each party shall have the right to examine, 

or cross-examine, all witnesses. 

"Witnesses shall testify under oath. 

"Evidence shall be received only at hearings 

of which all parties shall have had due 

notice and the arbitrators in making their 

award, shall consider only evidence so received 

and such inspections as they may make 

hereunder. 

"The arbitrators shall have power to require 

any party to produce such records, or 

documents, as the arbitrators deem necessary 

to a proper determination of the controversy. 

In lieu of producing, or offering, 

original records, or documents, any party 

may, with the approval of the arbitrators, 

produce, or offer, sworn copies thereof, or 

sworn excerpts from the relevant, or material, 

portions thereof. If any party challenges the 

authenticity, correctness, or adequacy of 

such documents, or excerpts, the arbitrators 

shall determine such authenticity, correctne.ss. 

or adequacy. All exhibits offered in 

evidence shall be numbered and so marked 

as to indicate that they were received in 

evidence. 

LEGAL RULES NOT NECESSARY 

"The arbitrators shall be the judge of the 

relevancy and materiality of the evidence 

offered. Conformity to legal rules of evidence 

shall not be necessary. 

"Whenever the arbitrators deem it necessary 

they may make an inspection in connection 

with the subject matter of the controversy, 

upon notice to the parties. 

"The arbitrators may hear arguments and 

receive briefs." 

VIII. Defaults and withdrawals. "If any 

party to an arbitration proceeding defaults 

by failure to comply with the provisions 

Distributor Attorneys 

Study Allied's 

Plan 

NEW YORK—Attorneys of the major 

distribution companies began study during 

the week of National Allied proposals 

for an arbitration. Copies of the 

plan had been mailed them the previous 

week by Abram F. Myers, National Allied 

board chairman and general counsel, 

along with an abstract. 

The plan was addressed to the company 

presidents but referred by them to 

the legal departments and to the sales 

forces. It is expected that it will be several 

weeks before they are prepared to 

r2port recommendations to the company 

heads. The plan asks the distributors to 

call a conference of all "interested" industry 

groups. 

hereof, or withdraws from the proceedings 

after the arbitrators are appointed, the proceeding 

shall nevertheless continue to an 

award unless all of the other parties in the 

proceeding consent in writing to a dismissal. 

"A party who withdraws, or defaults, shall 

not be entitled to participate further in the 

proceedings, but shall be bound by the award." 

IX. Awards, "The award shall be filed by 

the arbitrators with the national administrator 

not later than 14 days from the date 

of the closing of the proceeding, or from the 

date fixed by the arbitrators for oral argument, 

or for filing of briefs, whichever may 

be the latest. The award, or if corrected, the 

corrected award, shall be final and binding 

on both parties. 

"The award shall be in writing, shall contain 

whatever findings are desired by the 

arbitrators, and shall be acknowledged before 

an officer duly authorized to administer 

oaths. 

"The arbitrators shall, in the award, assess 

all costs of the arbitration proceeding against 

the losing party, or parties. Said costs shall 

include the arbitrators' fees. 

"The national administrator shall deliver a 

copy of the award to each party to the proceeding. 

"The concurrence of two of the three arbitrators 

shall be necessary for a decision." 

Un-American Chairman 

Evasive on COMPO Blast 

DETROIT—Chairman John S. Wood of the 

House Un-American Activities Committee, 

after studying the Council of Motion Picture 

Organizations resolution deploring the committee's 

attack on the film industry, said he 

would bring the protest to the committee's 

attention at the first opportunity. 

Wood said his statement, made last spring 

in Hollywood lauding the industry's role in 

fighting communism, "reflected my personal 

views with respect to many of the responsible 

members of the industry in Hollywood and 

still does." 

He did not amplify on this statement or 

say whether the committee would amend its 

report as asked by COMPO, nor did he say why 

the committee issued the kind of report it did. 

opper drippings for metal dr 

10 BOXOFFICE March 1, 1952

. 

HAIL! A NEW STAR! 

"^fOff THIS owe I..; 

"'Dale Robertson — a popular 

leading man — has Stardust in 

his eyes." 

— NY. Daily News 

fiturn 

"*« ''K«s'°%SL5»'o« 

wOffI/ 

exa 

"Dale Robertson a rapidly rising 

dramatic star."—NT. Daily Mirror 

'^Dale Robertson had bobby-sox 

set squealing . . . His appearance 

snowballed into biggest demonstration 

of fan affection we 

have ever witnessed." 

— Shreveport (La.) News 

'^.---tender hl^ '''Crt/i?^/ 

"If future of Dale Robertson rests 

in hands of bobby-soxers, he 

doesn't have anything to worry 

about." 

— Lawton (Okia ) Constiiution 

"UnosuoHy worm q„c/ „l 

^ ~°°''' ''^- 

«ncl absorbing." 

We re for 'The Return r 

7'°"""" '''"^""'' 

ll°PPy, homey sforv 

-"-' 

'""»«" one/ 

chorm 7' ' 

" '""^'^'ency of 

-Time 

^ 

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ALSO TO HONOR PRODUCER-DISTRIBUTOR ACHIEVEMENTS 

Top Manager of the Year 

Texas COMPO Project 

DALLAS — The executive commitbee of 

Texas COMPO Showmen plans to announce 

details at the Texas COMPO Conference 

June 9-11 in Dallas of "Theatre Manager 

of the Year" awards. At the same time, special 

production and distribution awards will 

be made. 

A panel of seven circuit executives and 11 

independent theatre exhibitors will be appointed 

by the executive committee to select 

the outstanding Texas theatre owners or 

managers of the year based upon the following: 

(1) Community service in public relations. 

(2) Industry service in public relations. 

(3) Merchandising of product. 

The plan to reward the outstanding "Texas 

Theatre Manager of the Year" was advocated 

by Colonel H. A. Cole, chairman of the 

board of directors, Allied Theatre Owners of 

Texas, and coordinator of the successful 

Movietime in Texas, U.S.A.. campaign. 

PLAN FOUR ANNUAL AWARDS 

It is planned to make four awards annually 

for meritorious service based upon the threepoint 

program to the following: (1) circuit 

conventional theatre manager; (2) independent 

conventional thsatre owner or manager; 

(31 circuit drive-in theatre manager, and (4) 

independent drive-in theatre owner or manager. 

As a result of surveys made recently by 

Texas COMPO Showmen the important need 

appears to be in bettei' relations between the 

theatre owner or manager and his respective 

community. This is evidenced by the results 

achieved by the appearance of COMPO 

spealcers in over 100 Texas cities. Kyle Rorex, 

coordinator of activities, reported that many 

favorable comments are received by letter and 

telephone daily in the Texas COMPO office 

regarding this public relations project. 

While stressing the idea of awarding Texas 

theatre managers for meritorious achievement, 

R. J. O'Donnell, national director of 

Movietime and vice-president and general 

manager of Interstate circuit, sidvocated that 

motion picture production and distribution 

should be given suitable and appropriate 

recognition for having achieved distinguished 

service in public relations. 

As a result of O'Donnell's suggestion, a plan 

is currently being drafted to make Texas 

COMPO awards to both production and distribution 

for outstanding services achieved in 

public relations. These awards will be made 

to the following: 

(11 Producer, director, actor, actress 

and writer who have achieved distinguished 


(2) Pi'esident, general sales manager 

and advertising-publicity director in distribution 

who have achieved distinguished 


(31 Studio producing the best picture of 

the year—public relations-wise. 

(4) Studio producing the best boxoffice 

grosser of the year. 

As an example of the additional benefits 

of these awards to the personalities receiving 

them, appropriate recognition and special 

treatment in the merchandising and playing 

time will be arranged by Texas exhibitors for 

these award winners. 

OVER 1,500 TO BALLOT 

The more than 1,500 theatre owners and 

theatre managers in Texas will vote for the 

nominees for the Texas COMPO award. This 

wUl be an annual affair and a special banquet, 

Texas style, for award winners of both 

the Texas COMPO awards and the Texas 

Exhibitor awards will be held. The New York 

and Hollywood personalities will be flown in 

by special plane. The entire banquet program 

will be broadcast over the Liberty 

Broadcasting System network. 

Coordinator Rorex is arranging for a clipping 

service from all publications. 

O'Donnell Is Chosen 

'51 Master Showman 

NEW YORK—Robert J. O'Donnell, who directed 

the industry's first Movietime U.S.A. 

campaign last year, was named exhibitor and 

master showman of 1951 by Look magazine in 

its nth annual achievement awards. 

The presentation, along with those of 12 

other winners, was made on the Bob Hope 

show Tuesday (26). The O'Donnell portion 

of the program had been taped earlier, as 

the Interstate circuit vice-president and general 

manager was vacationing in Europe this 

week. 

The award was made for "his unselfish 

services as national campaign director and 

goodwill ambassador of Movietime U.S.A.. 

carrying a message of optimism and faith in 

motion pictures thi'oughout the country." It 

also cited his services as chief barker of Variety 

Clubs International for many years. 

Samuel Goldwyn was given the industry 

award for "his many fine contributions to the 

.screen, his courage, his leadership and his 

optimism representing the Hollywood of 

taste aiid discrimination." Gene Kelly was 

given a special award as the all-around star 

of the year—dancer, singer, choreographer, 

actor, director and writer — "actively participating 

in every phase of his films, using a 

fresh approach to movie musicals." 

Top acting awards were given to Vivien 

Leigh for "A Streetcar Named Desire" and 

Fredric March for "Death of a Salesman." 

Other acting awards also went to Kim 

Hunter, Danny Thomas, Eddie Mayehoff and 

Mitzi Gaynor, and special presentations were 

made to Director George Stevens, Producer 

Arthur Freed, Cameraman Frank Planer and 

Writer Robert Buckner. 

Receive NCCJ Awards 

NEW YORK—As a climax to National 

Brotherhood week the annual Brotherhood 

week awards of the amusement division of the 

National Conference of Christians and Jews 

were presented Thursday night (28) to Celeste 

Holm, S. H. Fabian and Richard F. Walsh, 

president of the lATSE. 

Louis Nizer, chairman of the dinner committee, 

acted as toastmaster. 

Whefher Skouras Takes COMPO Helm Still Problemafical 

NEW YORK—Whether or not Spyros P. 

Skouras. president of 20th Century- Fox. will 

accept the presidency of the Council of Motion 

Picture Organizations, proffered him 

February 21. was still problematical as the 

week drew to a close, although the COMPO 

delegates who voted him in unanimously w;re 

optimistic. 

Skouras was still in Switzerland expediting 

the shipping of the Eidophor theatre tslevision 

system equipment to this country, and although 

he had received a number of cablegrams 

from industry members urging acceptance 

the full text of the laudatory resolution 

of nomination, he had not replied. 

At the headquarters of 20th-Fox it was 

said no date for the return of Skouras was 

known, but that a guess was it might be 

within a week. If the guess proves accurate. 

it is entirely possible that Skouras will not 

reach any definite decision until he returns 

and has an opportunity to talk to those who 

so enthusiastically named him top man of 

COMPO, to succeed Ned E. Depinet, president 

of RKO. 

Also hanging fire was the naming of an 

executive vice-president to succeed Arthur L. 

Mayer. No successor was chosen at the annual 

meeting after general agreement that Skouras 

should have the opportunity to name his own 

man. In the meantime, Mayer is continuing 

in the job, but he plans to leave for Europe 

March 31 and is not likely to continue beyond 

that date. If Skouras accepts as expected, 

there should be little difficulty in naming a 

new executive before that date. 

COMPO delegates, acting on the recommendation 

of the nominating committee 

headed by Jack Alicoate, realized that development 

of Eidophor, in which 20th-Fox owns 

a considerable interest, has the immediate attention 

of Skouras. However, because of his 

prestige both in and out of the industry, they 

felt him the logical choice to succeed Depinet 

and they are pressing and will continue to 

press for his acceptance of the important 

post. 

One interesting sidelight now being discussed 

is whether Skouras, if he takes the 

post, will be able to persuade his brother, 

Charles, to become a member of COMPO. 

That is considered more of a possibility now 

than in the past because the old dues system, 

to which Charles objected, has been 

changed to one more nearly resembling his 

ideas. Considerable financial support would 

accrue to COMPO if Charles Skouras, head 

of the extensive National Theatres circuit, 

came into the fold. 

12 BOXOFFICE March 1. 1952

— 

— 

Back to Movies Spirit 

Hits Rhode Islanders 

PROVIDENCE. R. I.—Local motion picture 

theatres are experiencing a sharp increase 

in business with 1952 less than one-quarter 

over and, despite the fact that unemployment 

in Rhode Island is greater than in any other 

state (per capita), there seems to be a definite 

"march back to the movies," as industryites 

here term it. 

Brisk business is anticipated this spring and 

summer, too, by operators of the nearby outdoor 

theatres. Automobile registrations are 

at an alltime high, despite the unfavorablo 

employment conditions, which gives rise to 

the belief that the coming season should set 

or come close to setting drive-in attendance 

records. 

SEE EARLY DKIVE-IN OPENINGS 

With spring around the corner (21), signs 

of activity were already being noted at the 

ozoners last month. For the most part, 

local airers are strategically located and in 

pleasant surroundings. The 1952 opening announcements 

were expected to start appearing 

in the local newspapers within a short 

time. 

But back indoors, alltime house record.s 

set by "Gone With the Wind," fell at Loew's 

State during the run of "Quo Vadis." At the 

Strand, "Sailor Beware" drew crowds, for 

three weeks, that equalled or surpassed all 

previous records. Long lines queued along the 

front of the Washmgton street house and extended 

around the corner of Union street. 

According to merchants, they were the longest 

waiting lines seen in more than a year. 

Theatre Manager Al Siner admitted, "I've 

been having a rough time trying to accommodate 

the throngs that clamored for admission." 

MEET TV COMPETITION 

Other hou.ses, including the Majestic, Albee, 

Metropolitan and Carlton, were enjoying the 

same prosperity. 

Strangely enough, the capacity houses were 

recorded when television's 'so-called top rated 

programs were being aired, especially Saturdays 

and Sundays. Throngs even deserted 

Milton (Mr. Television i Berle's Tuesday 

nighters. The consensus, hereabouts, is that 

the novelty of TV has worn off and, definitely, 

the "threat" that cau.sed theatre owners 

and operators so much concern is now a 

thing of the past. 

Time's Current Cover 

Goes to John Wayne 

NEW YORK—Time magazuie which has 

been devoting an increasing number of its 

cover stories to amusement industry personalities 

giveo the play to John Wayne in its 

current (3) i.ssue. The article tells of his rise 

as a star and of his friendship with director 

John Ford who gave him his first big opportunity 

in "Stagecoach." 

In evaluating reasons for Wayne's popularity. 

Time says: "To millions of moviegoers 

and televiewers, in whose private lives good 

and evil often wage dreary, inconclusive little 

wars, John Wayne's constant re-enactment 

of the triumph of virtue is as reassuring as 

George Washington's face on a Series E bond." 

The article then adds, "And virtue, in Wayne's 

case, brings just as solid returns." 

BEST WEEKEND IN HISTORY AT THE ROXY 

Along Broadway, Business 

Has a Booming Week 

NEW YORK—Crisp, pleasant weather over 

the long Washington's birthday holiday weekend 

resulted in one weekend record gross and 

sevaral near-record figures and "best in 

months" business. "5 Fingers," aided by the 

personal appearance of Dorothy Lamour on 

the Roxy stage, gave the house the biggest 

weekend business in its 25-year history plus 

a new opening day mark, according to the 

management. "The African Queen," which 

got rave reviews, was second only to the 

recent "Quo Vadis" in the gross for a nonstage 

attraction at the Capitol. And "Snow 

White and the Seven Dwarfs," now being 

seen by a new generation of youngsters, 

racked up the biggest matinee business in 

the 14-year history of the Criterion Theatre 

and was the strongest gross of any Disney 

USE 4-COLOR NEWS AD 

feature to play the house, including last 

season's "Alife in Wonderland." 

The three other new pictures, "Retreat, 

Hell!" at the Warner, "Navajo," which opened 

the reconditioned Baronet, and "The Woman 

in Question" at the Park Avenue, also started 

well, if not sensationally. In addition, the 

majority of holdovers were higher than the 

previous week, including "The Greatest Show 

on Earth," still attracting crowds in its seventh 

week at the Radio City Music Hall; 

"Quo Vadis," still big in its 16th week at 

the Astor; "Sailor Beware," in its third week 

at the Mayfair, and "A Girl in Every Port," 

which was up in its second and final week at 

the Paramount. Such art house films as "The 

Lavender Hill Mob." in its 19th week at the 

Pine Arts; "Rasho-Mon," in its ninth week 

at the Little Carnegie, and "Cry, the Beloved 

Country," in its fifth week at the Bijou, had 

stronger grosses than the previous weeks. 

Only one Hollywood film, "This Woman Is 

Dangerous," a British, a Canadian and an 

Italian picture, opened during the week: 

(Average Is 100) 

Astor—Quo Vadis (MGM), 16th wk., continuous....ll5 

Baronet—Navajo ( LP) 105 

Bijou—Cry, the Beloved Country (Lopert), 5th 

Capitol—The Ahican (3ueen (HA) 

Criterion—Snow While and the Seven Dwarfs 

(RKO), reissue 160 

Fine Arts—The Lavender Hill Mob (U-I), 19th wk..llO 

55lh Street-Jour de Fete (Mayer-Kingsley) 110 

Globe—When Worlds Collide (Para), 3rd wk 110 

Guild—Mr. Lord Says "No!" (Souvaine), 2nd wk...lCO 

Holiday— Return of the Texan (20lh-Fox), 2nd wk. 95 

Little Carnegie—Rasho-Mon (RKO), 9lh wk 110 

Loew's State—Meet Me in St. Louis (MGM); Babo3 

in Arms (MGM), revivals, 2nd wk 98 

Maylair— Sailor Beware (Para), 4th wk 130 

Normandie Pandora and the Flying Dutchman 

(MGM), 12th wk 110 

Paramount-A Girl in Every Port (RKO), plus 

stage show, 2nd wk. 115 

Pans—The River (UA), 24th wk, of two-a-day 95 

Park Ave —The Woman in Question (Col) 115 

Radio City Music Hall—The Greatest Show on 

Earth (Para), plus stage show, 7th wk 130 

Rivoh—Viva Zapatal (20lh-rox), 3rd wk 125 

Roxy—5 Fingers (20th-Fox), plus Dorothy 

Lamour on stage 200 

Sutton—Tales of Hoffmann (Lopert), 9th wk 95 

Trans-Lux 52nd St.—A Lady Possessed (Rep), 

2nd wk 105 

Trans-Lux 60th St—The Magic Garden (Mayer- 

Kingsley), 2nd wk 110 

Victoria—Death of a Salesman (Col), 9th wk 110 

Warner—Retreat, Hell! (WB) 110 

World—Miracle in Milan (Burstyn), lOlh wk 95 

Atlas Corp. Film Holdings 

Remain at '51 Levels 

NEW YORK—Atlas Corp.'s holdings in film 

industry .securities remained practically unchanged 

during 1951. These include 25.000 

shares of Paramount Pictures Corp., 76,500 

shares of Radio-Keith-Orpheum Pictures 

The Woods Theatre in Chicago took a 

full-color full-page advertisement in the 

Chicago Tribune this week for "The African 

Queen" and the Tribune took advantage 

of this unorthodox approach by taking 

display space itself to call attention to the 

value of color in motion picture advertising. 

The Tribune said this was the first time 

that any motion picture advertiser has ever 

Corp., 25,000 certificates of interest in United 

placed a full-page four-color newsprint ad 

Paramount Theatres, Inc., and 93,050 shares 

in any Chicago newspaper. It headed the 

in Walt Disney Productions. 

ad "Theatre Color Page Today Demonstrates 

Impact of Newsprint 

The total value of shares in common stocks 

Color—Sells 

Color With Color." The copy was spotted 

was $48,429,555. The corporation's total holdings, 

on the amusement page, to back "The African 

Queen" advertisement. 

with bonds and preferred stocks, was 

$49,651,285. 

The Woods Theatre is the Loop showcase 

of the Essaness circuit which Edwin were $3,849,235. Tlie .surplus, including net 

Net income and security profits for 1951 

Silverman heads. 

unrealized appreciation of assets at the end 

of 1951, was $58,545,224. 

BOXOFFICE March 1. 1952 13

MARCH . 

MARKS 

COLUMBIA'S 

« 

250 THEATRE, \ 

60,000,000 

READER 

DAY- AND-DATE 

WORLD PREMIERE! 

Book it 

now! 

Play it while 

these national ads 

are breaking— 

The week of 

March 14th! 

CONNIE - Going 

straight - straight 

back to safecracking! 

% 

DAWSON - When 

they onalyzed himthe 

doc blew his top! 

f 

^^^''UlÎ 

PUNCH - Public 

Enemy No. 3 - but 

gaining oil 

the time! 

Columbia Pictures presents A Stanley Kramer Company Production MY SIX CONVICTS with Millard MITCHtLL Gilbert ROLAND 

• Jottn BtAL 

• 

Marshall THOMPSON Screen Play by Michael Blankfo|

Columbia Pictures 

presents 

A Stanley Kramer Company 

Production 

THE PRIVATE UVeS OF 

puBuc mmes 

"^ 

iased on the book by Donald Powell Wilson 

• Music Composed and Directed by Dimitn Tiomkm • Associate Producers Edna and Edward Antialt • Directed by Hugo Fregonese

Telemeter TV System 

Ready for Field Test 

HOLLYWOOD—Telemeter, one of the more 

widely publicized and discussed devices for 

pay-a.s-you-see home video reception, will 

undergo its first test in Palm Springs, lush 

California resort community, next September. 

Such was revealed by officials of the company 

when completed working models of the 

Telemeter system were demonstrated at the 

Los Angeles factory. The Telemeter operation 

is headed by David L. Loew and Carl 

Leserman, film industry veterans, and Paramount 

has a 50 per cent intersst in the project. 

The trial run of the new coin-collecting TV 

acce.s.sory will, it was explained, have to be 

made under conditions other than those which 

will prevail if and when Telemeter is given 

the Federal Conumuiications Commission 

blessing which is being sought. Until such 

FCC approval is forthcoming, the u.se of TV 

.sets utilizing the Telemeter addition in Palm 

Springs will be limited to a hou.se-to-house 

hookup of coaxial cables. 

TO ERECT MASTER AERIAL 

For the field test, a master aerial will be 

erected on a mountain just west of the desert 

re.sort, which will pick up telecasts from the 

seven active TV channels in Los Angeles. 

These will be transmitted by cable and 

booster to a Telemeter station in Palm 

Springs and thence, also by cable, to the 

homes of subscribers. 

Negotiations are now under way for exhibitor 

pnrticipation in the experiment. If 

satisfactory agreement is reached. Earl 

Strebe, owner of the only three theatres in 

Palm Springs, will be tied into the project 

on a basis whereby the pictures being screened 

in his showcases will also be offered to Telemeter 

subscribers for home viewing. Such 

subscribers would be informed, through advanced 

advertising, of the films to be shown, 

and would have the choice of going to one of 

Slrebe's theatres to see the program or of 

paying a proportionate fee, via the Telemeter 

coin-in-slot attachment, to view the offering 

at home. 

It is understood that, in such event, the 

FCC Theatre TV Hearings 

Postponed to May 5 

Washington—The Federal Communications 

Commission on Tuesday (26) again 

postponed the theatre television hearings, 

this time from March 10 to May 5, which 

probably indicates that the ending of the 

freeze on new television stations may be 

delayed. 

Wayne Coy, before his resignation, had 

predicted an end to the freeze by mid- 

March and FCC sources had said his 

resignation would probably not delay 

matters. 

film distributor would receive the same percentage 

of the TV revenue as from the theatres' 

boxoffice takes. The iêmainder presumably 

would be split between Telemeter 

and the showman on a pre-arranged basis. 

Palm Springs was chosen for the test because, 

although it is only 120 miles from 

Los Aiigeles, it is cut off from this metropolis 

by a high range of mountains that heretofore 

has rendered the pickup of TV broadcasts 

impossible. Other .southland communities 

even more distant can receive Los 

Angeles TV signals and thus were not considered 

completely satisfactory as the locales 

for the Telemeter experiments. 

A hookup charge of approximately $150, 

and a monthly maintenance fee of around $4, 

has been tentatively set up as the subscription 

rate for the test. FCC approval will be 

asked after the experiments have been completed 

and the results analyzed. Long-range 

programming plans call for the screening of 

sports events, stage shows and other activities 

in addition to motion pictures. 

The demonstration here attracted considerable 

interest and was witnessed by a repre- 

.sentative cross-section of Hollywood's production 

brass as well as by leaders in the exhibition 

and distribution branches here. 

REPUBLIC ORGANIZATION IN BRITAIN HAS BIRTHDAY—Herbert J. 

Yates, 

second from left, president of Republic Pictures, helped members of his staff in 

London celebrate the first anniversary of Republic Pictures in Great Britain. Bruce 

Newberry, managing director of the British organization, and Lionel Clyne, general sales 

manager, arc shown welcoming Yates and Richard W. Altschuler, president of Republic 

Pictures International Corp. 

WB Allots 10 Million 

To Buy Common Stock 

NEW YORK—The board of directors of 

Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc., has appropriated 

$10,000,000 for the purchase for cancellation 

and retirement of common stock of the corporation 

and has invited sealed tenders of 

such stock at prices not exceeding $15 per 

share. When the invitation to tender stock 

was fir.st under consideration, the appropriation 

of approximately $15,000,000 was considered. 

It is expected that formal invitations to 

tender stock will be mailed to stockholders in 

about two weeks from February 27 and the 

deadline of tenders to Guaranty Tru.st Co. of 

New York, agent of the corporation for the 

purpose, will be approximately three weeks 

thereafter. The 1951 tender for stock purcha.se 

was also $15. 

Prior to the Warner Bros, stock purchase 

announcement, the stock had been selling 

strong on the exchanges with 7,400 shares 

bought Monday (25i at from 15 '« to 15 '/4 and 

5,900 shares bought at the same prices Tuesday 

(26). Wednesday, just before the announcement, 

the volume was 6,800 at 15%.. 

Previously, the stock had been selling at 14'%. 

Harry M. Warner was re-elected president 

and Albert and Jack L. Warner were reelected 

vice-president at a meeting of the WB 

board of directors February 26. Alliert Warner 

was also re-elected treasurer. 

Walter Meihofer was added to the company 

roster of officers by being elected assistant 

controller. Other officers re-elected 

were: Herman Starr, Stanleigh P. Freedman, 

Samuel Schneider, Ben Kalmen.son, Harry M. 

Kalmine and Mort Blumenstock, vice-presidents; 

Robert W. Perkins, vice-president, secretary 

and general counsel; H. S. Bareford, 

R. J. Obringer and E. K. Hessberg, assistant 

secretaries; S. Carlisle, assistant treasurer 

and controller, and W. S. McDonald and 

C. H. Wilder, assistant treasurers. 

RCA Gross Sets Record, 

But Taxes Slice Profit 

NEW YORK—Gross income of the Radio 

Corp. of America in 1951 set a record high of 

$598,955,000, compared with $586,393,000 in 

1950, but net profits dropped from $46,250,000 

in 1950 to $31,193,000, David Sarnoff, board 

chairman, said in the 32nd annual report 

made public Tuesday (26). 

Total taxes paid were $62,389,000, more than 

double the net profits for the year, and 

amounted to $4.49 a share of common stock. 

Net earnings amounted to $2.02 a share 

and represented 5.2 per cent of gro.ss income, 

compared with 1950 earnings equivalent to 

$3.10 a share, representing 7.9 per cent of 

gross income. Sarnoff attributed the reduction 

of net profits from the 1950 peak largely 

to a leveling-off of consumer demand following 

the scare buying of 1950. 

RCA dividends paid in 1951 were $3.50 a 

share on the preferred and $1 a share on the 

common. These totaled $17,010,000, with 

$3,153,000 of the amount going to preferred 

stockholders and $13,857,000 to common stockholders. 

Total current assets at the year's end 

amounted to $255,993,000, compared with 

$209,959,000 at the end of 1950. 


MORE REPORTS TO BOXOFFICE ON JUNIOR RATES 

Memphis Sets Its Junior Admission Rules 

Discount Ticket an Immediate Success . 

. . Good 

Behavior Part of Deal 

MEMPHIS—It didn't take students long to 

catch on. Hundreds of them are ah-eady using 

their student discount card which has been 

issued by 18 Memphis theatres. About 15,000 

of the cards were mailed to students, from 

age 12 to seniors in high school. 

Some who did not receive cards in the 

mail have obtained them from theatres. The 

same card is honored at all 18 of the cooperating 

theatres. The reductions in admission 

prices to students was recommended 

like this: 

Malco, the only downtown theatre involved, 

reduced its admission to 40 cents 

for all students with cards. 

Midtown and neighborhood theatres 

with 50-cent adult admission prices cut 

to 30 cent«. 

Neighborhood houses with less than 50- 

cent adult prices cut to 25 cents for the 

youngsters. 

There were some variations but in all cases 

the student admissions were left to each theatre. 

Present cards are good until May 31. 

Experience between now and then will determine 

whether they will be renewed. The 

plan was advertised by a joint newspaper ad 

and by news stories in Memphis newspapers. 

George Gaughan, Normal Theatre, kept 

records for the group. 

POSSIBLE UNDER TAX SETUP 

Revision in federal excise taxes made the 

plan possible. Formerly a student would have 

had to pay a tax of 20 per cent of the established 

adult admission price. Under the 

revisions, the tax is now 20 per cent of actual 

admi.ssion price. 

The committee prepared a three-page plan 

for operation of the setup. "Obviously, the 

committee could not set up ironclad rules for 

the operation," it was explained. "The committee 

merely set up rules which were thought 

to be practical and is passing these suggestions 

along. Of course, if everyone would follow 

these rules we would avoid a great deal 

of confusion." 

The plan was outlined in question-andanswer 

form. A few of the suggestions follow; 

Q. Should a student be admitted without 

One Box of Popcorn Pays 

For 'Golden Silence' 

Moberly, Mo.—Herman Gould, manager 

of the State Theatre here, recently told his 

most interesting experience as a theatre 

manager to Si Willing, quizmaster of a 

local radio station's Man on the Street 

program. 

Gould said that when a youngster 

would not quit crying in the theatre audience, 

he suggested that its mother take 

the boy back to the lobby for a while. 

It apparently did no good until the mother 

asked Gould for a box of popcorn. 

That did the trick. When it came to 

paying for the popcorn, the mother told 

Gould that if he didn't want the 

child to cry, he'd better not charge her 

for the corn. Gould said he thought that 

if silence was golden, it was at least 

worth 10 cents in this case. 

a discount card at the time he makes application 

for a card? 

A. This is a matter that you will have to 

decide yourself. It is recommended that for 

the first few weeks you admit students on a 

one-time trip pass. 

Q. What should be done if a student admittedly 

accidentally left his card at home? 

A. Children being as they are, there is no 

doubt that some of them will leave their 

passes at home, and we are faced with a 

dilemma of refusing them discount and 

thereby perhaps losing their admission and 

friendship or trying to work with them 

thereby taking a chance of having them abuse 

our plan often. The committee suggests that 

this dilemma be solved by admitting them 

with a discount but making it slightly difficult 

and embarrassing for them. Each theatre 

is receiving a pad of one-time trip 

passes. When a student doesn't have a card 

he should be made to seek out the manager 

or some designated substitute in order to have 

one of these trip passes filled out. He will 

then present this pass to the boxoffice for a 

discount ticket. We believe that the student 

This Message 

And This Card 

r>,. Unlit ti,, 

STUDENT DISCOUNT CARD 

.c«/ /or ,, to 

a 

(ttonttfd and u 

Rtad ttif tuttt gmnning lAii «//« on tile i€ifttt tide o/ lAij 

Nolt wttl tht ttaujt rtgarding btliatôr in tht thiotie. Your 

ante in helping to maintain order tvill be a laetor tuhen we tonrenewal 

of titii 

A iptcial diiiouni eatj 

ipeeial privilege.

THE BIGGEST PRE 

CITY AFTER CITY FR< 

Story of the 

starring 

WENDELL COREY VERA RAL 

.hWAITFR RRFMMAM . WILLIAM CHING • RUTH DONNE

ERES IN YEARS IN 

M COAST TO COAST 

FORREST TUCKER -PHIL HARRIS 

HARRY CAREY, JR. • PENNY EDWARDS A REPUBLIC PICTURE 

GEERanrf CHARLES GRAYSON • Directed By ALLAN DWAN 

Republic Pictures corporation -Herbert J. Yates. Pres.

I the 

The Loop's Strange A House: 

A for Art, A for Action 

Putting on a Film Festival in a Theatre Where Patrons 

Want Action Presents a Problem, But It Can Be Done 

CHICAGO—This is the story of how one 

exhibitor, haunted by the spectre of falling 

grosses and rising costs, made an effort to 

revive the fading boxoffice at his theatre. 

The Clark Theatre in downtown Chicago 

long has been known as a unique operation: 

the only theatre in Chicago with a daily 

change of program; the only subsequent run 

house regularly using spot announcements 

on the radio; the home of the "Sunday Film 

Guild." presenting quality or off-beat pictures 

every Sunday; the originators of "Western 

Day." which included the showing of two 

western films every Wednesday, with the 

front of the theatre decorated in western 

style and the cashiers and ushers dressed in 

western costumes; and one of the few local 

"all-night" theatres, with a late show starting 

at 4 a. m. 

USES ACADEMY AWARD SHORTS 

Several months ago Bruce Trinz, general 

manager of the Clark since 1946. conceived 

the idea of presenting a film festival, tieing 

a group of outstanding productions together 

in one package, adding Academy Award short 

subjects, and putting on a double-barrelled 

advertising and publicity campaign to promote 

the series. 

With this thought in mind, a tentative 

program for the 15-day festival, with a daily 

change of shows, was set up. When some 

of the pictures which originally were scheduled 

were found to be out of service (ineluding 

"Treasure of Sierra Madre" and "The 

Fugitive") other top attractions were booked 

to replace them. An important problem in the 

booking was to run pictures which would attract 

new people without "alienating" or driving 

away the "regulars," mostly western and 

action fans, who have supported the theatre 

throughout the years. The answer obviously 

was to play outstanding pictures, but predominantly 

in the western and action categories. 

How this was done may be ascertained 

by a look at the program, which includes 

"The Informer." "Ox-Bow Incident," "Kiss of 

Death," "Asphalt Jungle," "Naked City," "Act 

of Violence," "Cry of the City," "The Gunfighter" 

and other classic thrillers. 

With the attractions set. the next step was 

setting up a publicity and advertising budget 

and determining the best place to use the 

money. Once this had been done, flyers of 

the entire program were printed (with the 

financial assistance of the restaurants on 

either side of the theatre, who helped to 

defray a major part of the cost by buying 

ads in the flyer 

i 

and mailed to special groups 

throughout the city, including the Better 

Films Council, retail booksellers, churches, 

schools and other cultural organizations. 

Placards were printed and put on display in 

the public libraries, bookstores, universities, 

store windows and other strategic locations 

throughout the city. 

Publicitywise, radio and television interviews 

were arranged for Ti'inz. to give him 

the opportunity to tell the public about the 

festival and series tickets were provided for 

radio personalities to distribute as prizes and 

gifts to their listeners and to disabled servicemen. 

The film critics and amusement advertising 

departments of the daily newspapers 

were asked to lend their cooperation and in 

most cases responded nobly. Naturally an 

important facet of the campaign was the use 

of larger ads than usually taken by the thea- 

Shown here are some of the exploitation materials used by the Clark Theatre to 

promote the Film Festival. At the left is a window poster, in which the typographer 

used only lower case letters in an effort to create the arty look. Upper right is a flyer, 

printed on a good grade of paper, the cost of which was partially defrayed by the two 

restaurant ads. Folded, it made an 8'2x4 mailing piece. Below is a card which visitors 

used to list their choice of films for the festival. 

the dark theatre 

presents cfiicogo's fir: 

film festival 

IS days of all-time hit movies 

at our regular prices - or - series ticket only ^5 

Sunday, february 10, through Sunday, february 24 

sun. 10-"briglit victorj" & 

"red badge of courage" 

mon. It—"naked tily" S 

"ospholt jungle" 

lues. 12~"broken orrow" 

& "the ox-bow incident" 

wei 13-"th» gunfighter" 

i "kiss of death" 

thuts. 14-"lhe dark post" 

& "we were strangers" 

irder' 

sal. 16— "the dork mirroi 

& "cry of the city" 

sun. 

17—"storm 

& "the mo9lliricenl yonki 

"9 

mon. 18— "ntt ol vlolente" 

& "he walked by night" 

toes. 19— "m" [for murderer) 

& "oil Ihe king's men" 

wed. 20-"the pearl" i 

"knock on ony door" 

thurs. 21— "the informer" & 

"gentleman's agreement" 

Iri. 

22—"mystery street" t 

"intruder in 

the dust" 

sot. 23—"Ihe windov 

"panic in 

the streets" 

n 

town" & 

a train" 

»» !?* 

Bruce Trinz, general manager of the 

Clark Theatre, shows a poster anouncing 

the Film Festival to Estelle Winwood, in 

her dressing room at the Erlanger where 

she is appearing in "The Cocktail Party." 

She played at the Clark in the early '20s 

when it was a legitimate house known as 

the Adelphi, 

tre in the newspapers. 

The Board of Education FM station. WBEZ. 

picked up the Clark's offer of reduced prices 

to high school students during the festival 

(on school holidays only to discourage students 

from playing "hookey") and broadcast 

it into the schools. Ads in the university 

newspapers offered special rates on series 

tickets to university students. 

The film festival as this is being written 

already has proved itself both a financial and 

artistic success. Several thousand people have 

stopped in the lobby to fill out request cards 

and get their names on the theatre's mailing 

list; the number of phone calls at the boxoffice 

has more than quadrupled, and the 

series has attracted a host of people who 

never had been in the Clark before. 

It has been said that "imitation is the most 

sincere form of flattery," and local exhibitors 

already have started booking in some of the 

combinations running at the Clark during 

the film festival: 

Sunday, February 10: "Bright Victory" and "Red 

Bodge of Courage" plus "For Sentimental Reasons." 

Monday, Februory 11: "Aspfialf Jungle" and 

"Naked City" plus "Grandad of Races." 

Tuesday, February 12: "Broken Arrow" and "Ox-Bow 

Incident" plus "Climbing the Motterhorn." 

Wednesday, February 13: "Kiss of Death" and "The 

Gunfighter" plus "Symphony of a City." 

Thursday, February 14: "The Dark Post" and "We 

Were Strangers" plus "Aquatic Houseparty," 

Friday, February 15: "An Act of Murder" ond 

"Street With No Name" plus "The Little Orphan." 

Saturday, February 16: "The Dark Mirror" and "Cry 

of the City" plus "Trouble Indemnity." 

Sunday, February 17: "Storm Warning" and "Magnificent 

Yankee." 

Monday, February 18: "Act of Violence" and 'He 

Walked by Night" plus "Nature's Half Acre." 

Tuesday. February 19; "M" ond "All the King's 

Men" plus "Tweetie Pie." 

Wednesday, February 20: "The Pearl" and "Knock 

On Any Door" plus "Gerald McBoing-Boing." 

Thursday, February 21: "The Informer" and "Gentleman's 

Agreement." 

Friday, February 22: "Mystery Street" and "Intruder 

in the Dust" plus "The Pop Corn Story." 

Saturday, February 23: "The Window" and "Panic 

in the Streets" plus "Seal Islond " 

Sunday, February 24: "On the Town" and "Strangers 

on a Train." 


. 

WWXmMi 

iinerica's most 

reduced stage play 

'hich the Saturday 

vening Post says 

ad 50,000 

erformances . . 

a bigger hit than 

•klahoma!' or 

fe With Father'!" 

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LW \n9s»on* e\\i"9 

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Piredion and Screenplay by OMJVB blf^QH ' âsecj on t/ie p/ay by lâ/ter Benjamin Hare

Iftc^t

TECHNICOLOR 

IS THE TRADE MARK Of 

TECHNICOLOR MOTION PICTURE CORPORATION 

HERBERT T. KALMUS, PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER

Fox Midwest Offering 

24 Tlieatres for Sale 

KANSAS CITY—Fox Midwest Theatres this 

week placed 24 theatres in four states on the 

for sale list, to meet divorcement provisions 

of the 20th Century-Fox consent decree. The 

circuit hopes to dispose of most of the theatres 

by July 1, E. C. Rhoden, president, said. 

District managers met with Rhoden last 

week to decide which theatres to keep and 

which to sell, as the decree in many instances 

gave the circuit a choice on theatres it may 

hold or sell. Rhoden said that three additional 

theatres already have been disposed of, 

and deals are pending on several other 

houses. Sale of the theatres is open to anyone 

who is interested in purchasing them, 

he said. 

In Kansas City, Mo., the circuit is putting 

two key neighborhood theatres on the market, 

the Isis and the Waldo, plus the Vista 

and the Madrid which has been closed for 

many years. 

Kansas theatres to be sold are: Orpheum, 

Atchison; Tackett. Coffeyville: Crown, Dodge 

City; Strand, Emporia; Empress, Fort Scott; 

Pox, Hutchinson; Cozy. Pittsburg; Jayhawk, 

Sahna; Wichita in Wichita. 

In Illinois, the following theatres are for 

sale: Star in Benton; Grand, Centralia; 

Times, Jacksonville; Plaza, Mount Vernon; 

Plaza. Marion, and State. West Frankfort. 

The properties are being handled through 

L. O. Honig. who Is in charge of real estate 

for Fox Midwest which has its headquarters 

here. 

Goldwyn Is Negotiating 

New Distribution Deal 

Missouri houses for sale include: Crane in 

Carthage; Siloam, Excelsior; Orpheum, Joplin; 

Eagle, Lexington, and Jewell, Springfield. 

NEW YORK—Samuel Goldwyn is conducting 

"active negotiations" with United Artists 

officials on the possibility of switching distribution 

of his films from RKO to UA but 

he is also discussing renewal of the RKO 

contract, which will expii-e June 30. 

Goldwyn met with UA officials on the coast 

last week, according to Arthur B. Krim, president, 

and Max E. Youngstein. vice-president, 

who recently returned from coast visits. James 

A. Mulvey, Goldwyn president, and Ned E. 

Depinet, RKO president, both left for the 

coast late in February to discuss a new contract 

with Goldwyn and Howard Hughes. He 

has been with RKO since 1941 and now has 

the best distribution deal in the industry, 

paying the company only 20 per cent for 

handling his product. 

RKO has released some of his outstanding 

productions, including "The Little Foxes." 

"Pi-ide of the Yankees," "Wonder Man" and 

"The Best Years of Our Lives." His most recent 

production, "I Want You." was released 

in January 1952 and his next. "Hans Christian 

Andersen." starring Danny Kaye. is still in 

work and will not be ready for relea.se until 

late in 1952. This picture, which is in Technicolor 

and will cost approximately $4,000,000. 

the most expensive picture Goldwyn ever 

made, would add prestige to UA's release 

schedule. Prior to 1940 Goldwyn was an owner-member 

of United Artists. 

YIRTUALLY 

every month brings into 

sharp focus some additional testimony 

that the motion picture industry has 

definitely deserted the walling wall, at which 

it has spent too much time during the last 

two or more years, and has buckled down to 

applying its limitless talents, initiative and 

drive toward improving its lot. 

When film business took considerable of a 

nosedive, the brass of the trade was understandably 

confused. Discouragement and 

pessimism were the order of the day and the 

industry's best brains were devoted largely 

to analysis of what had brought about the 

evil times. Television, poor pictures, less of 

live showmanship, thoughtless overplaying of 

reissues and countless other conditions and 

policy errors were projected as the contributing 

factors to the decline in movies' popularity 

and patronage. While such surveying of 

reasons doubtlessly contained a certain 

amount of logic, it did nothing to better 

filmdom's overall position or to lend promise 

to its future. 

Then, like the awakened giant that it is. 

the motion picture world started fighting 

back, obviously and refreshingly determined 

to i-ewin the magnificent place in the entertainment 

field that it once so proudly filled. 

The mors important and colorful phases 

of this comeback drive have been so thoroughly 

reported to the trade that repetition 

thereof is unnecessary. They include such 

sound and potent ventures as Movietime 

U.S.A.. many features of which will be repeated 

this year; the ever-increasing use of 

color in motion pictures, with renewal of the 

predictions that within a reasonably short 

time all theatrical films will be in tints; the 

project of making the first third-dimension 

film, as planned by Arch Oboler, the independent 

producer, director and writer, who 

will utilize the three-dimension process developed 

by M. L. Gunzberg's Natui-al Vision 

Corp., which is said to require no special 

projection equipment beyond metallically 

coated screens, and an undeniable and marked 

improvement in the average quality of Hollywood's 

output. 

3>- 

Now comes another startling technical development 

which can well contribute materially 

toward solidifying the industry's bright 

future— this time through effecting sizable 

and desirable cuts in the cost of producing 

top-grade celluloid entertainment. It has been 

perfected by the Camera Vision Co.. headed by 

Arthur Lyons, at one time one of Cinemania's 

ranking talent agents, who quit the agency 

field to devote his entire time and his considerable 

know-how to the new production 

device. 

RKO Gets 'Red Beret' 

NEW YORK—RKO has closed a deal with 

Warwick Productions for distribution in the 

western hemisphere of "Red Beret," to be 

filmed in England by Irving Allen and Cubby 

Brocolli. The picture, which will star a 

Hollywood name, is set for a mid-April filming 

date. 

While a mere reporter, with little knowledge 

concerning the intricate techniques of 

picture-making and camera procedure, finds 

it a bit difficult to describe, roughly the process 

perfected by Camera Vision represents a 

combination of the standard motion picture 

camera, and its conventional uses, and the 

electronic cameras employed in television. It 

utilizes the focusing facilities of the TV 

camera in a manner which, its inventors declare, 

permits filming procedures now unknown 

on the sound stages. 

The system allows the producer, director, 

film editor, head cameraman and any others 

who figure in the picture's making to sit together 

in a portable room and see, projected 

on sevei'al screens, every detail of a scene 

while it is being rehearsed and before it is 

photographed. Lighting faults, awkward action, 

distorted camera angles and other 

frailties are consequently revealed before they 

are filmed. This substantially reduces the 

costly system of repetitious "setups" and holds 

the actual filming of a sequence down to one 

take instead of the time-and-money-consuming 

shooting of a scene over and over until 

the perfect few inches of film have been secured. 

The technique has been incorporated into 

both 35mm and 16mm cameras. In the narrow 

gauge. Camera Vision has developed a 

magazine which will hold 33,000 feet of film, 

allowing for the continuous shooting of a feature-length 

film without stopping to reload. 

Jack Strauss, a pioneer in the use of the 

electronic camera and one-time chief of special 

projects for the air force, initiated the 

Camera Vision venture. He was joined in 

its development by Harry Cunningham, whose 

own combat camera is now in general use by 

the armed forces, and Harold Jury and Gil 

Wyland of the Columbia Broadcasting System's 

TV engineering staff in Hollywood. 

Present plans call for the new equipment to 

be rented to commercial filmmakers, both in 

the theatrical and TV fields. 

Lyons reports he and his associates have invested 

better than a half-million dollars in 

perfecting the new technique, and he estimates 

that its use will cut the cost of producing 

the average feature by at least 50 

per cent. 

If he is right, his Camera Vision can indeed 

be of great benefit to the industry, which 

seems to be unanimously agreed upon at 

least one point, to wit, that lowering of production 

budgets, without impairment of 

movies' improved qualities; lower film rentals 

and more attractive theatre admissions would 

accord incalculable impetus to motion pictures' 

trek along the comeback trail. 

Extra Variety Club Award 

NEW YORK—An award of $500 will be 

presented by the Pepsi-Cola Co. to the Variety 

Club tent which wins the annual charity 

citation at the Humanitarian Award banquet 

in Las Vegas, Nev., May 1. It will be with 

the stipulation that the winning tent will give 

this money to its favorite charity venture. 


THEATRES AND PRESS JOIN IN EXPERIMENT 

Hartford to Test Best 

Feature Starting Time 

HARTFORD—An experiment gets under 

way in Hartford late in March to determine 

at just what hour the average film patron 

likes to see a main feature at night. Generally, 

metropolitan Hartford theatres have 

been showing main features nightly between 

9:15 and 9:45 p. m. 

Harry F. Shaw, division manager for Loew's 

Poli-New England Theatres, presided at a 

meeting of 18 theatre executives and newspaper 

officials at the Mai-ques House restaurant 

to set up an advertising and promotion 

campaign in conjunction with the proposed 

Mai'ch 24 start of an Early-Late show experiment, 

slated to stretch over a period of weeks, 

to test audience reaction. 

SEEK 'LOST AUDIENCE' RETURN 

It was generally conceded that experimentation 

might conceivably draw some of 

the lost audience back to the theatres. "We 

all realize that too many people complain 

that seeing a main feature some time after 

9 p. m. is a bit too late for them on a weeknight," 

commented Shaw. 

"As a result, under this early-late show, 

we will start the main feature between 8 and 

8:30 p. m., permitting patrons to get home by 

a reasonable hour. This will be called the 

Early-Late show plan." 

According to plans formulated at the luncheon 

meeting, a three-week promotion campaign, 

consisting of newspaper stories, lobby 

displays and trailers, will start March 3, 

with the Early-Late show plan to go into 

effect for a period of time after March 24. 

Ballots for readers to submit their votes for 

the Early-Late show idea will be published in 

the metropolitan dailies and similar ballots 

will be avaUable in theatre lobbies. Basic 

idea behind the drive; "There are lots of 

good movies—we want you to enjoy them 

comfortably and conveniently," Lou Brown, 

director of advertising and publicity for the 

Loew's Poll Interests declared. 

LIST OF THOSE ATTENDING 

In attendance were Harry F. Shaw, Lou 

Brown, Lou Cohen, Norman LeVinson, Loew's 

Poli Theatres; J. M. Totman, Jim McCarthy, 

Warner Theatres; Sperie Perakos, Tom Grace, 

Vincent Capuano, Perakos Theatres; George 

E. Landers, E. M. Loew's Theatres; Ray Mc- 

Namara, AUyn; Maurice Shulman, Shulman 

Theatres; Gus Schaefer, Hartford Theatre 

Circuit; Henry L. Needles, Art Theatre; Dave 

Daniel, general manager; Carl Lindstrom, 

managing editor; Allen M. Widem, motion 

picture editor. Times; H. Viggo Andersen, 

motion picture editor, Courant. 

Shaw commented that after a month of 

putting on the main feature some time between 

8 and 8:30 p. m., local theatremen 

should realize if earlier starting times are 

aiding trade at all. 

According to present plans, the 8-8:30 plan 

will be in effect Monday through Friday 

nights only, with every theatre reverting to 

past individual practices on Saturday and 

Sunday nights. 

Every theatre in the metropolitan Hartford 

area will participate in the plaji. 

Cut-Rate Sitter Service 

To His Theatre Patrons 

PASCO, WASH.—Charles Welch, manager 

of the Liberty Theatre, is also m 

the baby-sitting service as of this month. 

His new dual theatre service is an employment 

agency and also a boxoffice 

stimulant among parents. The agency 

angle is to register sitters in three divisions: 

high school girls, mature women 

and nurses. Persons wishing to employ 

one can contact the theatre, state the 

type desiied, and be given a phone number 

and the hourly rate, which is filed 

at the Liberty. The boxoffice builder 

works like this: patrons wishing to attend 

the theatre and employ a sitter for 

three hours or more select one from the 

theatre's files and get the first hour's sitting 

free. They present the sitter with 

their theatre ticket stubs (the first hour's 

fee) and the sitter, in return, receives 

theatre passes for the stubs presented. 

Mutual Productions to Hold 

Its First Annual Conclave 

HOLLYWOOD — Mutual Productions, distribution 

company of which Moe Kerman is 

president, wUl hold its first annual sales convention 

Wednesday and Thursday (5, 6) in 

New York, with franchise holders from 28 

territories to attend. 

The company will screen "Models, Inc.," a 

Howard Duff-Coleen Gray co-starrer, which 

is the first feature to be made by Mutual Pictures, 

the distribution firm's production unit. 

The latter is headed by Jack Dietz as president 

and Hal E. Chester as vice-president in 

charge of production. 

Wolfberg Denver House 

Awarded $100,000 by Jury 

DENVER—Cinema Amusements, Inc., operating 

the Broadway, was awarded $100,000 

by a federal court jury for damages said 

to have been incurred because the theatre 

was unable to get a proper run of film for 

the theatre during 69 weeks in 1945-46. The 

antitrust case was against RKO, Loew's and 

20th Century-Fox. Defense attorneys are asking 

Judge Lee Knous to set the verdict aside, 

and failing in this, will ask for a new trial. 

Any damages finally settled on by the court 

will be tripled. The Wolfbergs own the house. 

Protests TV Programs 

WASHINGTON — A San Francisco committee 

of motliers has protested to the Federal 

Communications Commissions about 

television programming for children, after 

eight members each sat before their sets for 

four hours and saw a total of 13 murders, six 

kidnappings, a lynching, a torture scene, an 

induced miscarriage and other crimes. 

Into the Courts Over 

'Disowned' Theatres 

MINNEAPOLIS — The Miimesota Amusement 

Co., having refused to rescind the purchase 

of and take back the St. Paul A first 

run downtown Strand and Tower from Montgomery, 

Dale & Rydeen, St. Paul circuit owners, 

as demanded, the latter have closed the 

theatres. 

They also have filed suit in district court 

against MAC, asking for the purchase deal's 

recision and a return of the $75,000 paid on 

the $150,000 pur-chase price, covering the theatres' 

equipment and leases which still have a 

year and a half to run and include options for 

renewal at advanced rentals. 

In the complaint served on MAC by 

theiicounsel 

Ben Deinard, Montgomery, Dale & 

Rydeen allege they were induced to buy the 

theatres on "misrepresentations" regarding 

past earnings and future prospects of the 

.showhouses. 

MAC executives deny any such misrepresentations, 

say the books of the two theatres 

were thrown open to the buyers to examine, 

and at the time of the deal, Aug. 11, 1950, 

there were at least six other prospective purchasers 

and the Paramount circuit considered 

it was doing the Montgomery group a favor ii;i 

giving it the preference. 

With the two theatres to all practical intents 

and purposes "disowned" and Montgomery, 

Dale & Rydeen refusing to meet 

pui-chase price installments in arrears and 

coming up as well as the monthly rental, 

MAC is "stuck" for the latter because its 

name remains on the leases. 

MAC hasn't decided yet whether or not to 

reopen the Aster or turn it into commercial 

property if unable to sell it. The independent 

group that purchased the 800-seat local loop 

first run house from MAC about 18 months 

ago became insolvent and tossed it back into 

MACS lap. They had bought the equipment 

and lease, still having five years to run, for 

$50,000 and of that amount $25,000 had been 

paid and will have been sacrificed. The MAC 

continued on the lease after the theatre's sale. 

Bennie Berger, independent circuit owner 

who also is financially interested in a number 

of enterprises other than theatres, says 

MAC offered to sell to him for commercial 

purposes one of its largest and finest downtown 

A houses, the Century. He had a project 

in mind and considered the proposal, but 

after determining that the cost would be 

excessively large and after reaching the conclusion 

that the ground lease's terms made 

such an expenditure unwise, he decided not 

to buy. MAC owns the building which is on 

leased ground. The ground lease still has 57 

years to run. 

'Apache Pass' Set in 600 

Situations During April 

NEW YORK—More than 600 key situations 

have booked "The Battle at Apache Pass" 

Û-I) for a mass playoff in April, states 

Charles J. Peldman, domestic sales manager. 

Theatre-Usting ads in national magazines 

will be used again by David Lipton. These 

were used on "Up Front" last March and 

again on "The Golden Horde" in October. 

The ads appearing in the Saturday Evening 

Post and Look will carry the names of 447 

theatres. 

26 


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cuesceNT circuit dedicaus a tony sudckum memorial 

Zenith Asks FCC Okay 

New Nashville Theatre For Subscription TV 

Monday (25i 

Opening a Civic Event 

WASHINGTON — Zenith Radio Corp. on 

asked the Federal Communications 

Commission to authorize .subscription 

television and also to authorize Phonevision 

as a means for providing it, arguing that 

television could not render maximum service 

to the public unless recipients of programs 

could pay directly, as well as indirectly, for 

television entertainment. 

The Phonevision system was tested experimentally 

in Chicago over a three-month 

period, January l-March 31, 1951, and Zenith 

claims the test proved public desire for and 

acceptance of both subscription "pay-as-yousee" 

television and of the Phonevision method. 

Phonevision can employ a number of color 

television systems, including the CBS system 

approved by the commission, according to the 

Zenith brief. 

Zenith denied that Phonevision would overwork 

telephone lines or interfere with normal 

telephone communications. 

fS-^P? 

Shown here are the cover and back pages of the 24-page section issued by the 

Nashville Tennessean to commemorate the opening of the new Tennessee Theatre. 

The cover was printed in color. The bacli page was a tribute to the late Tony Sudekum, 

founder of the Crescent circuit, by 12 civic leaders. 

NASHVILLE—The opening of the 2,020-seat 

Tennessee Theatre by the Crescent circuit 

here this week (28) was a civic event which 

was heralded by a special 24-page section in 

the Sunday Na-shville Tennessean. The section 

served to pay a tribute not only to the 

Crescent circuit and its founder, the late Tony 

Sudekum, but also to the film industry. 

Three of the 24 pages were in color, and 

the section was filled with cooperative advertisements 

from prominent business firms of 

the city. One full page was a tribute to the 

founder of the circuit, signed by the heads 

of a dozen outstanding Nashville firms. It 

carried the heading "A Tribute to a Great 

Man," and called attention to his humanitarian 

deeds which "left an indelible imprint 

upon the pages of oui- generation." 

Glenn McCarthy Holdings 

Taken Over by Equitable 

NEW YORK—The Equitable Life Assurance 

Society of the U.S. has taken over control 

of Glenn McCarthy's oil, gas and hotel holdings. 

McCarthy owes Equitable $34,100,000. 

The Shamrock hotel in Houston, Tex., one 

of the country's best known hotels, where 

McCarthy held a gala opening for "The Green 

Promise," RKO picture which he backed in 

1950, is involved in the financial transaction. 

McCarthy has borrowed several million dollars 

in the last few ye?.rs to promote his various 

businesses in the southwest. Thomas I. 

Parkinson, president of Equitable, third largest 

insurance firm in the U.S., said that Mc- 

Carthy has not amortized his debt to the 

m.surance concern in "the last two years." 

The opening picture was Warner Bros. 

"About Pace" and proceeds from the premiere 

performance with tickets ranging from 

$10 to $50—went to the Florence Crittenden 

home. Warner stars were on hand to participate 

in the affair. 

The Tennessee Theatre was planned by 

Sudekum before his death in 1946 at the age 

of 66. He had been in the motion picture 

business since 1907. At present, the Crescent 

circuit operates 20 theatres in Nashville and 

57 others over a three-state area. The building 

in which the theatre is located is named 

after Sudekum. 

The ciicuit is now headed by R. E. Baulch, 

president; Kermit C. Stengel, executive vicepresident; 

C. R. McCown, general manager, 

and Webb Hayes, secretary-treasurer. 

New Catalog for Drive-Ins 

Published by Filmack 

A special trailer catalog has just been published 

by Filmack Trailers of Chicago devoted 

exclusively to drive-in theatre advertising, 

exploitation, special stunts, refreshments 

and institutional ideas. The catalog 

contains more than 125 individual trailer 

ideas and lists trailer copy for more than 75 

subjects, including holidays, fireworks, intermissions, 

and numerous exploitation stunts. 

Outstanding among the new ideas listed Is 

Pilmack's special Merchant's Intermission 

Clock Billboard trailer that shows and announces 

the number of minutes during the 

intermission, and also allows exhibitors an 

opportunity to flash merchant ads and institutional 

copy during each intermission. 

Oliver Garrett Services; 

Academy Award Scenarist 

NEW yORK—Funeral services for Oliver 

H. P. Garrett, 58, who won an Academy 

Award in 1934 for his scenario for "Manhattan 

Melodrama," were held at the Protestant 

Episcopal Church of the Ascension February 

25. Garrett died February 22 while 

shopping in a men's wear shop on Seventh 

avenue. 

Garrett, a former reporter on the New 

York World, wrote fiction for national magazines 

before going to Hollywood as a scenarist 

in the silent picture era. Among the many 

scenarios he wrote were: "Forgotten Faces," 

"Moby Dick," "If I Had a Million. " "The Story 

of Temple Drake," "Flight for Freedom," 

"Hurricane" and "Duel in the Sun." He also 

worked on the screenplays for "Night Flight." 

"A Farewell to Arms" and "Gone With the 

Wind." He was a member of the Screen 

Writers Guild, of which he was a principal 

founder. 

Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Charlcie Hedge 

Garrett, three sons, Peter, Adam and Nathaniel, 

and four sisters. 

Theatre Packed Sundays 

Since Blue Law Repeal 

MARISSA, ILL.—Towiispeople have been 

packing the Mars Theatre on Sunday nights 

since the repeal of the local Sunday blue law 

593 to 251 in a referendum earlier this month 

as reported in the BOXOFFICE issue of February 

9. This coal-mining community of 

1.600, 35 miles southeast of St. Louis, was 

the last town in Illinois to continue the 1908 

ban on Sunday shows. 

Theatre owner Tony Beninati of nearby 

Pinckneyville spearheaded the drive to put 

the Sunday issue to a test. All he needed 

was 25 signatures on a petition but the 844 

persons who finally voted were more than 

one-half the population. Beninati says receipts 

from a Sunday night showing are inconsequential 

in his 300-seat Mars but he 

needed the seven-day operation to help him 

book better product. No refreshments after 

the show, though. Blue laws still require 

drug stores to close on Sundays. 


. . . "For significance to motion 

pictures and for having revolutionized 

the industry's most important 

branch— the 

newsreel"... 

HISTORY-IN-THE 

MAKING SERIES 

The only series produced that 

tells the full story behind 

the most exciting years in 

the world's 

history. 

These winners are once again 

making box-office history! 

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369 Lexington Avenue 

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Buy it Book it NOW!

I 

— 

LETTERS 

At Least One Patron Has Foith! 

To BOXOFFICE: 

I am in a dither. 

Just received a letter from a lady, president 

of an important organization (name 

deleted for obvious reasons), who wants to 

know what attraction we will be playing the 

last Friday in March 1953. 

Of course, we do not book quite that far 

ahead, but what worries me was another 

article which appeared in Life magazine this 

week, again reminding readers that 3,000 theatres 

had closed due to television. While 

the article was not quite as vicious as the one 

they did in August of last year, just the 

same, television and the movies seem to rub 

Life editors the wrong way. 

How should I reply to this lady's kind letter. 

I could, of course, explain that in these 

days of competitive bidding and all that we 

were lucky to know a couple of weeks ahead 

what we were going to play. But. based on 

Life's contention that television is still a 

threat and could put us out of business, should 

I tell this lady that based on an article appearing 

this week in Life, we may not even 

be in business? 

It's all very confusing. But that's show 

business. Does any theatre in the land know 

what they will play the last Friday in March 

1953? Does any theatre in the land know 

they will be open the last Friday in March 

1953? If Life's wishes could come true, probably 

they wouldn't. 

EARLE M. HOLDEN 

City Manager, 

Lucas and Avon Theatres, 

Savannah, Ga. 

P. S. I just contacted the lady and queried 

her as to whether she has made an error in 

listing the year as 1953. No, sir, she wants 

to know what we are playing the last Friday 

in March of 1953. At least it's nice to know 

that television or not, we will at least have 

one customer the last Friday in March 1953. 

Favors Percentage as 'Equalizer' 

To BOXOFFICE: 

The February 2 issue of BOXOFFICE leaves 

me with two thoughts in mind in particular. 

Except in the "personals" nothing much is 

ever said about booking agents. Ever since 

we opened we have been serviced by Clark 

Theatre Service of Detroit. 

While Would 

I believe William 

Spread Editorial's 

"BUI" Clark 

Message 

to be 

above the average level of agents head and 

To BOXOFFICE: 

shoulders—I'm wondering if these agents are Your editorial, "Tell 'em! Sell 'em!," was 

fully appreciated. With few exceptions, the an inspiring one, and certainly should give 

terms secured for our theatre by our agent anyone in our business additional incentive 

have been fair. The prices we have paid and courage to see our present problems 

for major product has climbed definitely, but through. 

in proportion to our Increased receipts. We I wish it were possible somehow to get 

furnish our booker with daily boxoffice this article into the liands of as many people 

figures, beUeving that such practice helps as possible because it cannot help but make 

him help us. And whenever we believe we anybody do plenty of tliinking after reading 

had unfair terms, our agent anticipated the it. I hope you will put out many more articles 

of this type, as they should be of un- 

complaint and arranged adjustments. 

If we may judge booking agents by Clark told value to any of us in our business. 

Theatre Service, some of these complaining 

exhibitors might well engage a good one and 

C. A. SCHULTZ 

look to their own showmanship. 

Consolidated Agencies, Inc. 

My second comment is on the letter about 114 West 18th St., 

some means of encouraging the producer- 

Kansas City, Mo. 

distributor in a fair way by the exhibitor. 

Our "retiring" friend probably realizes that 

apparently not too much mutual confidence 

and trust reposes between exhibitor-distributors 

at the pre.5ent time. A friend of mine 

in the theatrical business warned me about 

writing comments to the "Exhibitor Has His 

Say" on the grounds it would up my film 

rentals. 

It does seem to me that in complete fairness 

to the distributor, some equitable means 

of payment should be arrived at. It hardly 

seems fair that the Class B programmers 

must take it on the chin, while the high 

budget good (?) pictures ask the high terms 

—when the exhibitor may actually make his 

money on the B product. Some of the lesser 

known films have, on occasions, outpuUed top 

product. 

I realize this latter situation may be brought 

about by the fact that our patrons, through 

advertising, may have attended more of the 

good product first run; and then come to the 

drive-in in the summer and see some of the 

poorer product missed at an earlier date. 

My honest opinion, however afraid I may 

be to say it or submit to it, is that all pictures 

should be played on a percentage basis, with 

a minor adjustment provision which would 

take into consideration advertising and capacity 

of the individual theatre. 

The cost sheets for our theatre show a definite 

average percentage for each item we 

buy in relation to our gross. If an average 

could be established between A and B distributors 

that would keep our film costs 

within 1 per cent of our present costs— 

would have no objection to playing all pictures 

on percentage. 

Perhaps this would not be as easy as it 

sounds—and older, more experienced exhibitors 

may chuckle at the suggestion. Truthfully, 

the status quo suits me as I believe I 

am being treated fairly, thanks to the efforts 

of my agent. 

I do believe drive-in theatres should be 

given better clearances over first run, even 

a small share of first run, for I think driveins 

can do more to help the movie industry 

than many realize. 

Sky Drive-In Theatre, 

U.S. Highway 223. 

Adrian, Mich. 

ROBERT B. TUTTLE 

BOXOFFICE GETS AROUND — The 

above snapshot of a South Korean boy 

intently reading BOXOFFICE was taken 

by Cpl. George B. Hesser, projectionist 

with the 508th Operation Detachment in 

the war zone. Hesser writes he receives 

BOXOFFICE every week and reads it 

from cover to cover. 

In the Newsreels 

Movietone News, No. 17: Atlantic storm splits 

tonkers off Cape Cod; "Finger Man" in Sutton 

arrest; Midway's Eagles in war drill; Vyvyan Donner's 

fashions from south of the border; sports 

winter Olympics at Oslo; auto race fans see thriller 

at Daytona Beach, Fla. 

News of the Day, No. 251: Atlantic storm claims 

two more ships; atomic progress for peace; high 

honors for MGM; carnival time on the Riviera; auto 

race—Daytona Beach, Fla.; Palm Springs rodeo; 

first thrills from winter Olympics. 

Fmamount News, No. 54: Prelude to Lenten sea; 

son; riot marks Red opposition to rearmament; fashions 

for the gentry; men against the sea; Olympics 

triple 

slam. 

Universal News, No. 537: Winter Olympics; carnival 

time; England—sportswear; Palm Springs, Calif, 

rough rodeo; Daytona, Fla.—stock car races. 

Warner Pothe News. No. 5S: New atomic pile revealed 

at Oak Ridge; Cape Cod, Mass.—storm splits 

tanker in half; Bonn, Germany—riots protest west 

German rearmament; Washington—Eric Johnston 

named to vital Point 4 post; Daytona Beach, Fla. 

crackup classic; Olympic highlights—U.S. wins, 

places in 500-meter race, top Olympic star sets 

5,000-meter mark; women's downhill skiing. 

Movietone News, No. 18: NATO nations agree to 

form European army; battered tanker towed into 

port; 54 nuns donate to blood bank; Reds on trial 

in Greece; Mardi Gras in New Orleans; Mississippi 

theatre admissions tax is reduced; Norway wins 

Olympics, U.S. takes second. 

News of the Day, No. 252: Ten brave men in port 

with half a ship; NATO council plans 50 divisions; 

Elizabeth Taylor weds in London; Mardi Gras opens; 

Mississippi reduces tax; U.S. stars score in winter 

Olympics; moppets slug it out; Red Cross appeal 

for blood bank; college stars in champion ski meet. 

Paramount News. No. 55: New Orleans—all hail 

Mardi Gras; Berlin's bounding bird man; European 

NATO army endorsed; Cairo after riots; Elizabeth 

Taylor weds; Rhode Island—Fort Mercer makes port, 

new thrills in winter Olympics. 

Universal News, No. 538: NATO backs Ike; Communist 

trial in Greece; Fort Mercer towed; amusement 

tax; winter Olympics; Red Cross traile' for 

blood bank, 

Warner Pathe News, No. 57: Save split tanker; 

NATO meeting in Portugal; Berlin—birds can flywhy 

can't I?; London—Taylor and Wilding wed; 

Truman honored by Masons; Mississippi reduces 

movie tax; Santa Anita Derby; Olympic thrills. 

Telenews Digest. No. 8B: Germans to arm again; 

San Francisco— the Sheng story; Ford Foundation aids 

India's farm program; "Slick" Willie Sutton, notorious 

robber, gets caught; the junior Sadler's Wells Ballet 

troupe trip — the light fantastic on Miami's sands; 

Olympics "Old Man" triumphs. 

Telenews Digest. No. 9A: New NATO members; 

US, planes protect Japan; new hope for TB patients: 

wild wedding for Mrs, Wilding; boat races at Palm 

Beach. 

30 

BOXOFFICE March 1. 1952

. 

— 

Inside New York — 50 years ago . . 

Re-creating a corner of old New York for the theater is 

a stage designer's problem. 

But re-creating it so that the color camera will see it 

and the sound camera hear it as the eye saw it and the 

ear heard it 50 years ago is quite another story. 

It is in reducing problems of this character that the 

Eastman Technical Service is of great service. Their 

representatives collaborate with studio technicians; 

they scrutinize the scenery, establish light and color 

balances; they help select type of film, color or blackand-white, 

best to use. Special laboratory procedures, 

too, may be worked out to ensure precise processing 

all to make sure that every foot of film produces 

best results. 

To maintain this service, the Eastman Kodak Company 

has branches at strategic centers . . . invites 

inquiry on all phases of film use from all members of 

the industry. Address: 

Motion Picture Film Department 

EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY 

Rochester 4, N. Y. 

tasi Coast Division 

342 Madiion Avenue, New York 17, N. Y. 

Midwest Division 

137 North Wobath Avenue, Chicago 2, llllnolt 

Wesf Coast Division 

6706 Sonlo Monica Blvd., Hollywood 38, California 

feOXOFFICE March 1. 1962 81

ôU^fUMMd êfiont 

By 

IVAN SPEAR 

Only 25 Productions to Start in March; 

Columbia, Republic, U-l List Four Each 

Listing four new starters each, the bright 

.^pots were Columbia. Republic and Universal- 

International. The lineup, by studios, looks 

like 

this: 

' 

COLUMBIA—Pour pictures awaited the 

.starting gun at this studio as the month 

began. From the Stanley Kramer company 

will come "The Dirty Dozen." a World War 

II drama which Edward Dmytryk will direct 

with Arthur Franz. Dick Moore and James 

Griffith heading the cast. It is based upon 

a Broadway play. "A Sound of Hunting." Producer 

Harry Joe Brown will contribute a 

Randolph Scott starring western which, early 

in the period, was sans title or director. The 

AWARD TO A STAR—George Murphy 

(left). MGM star, is greeted on his arrival 

at La Guardia Airport via American .Airlines 

by Jack Abramson, vice-president of 

the 52 Ass'n of U.S.. vphich presented the 

star with a gold medal of honor for "outstanding 

service to the wounded" at the 

Waldorf Astoria hotel February 23. Murphy, 

as chairman of the Hollywood Coordinating 

Committee, has directed the 

routing of movie stars to camps and hospitals 

here and abroad. 

METRO - GOLDWYN - MAYER — One of 

Leo's biggies for 1952. "Plymouth Adventure." 

is among the three features slated to begin 

camera work at this Culver City studio during 

the period. A story of the voyage of the 

Mayflower, "Adventure" will be personally 

produced by Dore Schary, studio chief, and 

directed by Clarence Brown. In Technicolor. 

it co-stars Spencer Tracy, Gene Tierney and 

Van Johnson. Also on the docket are "Tribute 

to a Bad Man" and "Lili." The former, a 

John Houseman production, concerns a 

Broadway stage producer and topline.s Lana 

Turner, with Vincente Minnelli to meg. The 

latter, dealing with a European show troupe, 

will be directed by Charles Walters for Producer 

Edwin H. Knopf, with Leslie Caron. 

Mel Ferrer and Zsa Zsa Gabor In leading 

roles. 

MONOGRAM — A late-February starter 

which was not previously tallied for release 

through this company was "Arctic Flight," a 

Ltndsley Parsons production, which got under 

way on location off the Alaskan coast. With 

Ewing Scott directing, the cast is headed by 

Wayne Morris and Lola Albright. Also .scheduled 

for camera work during the month but, 

at this writing, minus a director and cast, 

is Producer William F. Broidy's "The Sea 

Tiger," a maritime melodrama. 

PARAMOUNT—A Technicolor entry from 

the Pine-Thomas Productions unit constitutes 

the sole starting vehicle for this studio 

during the month. Tagged "Tropic Zone," it 

is being made partially on location in Honduras, 

with Rhonda Fleming and Ronald Reagan 

as the co-stars and Lewis R. Foster 

directing for the P-T organization. 

RKO RADIO—Tony Martin is cast as a 

nightclub singer who invades the field of 

grand opera in "A Song Forever," a romantic 

drama with music, which will be produced 

by Nat Perrin and megged by James V. 

Kern. Production also impends on the tentatively-titled 

"Port Sinister," a contribution 

from the independent unit, American Pic- 

Here's a CasHng Switch: 

Canfor to Play Cantor 

Here's type casting carried to its 

conclusion: 

logical 

Eddie Cantor has been set to portray 

Eddie Cantor in Warners' "The Story of 

Will Rogers." A Ziegfeld contemporary 

of the late great humorist. Cantor will appear 

in a backstage Follies .sequence and 

later in a benefit scene in which he introduces 

Rogers, as delineated by Will 

Productional prospects, which were dark Sam Katzman unit will highball "Last Train 

enough in February, were even murkier From Bombay." a suspense drama toplining Rogers jr. 

among filmdom'.s colony of major and independent 

filmmakers with the approach of the Producer Colbert Clark is preparing "The Kid preparing "The Eddie Cantor Story." 

Jon Hall, with Fred Sears directing, while Coincidentally. Warners is currently 

ides of March. Hitting the lowest level since From Broken Gun" as a new entry in the based on the show business veteran's career, 

which Sidney Skolsky will produce. 

December 1949. a tally of planned film ventures 

during the month .showed a dismal Charles Stan-ett and Smiley Burnette. This, 

"Durango Kid" sagebrush series featuring 

total of only 25, one less than were in the too, will be megged by Sears. 

lineup as February got under way. 

tures. headed by Alfred Zugsmith. The opus, 

LIPPERT PICTURES—Destined for release 

The lagging pace is partially explained on 

written and to be co-produced by Aubrey 

through this distribution organization is 

taxation grounds, since March is the time 

"Hellgate." a historical western which 

Wisberg and Jack Pollexfen, is localed in 

has 

of year when California imposes a levy upon 

Port Royal, Jamaica, a pirate 

been set to start late this month 

hangout which 

under the 

exposed negative footage still within the 

was swept into the sea 

banner of Commander Films, independent 

by a hurricane and 

state. As a matter of economic practice the 

tidal wave in 1693. At this writing, the feature 

was uncast and without 

unit headed by Charles Marquis Warren and 

amount of such exposed celluloid is held to 

John C. Champion. Uncast as the month 

a director's 

began, 

"Hellgate" deals with a prisoner-of-war 

a minimum during the taxation period. Con- 

services. 

.sequently. Hollywood observers had hopes 

camp in the west in Civil War days. Warren 

that the coming of early spring would bring 

REPUBLIC—The smell of sagebrush is 

contributed the script and will direct, with 

with it a needed upsurge in production activity. 

all four of its scheduled starting subjects 

mighty heavy out at this valley studio, where 

Champion handling the production chores. 

are 

of the horse opera variety. First to get 

under way will be "Old Oklahoma Plains." a 

Rex Allen starrer, to be produced and directed, 

respectively, by Edward White and 

William Witney. This will be followed by 

"Toughest Man in Tombstone." a musical 

western toplining Vaughn Monroe, the actor 

and orchestra leader, which R. G. Springsteen 

will direct for Producer Sidney Picker. 

Allan "Rocky" Lane will head thataway in 

"Thundering Caravans," a Rudy Ralston production, 

with Harry Keller directing, while 

Producer-Director Joseph Kane is readying 

""Ride the Man Down," from a novel by Luke 

Short. This one lacked a cast as the month 

began. 

TWENTIETH CENTURY-FOX — Still another 

aspect of the famed and much-filmed 

battle of the Little Big Horn is up for screen 

treatment in "Pony Soldier," a Samuel G. 

Engel production starring Tyrone Power and 

Cameron Mitchell. In this one the Canadian 

northwest mounted police are brought into 

the plot, which depicts how the mounties 

handled the Cree Indians returning to Canada 

after participating in the massacre of Gen. 

George Custer and his U.S. cavali-ymen. The 

opus will be directed by Joseph Newman. 

Also slated for the sound stages is "Darling. 

I Am Growing Younger," a romantic comedy 

starring Cary Grant, which Howard Hawks 

will direct for Producer Sol C. Siegel. 

UNITED ARTISTS—American Pictures— 

the company which is making the above-cited 

"Port Sinister" for RKO Radio release—has 

another project in the preparatory stages for 

a camera start this month— this one for distribution 

through the UA organization, "ntled 

"Invasion, U.S.A.," the melodrama will be 

directed by Harold Daniels, and has Michael 

O'Shea and Peggie Castle heading the cast. 

In science-fiction vein, it depicts an attack 

on our country by a foreign power. 

UNIVERSAL-INTERNATIONAL — A fairly 

brisk pace looms on this valley lot, where 

four vehicles were in preparatory stages early 


. . Robert 

' 

in Uie month. First to go before the cameras 

will be "It Grows on Trees," starring Irene 

Dunne as a housewife who discovers two 

trees in her garden are sprouting $5 and 

$10 bills. With Arthur Lubin directing and 

Leonard Goldstein producing, the cast also 

includes Dean Jagger and Joan Evans. Two 

others are on Producer William Alland's slate. 

Richard Conte and Viveca Lindfors are the 

stars of "The Riding Kid," a story of California 

during the gold rush days of 1849, but 

the feature was minus a director as the period 

began. Likewise without a director's services 

or cast was "The Black Castle," also an 

AUand production, localed in France in the 

1850s. Producer Albert J. Cohen is readying 

"City Beneath the Sea," in which deep-sea 

divers discover a sunken treasure, but this, 

too, lacked a cast and megaphonist at this 

writing. 

WARNER BROS.—Looming as a potential 

starter at this studio was "The Fighting Marine," 

a drama of World War II. in which 

the tltle-roler will be Cornel Wilde. The 

Hemy Blanke production is a biography of 

Maj. Peter Ortiz, U.S. marine combat hero 

who was one of the few in that branch of the 

armed services to participate in the European 

campaign. The picture will be directed by 

Lewis Seiler. 

Warners Gives Assignments 

On Four New Features 

Presaging an active spring and summer, 

Warners parceled out megging, writing and 

production assignments on four properties. 

To Sam Bischoff's picture-making .slate was 

added "The Private Life of Helen of Tioy, 

from the novel by John Ersklne, while Robert 

Slsk drew the production chore and Seelig 

Lester and Merwln Gerard the scrlvening job 

on "Eldorado," a drama of California in the 

1870s. Devery Freman was set to pen 'Three 

Sailors," a Technicolor musical, which Sarruny 

Cahn will produce, while Lewis Seiler snagged 

the directorial assignment on "The Fighting 

Marine" . Buckner's next production 

for Universal-International will be 

"Ashenden." from the W. Somerset Maugham 

novel, for which Buckner is now preparing the 

script . . . The upcoming Bob Hope comedy 

musical at Paramount, "Girls Are Here to 

Stay," will be directed by Claude Binyon, who 

will also write the final script . . . Anthony 

Mann will pilot "The Naked Spur," upcoming 

outdoor action drama starring James Stewart 

;u MGM 

20th-Fox Buys T-wo Stories; 

Other Sales oi the Week 

To 20th Century-Fox's forthcoming production 

slate were added two properties with 

the acquisition of "International Incident," 

a novel by Nell Patterson, and an as-yet-untitled 

biography of Alexander Stewart, a 

French war orphan who, during World War 

II, was adopted by the U.S. army's 34th division. 

"Incident" is slated for lenslng in 

Europe, with Anatole Lltvak and Robert L. 

Jacks co-producing and Lltvak to direct. The 

yarn concerns a small traveling circuit which 

escapes from behind the Iron Curtain. Rights 

to the Stewart biography were obtained from 

Mrs. Alex Axelrod, former U.S. assistant district 

attorney in charge of alien affairs, who 

was the lad's guardian. Young Stewart became 

an American citizen and subsequently 

was killed in the Korean conflict . . . "Jefferson 

Selleck," a novel by Carl Jones which 

BOXOFFICE March I. 1952 

is currently on the best-seller lists, was purchased 

by MGM, where the film version 

thereof will be produced by John Houseman. 

The tome spins the story of an "average" 

man and the impact of his life on a midwestern 

Picked up by Universal-International 

city . . . was "Tl-ie Greatest of Them All," an 

original screenplay by Fred Brady and Han.s 

Jacoby. Leonard Goldstein will produce the 

comedy, which deals with a cab driver and 

telephone operator who complicate their romance 

because of the lies they tell each other 

about their respective backgrounds. 

William Pine and William Thomas, partners 

in the independent production unit 

whose output is distributed by Paramount, 

bought "Sangaree," a novel by Frank L. 

Slaughter about early days in Savannah, Ga. 

The outdoor drama will be lensed in Technicolor; 

Frank Moss and Edward Ludwig have 

been inked to write the screenplay, and 

Purchased by Warners 

Ludwig will direct . . . 

was "Gown of Glory," a novel by Agnes Sligh 

Turnbull, with Henry Blanke assigned the 

production reins and Frank Lovejoy and 

Steve Cochran set for the co-starring roles. 

The .script is being written by John Monks jr. 

Story of the Titanic Disaster 

To Be Made by 20th-Fox 

Forthcoming from 20th Century-Fox will be 

a celluloid version of the greatest maritime 

disaster of modern times, the sinking of the 

S.S. Titanic in 1912. 

The subject will be produced by Charles 

Brackett from his own screen treatment, 

which he will put in screenplay form in 

collaboration with Richard Breen and Walter 

Relsch. 

It draws its title, "Nearer My God to Thee," 

from the hymn that was Ijeing played by the 

ship's band as the vessel sank after colliding 

with an iceberg. More than 1,500 perished in 

the catastrophe. 

New MGM Production Group 

Now in Full Operation 

Now in full operation is MGM's new production 

group, comprising the younger generation 

of producers, dhêctors, writers and 

players, which was set up recently by Studio 

Head Dore Schary to function under the 

executive direction of Charles Schnee. 

Under the long-range program contemplated 

for the unit, up to 15 features will be 

made annually. Initial assignments include 

those of Henry Berman to produce two, "'You 

for Me" and "Gyp Circuit," Arthur Loew jr. 

to produce "Seven Cakes for Chi"istmas" and 

Hayes Goetz to function as producer on "Bonanza" 

and "Apache Trail." 

Also serving as producers, with their rvspective 

initial assignments to be made in 

the near future, are Matthew Rapf. Sol 

Fielding and Sidney Franklin jr. 

Monogram Has 12 Films 

Now Awâiting Release 

Monogram's backlog of features has 

hit a six months' peak with 12 films, three 

in Clnecolor. awaiting release. The tlnters 

are ""Rodeo." "Wild Stallion" and "Wagons 

West."" In black-and-white ai-e ""Hold That 

Line,"' "Here Come the Marines," "African 

Treasure," ""Jet Job," "Desert Pursuit," 

"Waco," "Man From the Black Hills, " "Texas 

Marshal"" and "Vengeance Trail " 

FILM DAILY'S 

Ten Best Poll 

Motion picture critics, editors and 

columnists serving newspapers, press 

services, syndicates and magazines, 

and commentators on motion pictures 

for radio and television, representing 

a combined leading-listening-viewing 

audience in excess of 50,000,000 are 

casting ballots in THE FILM DAILY'S 

annual "Ten Best Pictures" contest. 

Polls closed February 28 and the 

tellers are expected to have the tally 

completed for announcement of the 

winning pictures in early March. 

The first of the "Best Ten" contests 

to make its appearance on the 

American scene, THE FILM DAILY 

poll, now in Its 29th year, has been 

widely copied and adapted in and out 

of the motion picture field, yet each 

year sees still greater trade and public 

interest In the pioneer application 

of the critical yardstick to Hollywood 

production. 

For the current survey, there is one 

highly important innovation. The 

eligibility period instead of running 

from Nov. I to Oct. 31, is now the 

calendar year and critics, reviewers, 

columnists, and commentators are 

voting on the basis of pictures released 

during that 1951 12-month period 

which they have seen. 

The change in base period brings 

THE FILM DAILY poll Into line with 

" 

the Academy's famed "Oscar awards, 

thus permitting a timely comparison 

between Hollywood's own selections 

and those of critical America. 

As a further Innovation this year, 

numbered ballots, recorded in the 

voter's name, are being employed to 

permit full verification. 

Long alert to the promotional aspects 

of the national "Ten Best" contest, 

newspapers In numerous principal 

cities are conducting their own 

local polls, closely tied in with the 

FILM DAILY survey. 

Employment varies from use to determine 

the ablest amateur critics in 

the newspaper's circulation territory 

to use to gain a cross-section of fan 

opinion for comparison with that of 

the newspaper's skilled professional 

reviewer. 

Advertisejiient 

33

BOXOFFICE BAROMETER 

This chart records the performance of current attraction 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 os 

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

^sm\ \ M / UMi

" 

bigge, 

smallpart 

in the world! 

Many of the parts needed in factory 

production are mighty small. But these 

parts can loom up mighty large— w\\cn 

they're missing! 

For tiny as they are, their absence can 

halt an entire production line—can cost 

a manufacturer thousands of dollars 

every day while he waits for replacements 

to arrive. 

And the sources of supply are often 

hundreds of miles from his factory! 

What di)es he do? He cuts replacement 

time from days to hours. He gets 

needed parts the world's fastest way — 

via Air Express! 

The money saved by Air Express 

speed is figured in millions—but its cost 

is counted in pennies. Whether you 

need steel bolts or bolts of cloth, you 

can profit from regular use of Air Express. 

Here's why: 

it's fastest — Air Express gets top 

priority of all commercial shipping services-gives 

the fastest, most complete 

door-to-door pick-up and delivery service 

in all cities and principal towns at 

«o extra cost. 

ITS DEPENDABLE— Air Express provides 

one-carrier responsibility all the 

way, gets a receipt upon delivery. 

it's profitable — Air Express service 

costs less than you think, gives you 

many profit-making opportunities. 

New parce l po st regulation affect you? 

Call your local agent of Railway Express, 

Air Express Division. 

>Mf/pms 

GETS THERE FIRST 

BOXOFFICE March 1, 1952 35

— 

NO "««»S_^ /I 

for your 

eye-strained customers ^)[^^/ 

for 

YOU, 

Mr. Theatre Owner ... 

you can fill every seat... 

down front.. .on the side 

or in the middle ...with 

MPPy C(J$n?M£RS 

'mm 

NO GLARE 

CUSTOM 

SCR 

NO PERFORATIONS 

to dot your patron's eyes. 

No 

eye strain from distortion! 

SAY PLEASED PATRONS EVERYWHERE 

. . obvious ond Storke CrClODAMIC Sireen ot our 

intend to install Ctittrion Tlieotre, we hove the 

" -ur ttieotres." finest pitture on Broodwoy.' 

B.F. SHEARER 

COMPANY 

23IB Second Avenue, Seattle I.Washington 

Sold Exclusively in Export by FRAZAR & HANSEN. Ltd. 

301 Clay St. San Francisco, Calif. • Canada Distributor 

Dominion Sound Eqpt., Ltd. Offices In all Principal Cities 

Theatre Construction, 

Openings and Sales 

CONSTRUCTION: 

Anadarko. Okla.—Homer Strowig and Elmer Bills 

will erect a dnve-m soon, 

Butler, Mo.—Work is scheduled to begin soon on 

300-car dnve-m lor Walter Kahler. 

Choltanooga, Tenn.—TTie 58 Drive-In Theatre is under 

construction near here lor W. W. Fincher jr. 

Manchester, Ga.—Martm Theatres is planning to 

erect a 300-car dnve-in on Warm Springs highway. 

Mound City, Mo.— Construction is under way on 

a 250-car drive-in being built by Martie Landau- 

Opp, Ala.—A 300-car drive-in is under way here 

for George S Owen. 

Parsons, Kas.—The site has been purchased and 

work will begin soon on a SlOrCar drive-in lor 

Midcential Theatre- 

Phillipsburg, Kas.—Work is scheduled to begin 

3lely on 3_00-car drive-in lor Ralph R. Win- 

ship and D. T 

Pittsburgh, Pa.—A drive-m is unde 

Warren 

3y lor Joseph 

Wheeler, Tex.— Mr. and Mrs. Lee Guthrie plan to 

build Automobile Movies here soon. 

Wichita, Kas.—George Sproule and Loren Jones 

will build dnve-in near here. 

OPENINGS: 

Jacksonville, Fla.— J C. Hammond and M. Poindexler 

have opened the Flonland Dnve-In 

J. 

Melbourne, Fla.—Talgar Theatres have opened the 

new Brevard Drive-In. 

be opened some time m March for Talgar Theatres. 

Merritt Island, Fla.—Merrilt Island Drive-In will 

300-car Dixieland Drive-In will open 

Opp, Ala.—A 

immediately lor Bill Ward. Dan Page, Charles 

Gautney and John Young. 

Starke. Fla.—New Blandings Dnve-In will open 

Martin The atn 

Ariz.—The 296-seat Park Theatre has been 

opened by Paul A. Robinson, Dr. Harry Neilson and 

Washington, D. C—K-B Amusement Co. will open 

the 985-seat Langley Theatre soon 

SALES: 

Bowie, Tex.—The Majestic. Rit2 and Texan theatres 

have been purchased by C. E. Campbell from 

Frank Benson. 

Bozeman, Mont.—Three theatres and a dnve-in have 

been sold by Joe English to Ed Pegrum. 

Crawlordville, Ind,—Bert Rayburn has sold the 

Rilz to Mr and Mrs Maurice Stnbhng. 

Dallas, Tex.—Sieve Worley has purchased the 

Majestic and Lyric theatres from the Interstate cir- 

Greenwood, Ark.—W. P. Dowling has purchased 

nd New theatr 

nd H G Alv espectively. 

Kalama, Wash. Mr and Mrs Donald Payder have 

ed the Kalama Theatre from Charles Mag- 

Eons City, Kas.—Home and Tenth Street th. 

tres nave been sold by Ed Burgan to Sam Abend 

Kansas City, Mo,—The Colonial Thecrtre has bt 

purchased by Harry Irving from A. C. Wooten, 

Knoxville. Tenn.—Charles Simpson has taken o 

operation of the Riviera. 

Lucedale, Miss.—The Ritz Theatre has pur 

chased by Morgan Hicks and S. L. G: 

Mr and Mrs Joe Lyons. 

Lynden, Wash.—The Liberty Theatre 

purchased by a Mr. Weaver 

Nashua. Iowa--The \ Theatre has been sold 

by Pic Horvey Hole I Opal Canty, 

Osceola, Mo.—The ( heatre has been purchased 

by H E Porte 

C. S. Borg. 

Philadelphia, Pa. 

Id by 

the Sla ol An o Hanover Shoe. Ii 

Son Antonio. Tex.—Bob Yancey has purchased th. 

.unset Theatre Irom Interstate Theatres. 

St. Paul, Minn.—The Midtown Theatre interest c 

:arl Coyer has been purchased by Bert Johnson. 

Tompkinsville. Ky.—Clyde Marshall has purchase( 

he Veterans Theatre. 

'Streetcar' to Be Released 

Generally on March 22 

NEW YORK—Warner Bros. wUl put "A 

Streetcar Named Desire" into general (3istributlon 

IVIarch 22, says Ben Kalmenson, 

vice-president in charge of distribution. 

A series of special engagements began at 

tlie Warner Theatre, Atlantic City. August 31. 

where it pl&yed through October 14. At the 

Virginia Theatre. Atlantic City, it ran through 

November 8. This was followed by engagements 

at the Warner, Beverly Hills. 13 weeks; 

Warner, New York, nine weeks. 

135 Boolhmen Are Out 

As Result of Closings 

CHICAGO—Tlie closing of 91 Chicago theatres 

killed jobs for 135 projectionists, Eugene 

J. Atkinson, business manager of projectionists 

Local 110, said Wednesday. But not one 

of them is getting unemployment compensation, 

Atkinson emphasized. 

"As the Bible taught us. we divide up the 

loaf. Our members take care of one another," 

he added. "We're not asking theatre operators 

to put on extra projectionists." Atkinson 

said an average of 15 to 18 members of the 

union die each year—leaving jobs to be 

filled. About ten projectionists retire annually. 

Atkinson said that 35 have retired since 

1948, when the union's pension system became 

effective. Employers contribute an 

amount equal to 10 per cent of a union member's 

gross salary into a welfare fund. Retired 

projectionists, who must be 65 or over 

and who have belonged to the union for at 

least 20 years, get pensions of $100 a month, 

outside of social security. 

FLA6 IN' 

MAGIC NAME FOR 

A WINNER! 

BUTTERCORN! 

POPCORN 

WRITE fOR DETAILS! 

/Mip4Udlfpkuf PI 


TV JUST CAN'T PAY ENOUGH 

TO GET FIRST RUN PICTURES' 

That Is Why They Are Not 

Going to Television, 

Says Austin Keough 

WASHINGTON—Austin C. Keough, Paramount 

general counsel, told the Federal Communications 

Commission on Thursday (.28; 

that he would not consider television as a 

medium for fii'st run films, because TV could 

not produce the needed revenue. 

That statement was elicited by Morton 

Galane, counsel for DuMont, after FCC 

counsel Max Paglin on Keough's sixth day 

as a witness had finally completed his own 

cross-examination. 

Paglin pursued minor details of Paramoimt's 

trade practices and wound up his cross-examination 

saying, "I sincerely thank Mr. 

Keough for his extreme patience and cooperation," 

referring to the endless questions 

about obscure and very old details. 

DuMONT SEEKS DIVESTITURE 

True to form, the DuMont counsel again 

plunged the hearings into a series of arguments. 

Galane, earlier in the hearings, had 

virtually admitted that DuMont had set itself 

the task of convinciiig tlie commission it 

should order Paramount to divest its DuMont 

stock. In order to reach this objective, Paramoiuit 

and United Paramount Theatres toes 

are often stepped on, with resultant loud objections. 

Galane ran into his first objection from 

Paramount attorney Paul Porter, when he 

persisted in framing numerous questions about 

why Keough was taken into the production 

company rather than the theatre company 

after divestiture and divorcement. Keough 

explained it was "partly because I wanted to, 

and partly because Mi'. (Barney) Balaban 

wanted me." 

Galane pointed out that Keough's main 

duties had been in connection with real estate 

and theatre problems, and that he had 

had little to do with production. Porter objected 

and said cross-examination must have 

a pui'pose and not be for the mere sake of 

cross-examination. Galane defended liis line 

of questioning on the grounds that it was 

necessary under the catch-all issues to get all 

the facts about the divestiture and divorcement, 

including the transfer of personnel. 

FILM STOCK CONTRACTS SOUGHT 

Hearing examiner Leo Resnick sustained 

the line of questioning, but Galane abruptly 

dropped it. 

Shortly thereafter. Porter objected again as 

Galane sought to get details of Paramoimt's 

contracts with suppliers of film stock, and 

this time he said, "cross-examination should 

have some value besides nuisance value." 

Galane said he wanted to show that Paramount 

is in a position to control supplies of 

film stock, also needed by television stations, 

and said this information would be of value 

to the commission in that Paramount owns 

stock in DuMont. operates a television station, 

has for a wholly owned subsidiary. 

Paramount Television Productions, and has 

announced plans for formation of a television 

network. 

FCC Queries on Bankruptcy Deals 

Arouse Paramount Objections 

WASHINGTON—Tlie cross-cxamination by 

Max Paglin, FCC cou:isel, of Austin C. 

Keough, Paramount general counsel, on Tuesday 

(25) was interrupted by heated objections, 

as Paramount attorney Paul Porter interrupted 

the line of questioning which cast 

aspersions on methods used by Paramount 

during and mimediately following banki'uptcy 

of various theatre chains. 

Porter said that Paglin wais practically 

charging connivance and conspiracy on the 

part of Paramount, but hearing examiner Leo 

Resnick permitted Paglin to continue. 

Paglin had asked Keough about why Paramount 

officials almost invariably became 

trustees in bankruptcy over the theatres, to 

which Keough answered that Paramoimt was 

usually the largest creditor. 

Then Paglin got into practices followed 

by the Paramount people, acting as trustees. 

He wanted to know whether they depreciated 

the theatres by failing to keep them in repair 

and by playing inferior films. He also 

asked whether the trustees had used their 

powers to "disavow" leases to force lower 

rents on the theatres. Keough said that the 

trustees never depreciated the theatres in any 

way, although they probably sought relief 

from high rents, did not do so in any improper 

manner. 

NEVER USED CONTROL' 

Paglin asked whether the trustees ever 

used their control over product to be played 

in the theatres as a bargaining weapon, to 

which Keough replied that the trustees had no 

such control. 

The FCC counsel then delved into the financial 

transactions accompanying renewed 

Paramount control over the reorganized theatre 

companies. The one transaction specifically 

cited in the questioning involved an 

A. H. Blank trusteeship, from which he re- 

.signed after appointing one of his assistants 

to the post, after which Blank and Paramomit 

bought the theatres. The theatres in 

question had been reorganized into the Tri- 

State Theatres Corp. and had been assessed 

at $125,000, but the purchase price was only 

$15,000. 

It was at this point that Porter objected, 

and later in the day UPT Counsel Duke Patrick 

introduced the A. H. Blank trusteeship 

constract into the record because, he said, the 

questioning had reflected on Blank's reputation. 

Porter argued that the bankruptcies had 

been under supervision of federal courts and 

said Paglin was trying to reflect on the propriety 

of actions of the coiu-ts; was "going 

" 

behind judicial approval of all actions taken; 

was dealing with inferences; and was pursuing 

questions which were generally "not appropriate 

and irrelevant" to present hearings. 

Porter said, "I cannot permit this line of 

inquiry with these innuendos," and argued 

that the inferences left by the questions were 

"very unfair." 

Paglin said that the line of questioning was 

justified because it would throw light on 

Paramount's trade practices leading up to the 

antitrust suits and because it would also 

develop evidence as to the character of applicants 

for FCC licenses. 

Resnick ruled in favor of Paglin. 

The heai-ings on Wednesday (27) were again 

interrupted by prolonged legal wrangling. 

Porter objected to mclusion in the record 

of the hearing actual cash settlements entered 

into by Paramount with plaintiffs in 

past suits on the grounds that publication of 

such cash arrangements might prejudice settlements 

in pending cases. 

OPPOSE USE OF 29 CASES 

Porter and United Paramount counsel both 

objected to inclusion in the records of 29 

cases arbitrated under the 1940 consent decree. 

Porter, at another stage of the day's proceedings 

also objected to the great detail in 

which cross-examination of Keough was proceeding. 

Porter said that Keough couldn't 

possibly be expected to remember details of 

20-year-old cases, and offered to "search the 

records" if FCC counsel would submit a list 

of questions on these cases. 

None of the arguments were brought to 

any definite conclusion. On the question of 

cash settlements, the FCC counsel said that 

there would only be about six important cases 

in which the problem would arise; Porter said 

he would object whenever that line of questioning 

was pursued; and hearing examiner 

Leo Resnick said he would not rule until a 

definite objection was lodged. 

On the 29 arbitration cases, FCC counsel 

Frederick Ford and Paglin said inclusion in 

the record was necessary to show "what the 

Commission can expect in the future from 

these parties," and said they were included 

in the government's 1945 trial brief in the 

Paramount antitrust case. Again Resnick 

promised a later decision. 

WOULD DELAY CASE 

As to the questioning on details of the old 

cases, Resnick said that it would probably 

delay the aU-eady long-drawn-out proceedings 

if Porter were to secure all the details 

thi-ough a search of Paramount records, and 

would add to the voluminous hearing records. 

He said he doubted if the details were 

of sufficient importance. 

The FCC counsel agreed with Resnick, and 

explained that they were seeking only minor 

clarifications which, if Keough's memory did 

not serve, were not actually vital. So it was 

agreed that Keough would answer when he 

could and when he could not the requested 

information would be forgotten. 

BOXOFFICE March 1, 1952 E 43

. . Barbara 

. . 

. . Harold 

. . AiTiving 

. . Suzanne 

. . Carol 

. . Herman 

BROADV\/AY 

IJoy Disney, president of Walt Disney Productions, 

is in New York for conferences 

with RKO regarding the forthcoming release 

of "The Story of Rooin Hood" . . . H. M. 

Richey, head of MGM exhibitor relations, 

left for Florida for a month's vacation . 

P'oster M. Blake, western sales manager for 

Universal, left for Chicago. Omaha and Minneapolis 

William J. Heineman, United 

. . . Artists vice-president in charge of distribution, 

got back from the coast . . . Sol 

Schwartz, RKO Theatres president, has returned 

from the coast, where he interviewed 

possible stars for forthcoming RKO Palace 

shows. 

Bob Dorfman, assistant to Charles Levy, 

Walt Disney eastern publicity representative, 

was married to Sunny Gordon of Brooklyn 

recently . . . Ben Levine, office manager and 

head booker of Realart's New York exchange, 

reports his brother Joseph died February 26. 

Arthur Kennedy, starred with James 

Stewart in "Bend of the River," arrived from 

California for two weeks of promotional activity 

for the picture, next at the Capitol Theatre 

.. . Marjorie Harker, formerly publicity 

head of March of Time, has joined Lynn Farnol's 

publicity staff . . . Mi-s. Kenneth Mc- 

Eldowrey, wife of the producer of Jean 

Renoir's "The River," addressed 250 New York 

high .school and junior high school teachers at 

the High School of Performing Arts on the 

functions of a producer in making films 

overseas . Rubin, assistant to Leon 

Goldberg, vice-president and treasurer of 

Universal, is the author of a third novel, "A 

Stone for Danny Fisher," to be published by 

Alfred A. Knopf March 10. 

James A. Mulvey, president of Samuel 

Goldwyn Productions, planed to Los Angeles 

February 25 to confer with Goldwyn and 

other studio officials on distribution plans 

for "Hans Christian Andersen." Martin Davis, 

assistant advertising and publicity head, was 

scheduled to leave for the coast Sunday (2) 

for talks with David Golding, newly appointed 

director of advertising and publicity, who 

is headquartering at the studio . . . Hugh 

Leo Genn, who is featured in "Quo Vadis," Owen, Paramount eastern-southern division 

is in New York to appear in a TV show before 

manager, got back from Boston, where he 

leaving for the coast to make "Plymouth conducted a three-day sales meet . . . Mort 

Adventure" for MGM . Stanwyck Nathanson, eastern director of advertising 

arrived from the coast to do radio and TV and publicity for Horizon Films, producers 

shows . . . Jane Froman arrived from Miami of "The African Queen," is on a four-city 

where she was guest of honor at the threetheatre 

tour, covering Indianapolis. Kansas City, 

opening of "With a Song in My Memphis and Nashville, promoting the pic- 

Heart." the film story of her career . . . Vera- ture. 

Ellen. MGM star of "Belle of New York," got 

Claudette Colbert sailed for London, en 

in from her out-of-town torn' and will remain 

route to Malaya where she will make "Ken 

here for the opening at Loew's State March 

Annakin's Wife" for United Ai'tists release 

5 . . . Patricia Medina, star of Monogram's 

Margaret Webster, stage and opera director, 

"Aladdin and His Lamp," left February 27 

and actress Eva Le Gallienne were aboard the 

for a two-month vacation in her native 

same boat . in New York were 

England. 

Anthony Hawtrey, producer of the stage play, 

"Women of Twilight," and Betty Ann Davies, 

British actre.ss, and Mary Merrall, featured 

in the production Cloutier, 

French-Canadian actress and protege of the 

late Louis Jouvet, arrived at Idlewild airport 

from France en route to Hollywood, where 

she will play opposite Alan Ladd in Paramount's 

"Persian Gulf" . Reed, who 

had been in America ten days in connection 

with his latest picture, "Outcast of the 

Islands." which Lopert Films will release, 

returned to London. 

Max E. Youngstein, vice-president of United 

Artists, is back at the hor-ne office after a 

ten-day Hollywood visit for conferences on 

release plans for "Saturday Island," "High 

Noon," "The Fighter" and other forthcoming 

pictures . . . Ned E. Depinet, RKO president, 

MPAA fo 

Back Gelling 

In Censorship Test Case 

New York—The Motion Picture Ass'n 

of America will cast its lot with the 

Gelling case in a Supreme Court test of 

censorship rather than the so-called 

"Miracle" case which is scheduled for 

early argument. 

Legal help will be given to Robert L. 

Park, attorney for East Texas Theatres, 

one of the Jefferson Amusement Co. 

subsidiaries which operates the house at 

Marshall, Tex., where VV. L. Gelling was 

arrested Feb. 15, 1950, for showing "Pinky" 

after a censorship ordinance that had 

been dormant for years was suddenly revived 

because a racial issue was involved 

in the picture. The conviction was upheld 

by. the Texas Court of Appeals January 

30. 

Ephraim London, attorney for Joseph 

Burstyn, distributor of "The Miracle," recently 

invited the MPj\A to intervene in 

that case, but the legal committee of the 

association has decided in favor of the 

Texas case and it is expected that papers 

will be filed before mid -April. 

planed to Hollywood for conferences with 

Howard Hughes and C. J. Tevlin, vice-president 

in charge of studio operations, on the 

forthcoming RKO lineup . 

Cohen, 

associate producer with Jack Broder of "Kid 

Monk Baroni," got to New York Februai-y 25 

with the first print of the picture to be shown 

at the Realart-Broder sales convention at 

the Hotel Warwick March 1. 

Phone Numbers Changed 

At TOA Headquarters 

NEW YORK—Theatre Owners of America 

headquarters has dispensed with its telephone 

switchboard, necessitating the assignment 

of new numbers by the telephone company. 

Gael Sullivan, executive director, and 

Herman M. Levy, general counsel, will be 

reached by phoning LOngacre 3-6238-9. Other 

new numbers are; Dick Pitts, LAckawanna 

4-6194; Howard Bryant, LAckawanna 4-4947. 

and TOA information, LAckawanna 4-5314. 

The number of D. John Phillips, executive 

director of the Metropolitan Motion Picture 

Theatre Ass'n, which has shared telephone 

service with TOA, remains WIckersham 

7-9350. 

Max Youngstein's Mother Dies 

NEW YORK—Funeral services for Mrs. 

Molly Youngstein, 66, mother of Max E. 

Youngstein. United Artists vice-president, 

were held Thursday (28) at the Gutterman 

chapel. She died Wednesday night after a 

long illness. She leaves her husband Ellas; 

six children. Harry, Benjamin. Pearl. Max. 

Morris and Miriam, and 11 grandchildren. 

CIVIL DEFENSE FLAG OF MERIT—George P. Skouras, second from left, president 

of United Artists Theatre circuit and Skouras Theatres Corp., is presented the first 

civil defense Flag of Merit by Mrs. Nathaniel Singer, co-chairman of the Manhattan 

borough office of recruiting and public information for civil defense, at ceremonies at 

his New York office. Arthur Wallander, left, retired director of the New York City 

office of civil defense, and Robert W. Dowling, co-chairman with Mrs. Singer, attended 

the ceremonies. 

Third Palace Bill Set 

NEW YORK—Olsen and Johnson in their 

comedy show and Jose Greco and his Spanish 

ballet will head the third two-a-day 

vaudeville program at the RKO Palace Theatre, 

starting March 11. Comedian Jackie 

Miles will also be on the program, which will 

follow the two-week engagement of Lauritz 

Melchior and the current show. 


Coast Tax Verdict May 

Shiit Film Financing 

LOS ANGELES—A decision in federal 

court here ordering the refund of $198,535 in 

income taxes to F. Hugh Herbert and his 

wife Mary seems certain to bring back onepicture 

producing companies if upheld. 

Judge Leon Yankwich held a businessman 

has the right to set up any sort of corporation 

he wants, even if it cuts a big chunk out of 

his tax bill. The decision came in a case involving 

the co-called "one-picture" or 

"collapsible" corporations. 

Motion picture folk who have formed such 

corporations claimed their income should be 

figured under capital gains, just as any corporation. 

That meant paying 25 per cent to 

the government. The government insisted 

such income was subject to the usual tax. 

In Hollywood, that frequently hits 75 per 

cent, and sometimes 82 per cent. 

Yankwich said in part: "A taxpayer may, 

legally and honorably, take the means to 

minimize his tax. There is nothing in modern 

law which prohibits formation of corporations 

for even a single transaction." 

The Herberts and George Abbott, New York 

stage producer, formed a corporation to make 

the picture, "Kiss and Tell," from Abbott's 

Broadway hit. When the picture was finished 

they dissolved the corporation. 

UA Will Open 'Mutiny' 

In Brooklyn, Circuits 

NEW YORK—United Artists will repeat 

the booking pattern of several recent releases, 

notably "Another Man's Poi.son." "Fort Defiance" 

and "The Lady Says No," by opening 

"Mutiny," the King Bros. Technicolor adventure 

film, at Loew's Metropolitan in Brooklyn 

March 5 followed by a five-borough saturation 

circuit booking. The picture will not 

have a Broadway first run. 

The New York citywide opening will help 

celebrate the 51st anniversary of the U.S. 

naval submarine command, scheduled for 

April 1952. 

Arthur B. Krim, president of United Artists, 

has also closed a deal with Frank King, 

president of King Bros., for the release of 

three more productions in 1952. The pictures 

are "Camel Corps," an original story by Hai-ry 

Essex to be made in Technicolor; "Indian 

Fighter," also in Technicolor, and "The Syndicate," 

from an original by John Higgins. 

Paramount Publicists Win 

Retroactive Wage Hike 

NEW YORK—The lATSE Motion 

Picture 

Home Office Emploj^s Local H-63 has 

reached an agreement for a new wage contract 

for the publicity and advertising staff 

at the Paramount home office. This will be 

the first advertising and publicity staff to be 

represented by the lATSE union. The new 

contract, which will be retroactive to last 

October 31, calls for a $10 across-the-board 

wage increase and a union shop, with several 

other details still to be set. 

The Screen Publici-sts Guild, which formerly 

represented all the home office adpublicity 

W'orkers, is still negotiating new wage 

contracts with representatives of several other 

major companies, including Warner Bros., 

20th Century-Fox, Columbia, Universal-International 

and United Artists. Representatives 

of the three first named companies threaten 

to go out on strike Tuesday (4) if no satisfactory 

agreement is reached by that date. 

'Rasho-Mon' Is Holdover 

In Its First 4 Dates 

NEW YORK — "Rasho-Mon," Japanese-produced 

feature which is being distributed by 

RKO. is holding over in all four situations in 

which it has opened to date, according to 

Robert Mochrie, vice-president and general 

sales manager. It will open in ten more 

cities during March. 

The picture is in its ninth week at the 

Little Carnegie. New York City, its fourth 

week at the Dupont, Washington, the third 

at the Stage Door, San Francisco, and the 

second week at the Music Box, Seattle. It 

will open at the Ziegfeld, Chicago, and Midtow-n, 

Syracu.se, March 4; the Guild, Cincinnati, 

March 5; Art Cinema, Pittsburgh, March 

8, and the Cinema, Buffalo: Cinema, 

Rochester; World, Columbus; Art, Dayton; 

Studio, Philadelphia, and Exeter St., Boston, 

later in the month. 

Loew's-UA Theatre Split 

Delayed for One Month 

NEW YORK—The deadline for breakup of 

the joint operation by Loew's, Inc., and United 

Artists Theatres of Loew's State in Louisville, 

Loew's Century, Parkway and 'Valencia 

in Baltimore, Loew's Broad and Ohio in 

Columbus and Loew's Penn and Ritz in Pittsburgh 

has been postponed from February 

29 for a month. 

Women Clubs 'Movies' 

Broadcast Over WOR 

NEW YORK -The motion picture 

division 

of the General Federation of Women's Clubs 

has cited current pictures as "Movies of the 

Month" on the opening of a series of such 

listings on the Martha Deane program on 

WOR. 

The pictures listed for "family" by Mr.s. 

Dean Gray Edwards, chairman of the motion 

picture division, were; "Room for One More" 

(WB), "Navajo" iLipperti and the following 

U-I westerns, "Battle of Apache Pass," "Bend 

of the River" and "Treasure of Lost Canyon." 

The pictures listed for "adults and young 

people" were: "Phone Call From a Stranger" 

and ""Viva Zapata!" i20th-Fox). "Quo "Vadis" 

and "Westward the Women" (MGMi, "The 

African Queen" lUAi and "The Man in the 

White Suit" (U-I I. 

The "Movies of the Month" for February 

will be listed on the Martha Deane radio 

program over WOR March 14 at 10:15 a. m. 

The General Federation of Women's Clubs 

selected "The River" (UA) as the best picture 

of 1951 on its annual "ten best" list. The 

other nine were: "A Streetcar Named Desire" 

(WB), "An American in Paris" iMGM). 

"Death of a Salesman" iCol), "Bright Victory" 

(U-I). "Tales of Hoffmann" (Lopert), 

"Detective Story" (Para), "Quo "Vadis" 

(MGM), "People Will Talk" (20th-Fox) and 

"Decision Before Dawn" (20th-Fox), 

Latest statistics indicate that there are 101 

theatres in French Morocco exhibiting 35mm 

films with a total seating capacity of 64,650. 

FROM 'BOOT CAMP' TO 

GUADALCANAL 

Review by Supreme Court 

Sought in Milgrim Case 

NEW YORK—Major distributor defendants 

in the Milgrim Drive-In case have decided to 

ask reconsideration of a decision by the U.S. 

circuit court of appeals in Philadelphia holding 

them guilty of conspiracy in refusing to 

supply first run films to the Milgrim situation. 

WB Tradeshows Color Film 

NEW YORK—"The Lion and the Horse." 

first production in the new Warner color, with 

Steve Cochran starred, will be nationally 

trade shown March 19. The picture, which 

was directed by Louis King, will be nationally 

distributed April 19, 

HELD OVER 2d WEEK 

First Re-issue Date 

Buy it Book it NOW 

Theatrical Sales Manager 

The March of Time 


New York 17, M.Y. 

SEND FOR PRESSBOOK Running Timi- 5S Hinutes 


— 

' 

' 

Has Special Mailing List 

For the ''Lost" Audience 

NEW YORK—Punching at the air and 

talking about "lost" audiences is just so 

much physical and vocal exercise unless 

something is done about it, according to Bob 

Wile, secretary of the Independent Theatre 

Owners of Ohio. 

He has discovered a man who is doing 

something about it in a big way. The man 

Kenneth Law, operator of the Cozy Theatre 

is 

at Argos, Ind., and a member of Asso- 

ciated Theatre Owners of Indiana. 

Law is preparing a series of sales letters 

and mailing pieces about his theatre, its 

facilities, the great attractions, and why only 

the theatre has the resources to present this 

type of entertainment. 

"The people who receive this advertising 

won't realize that they are on a selection 

but the material will go only to those that the 

exhibitor knowss are staying away from his 

theatre," writes Wile in the ITO bulletin. 

Law is in the TV repair business. He gets 

right into the homes of television set owners. 

He talks with them and learns how ownership 

of receivers has affected their entertainment 

buying. 

"Maybe other exhibitors could buy such 

mailing lists from their local TV service men," 

Wile writes. "Maybe in larger cities exhibitors 

could prorate the cost of a mailing list 

and a co-op letter to cover the entire area. 

"Exhibitors who believe that TV is a major 

factor in the boxoffice decline should try 

to do something about it, and if they believe 

it is best to plow in the most fertile 

fields, they will like Ken Law's plan." 

Johnston Explains Point IV 

To Portsmouth C of C 

PORTSMOUTH, VA.—Speaking to the 

Chamber of Commerce here, Eric Johnston 

president of the Motion Picture Ass'n of 

America, explained the Point IV program of 

technical a.s,sistance to backward nations. He 

said, "I know it would take Hollywood and 

the sound camera to capture and present 

some of the great drama that is taking place 

under this program in various parts of the 

world today." 

Johnston said the program is neither a 

global giveaway as charged by some domestic 

critics nor Yankee imperialism as charged 

by the Communists, but is a relatively inexpen.sive 

($35 million last year) method for 

getting modem factory and farming methods 

across to undeveloped nations. 

Johnston was recently named chairman of 

the advisory board for the program. 

Partly Completed Theatres 

Restricted on Materials 

WASHINGTON—Even partially completed 

theatres will not get allotments of controlled 

materials from the National Production Authority, 

despite the fact that NPA on Monday 

(25) recognized an easing of the supply 

problem to the extent of allowing materials 

to be used for completion of other projects 

halted because of shortages. 

During the previous week, NPA granted 

permission for construction of many municipal 

buildings previously denied allocations. 

Carpet Firms Profits 

Slump During 1951 

ALBANY—Mohawk Carpet Mills of Amsterdam 

reported net earnings of $1,349,056, or 

$2.54 per share, for 1951, on net sales of 

$69,593,945. Bigelow-Sanford Carpet Co., also 

of Amsterdam, reported a consolidated net 

loss of $2,303,104 for 1951. 

Mohawk's net earnings for 1950 were $4,- 

455,160, or $8.30 a share. The 70 per cent 

decrease last year was attributed to "the 

precipitous decline in the prices of carpet 

wools in the world market." A drop from the 

high price of $2.25 per pound at midyear to 

less than $1 in a period of a few months, 

caused a flood of liquidation of top inventory 

costs at large discounts. 

Bigelow-Sanford, which had a net profit 

for 1950 of $6,354,377, revealed net sales for 

1951 to be $77,503,171. a drop of 20.6 per cent 

below the previous year's peak volume of $97,- 

672,073. Yardage sales for 1951 skidded 38 

per cent below those of 1950. The company 

nevertheless ended the year "in strong financial 

position, with net working capital of $33,- 

792,000 and current assets 3.6 times current 

liabilities," President James D. Wise said. 

'Chance to Live' Reissue 

Moved Up for Book Tour 

NEW YORK—P. A. Williams, theatrical 

sales manager for March of Time, has advanced 

the re-release of "A Chance to Live" 

to coincide with the publication promotion 

on Monsignor Carroll-Abbings' book of the 

same name. The reissue date is February 29. 

Both the book and the film are the story 

of what was done for homeless children in 

Italy. Monsignor Carroll-Abbings is on a 

national tour which includes radio, advertising 

tie-ins and personal appearances. He will 

visit San Francisco, Los Angeles, Buffalo, 

Cincinnati, Chicago, Detroit, Buffalo, New 

Orleans, Dallas, Philadelphia, Cleveland and 

Boston. 

Gotham Palace Resumes 

Two-a-Day Vaudeville 

NEW YORK—The Palace Theatre resumed 

its two-a-day vaudeville showings Tuesday 

(26) with Lauritz Melchior heading the program. 

There was a big turnout of professionals 

at both the afternoon and evening 

shows. This show will run for two weeks on 

a reserved seat basis. Another program has 

been lined up for March 11. 

The present bill includes Ben Blue, Jean 

Can-oil, Chandra Kaly and his dancers, Les 

Compagnons de la Chanson, Leo DeLyon, 

Andre. Andree and Bonnie and Walls and the 

Four Pays. 

'5 Fingers' Is Honored 

NEW YORK—The 20th 

Century-Fox production, 

"5 Fingers," starring James Mason, 

has been given starred selected features rating, 

the highest honor of the National Board 

of Review, in the weekly guide to selected pictures. 

"Retreat, Hell!" (WB) and "You Can't 

Beat the Irish," produced in Ireland and released 

by Stratford Pictures, subsidiary of 

Monogram, were given selected pictures 

rating. 

INCORPORATIONS 

, ALBANY 

Matth«w Fox Foundation. Inc., recorded a certificate 

of incorporation pursuant to the membership corporation 

law. The foundation is authorized to conduct 

nonprofit programs for charitable and other worthy 

causes without discrimination on grounds of race 

creed or color. 

named. 

Arthur Krim is one of the five directors 

Central Park Theatre Operating Corp.: 100 shares, 

no par; Samuel Goldberg, Norman Rosenijoum 

Albert Berger. 855 Avenue of Americas. Madison 

Avenue Theatre Operating Corp., Westchester Onerating 

Corp. and Brook Avenue Theatre Operating 

Corp.. formed for same purposes, with same' capital 

stock and incorporators 

Filmright Productions, Inc.: 200 shares, no par, 

Robert L. Eckstein, Harold Roxer, Helen Wein' 

Iraub. 225 Broadway. 

Coral Productions: 100 shares, no par. 

Klein Theatres, Inc.: Motion picture business in 

Hunter Greene county; $100,000, $100 par; Frieda 

Klein, Morris H. Klein and Raphael Klein, Hunter 

Mrs. Klein and her sons operate the Hunter in 

Hunter. The boys also conduct drive-ins outside 

Hunter and in Coxsackie. 

Maxine Theatre Corp. of Buffalo, dissolved. 

Atlantic Productions: Motion picture business in 

Queens; 200 shares, no par. 

Mosholu Theatre Corp,: $20,000, $100 par; Max 

Mayer, 60 Seaman Ave., New York. 

Italian Films Export—I.F.E.—Societo Per Azioni, via 

Sistina No. 91, Rome, Republic of Italy, recorded a 

statement that its New York state office for the conduct 

of business is at 1501 Broadway. Capital stock 

is 1,0000,000 lire, consisting of 500 shares of par 

value of 2,000 lire each. 

SSM Waldorf Theatre Corp.: Theatrical business 

in New York; 200 shares, no par. 

North Theatre Corp.: Motion picture and amusement 

business in New Rochelle; $1,000, $100 par; 

Faith Cummins, Seymour Bluestone, Betty Bluestone 

Crown Films: Motion picture business in New York- 

$20,000, $100 par, George Blake, Beatrice R Reoan 

Susanne C. Woley, 

Etemol Film Corp.: Production and distribution 

business; $200, $1 par value; Joseph H Seidelman 

40 Central Park; Sam L, Seidelman, 2fi East 62nd St 

New York; Arthur Novak, 2539 85th St , lackson 

Heights Seidelman, who served as Paramount's 

first manager here, was with that company in the 

domestic and foreign sales department for years 

and later was with U-1 

Republic Pictures of Malaya: Conduct business in 

New York; $10,000, $100 par; Douglas T. Yates 

Charles E Oberle. Rene A, Duron, 1740 Broadway' 

United Artists Production Corp.: Conduct business 

in New York; 200 shares, no car; Benjamin Rockmore 

Gerald F, Phillips, Herbert Schottenfeld, 1501 Broadway, 

Moulin Proauctions, Inc.: Motion picture and 

theatrical business in New York; 200 shares, no par. 

Portrait Productions 1952. Inc.: Motion 

duction in New York; capital stock, 

picture 

200 shares 

pro- 

no 

par. 

Aura Films Corp.: Motion picture oroduction and 

studios operation in New York; 1,700 shares 500 

preferred at $100 par, 1.000 preferred at $50 par, 

and 200 common, at no par; Reuben M and 

Margaret A. Moulds, 207 West Tenth St,; Bruno 

della Santina, 1389 Avenue of Americas. 

Lux-Brill Productions. Inc.; Motion 

ness and 

no par. 

laboratory in Kings 

picture 

county; 700 

busi- 

shares, 

Vic Jenkins Corp.: Theatrical business in the 

Bronx; 100 shares, no par; Victor T. Jenkins, 24 

Yale PI., Rockville Center, L I.; Georae Walter 

Klorfein and Philip Armus, 32 Broadway, New York 

Mercury-Cinema, Inc.: Theatrical and amusement 

business in Buffalo; 200 shares, no par. 

Robert Lawrence Productions: Motion picture business; 

200 shares, no par. 

Momingside Theatre: 200 shares, no par. 

F. Brulotour, Inc., J. 

recorded a statement 

formed 

that its 

in Wilmington, 

New York 

Del., 

office for 

the conduct of a business in holding securities for 

investment is at 350 Fifth Ave. C. Jules Brulatour is 

president; capital stock is 1,000 shares, no par. 

Vog Film Corp.: Motion picture producers and distributors 

in New York; 200 shares, no par, 

Woodlleet Theatre Corp.: Theatrical and motion 

picture business in New York; 200 shores, no par. 

Strand-Art Cinema Guild: Nonprofit organization 

under the membership clause of the incorporations 

law. The Guild, it is presumed here, supports the 

presentation of crrt pictures at Mike Zala's Strand 

in 

Johnstown. 

Fairfield Films: Motion picture films for TV and 

otherwise; 200 shares, no par. 

Nuera Films: New York, dissolved. 

Associated Nevrs Reels: Reserved as a corporate 

name by Roger Clement, Paramount Theatre Bldg. 

Eddie Marr will play a featured role in 

Warners' "The Story of Will Rogers," 

Italian equipment of good quality Is said 

to be selling at about half the price of U.S. 

motion picture equipment in French Morocco. 

The shortage of 16mm sound projectors in 

Denmark has been somewhat alleviated with 

an increase of about 200. 

46 BOXOmCE March 1, 1952

Redbook '51 Annual Award 

To Schary for MGM Films 

NEW YORK—MGM has received the Redbook 

magazine annual award for 1951 "because 

of the excellent record of achievement" 

for "The Great Caruso," "Show Boat." "An 

American in Paris," "Quo Vadis," "Go for 

Broke!" "The Red Badge of Courage," "Kind 

Lady." "The Magnificent Yankee," "Angels in 

the Outfield." "Callaway Went Thataway" 

and "Father's Little Dividend." 

Wade Nichols, editor of Redbook, was host 

at a dinner in Hollywood Friday (291 to celebrate 

the occasion and, later that night, he 

presented the award to Dore Schary, MGM 

vice-president in charge of production, on behalf 

of the studio during the Mario Lanza 

show nationwide broadcast over NBC. Lanza 

devoted his program to musical highlights 

from 'The Great Caruso," in which he starred. 

The announcement of the award in its 

March issue stated that "the editors of Redbook 

are proud to present the Silver Trophy 

for 1951 to MGM studios and Dore Schary. 

With the cup goes our heartiest congratulations 

to all those responsible for providing 

such an excellent variety of good entertainment." 

Maugham's 'Encore' Due 

To Open at Normandie 

NEW YORK — "Encore," 

new British-made 

feature based on three stories by W. Somerset 

Maugham, and released in the U.S. by Paramount, 

will be the next attraction at the Normandie 

Theatre, following "Pandora and the 

Flying Dutchman," now in its 13th week. 

As in "Quartet" and "Trio," earlier 

Maugham pictures also produced by Antony 

Barnborough. the author introduces each of 

the three unrelated stories, each with individual 

casts and directors. They are "The Ant 

and the Gras.shopper," starring Nigel Patrick 

and Roland Culver, directed by Pat Jackson; 

"Winter Cruise," starring Kay Walsh and 

Roland Squire, directed by Antony Pelissier, 

and "Gigolo and Gigolette," starring Glynis 

Johns, directed by Harold French. 

UA Will Open 3 Pictures 

In Brooklyn March 5 

NEW YORK—United Artists will open 

three new pictiu-es in downtown Brooklyn 

March 5. A fourth. "St. Benny, the Dip," recently 

played the Brooklyn Paramount. 

The new pictures are: "Mutiny," King Bros, 

production In Technicolor, which will open at 

Loew's Metropolitan in conjunction with "The 

Big Night," Philip Waxman's production .starring 

John Barrymore Jr.: "Queen for a Day." 

Robert Stillman production using three short 

stories. "Horsie." "The Gossamer World" and 

"High Diver," will open the same day at the 

Brooklyn Paramount. 

'Marrying Kind' Date Set 

NEW YORK—"The Marrying Kind," Columbia 

picture starring Judy Holliday and introducing 

Aldo Ray. will open at the Victoria 

Theatre March 13, following a 12-week 

run for "Death of a Salesman." This is Miss 

Holliday's first film since she won the Academy 

award for "Born Yesterday," which 

played the same theatre in 1951. 

AT ROANOKE SCREENING—Twentieth Century-Fox recently 

hosted exhibitors 

at a. luncheon in Roanoke, Va., after which "With a Song in My Heart" was screened 

at a local theatre. Among those at the head table were John Smith, Radford; Walter 

Leagrue, Salem; Martin Warshauer, aOth-Fox; F. M. Westfall, Martinsville; Ira Sichelnian 

and Joseph B. Rosen. 30th-Fox; Faye Harris, Tazwell; (". W. Curtiss, Galax; F. 

D. Field, Tazwell, and Mr. and Mrs. J. D. ConitHn, Radford. 

John Harris to London 

To See Duke of Edinburgh 

NEW YORK—John H. Harris, Pittsburgh 

theatre executive and boss of Variety Clubs 

International, had a busy week's schedule. 

With Mrs. Harris, Jerry Mayhall of Wilkinsburg. 

Pa., musical director for the Harris ice 

shows, and Rosemarie Stewart of the production 

staffs, the Variety founder flew to London 

where he had a February 25 appointment 

with the Duke of Edinburgh. The new queen's 

husband, interested in the works and charities 

of Variety, was to extend personal thanks 

to Harris. In Paris later this week, the Harris 

party was to witness performances of the 

world champion ice skaters, returning here 

March 2. 

Roxy Theatre Blood Bank 

Opened February 25 

NEW YORK—The Roxy Theatre blood 

bank, the first to be opened at a Broadway 

theatre for Its patrons, started February 25 

in cooperation with the Red Cross and the 

armed forces. It will continue for an indefinite 

time with a Red Cross attendant on 

duty. 

Dorothy Lamour, Milton Berle, members of 

the crew of the S.S. Oriskany, aircraft carrier, 

plus several wounded veterans and David 

T. Katz, Roxy executive director, were 

on hand for the festivities to open the blood 

bank at 8 p. m. in the Roxy rotunda. Newsreel 

cameramen recorded the event. 

Mississippi Governor 

Gets COMPO Pat 

NEW YORK—A Council of 

Motion Picture 

Organizations resolution commending Gov. 

Hugh L. White for his friendly attitude toward 

the industry was mailed him Tuesday 

(26) by Arthur L. Mayer, executive vicepresident. 

The resolution was adopted at 

the COMPO annual meeting. Governor White 

recently aided in easing the theatre tax burden 

in Mississippi. The resolution says in 

conclusion: "Be it resolved that this council 

record its gratitude and its admiration of 

Governor White as a statesman and student 

of American business and cultural problems." 

Loew's Promotion Drive 

Is 'Salute to Spring' 

NEW YORK—Loew's Theatres has 

launched a special promotion drive under 

the advertising caption, "Loew's Salute to 

Spring," inspired by the fact that the circuit 

has been able to set up a lineup of exceptionally 

good bookings in succession. The 

booking schedules will include releases from 

all the major companies, depending upon the 

city. Oscar A. Doob, executive of Loew's 

Theatre operating department, recently attended 

a meeting of Loew's Poll circuit managers 

in New Haven, called by Harry Shaw, 

division manager, to discuss promotion on 

"Belle of New York," "Viva Zapata!" "The 

African Queen" and "Bend of the River," all 

set for the spring. 

Van Bloem to Baronet 

NEW YORK—Edgar Van Bloem, former 

European film and stage producer and New 

York theatre manager, has been named executive 

manager of the Baronet, new Walter 

Reade theatre at Third avenue and 59th 

street. He rejoins the Reade circuit, having 

been associated with the Park Avenue Theatre 

when it opened in 1946. After that he 

managed the Paris Tlieatre. 

Fairbanks Signs Lewellyn 

NEW YORK—Richard Lewellyn. author of 

"How Green Was My Valley" and "None But 

the Lonely Heart" has been signed by Douglas 

Fairbanks jr. and Sol Lesser to write a 

full-length narration for a new presentation 

of Douglas Fairbanks sr., in his role of 

D'Artagnan in further adventures of "The 

Three Musketeers." The idea is to give a 

talking picture quality to the old silent films 

which required about 20 minutes for titles. 

TO BE SURE 

OF BEST QUALITY and QUICK SERVICE 

MADE-TO- ORDER 

TRAILERS /FILMACK 


the 

Fox Sets 7 in Color 

Among 12 Films 

NEW YORK—More than half of the 12 

20th Century-Fox releases slated for the 

months of April through July 1952 will be in 

color, according to Al Lichtman, director of 

distribution. Six will be in Technicolor and 

one will be in Natural Color. 

The Technicolor musical, "With a Song in 

My Heart,'' starring Susan Hayward. Rory 

Calhoun. David Wayne and Thelma Ritter, is 

the Easter release and "Rose of Cimarron." 

an Edward L. Alperson western in Natural 

Color with Jack Buetel, Mala Powers and 

Bill Williams, is the other April color picture. 

"Belles on Their Toes," in Technicolor, 

starring Myrna Loy, Jeanne Grain and Edward 

Arnold, will be released in May. June will 

have two in Technicolor, "Down Among the 

Sheltering Palms," starring William Lundigan, 

Jane Greer, Mitzi Gaynor, David Wayne 

and Gloria de Haven, and "Kangaroo," 

filmed in Australia with Maureen O'Hara and 

Peter Lawford. The July releases in Technicolor 

will be "Wait Till the Sun Shines, 

Nellie." starring Jean Peters. David Wayne 

and Hugh Marlowe, and "Lydia Bailey," starring 

Dale Robertson and Anne Francis. 

The five black-and-white pictures for release 

during the four months are "Pride of 

St. Louis." starring Dan Dailey and Joanne 

Dru. in April: "Deadline—U.S.A.," starring 

Humphrey Bogart. Ethel Barrymore and Kim 

Hunter, which was pu.-shed up to May release 

from its original fall date; "The Outcasts of 

Poker Flat," starring Anne Baxter and Dale 

Robertson, also in May. and "We're Not Married." 

seven episode picture stan-ing Ginger 

Rogers, Fred Allen. Mitzi Gaynor. Paul Douglas. 

David Wayne. Marilyn Monroe. Eddie 

Bracken and Eve Arden. for June release. One 

more picture will be scheduled for July release. 

20th-Fox Sets 21 Dates 

For 'Zapata' in March 

NEW YORK—Twentieth Century-Fox has 

set 21 key city openings of "'Viva Zapata" extending 

through March to follow the New 

York and Miami engagements, which opened 

early in February. 

The March dates include: Ohio. Columbus: 

Majestic. San Antonio; Chinese, Loyola and 

Los Angeles. Los Angeles; Hippodrome, Cleveland; 

Fox, Detroit; Orpheum, Vancouver: 

Paramount, Syracuse; Poll, Waterbm-y; Poll, 

Bridgeport: Poll, New Haven; Stuart, Lincoln; 

Criterion, Oklahoma City: Buffalo, Buffalo; 

State, New Bedford: Strang, Portland; 

Norva. Norfolk: Keith. Dayton: Denver 

and Esquire, Denver: Poll, Hartford: 

Orpheum, Omaha and Fox, St. Louis. 

< ALBERT DEZEL, INC 

g S31 S. Wabash, CHICAGO 

»-^ Now Booking Your ^, 

J^ Territory. 

-'''^ 

JIMMY IN WASHINGTON — During 

the visit of Jimmy Stewart to Washingrton 

last week to help promote 'TJend of the 

River" for U-I and "The Greatest Show 

on Earth" for Paramount, the Motion Picture 

.^ss'n held a reception in his honor. 

Stewart is seen here with (left to right) 

Jerome Baker, manager of , RKO 

Keith's Theatre, and Joseph Gins, Washington 

manager for Universal. 

Around LOOO at Dinner 

For Brotherhood Awards 

NEW YORK—About 1,000 persons attended 

the dinner for the annual Brotherhood week 

awards of the amusement division of the 

National Conference of Christians and Jews 

Thursday night c28), S. H. Fabian, head of 

Fabian Theatres, was unable to be present and 

his award was accepted by his son Edward. 

Other recipients of awards were actress Celeste 

Holm and Richard F. Walsh. lATSE 

president. Speakers included Dr. Everett R. 

Clinchy. Mrs. Robert F. Patterson, Fannie 

Hurst and Miss Holm. 

Those on the dais: William B. Brenner, Dr. 

Clinchy. Max A. Cohen. Alfred E. Daff. 

Russell V. Downing. Charles Einfeld. Henry A. 

Linet, Leonard Lyons, Robert Mochrie, Louis 

Nizer, John J. O'Connor, Jerry Pickman, 

Charles M. Reagan, James M. Jerauld. J. 

Robert Rubin. Herbert Bayard Swope, Major 

Leslie E. Thompson and Richard Walsh. 

Three Johnston Addresses 

In New NCCJ Brochure 

NEW YORK—Under the title of "Bigotry 

Is Bad Business," the National Conference of 

Christians and Jews has published a booklet 

containing three addresses by Eric Johnston, 

president of the Motion Picture Ass'n of 

America, and general chairman of Brotherhood 

week. One address was delivered June 

19, 1951, when Johnston received the Brotherhood 

award "for distinguished service in the 

field of human relations" at a New York 

dinner sponsored by the commerce and industry 

branch of NCCJ. This carried the title 

of 

the booklet. A second address, "The Costly 

Follyof Bigotry," was delivered at a NCCJ dinner 

May 9, 1951, in Portland. Ore., and the 

third, "Brotherhood's Brighter Tomorrow," 

was delivered Nov. 12, 1951, at a NCCJ Armistice 

day luncheon in Washington. D. C. 

Betty Hutton in Japan 

TOKYO—Betty Hutton. star of Cecil B. 

DeMille's "Tlie Greatest Show on Earth," and 

her troupe arrived here Sunday (24> to entertain 

United Nations troops in Korea during 

a three-week junket. 

Mildred FitzGibbons 

Quits Theatre Field 

ST. LOUIS—Mildred FitzGibbons, who has 

been manager of the Shady Oak Theatre in 

suburban Clayton, Mo., since the first of last 

October, and who served previously as relief 

manager for a number of other St. Louis 

Amusement Co. theatres of Fanchon & Marco, 

has left the organization, her resignation going 

into effect February 1. Miss FitzGibbons 

has been in the amusement field several years, 

having been the first woman manager for 

Skouras Brothers, by whom she was engaged 

in New York in 1942 more or less as an experiment. 

During the war years and continuing until 

1950, she built up the 2,000-seat Roosevelt 

Theatre in Flushing, L. I., from a nondescript 

neighborhood theatre into a thriving community 

center, attaining national recognition 

for her work and showmanship. She is a 

graduate of Washington university and lives 

at 4515 Linden Blvd. She is a member of the 

AAUW and the Women's Advertising club of 

St. Louis and has carried her flair for public 

relations through her theatre career and 

former career as a teacher and as secretary to 

the chancellor of St. Louis university. 

She will continue in public relations in a 

field not connected with the amusement industry. 

Industry Art Directors 

To Be Honored by Ampa 

NEW YORK — Associated Motion Picture 

Advertisers will pay tribute to the art directors 

and artists of the major companies and 

agencies at the meeting in the Georgian room 

of the Hotel Piccadilly March 6. 

The guests of honor will include William 

Schneider, president of the Society of Illustrators 

and vice-president and creative director 

of art and copy for Donahue & Coe, and 

Roy Tillotson, president of the Ai-t Directors 

club of New York and art director of Union 

Carbide and Carbon. 'Vincent Trotta, former 

art director of Paramount and National 

Screen, currently conducting his own art 

service organization, will be chairman of the 

meeting and master of ceremonies. A special 

exhibit of art by industry members will be 

a feature of the meeting. 

Botwick, Louis Finske 

Join Florida State 

JACKSON'VILLE—Harry Botwick has been 

named manager of the concession sales department 

of Florida State Theatres, Inc., 

starting February 25, by Guy A. Kenimer, 

general managei-. Botwick has been with the 

M&P Circuit in New England and, for the 

past six years, has operated theatres for 

United Paramount in Philadelphia. 

Louis Finske. formerly with Penn Paramount 

Corp., in charge of theatres in Pennsylvania 

affiliated with United Paramount, 

will be associated with the Florida State Theatres, 

effective March 3. according to Leon 

Netter, president. 

German Film at Thalia 

NEW YORK—"The Trial" (Der Prozessi, 

the first German-language film made by G. 

W. Pabst since the war, will open at the 

Thalia Theatre March 7, the initial first run 

at this house, which has been playing revivals 

and art pictures for subsequent runs. Classic 

Pictures is releasing the picture in the U.S. 


WATV Purchases TV Rights 

To 85 Republic Westerns 

NEWARK—WATV, the Bremer Broadcasting 

Corp., has purchased 85 western features, 

originally released by Republic Pictures, for 

showing in the metropolitan area exclusively 

over the next 18 months, according to Robert 

Paskow, film director. 

The features, which have been edited down 

to 53 minutes, are aiTanged in four series, 

26 Koneer westerns, 13 Fi'ontier westerns, 26 

Plainsmen westerns and 20 Red Ryder westerns. 

Among the stars are: Allan "Rocky" 

Lane, still a Republic star; Johnny Mack 

Brown, now a Monogram star. Wild Bill 

Elliott, also a Monogram star, and Bob Livingston, 

Ray Corrigan, Max Terhune, Sunset 

Carson, Smiley Bm-nette. Bob Steele and 

Gabby Hayes, 

Canada TV Stations Plan 

To Start Next August 

TORONTO—Canadian television originating 

in Canada may start next August, if construction 

materials are available. This will 

be a year after the original target date. 

It is estimated that there are about 70,000 

television sets now in use in the Dominion. 

They get their programs from the U.S. side 

of the border. 

J. A. Ouimet, general manager of the Canadian 

Broadcasting Corp., says Montreal and 

Toronto will be the first cities to get stations. 

At the start two hours of local programs 

will go on the air daily. 

Disney Films Not Available 

For Home Video Use 

NEW YORK—Walt Disney's films will not 

be made available for television in the foreseeable 

future, says his brother, Roy O. Disney, 

president of the company. 

Surveys show, he says, that the best that 

could be expected from television use would 

be between $100,000 and $200,000. The total 

so small in comparison with possible theatre 

is 

income that it can't be considered, he 

says. 

Receivers in homes, however, are a good 

exploitation medium. 

Ventura Sneaks Preview 

Of 'Monte Carlo' in NY 

NEW YOKK—Ray "Ventura, 

who produced 

"Monte Carlo Baby" in Monte Carlo late iji 

1951. completed cutting and processing the 

English version and held a sneak preview in 

a New York neighborhood theatre late in 

Februai'y. Audrey Hepburn, currently starring 

on Broadway in "Gigi," Jules Munshin, currently 

featured on Broadway in "Mrs. Mc- 

Thing," and Michelle Farmer, daughter of 

Gloria Swanson, are featured. The French 

version, which also stars Miss Hepburn, is 

currently playing in 51 cities on the European 

continent. 

Free Short for U-I Film 

NEW YORK—"Far Horizon.^" a fiveminute 

Technicolor film, produced by Universal-International 

to promote "Bend of the 

River." is being offered without charge to all 

exhibitors booking the picture. The short 

was produced on location in Oregon while the 

troupe, headed by James Stewart, was shooting 

there. 

See Lifting of Ban Soon 

On Theatre TV Color 

Shupert Says Films Top 

TV Draws in 3 Cities 

NEW YORK—Television programs using 

films are getting higher audience ratings 

than live shows in three cities, according to 

George T. Shupert, vice-president of Peerless 

Television Productions, Inc. He quotes from 

Broadcast Information Bureau reports to back 

up his contention. 

Peerless has 26 films in circulation among 

TV stations. In Chicago, he says, Hauser- 

Nash Sales, Inc., sponsors the films over 

WNBQ Saturday nights and the rating is 

three times the combined average of three 

Chicago stations. Schlitz sponsors the films 

in Milwaukee and the rating is 54.5 in this 

one-station market. KRON-TV, San Francisco, 

carries the films under the sponsorship 

of Chevrolet dealers and Golden State 

Dairies. The films in January received fifth 

and seventh places in the ten top ratings. 

Eastman Color Explained 

To TV Film Council 

NEW YORK—John G. Scott, vice-president 

of Ti-i-Art Color Corp., a subsidiary of Du Art 

Film Laboratories, Inc., explained the Eastman 

negative positive process at the luncheon 

meeting of the National Television Film 

Council at the Warwick hotel February 27. 

Stott showed a number of clips from "The 

Royal Journey," Eastman color featurette, for 

which Tri-Art did the processing and developing. 

Melvin Gold, NTFC president, set the 

date of the next quarterly all-day forum 

for discussions on television stations, production 

and distribution as March 26 at the Warwick 

hotel. 

New Title for RKO Film 

NEW YORK—RKO has set "The Pace That 

Thrills" as the releasing title for the picture 

formerly known as "Crackdown." The film, 

which deals with bicycle racing, features Bill 

Williams, Carla Balenda, Robert Armstrong 

and Frank McHugh. 

WASHINGTON—Final decision on continuing 

the prohibition against the manufacture 

of color television equipment will be made 

in a week or ten days, NPA administrator 

Hem'y Fowler said Wednesday (27). 

Fowler would give no hint on terms of the 

revised order, but, according to sources close 

to the National Production Authority, the 

ban on home color sets and related equipment, 

such as adapters and converters, will 

be kept on, but the order will be relaxed to 

permit construction of theatre television color 

equipment. 

A decision along these lines will be a setback 

to Chromatic Television Laboratories, 

in which Paramount holds a 50 per cent interest, 

and to Sen. Edwin C. Joh:ison (D., Colo.), 

chaii'man of the Interstate Commerce Committee, 

who have led the fight to kill the 

order (M-90i completely. 

Chromatic wants to get commercial production 

of its new all-purpose color tube under 

way. The tube will allow reception ol 

either color or black-and-white broadcasts 

on a home receiver without the attachment 

of any special equipment and with only a few 

minor modifications in the wiring. 

Color TV and Other Problems 

Headed for Jury Probe 

NEW YORK—Color television and some 

alhed television problems are headed for a 

grand jiu-y investigation. The probe is expected 

to cover the whole TV manufacturing 

The long-drawn-out controversy between 

Columbia Broadcasting System on color 

broadcasts is one of the major items. Another 

is an inquiry into the industry's patents 

and licenses. 

The Columbia color TV has restraint of 

trade angles. When other television receiver 

makers refused to make sets suing CBS 

they contended each decision was individual 

and not in concert. 

CBS has been using color telecasts since 

June 25, but some time before resigning 

Wayne Coy, chairman of the Federal Communications 

Commission, declared manufacturers 

were stalling on color t«le vision. 

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THEATRE

. . . Joe 

. . Lou 

. . Joe 

ALBANY 

Têlays have been encountered in the instaliatiou 

of theatre television in Schine the program committee for the 33rd encamp- 

motorcycle policeman there, is chairman of 

Syracuse, Lockport and Cortland units, ment of the Veterans of Foreign Wars to be 

John May, treasurer of the circuit, reported. held there June 22-25. Ten thousand are 

Both equipment and coaxial cable deUvery expected for the affair . . . Mrs. Harry Lamont, 

wife of the Albany TOA chairnmn, was 

difficulties have developed. The Schine circuit 

placed the RCA orders for the three scheduled to be discharged Thursday from 

houses last summer, and hoped one installation 

could be completed by November and operation . . . Nick Googin has made exten- 

Albany hospital where she underwent an 

anotlier in 1952. May stopped here on the sive alterations to the Town Hall, Cazenovia, 

way back to Gloversville from SaUsbury, Md. during a six-month closedown, salesmen report, 

and the appearance has been materially 

Business for top pictures is fine, especially on 

the weekends, but average and poor films do changed. A reopening is scheduled soon . . . 

disappointing business. May commented, affii'ming 

the common cry, "We need more the theatre in Chittenango. 

Filmrow hears tliat Harold Tyler may relight 

good pictures." 

The Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo drew a 

Presentation to a marine sergeant of a packed balcony and 80 to 85 per cent orchestra 

Bronze Star for heroism in Korea and swearing 

in of 20 marine recruits highlighted a Filmrow reports . . . First run business m 

attendance in Fabian's Palace, according to 

stage ceremony held at the Strand to promote 

the opening of "Retreat, Hell!" Sgt. 

Watertown is reported excellent, partly due 

to the presence of a large number of soldiers 

R. D. Loretto of Scheiiectady received the 

at nearby Camp Drum . . . "Viva Zapata!" 

Star decoration from Maj. Richard Aufmann, has di'awn high praise from industry men, 

in charge of marine recruiting for the area. but one circuit representative dissented. He 

Another marine hero, Marvin Wasson, who said: "The cutting is poor, which means the 

won the Navy Cross, was introduced to the contmuity is weak. I do not understand what 

audience. Col. Bertrand T. Fay of Albany the picture is saying" . . . The Auto-Vision, 

spoke on "Marine Achievements." A color East Greenbush, lost 14 loudspeakers last 

guard and 60 marines attended with their 

season, and all were returned by patrons, according 

to Maioager George Lourinia. The 

families as guests of Manager AJ La Plamme. 

pioneer automobiler of the exchange district 

regularly A 14-year-old Albany academy freshman, 

ran a trailer suggesting care in 

Theodore Wendell, was seriously wounded 

handling the speakers, describing them as 

Washington's birthday when a 

•RCA 

15-year-old and the finest made." Managing Director 

high school student accidentally discharged a 

Leo Rosen thought the trailer paid off 

32-caliber automatic pistol in 

Bur-ns, 

the Madison 

who managed the Glove m 

Theatre during an evening 

Gloversville 

performance. 

for Wendell 

was rushed 

several years, is back with 

the 

to Albany hospital. A buUet 

marine corps as an officer. He received a 

recall 

pierced his back, entered the 

notice 

lobe of his some time 

left 

ago. 

lung and emerged from his abdomen. Tlie 

Robert Randell, assistant at the Ritz, has 

high schooler told police he had stayed home been inducted in the mai-ine corps and was 

while his parents, a brother and a sister went 

sent to Parris Island, S. C. . . . Art Mooney's 

to Long Island. He took the pistol, which an 

orchestra appeared at the Circle Inn, Latham, 

older brother serving with the military poUce 

Sunday night, under the management of Bob 

in Korea had sent home as a souvenir, from 

Snyder, member of the Variety Club. Snyder 

a di'esser drawer, intending to show it to 

is bringing Guy Lombardo's band to the state 

friends at the theatre. When they did not 

armory here in April, and Frankie Lame, 

appear, he went into the Madison and sat in 

Patti Page and BiUie May in May . . . Washington's 

birthday proved a good day for busi- 

the back row. As he fiddled with the weapon 

in the dark, the trigger accidentally was 

ness in most Albany theatres. The weather 

pressed. 

was ideal. Sunday prices prevailed . . . 

Woodie 

Jack Olshansky, 

Campbell, 

former 

longtime contact 

part owner man in 

of the 

the 

Colonial Warner 

Theatre, 

Theatres zone offices 

reported that he and 

and later 

his 

wife met 

head booker for 

the RKO, has 

sister of Bernie 

been transferred 

Kranze, United 

by 

Artists sales executive and former RKO ABC from Binghamton to Albany as assistant 

to Sam Sigman. 

manager 

here, while they were 

Campbell joined the 

vacationing in 

Miami ABC soft 

. . . Marty 

drmk setup six weeks ago. 

Burke, floor manager of 

Proctor's in Troy on weekends who is a Fabian's Palace will make one of its few 

departm-es from a regular-admission, weekrun 

policy for "Quo Vadis," which will come 

into the 3,650-seater March 5 for a two-week 

engagement at $1.25 top. Afternoon charge 

will be 80 cents; children, 50 cents. The theatre, 

largest in the Albany exchange territory, 

BOOK IT NOW!!! 

rarely books specials at 

WAHOO is the 

advanced prices . . . 

world's most thriliing 

screen game. Now being used program, was brought back to the Palace 

Clarabell, clown on the Howdy Doody TV 

successfully by hundreds oF indoor for an appearance Saturday morning (1) at 

and outdoor theatres all over America. 35 cents. A Hopalong Cassidy film also will 

be shown. 

Send for complete details. Be sure 

and give seating or car capacity.. 

Eighteen ABC four-drink machines have 

been installed in Fabian theatres in Albany, 

. . . 

neer for Warner Theatres, from the New 

Hollywood 

Schenectady 

Amusement 

and Troy 

Co. 

ABC auditor, was in town 

831 S. Wabash Avenue, Chicago 5, III. 

was George Shields, supervising 

Marty Winters, 

Another visitor 

sound engi- 

. . . 

Haven zone offices . . . Jim Cole, who served 

as chief sound man for Warners in the Albany 

and Buffalo territories tor years and wno recently 

was transferred by Altec from New- 

York to Cleveland, sold his suburban home 

here. The Coles have bought a home in a 

subm-b of Cleveland . Saperstein, 

Fabian buyer-booker, left for a vacation witn 

his son, who lives ui North Carolina. The 

junior Saperstem is an executive of a company 

manufacturing overalls. 

The Albany county American Legion chapter 

is urging members, relatives and Irienas 

to ask legislators for support ol a biU tnat 

would legalize bingo under noiiprolit auspices 

in New York state . Hart aavertised a 

'Leap Year Lovers' Midniglit Hollywood Preview 

for Schine's Olympic, Watertown, February 

29. A strip in newspaper copy advised; 

"Girls, Buy Youi- Ticket Now for Leap Year 

Lovers' Midnight Preview." 

Retiring Chief Barker Leo Rosen was presented 

a pair of traveling bags at the tentn 

annual dinner-dance of the Albany Variety 

Club in the Ten Eyck hotel Satm-day night. 

Cliief Barker Nate Winig made the presentation 

to Rosen, who has been working this 

winter in New York on theatre television for 

Fabian. Fifty couples attended, including Mr. 

and Mi's. Charles A. Smakwitz, Mi-, and Mrs. 

Saul J. Ullman, Mi-, and Mi-s. Lewis A. Sumberg 

Ml-, and Mrs. George Schenck, Mr. and 

Mrs. Nate Dickman, Mr. and Mi-s. Ralph 

Ripps, Ml', and Mi-s. Mel Berman, Mi-, and 

Mrs. Jack Olshansky, Dr. and Mi-s. Irving 

Kaskel, Mi-, and Mrs. Eugene Teper, Ml-, and 

Mrs. Vedder Peters, Mr. and Mi-s. Sidney 

Urbach, Mi-, and Mrs. Gerald Schwartz, Harry 

Lamont, Mi-, and Mi-s. Nate Winig, Mr. and 

Mrs. George Lourinia, Mi-, and Mrs. Harry 

Alexander, Mr. and Mrs. David Marks, Mr. 

and Mrs. Leo Rosen, Mr. and Mi-s. I. J. Warshaw. 

Perlmutter to Reopen 

Four Situations Easter 

ALBANY—Jules Perlmutter will open the 

Fort George and Lake George drive-ins and 

the Lake Theatre at Lake George, and the 

CobleskiU Drive-In at Riclimondville April 

12, Easter Saturday. This will be the second 

season he has operated the Lake George 

ozoners, but Ills first at the CobleskiU. Perlmutter, 

also head of Perlmutter Theatre 

Booking Service, took over the Fort George 

from Nathaniel Englander of Glens Falls, who 

built and operated it in 1950. He acquhed the 

Lake George, which Harry Lamont opened in 

1947, from Lamont on a seven-year lease last 

June. He arranged to assume operation of the 

CobleskiU from Cy Hotaling. 

Freddy Dorr, who served at the Lake last 

year, will manage the Fort George. Bob 

Moon is scheduled to do likewise at the Lake 

George. 

School Editors to See Film 

NEW YORK—Twentieth Century-Fox will 

screen "Deadline U.S.A.," film about a newspaper 

managing editor, at the annual meeting 

March 14 of the Columbia Scholastic 

Press Ass'n. Editor delegates to the meeting 

will see it at the MacMillan Theatre of 

Columbia university. 

Action and adventm-e films are well liked 

by French Moroccans who are partial to 

Egyptian films. 


. . Milt 

. . R. 

Anti-TB Drugs Being Used 

At Will Rogers Hospital 

NEW YORK—Since the publication last 

week of news that New York hospitals have 

been experimenting with two new di-ugs for 

tuberculosis, offices of the Will Rogers Memorial 

hospital have been deluged with requests 

for information on whether or not 

these drugs are being used there. 

A. Montague, president, stated Wednesday 

(27 ) that both of the new drugs, Rlmifon and 

Nydrazid, are now beijig used. 

"The Will Rogers hospital has kept in close 

touch with the early work on these newdrugs 

through Dr. Edgar Mayer, noted chest 

specialist and consultant of the board of 

dii-ectors of the hospital," Montague stated. 

"Dr. Mayer had secured a schedule through 

which our sanatorium would have started 

using the drugs early in March, but the 

prematiu-e announcement which appeai-ed in 

the New York press last week precluded any 

possibility of our experiments and use of these 

drugs from being included in first reports. 

"The new drugs will not only be used on 

the patients at the Will Rogers, but our newexpanded 

research laboratory will advance the 

research and lab work necessary in conjunction 

with the administering of the drugs to 

selected patients. 

"The Will Rogers hospital has, for the past 

three years, played an increasingly important 

part in many phases of research with TB. 

Dr. Morris Dworsky, who is in chai-ge of the 

research program, has perfected many important 

steps in test tube experiments to determine 

the reaction of TB bacilli to the 

various antibiotics in use at the present time. 

There is no question but that our research 

laboratory will play an important part in the 

experimental work being done with the new 

drugs," Montague said. 

'Greatest Show' Scores 310 

And Tops Buffalo Runs 

BUFFALO—"The Greatest Show on Earth" 

topped the town this week at the Center 

where it jammed 'em in at advanced prices. 

"The African Queen," also w-idely promoted, 

tacked up a big week at the Buffalo. "Quo 

Vadis" was in its ninth week at the Teck. 


Buffalo—The Alricon Queen (UA) 125 

Center—The Greatest Show on Earth (Para) 310 

Century— I Wnot You RKO) 90 

Cinema—Bonnie Prince CharUe (Snader)...: 90 

Lafayette—Scandal Sheet (Col) 95 

Paramount—Retreat, Helll (WB) 105 

Teck—Quo Vadis (MGM), 9th wk 125 

'Sword's Point' Premiere 

By Pittsburgh Grosser 

PITTSBURGH—For the thu-d week. "Room 

for One More" at the Warner had the highest 

percentage reading, but "At Sword's 

Point." world premiered at the Stanley, took 

in the most money. 

HOLLYOOD—"Valley of Eagles," filmed in 

Sweden and Lapland under the J. Arthur 

Rank banner, has been acquired for distribution 

by Lippert Pictures and will be given 

its initial bookings, on a roadshow basis, this 

month. 

BUFFALO 

jyjyron Gross, for ten years manager of the 

Buffalo booking office of Schine Theatres 

and prior to that booker at the MGM here 

for five years, has resigned his Schine office 

to become resident 

manager of Cooperative 

Theatres of Buffalo, 

which buys and 

books for independent 

exhibitors in western 

New York. Gross is associated 

with Milton A. 

Mooney of Cleveland 

in the new venture. 

Offices of the new 

bookii-ig concern will 

open March 3 in the 

McKinley building at 

Myron Gross 259 Delaware. Gross is 

a past chief barker of Variety Tent 7, chairman 

of the heart committee and long active 

in behalf of the club's cerebral palsy clinic 

in the Children's hospital. Chris Pope, Albany 

area booker, succeeds Gross at the Schine 

office. 

Walter Bengough, identified with exhibition 

in western New York a decade ago and a 

brother of the famous Bengough of the 

New York Yankees, is now headquartering in 

the Buffalo office of Sportservice, with which 

he has been associated for many years. In 

the old days. Walter succeeded Edward L. 

Hyman, now vice-president of UPT, as assistant 

manager of the Mark Strand here 

when Harold Edel was that hou.se's managing 

director . . . Earl Hubbard, ad-pub chief 

of the Century, became a grandfather with 

birth of a baby to his daughter-in-law. 

By unanimous vote, the common council 

approved a resolution memorializing the state 

legislature to legalize bingo for nonprofit, 

charitable organizatioiis . . . The Buffalo area 

is assured of three television outlets and "has 

a fighting chance" for a fourth, Hugh Thompson, 

president of the Greater Buffalo Industrial 

Union Council, declared. 

. . . Fred 

Police Chief T. Herbert Killip has restored 

the ban on bingo in Rochester as a result of 

a decision by County Judge Daniel J. O'Mara. 

who reversed the city court's dismissal of 

lottery charges against two men arrested last 

April in connection with chair-rental bingo 

games. Judge O'Mara ordered the cases restored 

to the city court calendar 

Itzenplitz, manager of Shea's Kensington, returned 

from a two- week southern cruise on a 

navy ship. He is a member of the naval 

reserve. 

The first screen preview party of the spring 

season was staged last Sunday (24) night in 

the Delaware avenue headquarters of the 

Variety Club. Dinner was served for barkers, 

their wives and sweethearts before the preview. 

Chief Barker Dave Miller was enthusiastic 

over the size of the crowd attending 

. Harris has resigned a-s man- 

Fulton—The Model and Marriage Broker 

(20th-rox) 85 

Harris—Let's Molce It Legal (20ih-Fox); Indian 

Uprising (Col) 

Hams—Red Skies of Montana (20th-Fox) 

60 

80 

Penn—Invitation (MGM) 80 

Stanley— At Sword's Point (RKO) 90 

Warner—Room for One More (WB), 3rd wk 110 

ager of the Cinema, and James Michaels nowis 

managing both the Cinema and Mercury, 

Lippert Gets 'Valley of Eagles' 

recently merged by the Slotnick-Cohen interests 

of Rochester and the Michaels company 

of Buffalo. Margaret Janis, assistant manager 

under Harris, also resigned. 

Color television made its bow in Buffalo the 

other evening before an audience of 200 engineers. 

Two receivers, one with a "homestyle" 

tube and the other a complex laboratory 

testing instrument, were put through 

their paces by Sylvania Electric Products, 

Inc. Kai'l R. Wendt, manager of the advanced 

development in Sylvania's radio and TV division, 

said that he believed it to be the 

first public color television demonstration in 

this area. The system displayed was "a somewhat 

improved version" of the one demonstrated 

by RCA before the FCC. The pioneer 

equipment was set up in the company's cafeteria 

at 254 Rano St. Slides of beach and 

vacation scenes richly-hued with red canoes 

under deep blue skies, were flicked in rapid 

succession over the screens. 

Friends along Filmrow are receiving postcards 

from Murray Whiteman, past chief 

barker of Tent 7, who is enjoying the baths 

and the races at Hat Springs . T. Babcock, 

who operates the Genesee Drive-In near 

Batavia, has built up a sideline that is growing 

in leaps and bounds. He is renting giant 

searchlights to theatres, carnivals, auto dealers, 

etc., and is al.so renting large A-board 

trucks on which 24-sheets are posted and 

illuminated from the top. Babcock also operates 

the Babcock Motor Sales, Inc., in 

Batavia. During the season, he draws attention 

to his drive-in by using several of his 

giant searchlights on the grounds. 

New York Solons Consider 

Widening Sunday Law 

ALBANY—Local-option powers for communities 

on Sunday sports and recreational 

activities Ls proposed in a bill introduced as 

a sequel to a joint legislative committee recommendation 

that Sunday blue laws be overhauled. 

Passage, which is expected, would 

clear the way for Sunday stock car racing 

and Sunday circus performances. 

It was the stopping of a Sabbath performance 

by Ringling Bros.-Barnum & Bailey 

circus in Poughkeepsie last summer which 

sparkad the drive for modernization of the 

blue laws. Motion pictures, baseball, football, 

hockey, bowling and basketball are permitted 

now under local option, but racing, roller 

derbies, boxing, wrestling, equestrian performances, 

circuses and hunting are banned. The 

proposed new law would prohibit Sunday 

performances and sports before 2 p. m. 

The joint legislative committee, headed by 

Assemblyman Malcolm Wilson of Yonkers, 

will continue its study and report to the 1953 

legislature on Sunday commerce and business. 

Aid scrop dri -save copper drippings. 

ANNOUNCEMENT! 

MYRON GROSS announces his affiliation 

with Milton A. Mooney as Branch 

Manager of Co-Operative 

Theatres of Buffalo. 

Buying and Booking for Inciependent 

Theatres— Indoor and Drive-Ins 

of Western New York State. 

Mohawk 0064-0065 

BOXOFnCE March 1, 1952 N 51

. . Anthony 

. . Newspapers 

. . Jim 

. . The 

. . Ted 

PITTSBURGH 

fric Johnston, MPAA president who was 

pn'orn last week as chairman of the Point 

Four program's International Development 

advisory board, will address the second annual 

Brotherhood award dinner in Hotel Schenle^ 

March 6 . . . Jack Markel was here exploiting 

UA's "The African Queen" . . . Last week 

Shea's at Bradford presented a 15-minute 

organ recital each evening. Studley Music 

House furnished a new Janssen Organo. and 

Muriel Burton, organist . . . Les Kennedy has 

been transferred by Warner circuit from the 

Manor here to the Columbia in Brookville . . . 

Max Bloomberg, former Johnstown district exhibitor, 

has been named commercial division 

chairman for the Cambria County Red Cross 

drive. 

. . Somerset county 

George Katselas of the Frederick in East 

Pittsburgh, will be the guest of his brother 

Gust Katsiles, trucking operator, on a vacation 

in Greece. (They spell their names 

differently.) George states that they expect 

to depart for the old country in early June 

and return in August . 

district attorney and exhibitor Frank A. 

Orban jr.. has been very critical of lack of aid 

from state police in his drive and raids made 

on slot machines . . . Charles "Chuck" Kiefer 

has withdrawn as a partner of Andy Battiston 

in the operation of the Rialto in uptown 

Fifth avenue, tlie theatre nearest to Filmrow. 

John A. Reilly remains manager of the Rialto, 

owned by Mrs. M. A. Rosenberg, widow of 

the former Allied leader. 

The new outdoor theatre on Freeport road, 

just off Route 28 beyond Natrona Heights, 

will be named Sunset Drive-In, according to 

Nelson "Red" Bond, who heads the project. 

The 400-car capacity RCA-package equipped 

outdoor theatre will be booked by Vincent J. 

Corso of Stai- Distributing Agency . . . John 

E. Currie, who started with National Theatre 

Supply here and who has managed NTS 

drive-in department for six years, continues 

in tliat capacity and at the same time has 

been named district supervisor for the company's 

offices at Chicago, Milwaukee and 

Minneapolis, concurrent with his election as 

a vice-president of NTS . Antonoplos. 

East Pittsburgh exhibitor, has been 

serving on the Allegheny county criminal 

court jury the last two weeks. 

Michael Halm, distributor of foreign films 

in this area, is displaying 150 items of art 

works of refugees at St. Augustine's in Lawrenceville 

and in three other parish centers. 

Pittsburgh Press roto section for March 2 

features "Refugee Art" owned by Halm, with 

six illustrations on two pages. Erica Liz Halm, 

a granddaughter, was pictured in a Sun- 

Telegraph spread on the refugee art Wednesday 

(27). Halm made the collection of Polish, 

German, Slovack, Hungarian and Lithuanian 

art works while on a tour of Europe . . . Bob 

Bowman, manager of the Warner at Erie, 

SAM FINEBERG 

TOM McCLEARY 

84 Van Braam Street 

PITTSBURGH 19, PA. 

Phone EXpress 1-0777 

Movies Are Bijtttr Th^n Ever How's Your Equipment? 

the RKO 

HOME RUN—A screening of 

Sportscope, "That Man Rickey," was a 

surprise event and "show stealer" at the 

annual sportswriters' dinner in Pittsburgh 

recently. The showing was arranged by 

David C. Silverman (right), RKO Pittsburgh 

manager, shown here with Branch 

Rickey himself. The famous general manager 

of the Pirates recently celebrated his 

three-score and ten. 

is reserving seat sections for students during 

the engagement of "Quo Vadis" . and 

George Laskey, brothers, and Bill Basle, exhibitors, 

will attend the drive-in conference 

in Kansas City March 4-6. These outdoor 

theatre owners are operating here throughout 

the year, using in-car heaters. 

Looking ten years younger. Bill Graner observed 

his 60th birthday anniversary Thursday 

(21) last week. The Monogram office 

manager has been associated with the industry 

here for nearly two score years . . 

. 

There are 132,732 television sets in the Johnstown 

area . in the tristate area 

are featuring editorials on the subject of 

"Pittsburgh Invites You to Stay Out." This 

refers to the crackdown on traffic and no 

street parking, parking lot costs, etc., etc. All 

businesses, including theatres, are suffering as 

the result of the bad to worse traffic and 

parking headaches in the city triangle. 

John Bixler, Scottdale exhibitor, forwarded 

a bathing beauties postcard from Miami where 

he is vacationing for six weeks. He will be 

back in Scottdale about March 5 . . . Marie 

Isler now is switchboard operator at the RKO 

exchange, succeeding Miriam Weinberger, 

who resigned to enter employment of a steel 

company here . Princess at Republic 

has reduced admission prices, including Saturday, 

Sunday and holiday, to 29 cents adults 

and nine cents children. 

Acme Distributing Co. now is operating from 

the shipping and service rooms of the former 

Eagle Lion exchange at 1623 Boulevard of the 

Allies. Lou Hanna and Bud Thomas state 

that Acme now is physically handling all 

prints and shipping for United Artists, Monogram, 

Souvaine, Crown and Franklin exchanges 

. Vazzana returned to Filmrow 

this week as a salesman for Monogram. 

Formerly with Atlas Theatre Supply, he resigned 

that post several years ago to enter 

the cleaning business at Charleroi. Vazzana 

served in the army and the merchant marine 

prior to coming to Filmrow. 

Leonard and Mildred Wechsler are parents 

of a daughter born February 20 in McKeesport. 

Papa is a son of the Jerry Wechslers (Warner 

branch manager at Cleveland) and mother 

is a daughter of Mrs. M. A. Rosenberg and 

the late Allied exhibitor leader. 

Independents Increcxse 

Pittsburgh Booth Pay 

PITTSBURGH—Independent theatre owners 

here have granted a wage increase of 10 

cents an hour to projectionists under terms 

of a new agreement negotiated with lATSE 

Local 171. effective to Sept. 1, 1953, when 

another 5 cents an hour will be added, the 

latter agreement to expire Aug. 31. 1954. 

Warner and downtown theatres recently 

signed contracts with Local 171 whereby projectionists 

received a 10-cent wage increase 

per hour for a 13-month period, with another 

10 cents added for the next 13 months. 

Independent exhibitors here last year voluntarily 

increased wages to projectionists 5 

cents an hour. 

RCA School Graduates 181 

NEW YORK—RCA Institutes, one of the 

oldest radio technical training schools in the 

U.S., graduated 181 students, including one 

coed, at exercises Tuesday (26 1. Among the 

graduates of the winter term class were residents 

of 12 states and students from France, 

Italy and Puerto Rico. Sixty per cent of the 

class are veterans of World War II. The 

school is an enterprise of the Radio Corp. of 

America. 

Closes in McKees Rocks 

McKEES ROCKS, PA.—The Colony at 720 

Broadway, operated only on weekends for a 

long period, went dark entirely following last 

weekend's offerings. It was operated by Ben 

"Bud" Rosenberg. 

Outdoor Booker Named 

PITTSBURGH—Maurice Gordon, general 

manager of the Allied and Ohio Drive-In 

Theatre Corp.. operating outdoor theatres in 

Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania, was here 

to introduce Joe Goldstein of Cleveland, formerly 

with the Schine circuit, as booker. 

Last season these drive-in theatres were 

booked by Tony Stern, who now operates an 

auto agency in Wilkinsburg. 

Ejaacting Amusement Tax 

JOHNSTOWN, PA.—Supervisors of Richland 

township near here have included a 10 

per cent tax on amusements in their new 

budget. Two drive-in theati'es in the township 

would be affected. 

Magic Screen Installed 

UNIONTOWN, PA.—The Manos here has 

installed a new Starke Cycloramic screen 

and new Snaplight lens. 

Complete Sound and Projection Service 

ATLAS THEATRE SUPPLY 

402 Miltenberjer St.. GRant 1-42S1. Pittsburgh. Pa. 

MOTIOGRAPH — MIRROPHONIC 


. . The 

. . The 

. . Herb 

PHILADELPHIA 

Deal live action was added to a gun battle 

and chase on the screen of the Family 

Theatre on Tuesday evening (26). Six patrolmen 

covered the theatre exits while eight 

detectives had Robert Scarduzio, assistant 

manager, turn on the theatre lights so they 

could study the faces of the 200 patrons to 

determine whether three men who abducted 

and held up two supermarket managers last 

fall were in the theatre. Their search proved 

fruitless. A crowd of passerbys milled outside 

during the 15-minute search. 

Thieves entered the Piesident Theatre, 23rd 

and Snyder avenue, and robbed an office 

strong box of about $100 in cash, according 

to Manager Maurice Verbin . . . Philip Vinnacone, 

8, had his hand caught in the innards 

of a candy vending machine in the Cedar 

Theatre on Sunday (24). He had thrust his 

arm up into the candy-containing portion of 

the machine, behind the glass front. Members 

of the rescue squad had to be called to 

extricate his hand . Read jr. of 

Elkins Park has been named MGM's publicity 

supervisor for Ohio. 

Charlton Heston, one of the stars of "The 

Greatest Show on Earth," was in town with 

his wife Lydia Clarke to help drum up interest 

in the film. At a press interview, Heston 

said; "There has never been a medium equaling 

the movies in star-making potential. In 

the movies your name is before fans' eyes all 

the time in ads, magazine articles, billboards 

and theatre marquees." 

. . . Lucie 

Whitey Molitch, in charge of theatre hauling 

for Highway Express, is in Jewish hospital 

with a heart condition 

DeVccchis. secretary to U-I's manager, appeared 

on the Ted Mack Amateur Hour on 

TV . mother of Milt Young, Columbia 

Ted Schlanger, Stanley- 

tubthumper, died . . . 

Warner zone manager, has been appointed 

to the board of trustees of the Philadelphia 

General hospital by Mayor Joseph S. Clark jr. 

. . . Douglas 

. 

Manager Charles Masters of the Sherwood 

Theatre was able to extinguish a fire before 

it really got under way. Masters discovered 

a flaming can of kerosene which had been 

tossed down a concrete stairwell leading to 

the basement of the theatre 

Kline, former Clark Film shipper, has resigned 

Beach Theatre in Atlantic 

City recently ran a triple feature . . The 

. 

Astor, Cinema and Hollywood theatres in 

AUantic City have started student admission 

tickets which must be signed by a teacher 

with a picture of the student attached for 

children between 12 and 17. 

Paul E. Glase, Fabian's Embassy in Reading, 

each year for the past 15 years has 

compiled and printed a booklet, "Lest We 

Forget," in which he publishes a brief biographical 

sketch of the performers who have 

made a final curtain call during the preceding 

year. The booklet is sent free to 

libraries, newspapers, managers, troupers and 

friends. 

Monogram Eliminated in Trust Action 

PITTSBURGH—Monogram Pictures has 

been withdrawn as a defendant in the antitrust 

actions recently filed by Lou Kaufman 

of the Metropolitan here. 

BIRDS OF A FEATHER—The gowns worn by Maureen O'Hara in RKO's "At 

Sword's Point" were borrowed by the Stanley Theatre in Pittsburgli and modeled there 

to exploit the film's world premiere. Left to right are Charles Eagle, manager; Mrs. 

Opperman, one of the models; Dolores King, another model; Dave Silverman, fencing 

instructor who gave a demonstration over WDTV; Claire Lippert, who is Miss Pennsylvania; 

Ruth Girkin, a model, and Jack Kahn, theatre manager. 

VMPTA Convention Dates 

June 17, 18 in Richmond 

RICHMOND, VA.—The 

summer meetings 

and convention of the Virginia Motion Picture 

Theatre Ass'n will be held June 17 and 

18 at the Hotel John Marshall here. The 

board of directors and 106 exhibitor members 

of VMPTA, meeting at the Jefferson hotel last 

week, decided these dates in addition to the 

business reported in BOXOFFICE last week. 

They also voted to pass a resolution requesting 

an exclusive channel for large-screen theatre 

TV after Morton G. Thalhimer, president 

of Neighborhood Theatres, who attended 

the recent, four-day TOA meetings in Los 

Angeles, explained in detail the background 

and purpose. 

The VMPTA also voted to exhibit the Society 

of Crippled Children and Adults trailer 

if approached by local committees and the 

trailer is provided, to assist the cancer campaign, 

to request 20th Century-Fox to conduct 

a merchandising meeting in Richmond for 

area exhibitors, to assist in gathering information 

on theatre admission taxes (this followed 

a report by Col. Robert T. Barton jr.), 

to adopt film clinics in three categories affecting 

small and larger situations and driveins, 

and to give a rising vote of thanlcs to 

Frank Wolf jr. and the Alexander Film Co. for 

their hospitality. 

'One More' Record 

WARREN, PA.—Warner's "Room for One 

More" established a new record for continuous 

appearance here. Opened at the Library 

on February 10, after three days the picture 

was moved over to the Columbia where it 

won holdovers totaling 11 days. Two weeks 

is the record for any film in more than 30 

years that George C. Sarvis. manager, has 

been associated with local theatres. 

Republic Declares Dividend 

NEW YORK—The Republic board of directors 

Thursday i27) declared a dividend 

of 25 cents a share on the preferred stock. 

It is payable April 1 to stockholders of record 

March 14. 

Philadelphia Warns 

Of Crisis in Parking 

PHILADELPHIA — Center city properties, 

especially department stores "will become 

wai'ehouses m another decade" unless the 

city finds a quick solution to its downtown 

parking problems. Alfred G. Blasband. executive 

head of Snellenburg's had warned. 

He declared that the big shopping areas 

on Market. Chestnut and Walnut streets face 

the same fate as befell the downtown business 

area of Los Angeles as a result of that 

city's failure to meet and solve a similar 

problem more than a decade ago. 

"Department stores and specialty shops," 

said Blasband, "have two courses left open 

to them as far as their customers go. They 

can bring shoppers into their stores by providing 

them with adequate transportation and 

parking facilities, or they can move their 

stores to less congested areas, where the 

traffic problem does not exist and is not 

likely to arise in the future. 

"Fifteen or 18 years ago, everybody in Los 

Angeles went downtown to shop. Ti-affic congestion 

grew to the point where many people 

do not go downtown to shop unless they 

have to. Department stores have located 

branches in less congested suburban areas, 

and as a result, downtown real estate values 

have dropped alarmingly. Philadelphia faces 

the same fate if something is not done, and 

done now." 

"SS^ 

ELMER H. BRIENT & SONS 

925 New Jersey N. W. 

Washington, D. C. 

EVERYTHING 

tor the 

MODERN THEATRE 

EVERYTHING FOR YOUR CONCESSION 

CANDY—POPCORN—SEASON INGS—ETC. 

STANDARD VENDORS, Inc 

921 E. Fort Arenue 

Baltimore 30, Maryland 


— 

Mexico Theatre Monoply Faces 

Attack by Producers 

By EMIL ZUBRYN 

MEXICO CITY—For the first time in many 

years in the fight to improve conditions in 

the Mexican film industry, producers and 

actors have joined forces to attack a problem 

that affects both: the monopoly existing in 

exhibition of films throughout the country. 

Producers and actors, in a joint statement 

have denounced the current setup where almost 

absolute control of film exliibition lies 

in the hands of a few persons. Main point 

of attack were the conditions levied against 

the industry by exhibitors: a demand for a 

percentage of film profits and the right to 

select dates and limit film runs. These two 

demands are major stumbling blocks for an 

already weak industry. It was also pointed 

out that exhibitors favor foreign films, with 

no restrictions on runs in first and secondclass 

movie houses, to the detriment of local 

products. 

URGE STUDY OF PROBLEM 

Mexican film leaders state the apparent 

discrimination in limiting runs of national 

films should be carefully studied, and that 

the government should take effective measures 

to eliminate this "unfair" competition. 

As reported previously, a governmental attempt 

to assure showings of Mexican films in 

motion picture theatres throughout the Republic 

for at least 50 per cent of the time 

was successfully attacked by exhibitors who 

claimed there was not sufficient first-class 

Mexican product to maintain such a schedule. 

The problem still remains, although a practical 

method to resolve it has not yet been 

advanced. 

The Mexican industry is desperately trying 

to set its house in order, but without much 

success. Tliere have been proposals to have separate 

round-table discussioiis for the various 

problems of the Mexican cinema—in production, 

distribution, acting, exhibition and other 

divisions. This idea has been frowned upon 

for tlie majority opinion is that a determined 

general action should be taken to cover all 

aspects of the industry and to arrive at a 

general solution that would take the industry 

as a whole out of the doldrums into which 

it has fallen. 

DIFFERENCE OF OPINION 

The chief problem in the Mexican film industry 

today is that there is dissension within 

the ranks, and no clear-cut. defined cooperation 

for common good. Whereas the industry 

did unite temporarily to attack exhibitors, it 

is completely divided on the problem of production. 

Film producers diverge sharply from 

views of actors and technicians on this industry 

sore spot. 

Tlie most recent difference of opinion came 

during a discussion called by the Government 

Film bureau for the purpose of arriving at 

an accord in providing funds for the industry. 

Producers suggested that the government 

hold down the number of productions this 

year to 70, compared with 105 during 1951 

and 127 in 1950. Quite a number of the 

films of the past two years have not been relea.sed 

for lack of theatres and, too. due to 

public apathy to national products of the 

variety. The producers stated that a reduction 

this year would enable the market to catch 

up with production, and would assure show- 

and Actors 

ings for filnLs ah'eady made but not released. 

Technicians and actors, on the other hand, 

violently oppose any reductions for it would 

reduce the amount of work available. They 

insist that the importation of foreign films be 

limited and thus force Mexicans to view 

national pictures. If the government should 

give heed to this request it would be violently 

fought by exhibitors who foresee boxoffice returns 

under such a policy dropping to the 

vanishing point. 

To Extend TV Cables 

To Six More Cities 

WASHINGTON — Tlie television coaxial 

cable will be extended to six more citie.s 

Miami, New Orleans, Dallas, Port Worth, 

Houston and Oklahoma City—following Federal 

Communications Commission granting 

on Monday (25) of authority for American 

Telephone & Telegraph to spend $60,000,000 

this year for constructing and adding TV 

and other intercity communications facilities. 

Another authorization gi-anted AT&T recently 

would permit construction of new micro-wave 

radio relay systems between several 

cities, and in addition would permit the 

adding of chamiels to existing radio systems 

connecting other cities, and this previous authorization 

covers estimated additional costs 

of $32,000,000. 

The Commission on Monday also authorized 

new coaxial cables to be built by the Bell system 

between a number of other cities. 

Westinghouse Net Sales Up 

But Taxes Cut Net Income 

NEW YORK—Westinghouse Electric Corp. 

net sales for 1951 totaled $1,240,801,000, a new 

company record and a 22 per cent increase 

over the record of $1,019,923,000 set in 1950, 

but the net income dropped sharply because 

of taxes, according to Gwilym A. Price, president, 

in a statement Monday (25). 

Where the 1950 net income was $77,922,000, 

or $5.36 a share on 14,190,654 shares outstanding, 

the 1951 figure was $64,578,000, or $4.03 

a share on 15,549,697 shares, a decline of 17 

per cent. Pi-ice said 1951 taxes took $104,000,- 

OOO, or 35 per cent more than the $77,000,000 

in taxes paid in 1950. 

Assets at the end of 1951 were $653,886,000 

and liabilities were $198,607,000, leaving a 

working capital of $455,279,000. At the end of 

1951 more than 40 per cent of all unfilled 

orders were defense orders, compared with 

only 30 per cent in 1950, Price said. 

Louis Goldstein Enters 

TV Film Distribution 

NEW YORK—Louis Goldstein has resigned 

as managing director of Columbia Pictures 

International in Germany to enter the television 

film distribution field as vice-president 

of Hygo Television Films, of which Jerry 

Hyams is president. 

American Film Quota 

Raised by Spain to 100 

MADRID—After several months of 

Goldstein had been 22 years with Columbia 

and set up operations in a number of Latin- 

American countries, including Argentina and 

Brazil, before being assigned to Germany. 

negotiations, 

representatives of the U.S. motion 

picture industry concluded an agreement with 

the Spanish authorities by the terms of which 

100 U.S. films may be imported into Spain 

during the year beginning March 1, 1952. Of 

the total of 100 films to be imported, 60 

import licenses will be reserved for the American 

producers represented in Spain and the 

remaining 40 films may be imported by the 

unaffilated Spanish distributors. 

In addition to the establi.shment of a fixed 

quota, which represents an increase of approximately 

30 per cent over the number of 

U.S. films imported in recent years, the agreement 

signed on Jan. 23, 1952, provides for 

a fixed fee for the import license and dubbing 

permit of 638,000 pesetas, payable in 

pesetas to the Spanish government. Heretofore, 

import licenses were acquired at a cost 

in excess of 1,000,000 pesetas by direct purchase 

from the Spanish producers who had 

been granted licenses as premiums for their 

productions. 

Later in the week it was learned that new 

objections in Spain may set back the film 

pact. The agreement was recently completed 

with the help of Stanton Griffis, at that time 

ambassador. 

New French conferences are scheduled to 

start during the middle of March. 

Evans Elected Secretary 

Of Inter-Society Color 

NEW YORK—Ralph M. Evans, head of 

the Eastman Kodak color control division, 

has been elected secretary of the Inter- 

Society Color Council. 

The council is composed of more than 20 

member groups, including the American Institute 

of Ai-chitects, American Psychological 

Ass'n, Society of Industrial Designers and the 

Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers. 

Its aim is to stimulate and coordinate 

the standardization of color and to promote 

practical application of the results. 

Evans is responsible for standards and quality 

of color films and prints processed by 

Eastman Kodak. 

Foreign Managers Discuss 

Film Problems Abroad 

NEW YORK—Foreign managers of the 

member companies of the Motion Picture 

Ass'n of America held another weekly review 

of business conditions in other countries 

Wednesday (27). John G. McCarthy, vicepresident 

in cliarge of International affairs, 

presided. It was said afterwards that there 

were only routine talks and that no decisions 

were reached. One of the topics was the 

problem of getting more remittances out of 

Japan. 

Holiday Books 'Kisenga' 

NEW YORK—J. 

Arthur Rank's Technicolor 

feature, "Kisenga, Man of Africa," has been 

booked into the Holiday Theatre. Broadway 

at 47th street, for early March. Eric Portman 

and Phyllis Calvert are starred. Distribution 

is being handled by International 

Releasing Organization, Inc., in this country. 

54 


LLYWOO 

MEWS AND VIEWS OF THE PRODUCTION CENTER. 

(Hollywood Office— Suite 219 at 6404 Hollywood Blvd.: Ivan Spear, Western Manager) 

Authors League Backs 

Writers on TV Strike 

HOLLY\VCX)I>—Support of the Screen 

Writers Guild in its planned strike action 

against members of the Alliance of Television 

Film Producers has been pledged by 

the western branch of the Authors League of 

America, witii which SWG is affiliated, and 

which also includes in its membership the 

Dramatists Guild, Authors Guild, and Radio 

Writers Guild. March 10 was set by SWG as 

the date for launching the strike, which the 

scriveners' organization claims was brought 

about by ATFP's refusal to negotiate on u 

minimum basic working agreement. 

SWG spokesmen reminded that the Authors 

League recently issued a resolution reaffirming 

SWG's right to bargain with TV 

producers on the west coast "for all league 

members," and pledged support to the SWG 

"with every means at its disposal." 

An emergency SWG membership meeting 

will be held Sunday (9) to raise a strike fund 

in the event negotiations with the ATFP do 

not begin before that time. 

Four Appearance Trips 

On Studio Schedules 

HOLLYWOOD—Stepped-up activity was 

noted in the realm of personal appearance 

junkets by film personalities on behalf of 

current releases. 

Arthur Keiuiedy planed out for New York 

to initiate a three-city tour in connection with 

openings of Universal-International's "Bend 

of the River." in which he stars with James 

Stewart and Julia Adams. His itinerary included 

Boston and Philadelphia. 

RKO's Janis Carter, named guest of honor 

at the national convention of drive-in theatre 

operators in Kansas City, planes out 

Tuesday (4> to participate in the three-day 

event. 

Rex Allen, Republic cowboy star, has been 

set for nine dates in Arizona during April, 

his schedule including stopovers in Phoenix, 

Buckeye, Chandler, Globe, Bisbee, Douglas, 

Blythe. Yuma and Tucson. 

Barbara Hale and Jeff Donnell were slated 

to take off Saturday (1) on a month-long 

tour of the New England area to spark openings 

of "The First Time," the Columbia comedy 

in which they appear. 

To Film 'Mardi Gras' 

HOLLYWOOD—Added to the Monogram 

releasing schedule as a Cinecolor entry was 

"Mardi Gras," based upon the famous annual 

New Orleans festival, which will be produced 

by Peter Scully. Camera work is slated 

to begin late in April. 

Blue Ribbon Time at Warner Studio 

When the high-grossing Warner Bros, musical, 

"I'll See You in My Dreams," was selected by the 

National Film Council as the "best picture of the 

month for the whole family" to go into release in 

January, the craftsmen responsible for its making 

became the recipients of the coveted monthly BOXOFFICE Blue Ribbon Award. 

Top panel—Jack L. Warner, vice-president and executive producer; Melville 

Shavelson and Jack Rose who penned the screenplay based on the life of tunesmith 

Gus Kahn, and Director Michael Curtiz. Bottom panel—Producer Louis F. Edelman, 

LeRoy Prinz, who staged and directed the musical numbers in the Doris Day-Danny 

Thomas-Frank Lovejoy starrer, and Danny Thomas displaying his Blue Ribbon to 

Carmen Miranda. 

Leave to Sid Pink 

LOS ANGELES—Sid Pink has been granted 

an eight-week leave of absence as film buyer 

and a.ssistant to Fred Stein, head buyer for 

the United Ai-tists theatre chain here, to 

handle distribution arrangements for a new 

Arch Oboler production, "The Twonky," for 

which major release is being negotiated. In 

Fink's absence, his UA berth will be filled by 

Leo Miller, who recently left the Warner 

Theatres' Pacific Coast division. 

Statuette to Grainger 

HOLLYWOOD—For his "contributions to 

Americanism" through the making of such 

pictures as "Sands of Iwo Jima" and "The 

Plying Leathernecks," F>roducer Edmund 

Grainger was given a gold statuette by the 

U.S. Reserve Officers Ass'n in ceremonies held 

February 23. 

MPIC Pledges Schary 

Aid in Libel Action 

HOLLYWOOD— As it did in the previous 

and similar action undertaken by Producer 

Stanley Kramer, the Motion Picture Industry 

Council has pledged full support to Dore 

Schary, Metro vice-president and studio chief, 

in his $1,250,000 libel suit agaiitst the Wage 

Earners committee. Both Schary and Kramer 

—the latter seeking $1,000,000 in damagescharge 

that via picketing activities and in 

other ways the WEC has falsely linked them 

with subversive organizations. 

At the same menbership se.ssion, the MPIC 

discussed the recent withdrawal of the Screen 

Directors Guild from the organization, and 

voted to ask the SDG board to meet with an 

MPIC committee to "seek to compose any 

differences." 


STUDIO PERSONNELITIES 

Metro 

"The Story ol Three Loves" will be ed by 

MIKLOS ROZSA. 

Paramount 

FRANZ WAXMAN will write the musical score for 

"Botany Bay." 

Warners 

MAX STEINER will compose the score lor "Man 

With a Gun." 

Loanouts 

Metro 

Irom ZOth Century- 

Tracy and Van Johnson 

GENE 

Fox to 

TIERNEY 

star with 

was borrowed 

Spencer 

in "Plymouth Adventure." With Clarence Brown directing, 

the historical will be personally produced 

drama 

by Dora Schary, studio 

chief. 

Meggers 

Metro 

"The Naked Spur," upcoming outdoor action feature 

starring James Stewart, will be directed by 

ANDREW MARTON. The producer is William H. 

Wright. 

As his first production assignment, SOL FIELDING 

draws "Question of Time," a suspense drama based 

on a story by Maurice Zims. 

Paramount 

"Road to Bali," forthcoming Bing Crosby-Bob Hope 

starrer, will be directed by HAL WALKER for Producer 

Harry Tugend. 

United Artists 

Because ol a conflicting commitment, Harold 

Daniels bowed out as director ol American Pictures' 

"Invasion, U.S.A.," and has been succeeded by 

ALFRED E. GREEN. 

Universal-International 

"City Beneath the Sea," drama ol deep-sea divers, 

has been added to ALBERT J. COHEN's production 

slate. 

ROBERT BUCKNER's next production will be 

"Ashenden," which he is currently scripting from the 

novel by W. Somerset Maugham. 

LESLEY SELANDER will direct "The Riding Kid," 

Technicolor historical western, which William AUand 

produces with Richard Conte and Viveca Lindfors 

starred. 

Warners 

"The Private Lite ol Helen ol Troy," Irom the novel 

by John Erskine, will be produced by SAM BISCHOFF. 

Options 

Columbia 

Producer Sam Katzman signed JON HALL to star 

in "Last Train From Bombay," which Fred Sears 

will 

direct. 

Metro 

HUGH PRYCE, British actor, will portray one of 

the Pilgrim leaders in "Plymouth Adventure," which 

toplines Spencer Tracy, Van Johnson and Gene Tierney. 

Clorence Brown will direct and Dore Schary 

will personally produce 

DICK POWELL was signed to star with Lana Turner 

and Kirk Douglas in Producer John Houseman's 

"Tribute to a Bad Man," which will be directed 

by Vincente Minnelli, 

Tagged tor a featured role in Ihe Technicolor musical. 

"Everylhing I Have Is Yours," was EDUARD 

FRANZ. With George Wells producing and Robert 

Z. Leonard directing, the feature toplines Marge and 

Gower Champion. 

JAMES MASON is starring with Moira Shearer in 

one of the episodes in Producer Sidney Franklin's 

"The Slory of Three Loves." 

AGNES MOOREHEAD. 

Cast in the picture was 

Cast in a character role in the Esther Williams 

musical, "The One Piece Bathing Suit," was WILTON 

GRAFF. Mervyn LeRoy directs the Arthur Hornblow 

production. 

jr 

Monogram 

LOLA ALBRIGHT was cast opposite Woyne Morris 

as the lemme lead in Producer Lindsley Parsons' 

"Arctic Flight," which is being megged on location 

in Alaska by Ewing Scott. 

Paramount 

Supporting roles in Producer Not Holt's "Hurricane 

Smith" were handed HENRY BRANDON, RALPH 

DUMKE, KIM SPALDING, MURRAY MATHESON and 

ETHAN LAIDLAW. Starring Yvonne DeCarlo and 

John Ireland, the Technicolor entry is being directed 

by Jerry Hopper. 

. Television actress MARY SINCLAIR was inked to 

a term ticket. 

RKO Radio 

Ne Held lo oth. r term was KEITH ANDES, lorn 

York stage 

20th Century-Fox 

LEO G. CARROLL was signed lor a top spot with 

Gregory Peck in "Snows ol Kilimanjaro," which 

Henry King is directing under the personal produchon 

supervision ol Darryl F. Zanuck. 

Tyrone Power's leading lady in "Pony Soldier" will 

be PENNY EDWARDS. Producer Samuel G. Engel's 

historical western is to be directed by Joseph New- 

GLORIA DE HAVEN and SCOTT BRADY will be 

starred in Producer George Jessel's "Bloodhounds 

Broadway." based on a story by Damon Runyon. 

ol 

Harmon Jones will direct. 


Cast in the Robert Ryan starrer, "The Texas Man," 

was JIM ARNESS The Technicolor western is being 

produced by Albert J. Cohen and directed by Budd 

Boetticher. 

Joining Dan Dailey and Ann Blyth in the cast ol 

Ihe upcoming "The Great Companions" was CHET 

ALLEN, I2-year-oId singer. Douglas Sirk will direct 

Albert J. Cohen's Technicolor production. 

Inked to star in "The Black Castle," a mystery 

drama set in France in 1850, was RICHARD GREENE. 

The opus, penned by Jerry Sackheim, will be produced 

by 'WiUiam Alland. 

Inked lor the romantic male lead in "Ma and 

Pa Kettle at Waikiki" was BYRON PALMER, stage 

octor, who makes his lilm debut in the Leonard 

Goldstein production. Lee Sholem directs, with 

Marjorie Main and Percy Kilbride heading the cast. 

Warners 

PAUL PICERNI, young leading man, was given a 

contract extension. 

Recording artist FRAN WARREN and BILL SHIRLEY 

will have the romantic singing leads in Woodley 

Productions' "Abbott and Costello Meet Caplam 

Kidd," t)eing directed by Charles Lament 

Scripters 

Columbia 

HARVEY EASTON is penning "Jungle Joan" as a 

lorthcoming Joan Davis comedy lor production by 

Wallace MacDonald 

Metro 

HARRY BROWN is penning "All the Brothers Were 

Valiant," Irom the Ben Ames Williams story, for 

Producer Pandro S. Berman, Robert Taylor and 

Stewart Granger have been set lor the starring roles. 


KETTI FRINGS is developing "May the Best Wile 

Win" lor Producer Otto Lang, 


JERRY SACKHEIM is penning "The Black Castle," 

an adventure story localed in France in the 1850s, as 

a William Alland production. 

Warners 

SEELIG LESTER and MERWIN GERARD are 

teamed 

on "Eldorado," a story of Calilornia in the lS70s, 

which Robert Sisk will produce 

Story Buys 

Metro 

"Jefferson Selleck," a best-selling novel by Carl 

Jones, was acquired and added to John Houseman's 

production slate. It is the story ol an average man 

in a midwestern city whose lile produces extraordinary 

results. 

Paramount 

Pine-Thomas Productions acquired "Sangaree," a 

historical novel by Frank L Slaughter about the 

early days of Savannah, Go, It will be photographed 

m Technicolor, with Edward Ludwig megging and 

also collaborating with Frank Moss on the script. 


Purcho rights to the lile story ol 

3rt, French war orphan adopted by 

34th division in World War II, and 

US. army's the 

who later became an American citizen and was 

killed in the Korean conflict. The rights were 

acquired Irom Mrs. Alex Axelrod, former assistant 

US, district attorney in charge of alien affairs, 

who was Stewart's guardian. 


Fred Brady and Hans Jacoby sold their original 

screenplay, "The Greatest of Them All," and the 

romanlic comedy will be produced by Leonard 

Goldstein, 

Warners 

"Gown of Glory," a novel by Agnes Sligh Turnbull, 

was purchased and assigned to Henry Blanke 

to produce. With John Monks jr. preparing the 

Technically 

star Frank Lovejoy and 

Monogram 

JACK RUSSELL will photograph "Arctic Flight, 

with REX BAILEY as assistant director. 

Paramount 

HARRY CAPLAN was set as assistant director o 

"Hurricane Smith." 


Photographer LEON SHAMROY wo nded 

new three-year term contract. 

Crew assigned to "Darling, I 

owing 

Younger" includes MILTON KRASNER, photographe 

F. E. JOHNSTON, unit manager; PAUL HELMICK, 

assistant director; LYLE WHEELER and GEORGE. 

PATRICK, art directors. 

ROBERT SIDNEY will stage the dance routines 

lor "Bloodhounds of Broadway." 

United Artists 

JACK RUSSELL will photograph "Invasion, U.S. A ," 

lor American Pictures. 

Warners 

Set as dance director lor Woodley Productions 

"Abbott and Costello Meet Captain Kidd" was VAL 

RASET. 

Title 

Changes 

Metro 

"Three Love Stories" to THE STORY OF THREE 

LOVES. 

Warners 

"Alexander, 

TEAM 

the Big Leaguer" to THE WINNING 

USD Stars Honored 

At Carthay Affair 

HOLLYWOOD—Under the auspices of USO 

Camp Shows and the Hollywood Coordinating 

committee, 92 Hollywood film personalities 

were guests of honor, along with 1,400 volunteer 

workers of the Los Angeles area USO, 

at a special program Tuesday (26) at the 

Carthay Circle Theatre. 

The attending screen celebrities were honored 

by the U.S. Defense department and 

army special services for their work in entertaining 

GIs at bases and hospitals here and 

throughout the world. 

Danny Kaye presented the first showing 

of a film depicting activities of the armed 

forces in Korea, and also narrated the color 

picture, which he shot during an entertainment 

tour of bases and hospital in the Far 

East. 

Speakers included Brig. Gen. Charles W. 

Christenberry and Glen E. Carter, local USO 

president. The Carthay Circle was donated 

for the occasion by Fox 'West Coast. 

Thrash Over SDG Withdrawal 

HOLLYWOOD—A thorough discussion of 

the recent withdrawal of the Screen Directors 

Guild from the organization highlighted 

the monthly membership meeting Wednesday 

(20) of the IVTotion Picture Industry Council. 

The SDG resigned effective Janary 30, reportedly 

because of the feeling that the annual 

dues of $2,500 were too high. In the absence 

of Gunther Lessing, new MPIC president, 

the meeting was in charge of Steve 

Broidy, vice-chairman. 

Bob Hope Scholarship No'w 

HOLLYWOOD—With proceeds from the 

affair going toward the establishment of a 

Bob Hope scholarship for Harvard university 

students in this area, Hope was the guest of 

honor at the Harvard club of southern California's 

annual dinner on Washington's 

birthday. The comedian staged a 60-minute 

show, supported by Marilyn Maxwell. Buddy 

Ebsen and other entertainers. 

I 


?I1S.^.T" ^'««

One-Picture Companies 

Upheld by U. S. Court 

LOS ANGELES—Hollywood is certain to 

benefit by millions of dollars as a result of 

the decision of a federal judge here Thursday 

(28) upholding the right of a businessman 

to set up any sort of corporation 

he wants, even if it cuts a big chunk out of 

his tax bill. 

The decision, by Judge Leon R. Yankwich, 

came in a case involving the so-called "one 

picture" or "collapsible" corporations. Many 

motion picture folk have formed such a corporation 

to make a single picture, then dissolved 

it. They claimed their income should 

be figured under capital gains, just as any 

corporation. That meant paying 25 per cent 

to the government. The government insisted 

that such income was subject to the usual 

tax. In Hollywood, that frequently hits 75 

per cent. For some of the biggest moneymakers, 

it can reach 82 per cent. 

Yankwich said, in part: "A taxpayer may, 

legally and honorably, take means to minimize 

his tax. There is nothing in modern 

law which prohibits formation of corporations 

for even a single transaction and the 

taxpayer, in seeking to achieve certain tax 

results, is free to choose the form in which 

he will do business." 

Yankwich's decision came in a suit by F. 

Hugh Herbert, film writer and producer, and 

his wife Mary against the government. They 

said the Treasury department rejected their 

capital gains claim on 1945-47 income and 

foroed them to pay straight income tax. $198,- 

535 more. That sun*, was ordered refunded 

under the decision. 

Herbert and George Abbott, New York 

.stage producer, formed the corporaMon to 

make the picture, "Kiss and Tell," from 

Abbott's Broadway hit. When the picture 

was finished, they dissolved the corporation. 

Copper k vital—save machine drippingi. 

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THEATRE /ALE/ 

J.D.ARAKELIACMl^t/ 

"• 

> TAYLOR ST. SAN rmHCISCO 1 

PHONE PR09PECT 5-7146 J 

Spokane, Vancouver 

Drive-Ins Announced 

VANCOUVER, WASH. — Vancouver is to 

have a second drive-in, it was learned recently 

when Whitfield Bros, and Joseph 

Cannelos, local realtors, announced that 

Adamson Theatres planned to begin work immediately 

on their second outdoor theatre, 

to be located on the Pacific highway about 

three miles from the city limits. Situated 

on the east side of the road, the ozoner will 

have a 500-car capacity. 

The Adamson circuit now operates the 

Broadway. Mission and State theatres and the 

Renfro Drive-In in Vancouver. The latter, 

the circuit's first open-air operation, was 

opened about a year ago in the eastern section 

of town. It parks 400 cars. 

SPOKANE, WASH.—Plans for a "super" 

drive-in near the "Y" on the North Division 

highway were announced two weeks ago by 

Morrie G. Nimmer, manager of the Orpheum 

Theatre. He is president of Group Theatres, 

which filed articles of incorporation, with 

capital listed at $50,000, in Olympia early in 

February. Charles R. de Riffaud, Spokane 

architect, is vice-president and Robert M. 

Brown. Spokane attorney, is secretary -treasurer. 

Under preliminary plans, ground was 

to be broken around March 1 for a 500-car 

theatre, Nimmer said. The property, which 

he owns, Gomprises about ten acres at the 

southeast corner of the "Y." 

"We already have acquired the finest sound 

and projection equipment," Nimmer said, "and 

there will be all inside-car speakers, a playground 

and other modern innovations." He 

said the ozoner would be constructed with an 

eye to future expansion. Also, he said, Group 

Theatres has acquired another piece of property 

as the site for a second drive-in to be 

constructed at such time as materials are 

available. 

Dale Lee to Sandpoint; 

Wescil Chain Expands 

COEUR D'ALENE, IDA.—Dale Lee, who 

has been manager of the Wilma Theatre here 

for some time, left February 16 for Sandpoint, 

where he took over the management 

of the Panida and Lake theatres for Vance 

Wescil, the owner, of Colfax, Wash. Lee said 

that Wescil plans to build a drive-in near 

Sandpoint in the spring to add to the Wescil 

circuit. 

California TOA to Study 

Third-Dimension and TV 

LOS ANGELES—Third-dimension photography 

and large-screen theatre television are 

among the subjects up for discussion at a 

Tuesday (26> membership meeting of the 

Southern California Theatre Owners Ass'n. 

Details of his natural vision process will be 

explained by M. L. Gunzberg. 

East: Max Youngstein, United Artists vicepresident 

in charge of advertising and publicity, 

returned to his New York headquarters 

after more than a week of huddles here 

anent UA's product outlook for the balance 

of the year. He was due to be followed east 

by President Arthur Krim and William Heineman, 

sales chief. During their stay here they 

set up tentative commitments to release the 

upcoming celluloid of several independent 

producers during 1952 and the early months 

of 1953. 

East; W. Bay Johnston, Monogram- Allied 

Artists board chairman, will check out April 1 

on an extensive European tour, to survey production 

in England and on the continent. 

West: William Wyler, Paramount producerdirector, 

returned from three weeks in New 

York, where he conferred on release plans 

and the advertising-exploitation campaign 

being drafted for his new picture, "Carrie." 

Tlie opus will, he reported, be launched with 

a limited number of special prerelease engagements 

later this year. 

East: Robert L. Lippert, president of Lippert 

Pictures, planed to New York to screen 

"Valley of Eagles," foreign-made adventure 

film which his company will distribute, for 

circuit executives. 

West: W. J. German, president of W. J. 

German, Inc., U.S. distributors of Eastman 

raw film stock, arrived from Manhattan for 

his first visit since his company succeeded 

J. E. Brulatour, Inc., as Eastman distributor. 

Writers Guild Presents 

Kudos for 1951 'Bests' 

HOLLYWOOD—Tributes to scriveners for 

outstanding achievements during 1951 and an 

entertainment program in which a number of 

top members of the acting colony were participants 

highlighted the fourth annual 

Screen Writers Guild awards dinner, held 

Monday (25) at the Hollywood Palladium. 

With George Jessel as toastmaster and 

Aldous Huxley making the awards presentations, 

several skits were presented with Walter 

Pidgeon, Barbara Stanwyck. Louis Calhern, 

Louis Jourdan, Richard Haydn, Alan Young, 

Edmund Gwenn, Lloyd Bridges, Dan Dailey, 

J. Carroll Naish, Betty Garrett, Joyce Holden, 

Barbara Whiting, Adolph Green and Betty 

Comden starred. 

The kudos, in five categories, were tabulated 

in the February 23 issue of BOXOFFICE. For 

the record, they are herewith recapitulated: 

Best musical—Alan Jay Lerner, "An American 

in Paris," MGM. 

Best comedy—Frances Goodrich and Albert 

Hackett, "Father's Little Dividend," MGM. 

Best drama—Michael Wilson and Harry 

Brown, "A Place in the Sun," Paramount. 

Robert Meltzer award for screenplay best 

depicting the American scene, Robert Buckner, 

"Bright Victory," U-I. 

Best-written film budgeted at $400,000 or 

less—Samuel Puller, "Steel Helmet," Lippert. 


. . Dorothy 

. . 

LA Paramount Shifts 

To UPT Lineup Mar. 18 

LOS ANGELES— Effective March 18, the 

Downtown Paramount Theatre. 3,398-seat de 

luxe first run house, will be taken over from 

Panchon & Marco by United Paramount Theatres 

with the expiration of F&M's 20-year 

lease. 

Largest local first run theatre and one of 

the largest on the Pacific coast, the Downtown 

Paramount for many years was operated 

by P&M on a combined stage-screen policy. 

With the construction of the Hollywood 

Paramount the downtown house became a 

day-date partner, but in recent months this 

policy had not been in continuous effect. 

Management of the house henceforth will 

be under the supervision of Jerry Zigmond, 

UPT district manager, who headquarters in 

San Francisco. It Is understood that UPT, in 

addition to remodeling and redecorating, may 

install large-screen theatre television equipment. 

For the past several years F&M and Paramount 

have been involved in litigation over 

operation of the theatre, the latter having 

come in as a partner approximately ten years 

ago. Paramount lost a suit via which it attempted 

to recover the property, charging 

F&M had violated certain terms of the lease, 

and P&M has, in turn, appealed a federal 

district court verdict denying P&M allegations 

of antitrust violations. 

El Rancho Changes Hands 

MOOFIPARK. CALIF.—Lorine Willard has 

sold the El Rancho Theatre here to Charles 

Tisdale. formerly an exhibitor in Camarillo. 

Calif. 

DENVER 

\I7 \V. "Woody" Williams, 39, owner of the 

Plains at Eads, died there following a 

lioart attack. He has been in poor health 

for several years. He is survived by his wife 

Dorothy and two sons and one daughter . 

Ward Pennington, Paramount manager, has 

resigned and has bought the Crest Drive-In, 

Beatrice, Neb. He expects to leave about 

Joe LeVee, Warner salesman, 

March 8 . . . 

underwent surgery at General Rose Memorial 

hospital early this week. 

. . . Juanita 

David Meaux, formerly with Fox Intermountain 

Theatres, has been named assistant 

manager of the Orpheum, succeeding William 

Peregrine, who had resigned 

York, clerk at U-I, has quit to return to her 

home at Akron, Colo. . . . Joe Jacques, National 

Theatre Calendar Co. manager, is seriously 

ill at veterans hospital . . . Ronald Macy 

of the staff of the Kiva, Durango, has been 

made an Eagle Scout. 

Glen Fergruson, manager of the Babcock in 

Billings. Mont., became father of a baby 

daughter named Debra, born on St. Valentine's 

day . . . Dolores Phillips, cashier at the 

Rio Grande, Las Cruces, N. M., has been 

named basketball queen of the Las Cruces 

high school . Coffin, formerly in 

the office, has returned as biller for the Denver 

and southern districts for Fox Intermountain 

Theatres. 

New SWG Contract Retains Reins 

On Releases of Films for Video 

HOLLYWOOD—Substantial wage increases 

in a number of categories, preferential employment 

for professional actors and provisions 

for separate bargaining to be held 

on behalf of mummers employed in the TV 

film field are the major points in a new union 

shop collective bargaining contract on which 

agreement has been reached between the 

Screen Actors Guild and the Ass'n of Motion 

Picture Producers. 

The accord was jointly disclosed by John 

Dales jr., SAG executive secretary, and 

Charles Boren, AMPP vice-president in 

charge of industrial relations. The agreement, 

retroactive to Jan. 1, 1952, replaces a 

contract which expired in December 1950, 

but which remained in effect by mutual 

agreement. 

Retained in the new ticket is a clause in 

the former pact, giving SAG the legal right 

to cancel its working agreement with any 

major studio if that company releases for 

TV use theatrical features made after Aug. 

1. 1948, without first negotiating with SAG 

an agreement for additional payment to the 

actors in these films. 

Tlie contract will run to June 1, 1958. with 

both parties having the right to reopen on 

Lewis Collins to Direct 

Buffalo Bill TV Film 

HOLLYWOOD — RambUngs along video 

row: 

Lewis Collins was inked to direct the first 

fikn in Interstate Television's new Buffalo 

Bill group of 30-minute TV subjects title-roling 

Jimmy Ellison and being produced by 

Vincent M. Fennelly. 

Megging chore on "Rocky Jones, Space 

Ranger," pilot film in a proposed series for 

Roland Reed Productions, went to Abby Berlin. 

Lou Lilly, Jerry Fairbanks Production story 

department head, has been named a production 

supervisor as well, and also will be in 

charge of the company's video creative department. 

Tom Keene, western star of a few years 

back, plans to get back into action again as 

the topUner in a new sagebrush series of 

video films. They'll be produced by Sidney 

Ross and Robert Vignola. 

Max and Arthur Alexander acquired TV 

production and distribution rights to "Renfrew 

of the Mounted," based on stories by 

Laurie York Erskine, and are planning a series 

of 13 half-hour films based on the character. 

Through its TV subsidiary. Hollywood Television 

Service. Republic has begun filming its 

first video film series with the start of camera 

work on "Commando Cody—Sky Marshal of 

the Universe." Topliner in the series of 39 

lialf-hour science-fiction melodramas is Judd 

Holdren: Mel Tucker and Franklin Adreon 

are co-producing, and Fred Brannon directs. 

Lew Landers is directing "Gangbusters." 

TV film version of the radio show, for Phillips 

Lord Productions, headquartering on the 

Republic lot. 

German manufacturers of motion picture 

equipment are returning to the Moroccan 

market. 

wage rates and conditions on June 1, 1954, 

and June 1, 1956. All salary boosts are subject 

to Wage Stabilization Board approval. 

Here are the highlighted changes: 

Day player minimum upped from $55 to 

$70. 

Weekly freelance player minimum boosted 

from $175 to $250. 

Stuntmen's daily minimum increased from 

$55 to $70. the weekly minimum of $300 remaining 

unchanged. 

Multiple-picture players' weekly minimum 

increased from $175 to $250. 

Singers increased from $55 to $70 a day, 

with the provision that choral singers may 

be called for a four-hour session at $45. 

Singers mouthing to playback upped from 

$25 to $45. 

Airplane pilots increased from $90 to $100 

a day at studios (nonflying), and from $120 

to $130 on location. 

Term contract beginner minimum upped 

from $60 to $75 a week. 

Preference of employment for professional 

actors employed by the day. 

Minimum term for contract players, after 

the first year, set at 20 weeks out of 26. 

Pathe Laboratories Allots 

$1,000,000 for Expansion 

HOLLYWOOD—Convinced that the industry 

trend toward color phbtography will continue 

to gather momentum, Pathe Laboratories 

plans the expenditure of nearly $1,000,- 

000 during the next two years on an expansion 

program in its eastern and west coast 

installations. Such was revealed by James 

Wolcott, vice-president in charge of sales, 

prior to his departure for New York after a 

week's stay here. 

Inasmuch as the bulk of release-print processing 

handled by Pathe is done in the 

east, Wolcott said most of the expansion fund 

will go into the installation of new laboratory 

facilities there. The local plant will, 

however, be geared to offer 35mm color service 

within a short time. That service, up 

to now, has been limited to Pathe's eastern 

organization. 

Locally, the expansion also will enable 

Pathe to give one-day color service on daily 

rushes, Wolcott said. The company is 

equipped to handle Eastman color and can 

also process the DuPont and Ansco tint systems. 

NOTICE 

ONE BEST DRIVE-IN THEATRES IN DENVER 

EXCHANGE AREA TO BE SOLD 

IMMEDIATELY. 

Year round operation, finest equipment. Conceded 

one best locations in state, bar none. 

MINIMUM CASH DOWN - - $62,500.00 

Full accounting to qualified people. 

PRINCIPALS ONLY. 

Contact BOXOFFICE No. 4625 

Prior to March 15th 


. . . On 

. . Reported 

. . Booking 

THEATRES AID DRIVE—Richard C. Andrew, third from left, Salt Lake county 

polio drive chairman, receives checks from theatre managers whose organizations 

participated in the campaign. Turning over a tidy sum to help combat the disease 

were Duane Grant, manager of the Uptown Theatre, left, Lou Sorensen, Utah manager, 

and Nevin McCord, right, manager of the Centre. 

LOS ANGELES 

/Celebrating what he calls his "60-some" 

birthday, Bill Warner, salesman for Warners, 

had a freeway accident which wrecked 

the front end of his car. The accident was 

a Filmrow affair, since the car with which 

Wai'ner collided belongs to Jack Jacobs of 

National Theatre Supply . and 

buying visitors included Andy Anderson of 

the Valley and California in Ontario; Jerry 

Davis, in from Hemet, where he is about to 

reopen the Hemaciiô Drive-In ; Bill Kohler, 

manager of the Largo for the Eastland circuit; 

Jack Dabbs and Harry Milstein, who 

operate several houses in the Torrance-Gardena 

area, and J. W. Barton, Senator 

Drive-In, Prescott, Ariz. 

They've been married since January, but 

Max Factor, Paramount salesman, just revealed 

his wedding to the former Juliet Reid 

lease from the Jimmy Edwards circuit, 

the Monterey in Monterey Park is being 

reopened by Charles L. Crawford . . . 

Mary Arrigo is departing as secretary to 

Tom Aspell, Metro branch manager, because 

of impending motherhood. She is being replaced 

by Olga Kobicoff of the contract department 

. doing well at the 

Good Samaritan hospital was Floyd Lewis, 

independent exchange operator, who underwent 

an emergency appendectomy. 

The new bookers' 

Dolores Anderson. 

stenographer at RKO is 

THEATRES 

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Southland Showmen 

View Natural Vision 

LOS ANGELES—A demonstration of the 

Natural Vision three-dimension process and a 

general discussion of current exhibition conditions 

were the highlights of a February 26 

meeting of the Southern California Theatre 

Owners Ass'n at the Ambassador Theatre. 

Approximately 100 showmen attended. 

Milton Gunzberg. developer of the Natural 

Vision system, screened two test reels, one 

black and white and one in color. 

Al Hanson, board member, gave a resume 

of the organization's activities since May 

1951 in its efforts to solve theatremen's problems 

in the area. The SCTOA has long 

charged that major distributors have been 

engaging in unfair trade practices, and has 

sought federal aid. 

Other speakers included Jack Y. Berman, 

Eastland circuit executive, who reported on 

general conditions as he found them during 

a recent eastern trip, and Harry Vinnicof, 

chairman of the SCTOA's labor committee. 

Bill Srere was the chairman and the session 

was arranged by Jack Goldman and Wayne 

Hanson. 

Midstate Executives Hold 

Manager Rally in Pasco 

PASCO. WASH.—Theatre managers and 

executives of Midstate Amusement Co., Chicago, 

met here recently for their midwinter 

conference. Officials of the home office met 

supervisors from the Yakima and Walla Walla 

valleys and managers of houses in Pasco, 

Kennewick, Richland, Ellensburg, Sunnyside. 

Walla Walla and Toppeni-sh, Wash. The 

executives announced the booking of an unusual 

volume of special product, the Managers 

drive running through April 12 and 

reviewed the circuit's Movietime month dated 

January 20 through February 16. Newspaper 

people were special guests of the meeting. 

Attending the conference were Pete Panagos. 

assistant to S. J. Gregory, president of 

Midstate; Ed Hickey, theatre .supervisor; F. 

D. Nessel, general manager; John Doerr, 

booker and buyer from the main office; 

Louise Knight, secretary to Nesel, and Mrs. 

M. M. Colvin, chief accountant, Walla Walla. 

40 Writers at Work 

On 35 WB Scripts 

HOLLYWOOD — Scrivening activities at 

Warner Bros, have reached landslide proportions 

with a new high mark of 40 writers at 

work on 35 properties. Included on the list 

are five new vehicles just added to the studio's 

forthcoming slate. 

The newcomers include "Sally," a William 

Jacobs production, being penned by Albert 

Beich: "Mile. Modiste," being written by Harold 

Erickson and Irmgard Von Cube for Producer 

David Weisbart; "The Post Office 

Story," a Louis F. Edelman production, 

screenplay by Douglas Heyes; "Handle With 

Care," which Russell Hughes is penning for 

Producer Robert Arthur, and a new version 

of the stage and screen comedy hit. "The 

Man Who Came to Dinner," which Sammy 

Cahn will produce from a script by Leonard 

Stern. 

Other current writing assignments: 

Hugh Gray, "The Private Life of Helen 

of Troy"; Roland Kibbee, "The Desert Song"; 

James Webb, "The Iron Mistress"; Crane Wilbur, 

"The Miracle"; Irving Ellison and Robert 

O'Brien. "By the Light of the Silvery Moon"; 

Lewis Meltzer, "Hobby Horses"; Peter Milne, 

"Career Girl"; Richard Nash, "Top of the 

World"; James O'Hanlon, "Calamity Jane"; 

Arthur Ross, "The Helen Morgan Story"; 

John Monks jr., "You're Only Human Once"; 

Jack Rose and Melville Shavelson, "The Winning 

Team." 

James Warner Bellah. "Rear Guard"; Frank 

Davis. "Springfield Rifle"; Jack DeWitt, "The 

Last Train West"; Jo Eisinger, "The System"; 

Devery Freeman, "Three Sailors"; Henry 

Garson, "Stop, You're Killing Me"; Merwin 

Gerard and Seeleg Lester, "El Dorado"; 

Sheridan Gibney, "The Turquoise"; Orin Jannings, 

"Broadway Revisited"; Harold Medford. 

"The Fighting Marine"; Winston Miller. 

"At the End of the Rainbow." 

John Monks jr., "Gown of Glory"; Jack 

Rose, "April in Paris"; Ted Sherdeman, "The 

Story of Eddie Cantor"; John TVist, "Pawnee 

Bill," and Harold Medford, "Green Light." 

$1,000 Award in Collapse 

REDWOOD CITY. CALIF.—A superior 

court jury awarded $1,000 in the first damage 

suit to go to trial as a result of the 

ceiling collapse of the Sequoia Theatre in 

Redwood City on June 21, 1950. The judgment 

was in behalf of Caesar Perez who 

had sued for $10,000. Four more damage suits, 

all against Fox West Coast Theatres, are 

awaiting trial in connection witii the collapse 

uf the ceiling. 

George Lewis in Chico 

SAN FRANCISCO—George Lewis, who ha.^ 

been with T&D Jr. Enterprises. Inc.. for the 

past 12 years, has now taken over the Senator 

Theatre in Chico. Calif. 

TO BE SURE 


MADE-TO-ORDER 


fCHICAGO S, III. 

1327 S.Wabash 


. . Bill 

. . Fred 

. . Howard 

Hamrick House Goes SEATTLE Northwest Drive-ins 

First Run With 'QV 

PORTLAND—The Oregon premiere of 

MGM's "Quo Vadis" this week also marked 

the reopening as a first run house of John 

Hamrick's Liberty. The theatre is now known 

as the New Liberty. The Portland Symphony 

society handled ticket sales for the Tuesday 

night (26) event, which was staged a la Hollywood. 

Station KPOJ provided broadcast facilities 

and state, city and county celebrities, 

plus MGM star Deborah Kerr, w-ere introduced 

to the premiere crowds as well as the 

radio audience as they azTived. 

Big preparations were under way for several 

weeks prior to the opening. City Manager 

Virgil Faulkner, assisted by Advertising 

Chief Willard Coughlin of Seattle, prepared 

an extensive publicity and advertising campaign 

in the Oregon Journal and the Oregonian. 

The arrival of Miss Kerr from Los Angeles 

was hailed with a front-page story and a 

three-column photo featuring the actress and 

City Manager Faulkner. 

Miss Kerr, accompanied by Mr. and Mi's. 

Ted Galanter, visited the MGM office on 

Filmrow on Tuesday. 

Monterey Co. to Rebuild 

Pacific Grove Theatre 

SAN FRANCISCO— Plans for a new Pacific 

Grove Tlieatre to replace the one destroyed 

by fire June 21 last year are in the hands 

of contractors. Mark Keller, district manager 

for Monterey Theatres Co., said that the newbuilding, 

designed by architects Cantin & 

Cantin of San Francisco, is expected to cost 

approximately $100,000. The former building 

loss was estimated at $200,000 but the side 

and back walls have been inspected and 

passed for use again in the new structure. 

The seating capacity of the theatre will be 

increased to 1,000. The old theatre seated 860. 

T&D Managers Meet 

RED BLUFF, CALIF.—Managers of theatres 

in the northern district of the T&D circuit 

met here recently with local Manager 

Dale Pickell as host. Tlie theatremen and 

their wives were entertained at a dinner at 

the Pickell home. Those present were: Mr. 

and Mrs. Fred Naify, district manager, Sacramento: 

Mr. and Mrs. T. H. Whitemore, 

northern district manager, Chico; Mr. and 

Mrs. Mike Kassis, Redding: Mr. and Mrs. 

W. E. Tooley, Oroville, and Mr. and Mrs. 

Granoski of Stockton. 

Award to Roy M. Brewer 

HOLLYWOOD—For his "leadership in the 

fight against Communism" in motion pictures, 

Roy M. Brewer, lATSE executive, was 

presented an award by the Los Angeles chapter 

of the American Jewish League Against 

Communism at a dinner meeting Wednesday 

(27). 

lo,

. . . John 

. . Joseph 

. . Ray 

. . Rhonda 

. . Graham 

. . Colleen 

. . 

— 

— — 

Foreign Columnists 

Award Their Globes 

HOLLYWOOD—Contributing further to the 

bumper crop of awards being reaped by Hollywood 

for its motion picture achievements 

during 1951, the Hollywood Foreign Correspondents 

Ass'n passed out "Golden Globes" 

at its tenth annual presentation dinner. The 

winners: 

Best drama, Paramount's "A Place in the 

Sun," and best musical, MGM's "An American 

in Paris." 

Best dramatic actor, Fredric March, in the 

Stanley Kramer-Columbia film, "Death of a 

Salesman"; best dramatic actress, Jane Wyman, 

Wald-ICi-asna's "The Blue Veil," RKO 

Radio. Best musical comedy actor, Danny 

Kaye. "On the Riviera," 20th Century-Fox; 

best musical comedy actress, June Allyson, 

"Too Young to Kiss," Metro. 

Best director, Laslo Benedek, "Death of a 

Salesman"; best screenplay, Robert Buckner, 

"Bright Victory," Universal-International; 

best supporting actor, Peter Ustinov, "Quo 

Vadis," MGM; best supporting actress, Kim 

Hunter, "A Streetcar Named Desire," Charles 

K. Feldman-Warner Bros. 

Most promising new actor, Kevin McCarthy, 

"Death of a Salesman"; most promising 

new actress, Pier Angeli, "Teresa," Metro. 

Best color photography, William V. Skall and 

Robert Surtees, "Quo Vadis"; best black-andwhite 

photography, Frank F. Planer, "Death 

of a Salesman"; best musical score, Victor 

Young "September Affair," Hal Wallis-Paramount. 

Adjudged the picture best promoting international 

understanding was 20th Century- 

Fox's "The Day the Earth Stood Still," while 

Cecil B. DeMille was the recipient of the first 

annual DeMille award for "outstanding 

achievement" in the motion picture field. 

QUICK THEATRE SALES! 

Selling theatres Is our business. Live 

organization, quick results. When others 

fail, give us a try, past record of soles 

is our proof. 

UNITED STATES COVERAGE 

Inquiries Answered Immediately 

Write Irv Bowron, Sales Mgr. 

^ FRED B. LUDWIG, Realtor 

4229 fi). E. Broadway Portland 13, Or, 

SAN FRANCISCO 

prancis Sautcr, for four years manager of 

the West Side Theatres' Valley Theatre 

at Gustine, has been moved to manager of 

the State in Livermore, succeeding Robert 

Nyman who was called into the armed service 

. . . V. B. Layman is the new manager of 

the Porter in Woodland . Kislingbury, 

district manager for North Coast 

Theatres; Anne Belfer, publicist, and Mike 

Newman of Columbia Pictures arranged a 

strong promotional campaign for the opening 

of "The First Time" at the Orpheum 

Theatre. Actresses Barbara Hale and Miss 

Jeff Donnell appeared on the stage. 

Edward G. Robinson will star in "Darkness 

at Noon" at the Geary Theatre for a 

three-week engagement beginning March 3 

Wayne was in town dining at one 

of our supper spots and obliging by posing 

for pictures with servicemen and signing autographs 

. Gotten and wife attended 

a local Leap Year dance . Townsend, 

who gave up a film career for church 

work, spoke in Oakland at the Park Boulevard 

church . Milland was seen tak- 

. 

. . George 

ing in our sights Fleming was 

here for a personal appearance . 

Murphy was a featured personality in the 

Bay area heart fund crusade. 

John Sheehan, dramatic and vaudeville 

actor died recently in Los Angeles. Sheehan 

was a native of Oakland and first became 

interested in the stage in 1906 when he joined 

the Liberty stock company in Oakland . 

The world premiere of "Something to Live 

For" was held at the Paramount Theatre 

Tuesday (26). Star Joan Fontaine appeared 

in the lobby at 7:30 p. m. for a radio broadcast 

. . . M. A. Anderson, RKO west coast 

Man- 

division manager, conferred with local 

ager Mark Ailing and union officials. 

Judy Garland is coming to the Curran 

Theatre May 2 as a special preseason event 

of the San Francisco Civic Light Opera Ass'n. 

Broadway in Santa Ana 

Is Destroyed by Fire 

SANTA ANA, CALIF.—The Broadway 

Theatre, 800-seat house owned by the Cabart 

circuit, was destroyed by fire February 26. 

At midweek fire department investigators had 

not determined the cause of the blaze. 

Cabart will immediately reopen its State 

Theatre, shuttered for several months. 

Whether the Broadway will be rebuilt has not 

been decided. 

'Greatest Show' Opens 

At Hefty 350 in LA 

LOS ANGELES — Setting all-time firstweek 

records in the two theatres where it 

day-dating, "The Greatest Show on Earth" 

is 

proved, by all odds, to be the greatest boxoffice 

attraction currently on display here, 

hitting an astronomical 350 per cent of normal 

business in its advanced-price run. Nothing 

else in town could touch it. 


Chinese, Los Angeles, Loyola, Uptown Phone Call 

From a Stranger (20th-Fox) - - 120 

Downtown, Hollywood Paramounls— Detective Slory 

(Para): The Old West (Col) 125 

Egyptian, Stale—Lone Star (MGM); Cloudburst 

(UA), 3rd wk 60 

Fine Arts—The Lavender Hill Mob (U-1), 7th wk 90 

Four Star, United Artists— Quo Vadis (MGM), 

13th wk 110 

Fox Wilshire—The Alrican Queen (UA), advanced 

prices, 9th wk 100 

Hawaii—SaUor Beware (Para), 5th wk 75 

Hillstreet, Pontages-The Las Vegas Story (RKO); 

The Harlem Globetrotters (Col), 2nd wk .100 

Orpheum, Warners Beverly—The Greatest Show on 

Earth (Para) 350 

Vogue, Globe, Ritz—David and Bathsheba (20th- 

Fox) 80 

Warners Downtown, Hollywood, Wiltern Retreat, 

Helll (WB), 2nd wk 100 

SAN FRANCISCO—Business at the first 

run theatres was either just average or well 

below the average level with the exception 

of the Fox Theatre. Martin and Lewis on 

the stage there brought down the house, 

broke a record and established an all-time 

high of 500 per cent, actually five times 

above the average business at the theatre. 

Cinema—Hoom tor One More (WB), 2ii d. t. wk.. .. 80 

Fox—The Unknown Man (MGM), plus stage show..500 

Golden Gate—A Girl in Every Port (RKO); Overland 

Telegraph (RKO) 100 

Orpheum—The First Time (Col); Harem Girl (Col) 80 

Paramount —Callaway Went Thataway (MGM); 

The Lady Says No (UA) 100 

St Francis—This Woman Is Dangerous (WB), 2nd 

90 

United Artists—Death of a Salesman (Col), 3rd 

wk 

1 

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

DENVER— "Quo Vadis" continued to pack 

the Paramount at increased prices, where the 

film is set to stay six weeks. "A Girl in Every 

Port" got a second week at the Broadway 

and "Lone Star" stayed at the Orpheum. 

Aladdin, Tobor, Webber—This Woman Is 

Dangerous (WB); Captain Blood (Col) 125 

Broadway—A Girl in Every Port (RkO) 130 

Denham—Sailor Beware (Para), 3rd wk 80 

Denver, Esquire The Model and the Marriage 

Broker (20th-Fox), Chicago Calling (UA) 125 

Orpheum—Lone Star (MGM); Sellout (MGM) 160 

Paramount—Quo Vadis (MGM), 2nd wk 400 

Vogue—Silent Dust (SR) 80 

SEATTLE—"Red Skies of Montana" and 

"Drums in the Deep South" were doublebilled 

at the Coliseum and scored the week's 

highest percentage with 130. Everyone at the 

Hamrick Theatres offices, including all the 

top brass, was in Portland for the reopening 

of a Hamrick theatre there. 

Coliseum—Red Skies of Montana (20th-Fox); Drums 

in the Deep South (RKO) 130 

Filth Avenue—The First Time (Col); Harem Gill 

(Col) 80 

Paramount—The Green Glove (UA); Tales of Five 

Women (UA) 90 

The four B. F. SHEARER COMPANY offices, conveniently tocofed, offer Pacific Coast theoN© 

operators unequaMed ond exceptional SERVtCE. Each office is completely stocked, equipped 

and STAFFED by experts to completely satisfy every possible requirement any theotre needs. 

B. F. SHEARER COMPANY 

LOS ANGELES: 1964 S.uln V( 

SAN FRANCISCO: 243 llold 

*7UeatAA 

Ctûi'fune^tt SfxecuUi^ti. 

1145 •PORTLAND: 1947 M. *. Ke 

PORTLAND—"Lone Star" chalked up 10 

per cent more than "Tlie 

Wild Blue Yonder" 

for the town's top figure. "Bend of the River," 

which has been pulling steadily ever since 

its world premiere, did 120 in its fifth week. 

Broadway—The Wild Blue Yonder (Rep) 120 

Guild—Passionelle (SR); Torment (SR), reissues.... 100 

Maylair—Bend of the River (U-I), 5th d t wk 120 

Music Box—Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves (Realart).. 75 

Oriental, Oroheum-The Big Trees (WB) 95 

Paramount-Double Dynamite (RKO) 90 

United- Artists—Lone Star (MGM) 130 


— 

GET-READINESS IS MAGIC KEY 

TO AIRER CONCESSION SALES 

Al Reynolds Gives Recipe 

At KMTA's Preopening 

Drive-In Session 

KANSAS CITY—Preparation and perspiration 

make a magic drive-in concessions formula, 

according to Al Reynolds, vice-president 

and general manager for the Claude Ezell & 

Associates Drive-In Theatres, Dallas. As the 

opening speaker on the KMTA annual spring 

drive-in convention at the Phillips hotel here 

Wednesday (.27) morning, Reynolds spoke 

with the voice of experience, since the company 

he manages has 18 drive-in theatres in 

11 Texas cities. He was introduced by Jack 

Braunagel, head of the Commonwealth circuit's 

drive-in operations, KMTA drive-in 

chairman and chairman of the national TOA 

drive-in committee. Braunagel referred to 

Texas as "the hotbed of drive-ins." 

Reynolds gave graphic instructions on how 

the various types of merchandising goods 

could be handled to the best advantage both 

as to sales and on an economical time basis. 

At first Ezell drive-in concessions were built 

out front, he explained, but this blocked both 

traffic and sales. People had to be rushed 

through to avoid traffic tieups, which prevented 

many sales. Then the concession bars 

were moved to a center position around ramp 

four where the projection booth was usually 

placed. Sales inimediately jumped from 30 

to 35 per cent. 

Ezell now constructs a horseshoe-type concessions 

bar 76 feet long which can take care 

of 450 persons, using the cafeteria method, 

during the intermissions. This type of bar 

also has this advantage— it is only three-anda-half 

feet wide, so a rope is taken down on 

one side during the rush period, making both 

sides accessible and enabUng the staff to 

handle more patrons. 

"We have no vending on the lot," Reynolds 

said. "We found it added nothing to our 

overall sales. A vending cart has limited 

appeal, and we have found customers coming 

to the bar buy more. Since we have had to 

go into the double-feature program to meet 

competition, we have cut our intermissions 

from 15 to 10 minutes, but some of our man- 

Visitors at the KMTA convention, left to right: Tom Edwards, Farmin^ton, 

former KiMTA president; William T. Powell, St. Louis, midwest manager for Phillip 

Smith Drive-In Theatres; Bill Williams, Union. Mo.; Jack Jackson, home office of 

National Screen Service; Harry Toll and Harold Peek of the Kerasotcs Theatres at 

Springfield, IIL Toll and Peek read about the convention ip BOXOFFICE and came 

on for it. 

agers run trailers before the intermission, 

which amount really to advance intermission 

for those who want to go to the stands. Then 

we have found the tape recordings more elastic 

a medium for plugging the concessions, giving 

directions for reaching restrooms. drinking 

fountains, playgrouncis. etc." 

The item mentioned which aroused the 

most interest in his audience was the "snocone." 

This is very popular in Texas, he said, 

and it is almost pure profit, retailing for 10 

cents. It is a cone container filled with 

shaved ice to which has been added a fruit 

flavor, which also gives it color. For practical 

reasons Ezell airers use only two flavors, 

grape and strawberry, and Reynolds recommended 

that the ice-crushing machine be 

kept out of sight and sound. Oddly enough, 

he contends the cone does not hurt iceddrink 

sales—it seems to make folks thirsty 

but insisted when a suggestion came from 

the audience, that no salt was put in it! 

"On iced drinks we found people consumed 

a lot of time making up their minds whether 

to have this or that flavor of carbonated 

drink." Reynolds said. "So we now serve only 

Coca-Cola. Dr. Pepper and root beer. Eight 

out of ten, we find take Coca-Cola. But there 

are always the health-minded people who 

want a non-carbonated drink, so for them 

we serve an orange drink. We use ice in our 

drinks because, without ice, by the time they 

get back to their cars, the drink is warm. 

The first thing our customers are given is a 

carrying-out tray, which is a help to them 

and to our staff in serving them." 

Ezell theatres sell a lot of coffee, the speaker 

said, and this was put in by popular demand. 

Sugar and cream are put out for the customers 

to serve themselves according to taste, 

and he admitted canned cream to which fresh 

milk is added is used, as more economical and 

easier to handle. 

Ezell drive-ins do not feature their candy 

merchandise but carry it for the children, and 

they sell their cigarets at no profit—20 cents. 

This creates goodwill, he thinks, and pays off 

in patronage. Hot dogs are sold for 20 cents 

(Continued on next page) 

.\l Re.vnolds. general manager for Claude- IJ/ell \ .Vssucialts 

of Dallas, is questioned by .voung exhibitor couples at the KMT.\ 

convention. Left to right, left photo: Reynolds, Mrs. Kirk and 

W. E. Kirk, Commonwealth drive-in manager at Springfield. Mo., 

and Mrs. Weary and F. G. Weary of the 13 Highway Drive-In at 

Henrietta, Mo. Ilifjlil piiulo: Uuk Ori-.ir. ( (iinniunwealth maintenance 

engineer; Reynolds; Jack Braunagel, national TO.\ drivc-in 

chairman: C. E. "Doc" Cook. KMT.-\ president, and Darrell Manes, 

Broadway Drive-In. Columbia. Mo. 

.\bout 130 persons attended the gathering. 


. . The 

'Get-Readiness Is Magic Formula 

^ Continued from preceding page) 

also. He said the circuit was urged by other 

showmen to raise to 25 cents but "we resisted 

because we are making a 13 to 14 cent profit 

on them as it is and we do not feel we want 

to 'gig' our customers." 

Reynolds said he has found the steam table 

method for hot dogs the most satisfactory. 

"For one thing, the steaming swells them 

up and makes them look bigger," he said. 

"Then there is less waste because the hot 

dogs can be cooled if they have not been sold, 

and put back in the deep freeze." However, 

he emphasized the fact that the wienies must 

be cooled before being put back into the 

freezer as the circuit had some sick people 

resulting from the wienies having been put 

back hot, freezing quickly an ice coating 

around them which sealed in the heat. Hot 

dogs are served with a special chili gravy 

which makes a sort of "coney island" sandwich, 

which increased sales very substantially. 

This is put on just before the hot dog is 

handed out, but the rest of the operation can 

be prepared a short time in advance. 

In fact, it is the "get-readiness" for concession 

business that Reynolds stressed all 

thi-ough his talk, as making for increased 

sales by volume business. 

Their last operation has been to put in a 

barbecue at Austin and Brownsville. They 

have found that this only cuts the hot dog 

business a small per cent and has been going 

pretty well. 

As other theatremen have done, Reynolds 

insisted that primarily they are in show business, 

with concessions only as a sideline. Getting 

right down to cases, he listed the percentage 

figures in relation to the boxoffice 

dollar in the 18 Ezell theatres, and explained 

that this was really a bad week, that of February 

7 "when for some reason they had a 

little bad weather in Texas." Most of these 

ranged in the 30 per cents, only one being as 

low as 29.5 per cent. Two went into the 40 

per cents, with one going as high as 56.3. 

Reynolds went into detail about costs of 

raw materials and how these worked out in 

the retail products, such as snocone fruit 

syrup at $1 a gallon which flavored 108 cones 

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to the gallon, and the 9.6 hot dogs which are 

obtained from a pound of wienies. 

The staff is given tickets so that they get 

a rate on concession items, he said in answer 

to a question from C. E. Cook, KMTA president 

and drive-in operator. 

A lively question period followed Reynolds' 

talk. The meeting was characterized from 

the start by keen interest. 

INSURANCE BATES HIGH 

Nearly 150 at the afternoon session heard 

Dick Orear of Commonwealth give a comprehensive 

outline of problems of liability 

insurance. He pointed out rates have become 

"terrific" because of the "tremendous number 

of claims" filed on accidents in drive-ins. 

He described accidents on which insurance 

firms have had to pay, such as the claim of 

a patron that someone in the concessions 

stand had spilled hot coffee on his 8-year-old 

child, or the claims that children had been 

injured on playground equipment. 

Orear listed as most dangerous, insurancewise, 

the pony rides with the merry-go-rounds 

second. 

On theatre fire insurance, a subject on 

which exhibitor groups in Kansas and Missouri 

have tried to gain hearings before the 

state insurance ratings bureaus, Orear emphasized 

that both rating bureaus have stated 

they could not reduce fire insurance rates 

until the use of safety film reached 100 per 

cent. 

Dietz Lusk, local theatre architect, described 

methods in which an exhibitor could build 

a drive-in under current government restrictions. 

He advised showmen on methods 

through which they could save on copper in 

new drive-in installations. He described how 

virtually no steel need be used. He said that 

under current restrictions which allow use 

of only 200 pounds of copper and one ton 

of steel, a drive-in of about 300-car capacity 

could be erected. He outlined innovations in 

designs to save material in construction of 

screen towers. Comparing the drive-in towers 

to bridges, he said "the covered bridge has 

long been outdated." Much of the sheeting 

and ornamentation can be eliminated, he said. 

DARRELL MANES SPEAKS 

Darrell Manes, manager of the Broadway 

Drive-In, Columbia, who spoke on exploitation 

and advertising, said his campaigns were 

designed in two parts—getting the patron into 

the theatre, then making the patron enjoy it. 

Among events he has planned are horseshoe 

pitching contests, bumper strip clubs, tag 

nights and giveaways. 

Bob Walter, manager of the Crest Drive-In 

here, filled in for Bob Feller, Midcentral 

Theatres drive-in manager, who became ill. 

Walter read Feller's notes on showmanship in 

drive-ins. 

Arthur de Stefano, head of National Theatre 

Supply, served Movie-Cones then gave a 

brief description of the machine. 

R. R. Biechele, Consolidated Agencies, 

urged all Kansas and Missouri theatremen 

to meet and learn to know their state representatives. 

In the forum discussion the theatremen 

agreed that the best weed control was "pull 

'em out"; that successful use of Dustrol depended 

upon the soil; that oilcloth inside 

the cones in in-car speakers would prevent 

weather damage; that multiflora roses were 

the cheapest type of outdoor theatre fencing. 

United Film Co. hosted a cocktail hour. 

On the Convention 

Sidelights 

B. D. Bisagno of Augusta and Isis theatres 

at Augusta, Kas., and K. J. Quinn of the 

Meade Theatre at Kingman, Kas., were 

among the early arrivals at the meeting, as 

was Louis Patz of National Screen Service. 

Patz insists he wants special mention for 

getting down early—so here it is! Qulnn says 

his business, largely rural, is spotted but holding 

up pretty well . . . Quinn and Dale Danielson 

shared headaches about the problem 

of efficient help, which Dale vigorously 

blamed on the government "which makes people 

think they'll be taken care of whether 

they work or not." Quinn says there is not 

much incentive for a man to become a skilled 

operator because a ditchdigger can go and 

get as much without any preparatory learning 

to do his job. 

Calvin Strowig represented that family's 

interests at the meeting but confided that 

he was afraid his father had worked things 

so that Calvin's little daughter Pamela was 

left with her grandparents and his dad was 

as busy looking after her as the theatre holdings 

in Abilene. 

Former president Dale Danielson of Russell, 

Kas., says oddly enough business picks 

up in his Dream Theatre when the drive-ins 

open. They had a five-inch snow in his locality 

when he left for the convention. The 

presidential-choice poll which his theatre 

conducted with the local newspaper, the Russell 

Record, was handled a little differently 

than some of the other poUs, as people were 

asked to signify whether they were Democrat, 

RepubUcan or independent voters. The 

results showed that 89 per cent of the independents 

voted Republican, 54 per cent of 

the Democrats voted Republican, and one-half 

of one per cent of the Republicans voted 

Democratic. The poll closed the week of February 

16. 

Mrs. Jack Braunagel accompanied her husband 

to the meeting, showing a nice tan from 

their recent Caribbean trip. They saw some 

of the lovely downtown theatres in Havana 

but did not get to the lush drive-in about 

which they heard glowing reports. 

J. C. Zimmerman of the Hal Parker Studios 

was present taking films for television showing 

on WDAF-TV. He came during the morning 

coffee hour at which early visitors were 

the guests of the A. V. Cauger Service, Inc. 

. . . Gladyce Penrod, KMTA executive secretary, 

was photographed dunking her doughnut 

in approved non-Emily Post fashion. 

Mr. and Mrs. Glen Cooper of Dodge City 

had been spending some time in California, 

where they found the weather disagreeable, 

believe-it-or-not. Dodge City, on the other 

hand, has had a beautiful open winter and 

they expected to open their Hays drive-in 

about February 29 and the one in Dodge City 

about March 14—but pessimistically predict 

that they will probably have some terrible 

weather the first few weeks because of the 

mild winter. 

Bev Miller says that the 50-Highway Drive- 

In at Jefferson City, in which he is associated 

with his brother Herbert and Joe Stark, was 

reopened on Washington's birthday on a 

weekend basis—and was greeted with a snowstorm 

. Glen Coopers say they battled 

two snowstorms last year after opening. 


— 

— 

'Quo Vadis' First Week 

Hits 175 in Chicago 

CHICAGO — "Quo Vadis" is establishing a 

new record at the Oriental Theatre with great 

business day after day. It did over $70,000 

the first week. Its percentage was 175. "The 

Medium" and "The Whistle at Eaton Falls" 

each scored 115 per cent and "The Small Back 

Room" and "Death of a Salesman" (third 

week) each clicked 110. The new double bill 

of "Boots Malone" and "Indian Uprising" was 

over average with 105, while "Tales of Hoffmann" 

was still strong in its fifth week. 

"Lone Star," with Lon Chaney in person on 

the stage, did an average second week. RKO's 

Palace and Grand theatres are still dark due 

to labor trouble. 

Chicago Lone Stor (MGM), plus stage show, 

2nd wk 100 

Carnegie—The Whistle at Eaton Falls (Col) 115 

McVickers— Detective Story (Para); The Wild 

Blue Yonder (Rep), 5th d.t. wk 105 

Oriental—Quo Vadis (MGM) 175 

Roosevelt Boots Malone (Col); Indian Uprising 

(Col) _ 105 

State Lake Submarine Command (Para); Silver 

City (Para), 2nd wk 100 

Surf—The Medium (Lopert) _ 115 

United Artists—Native Son (Classics); The Girl 

on the Bridge (20lh-Fox), 2nd wk _ 105 

Woods—Death of a Salesman (Col). 3rd wk 110 

World Playhouse—The Small Back Room 

(Snoder) 110 

Ziegfeld—Tales of Hoffmann (Lopert), 5th wk 110 

'Sailor' Continues Strong 

With 130 in Kansas City 

KANSAS CITY—Local first runs found 

grosses on the rise again as strong product 

held on at downtown theatres. Best of the 

week in the downtowners was "Sailor Beware" 

in a second stanza at the Paramount, with 

130 per cent. "The Browning Version" bowed 

in at the Vogue to gross 175, and "The River" 

scored a fourth week triumph at the Kimo 

with 130. 

Esquire—Bend of the River (U-I); Woman in the 

Dark (Rep), 2nd d. t. wk 105 

Kimo—The River (UA), 4th wk 130 

Midland—Lone Star (MGM); Purple Heart Diary 

(Col) 115 

Missouri—The Las Vegas Story (HKO); Chain of 

Circumstance (Col) „ 115 

Paramount Sailor Beware (Para), 2nd wk 130 

Tower, Urtown, Fairway and Granada — Meet 

Danny Wilson (U-1); Here Come the Nelsons 

(U-I) 80 

Vogue—The Browning Version (U-I) 175 

"Sailor' Tops List 

At Indianapolis 

INDIANAPOLIS—First run houses had a 

fair to good week, with "Sailor Beware" topping 

the list, Loew's held its own with "Ten 

Tall Men" on the screen. 

Circle This Woman Is Dangerous (WB); Galloping 

Major (U-1) 75 

Indiana-Sailor Beware (Para), 2nd wk 175 

Keiths—David and Bathsheba (20th-rox); The 

Guest (20th-Fox) _ 100 

Loew's Ten Tall Men (Col); Criminal Lawyer 

(Col) 110 

Lyric—The Prowler (UA); The Hoodlum (UA) 100 

Indianapolis Members 

To Mark NSC 20th Year 

INDIANAPOLIS—Plans for the 20th anniversary 

celebration of the organization of the 

National Screen Council, which selects the 

winner of the BOXOFFICE Blue Ribbon 

award each month, have been made by the 

local NSC group. It will be held at the home 

of Mrs. E. C. Wakelam, 3158 Fall Creek Blvd., 

March 21, from 2 to 5. Mrs. E. L. Burnett Is 

chairman of the group, which is affiliated 

with the Indiana Federation of Women's 

Clubs,

National Drive-ln Session 

To Feature Allied Rally 

Janis Carter 

KANSAS CITY — Arrangements for film 

star appearances and speeches by many 

nationally known men 

featured last - minute 

preparations for the 

Allied Independent 

Theatre Owners of 

Kansas and Missouri 

annual spring convention 

and national 

meeting and equipment 

show at the Continental 

hotel here 

next Tuesday - Thursday 

(4-6). 

Janis Carter, RKO 

star, who has made 

other convention appearances here to excellent 

response, w'ill be on the Allied program, 

and Jay Wooten, president, said several other 

Hollywood stars are expected to attend. 

Added to the list of speakers was R. T. 

Anderson, general passenger traffic manager 

for the Santa Fe railroad, headquartering in 

Chicago. Wooten explained that Anderson 

was an early day airdome operator at Dodge 

City. Kas., and through the years had remained 

a friend of the motion picture industry. 

Anderson will talk on the early day operations 

of an outdoor theatre. 

E. A. Gill of Litchfield. 111., will discuss 

insect and mosquito control in drive-ins, and 

D. M. Bell, Kansas City, will discuss weed 

and dust control. Other subjects which will 

prove of interest to drive-in operators include 

a discussion of the use of substitute materials 

in construction of an outdoor theatre. One 

such substitute material to be discussed will 

be plastic pipe conduits to reduce the need 

for metals placed under government restrictions. 

Joe Stark, who is manager of the national 

drive-in equipment show, said film exhibitors 

would see many new products this year. One 

such product is a concessions unit developed 

on a space-saving principle, which will serve 

six drinks and snocone syrup in a six-foot 

area. 

Exhibitors also will view a magic fog dispensing 

unit for insect and mosquito control, 

a soft ice cream unit, several new games, new 

plastic carpet patterns, several types of 

fluorescent-neon lighting, new types of beverage 

dispensers and a new popcorn machine 

designed for drive-in theatres. 

In addition to the star appearances, and 

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general drive-in subjects, the three-day convention 

also will feature talks by William 

McCraw of Variety International, Dallas, and 

Wilbur Snaper, new Allied States Ass'n president, 

both of whom will appear at the first 

day luncheon. 

The annual banquet, to be held the second 

evening of the convention, will feature the 

Rev. Bill Alexander of Oklahoma City, one 

of the leaders of the Movietime U.S.A. convention. 

The business .sessions and the equipment 

show will be held on the Roof Garden 

of the Continental. The luncheon will be held 

in the Continental room. 

Men of national prominence in the industry 

will be present, including Charles Niles, 

president of the Iowa-Nebraska Allied unit 

and chairman of the national Caravan, who 

will head the film clinic on the final day. 

Abram F. Myers, general counsel of Allied, 

will speak on arbitration, and Ben Marcus, 

national treasurer, Milwaukee, will attend. 

Wooten emphasized that while busine.ss sessions 

will pertain to drive-in operations, a 

large part of the convention business will be 

of interest to indoor operators. 

Decatur Passes Theatre 

Tax of 50 Cents a Seat 

DECATUR, ILL.—The city council this 

month gave final passage to a theatre license 

ordinance taxing theatres and other entertainments 

50 cents a seat per year or $5 a day. 

Licenses go into effect February 1 and it is 

expected to add about $2,500 yearly to city 

revenue. There are 5,000 theatre seats in 

town. A seating tax abolished in 1948 brought 

in about $1,000. 

The former ordinance, amounting to 4 per 

cent on gross admissions, was expected to 

produce about $35,000 yearly and was voted 

at a time city employes were asking a $50 

monthly pay hike. But theatre owners immediately 

rounded up enough petition signers 

to require a referendum before the tax could 

be levied. Theatremen declared the admissions 

tax was confiscatory and discriminatory. 

Eric Johnston Dated 

At Brotherhood Fete 

ST. LOUTS—Local observance of Brotherhood 

week will be climaxed March 5 by a 

dinner meeting at the Chase hotel to be addressed 

by Eric A. Johnston, president. Motion 

Picture Ass'n, and national chairman of 

the 1952 Brotherhood week. His subject will 

be: "Bigotry Is Bad Business." The dinner 

will be sponsored by the St. Louis regional office 

of the National Conference of Christians 

and Jews, and the members assembly of the 

Chamber of Commerce. Johnston recently 

resigned from the post of economic stabilization 

administrator. 

More than 5,000 youngsters of various races, 

creeds and colors attended a special Brotherhood 

week program at the Fox Theatre, arranged 

by Fanchon & Marco, operator of the 

house, as a contribution to the success of 

the local campaign, February 17-24. The free 

show was staged Saturday (23), lasting for 

an hour and one-half. Invitations were sent 

to all of the schools in the St. Louis area. 

Inclement weather held down the anticipated 

attendance of 10,000, so it wasn't necessary 

to send any overflow to the nearby Missouri 

Theatre. 

Ticket Drawings Ruled 

Lottery in Missouri 

JEFFERSON CITY — Attorney General 

Taylor has ruled that gifts of coupons with 

ticket and merchandise sales, then the presentation 

of prizes to the holders of tickets 

after numbered stubs are drawn, constitutes 

a lottery under the existing Missouri statutes. 

The opinion was given to the Kansas City 

board of police commissioners. The attorney 

general's office pointed out that the Missouri 

supreme court has held that three elements 

must be present to constitute a lottery— price, 

chance and consideration. He stated that 

even though the price of the merchandise or 

tickets has not been advanced, consideration 

is still present if the person must buy something 

to be eligible for a prize. It added 

there is no doubt about the elements of prize 

and chance being present under the plan in 

question. 

Give $210 in Dimes Drive 

LAWRENCEVILLE, ILL.—Audience contributions 

at the Avalon and State, units of 

the Frisina Amusement Co., gave $210 to the 

local March of Dimes campaign, pushing the 

total contributions of Lawrenceville beyond 

the $2,000 mark. 

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66 BOXOFTICE March 1, 1952

. 

Steve Bennis Saluted 

On Theatre Birthday 

LINCOLN, ILL.—The Lincoln Theatre, one 

of the Steve Bennis-owned situations in this 

city, which was dedicated 

on the birthday 

anniversary of Abraham 

Lincoln, observed 

its 29th anniversary 

February 12. The site 

of the theatre on 

South Kiclcapoo street 

was purchased by Bennis 

i n 1922 a n d. 

through the sale of 

bonds, the house was 

erected and its dedication 

held Feb. 12, 

1923. 

Steve Bennis 

Tlie late Judge Stringer made the dedicatory 

address, dedicating the theatre to the 

memory of President Lincoln. In his welcoming 

remarks to the first-night crowd. 

Bennis said the theatre had been so built 

that it would still be modern 20 years in 

the future. Featured on the screen 29 years 

ago was Lon Chaney and Louise Fazenda 

(Mrs. Hal B. Wallisi in "Quincy Adams 

Sawyer." The $10,000 theatre organ was used 

in concert as an added attraction. 

BENNIS FROM GREECE 

Steve Bennis came to this country from 

Greece early in the century. His first visit to 

Lincoln, which had been highly recommended 

to him. was in 1904. He liked it. 

stayed and went into the confectionery business. 

The year 1909 found him turning to 

theatre business, taking over as manager of 

the Empire. Next he operated an airdome 

but the vagaries of weather made it too 

uncertain a risk. Then, for a time, he operated 

a theatre in Virden. By this time the 

bu.siness was in his blood so thoroughly he 

was exhibiting the early flickers in a back 

room of his confectionery here. 

Soon after the opening of his Lincoln here. 

Bennis began the expansion of his theatre 

business now known as Bennis Enterprises, 

which includes the Lincoln. Vogue and Grand 

theatres downtown and the Bennis Auto Vue 

drive-in. The expansion began with purchase 

of the Star and Lyric theatres. Tlie Star 

was located where the Vogue is now operated 

and the Lyric was on Kickpaoo. He 

closed the Star and continued the Lyric. 

In 1928. Bennis acquired the Grand and gave 

up the Lyric. By this time, too, he was out 

of the confectionery business, having turned 

it over to his brother Gus. 

FIRST WITH SOUND 

Evolution came to the Lincoln Theatre in 

1926 with the advent of talkies. Here, again. 

Bennis was in the vanguard of his chosen 

field, being the first .showman in Illinois 

outside of Chicago to install sound equipment. 

Steve Bennis w-as saluted civically by his 

many friends and the newspapers on the 

Lincoln's 29th anniversary, with a number of 

special events on the birthday schedule. He 

has taken much time in his bu.sy career to 

work for city betterment. He was Chamber 

of Commerce president in the days of the 

depression and was a leader in instituting 

a temporary system of script money during 

the bank moratorium. He led in organizing 

the First National bank and also the Deer 

Creek Coal Co., which helped provide employment. 

He is a member of St. Mary's church, 

a former grand knight of the local Knights 

of Columbus, an Elk and a Kiwanian. He 

is the father of four sons and a daughter 

and has several grandchildren who are his 

pride and joy—besides his theatre interests. 

INDIANAPOLIS 

pncore week, featuring revivals of 12 film 

hits, opened Sunday dSi at the Egyptian 

Theatre with "The Flame and the Arrow" 

and "The White Tower." Each of the 12 weeks 

will feature several revival pictures. The 

opening on Sunday was a hit; the house was 

packed to capacity . . . Jack Schlaifer. general 

sales manager for Realart. Cincinnati, 

and Joe Bohn of the Indianapolis branch met 

in Chicago and called at the Alliance office 

in the interest of Broder pictures, a new line 

of product added to Realart. 

. . . 

Jerry Henlein. Arcade, Gas City, is going 

to Seattle to get his discharge from the 

armed forces after his release from active 

duty . . Influenza is on the rage in Indiana 

. 

and many schools have been closed. In some 

places gatherings have been forbidden. While 

health authorities say it is not too serious, 

The 

new cases are reported every day 

State at Clay, Ky., is now managed by O. M. 

Skinner . . . Milton Krueger, salesman for 

Lippert. is confined at the Methodist hospital 

here under observation. 

Marc Wolf, chief barker of Variety International, 

and Trueman Rembusch, president of 

Allied of Indiana, will attend the COMPO 

. . . Clair Stucky, 

meeting in New York City 

operator of the Warren at Warren and the 

Lakeland at Angola, returned from an extended 

vacation on the weA coast . . William 

. 

Conners, who was a theatre operator at 

Marion, was reported fco have died in Colorado 

Springs, Colo. He was widely known in 

Indiana motion picture circles. He was 68. 

The Princess, Kendallville, has closed . . . 

Exhibitors seen on Filmrow were William P. 

McGovern. Ritz, Loogootee; Mrs. Hilda Long, 

Hippodrome, Sheridan; Kenneth Law, Cozy, 

Argos; T. J. Arrington, Arrington, New Haven; 

Fletcher Brewer, State, Windfalls; Arthur 

Clark, Vonderschmitt circuit, Bloomington. 

Dennis Morgan was on the Circle stage in 

two personal appearances with the opening 

of his new picture, "This Woman Is Dangerous." 

He appeared in cooperation with the 

American Heart Ass'n campaign, met Gov. 

Henry F. Schricker and paid a visit to Billmgs 

General hospital at Ft. Harrison. It was 

his first official visit to Indianapolis. 

Allcorn Airer Ripening 

MOUNTAIN GROVE. MO —Work on the 

proposed drive-in cast of here was progressing 

this month w-ith most of the grading completed 

but contractor A. E. Allcorn. who is 

building the theatre for his own operation, 

has postponed his tentative opening date 

from April 1 to about May 1. The former 

Van Burean man is building a 300-car situation 

that can be expanded later. 

Marines cmd Chinese Actors 

The cast of Warners' "Retreat, Hell!" ii 

eluded 400 Marines and 300 Chine.se actors. 

BLACK FRIDAY! 

THE WORLD'S GREATEST 

FLOOD DISASTER 

Your Patrons Can Now See the 

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IT MUST NEVER 

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(Narrated by Shelby Storck) 

From the Solomon River to St. Louis . . 

The Big Kansas City Fire... 

Manhattan, Topeko, Lawrence, Kansas 

City and Many Other Cities Under 

Water. 

BOXOFFICE Value Has Been Proven . . 

Not Only in Flood Area, But Even as 

Far Awoy as Northern Iowa. 

Running Time - 26 Minutes 

THE COMPLETE STORY 

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Independent Theatres. 

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BOXOFFICE WANT ADS 

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INDIANA 

"Everything for the Theatre' 

BOXOFFICE March 1, 1M2 67

. . 

. . . Tony 

CHICAGO 

rjlck Salkin, who operates the Jackson Park 

Theatre and who was a big winner in 

the first local antitrust suit against major 

film companies, is still a big winner. He was 

awarded the Admiral TV set, the first prize 

given by B'nai B'rith Cinema lodge at their 

Happy Heart party for the Variety Club charity 

fund. More than 200 members and guests 

attended and enjoyed an evening of fun, 

feast and festivity. Paul Marr was emcee . 

Irving Mack has returned from his Florida 

vacation. 

A film about the Hoover proposals for government 

economy was shown at the Austin 

Town club. The picture is available for public 

showings at clubs, schools, etc. Milton 

Officer, manager of the 

. . . 

B&K Nortown 

Theatre, is seriously ill at Garfield Park 

Harry Brown, manager of Orien- 

hospital . . . 

tal Theatre, is recuperating from an illness 

at Illinois Masonic hospital . . . Aaron Cushman. 

director of publicity for the Oriental 

Theatre before going in the air force, has 

packed away his uniform after 17 months and 

will launch his own press agency here to 

handle motion picture and theatre publicity. 

A $250,000 gift has been given to La Rabida 

Jackson Park sanitarium by Albert Pick sr. 

^fttt^H-^y- 

-T-M 

of Miami, board chairman of Pick Hotels Co. 

John P. Mentzer, vice-president of La Rabida, 

said the money will be used to build a health, 

home service, recreation and educational center 

adjacent to the sanitarium, which is the 

Variety Club's pet charity . . . The Jefferson 

Electric Co., theatre equipment dealer, is 

building an addition to its plant in the 

Bellwood district . . . Columbia exchange lost 

several hundred feet of film in the wreck of 

a Universal Car Loading Co. truck west of 

here. Prints of "Okinawa" and a Gene Autry 

film were destroyed. Other companies also 

reported lo.sses. 

Basil Charuhas, owner of Monte Claire 

Theatre, and his wife returned from west 

Gene Harper has been appointed 

coast vacation . . . 

manager of the Indiana Theatre in 

Terre Haute . . . H. T. Lloyd has joined the 

managerial staff of Alliance circuit . . . G. E. 

Gooding has taken over the Amaquon Theatre, 

Maquon, 111., from John M. Thurman 

. . . M. E. Hodges bought the Rex in Depue 

from Stella Biagaone. The new owner will 

remodel both the interior and exterior. 

W. B. Zoellner, short subjects manager for 

MGM, conferred with local exchange officials 

Potoenik, manager of the LaSalle 

Theatre, has returned to his home after a 

hospital stay with a fractured arm . . . Hearing 

on the Jeffrey Theatre clearance suit 

has been set for March 3 before Judge 

Michael Igoe . . . The federal antitrust suit 

against the Chicago drive-ins has been set 

for a April 24 hearing before Judge John 

P. Barnes. 

Marlene Dietrich and Mel Ferrer were due 

here for the world premiere at the State-Lake 

Theatre March 6 of "Rancho Notorious" in 

which they are starred. 

Iiii:« 

Dear Wr. W personally telll"^ 

'h,Z "- " '^"/rr^matiro'ne. 

tended ny s" i„.

. . Betty 

. . George 

ST. 

LOUIS 

George Phillips of Realart visited northern 

Missouri points . . . National Theatre Supply 

is installing new Simplex X-L sound and projection 

equipment and Magnarc lamps at the 

Will Rodgers Theatre, Charleston, 111., a 

Frisina house . Courson, daughter of 

Mr. and Mrs. Victor Courson, Abingdon, and 

an employe of the Abby Theatre there, became 

the bride of Ramon K. Pleisher, son of Mr. 

and Mrs. Ralph Fleisher of Fairview, 111., in 

a ceremony performed in the First Congregational 

church, Abingdon. The bridegroom reported 

for duty in the navy at Washington on 

February 22. He had been in the reserve. 

D. F. McCrosky of Mack Enterprises, Dallas, 

Tex., conferred here with Mike Edele of Centralia. 

III., and Vince Schomaker, then the 

trio departed on an airplane trip to Hollywood. 

Lester Olian is traveling for Mack Enterprises 

in the St. Louis territory . . . Theatres in 

several southern Illinois cities may close due 

to outbreaks of flu among school children. 

Some adults are also being affected. Pinckneyville. 

111., reported many cases. At Fulton, 

Mo., absenteeism among school children due 

to illness reached 19 per cent of the enrollment. 

Dean Davis of West Plains, Mo., is vacationing 

in Florida . . . Mrs. Dora Zulauf, mother 

of Howard Zulauf, co-owner of the Esquire 

and Norside theatres, died February 23. Funeral 

services were at Holy Name Catholic 

church Tuesday (.26). Interment was in Calvary 

cemetery. Mrs. Zulauf also is survived 

by three daughters, Mrs. Helen Bathke and 

Viola and Dorothy Zulauf . Wood, 

Norside Theatre, is vacationing in Florida. 

Ethel Chilton's Drive-In 

On Weekend Winter Policy 

DONIPHAN, MO.—The Stadium Drive-In is 

trying weekend only operation thus winter. 

The ozoner reopened last month, according 

to Mrs. Ethel J, Chilton, on a Friday, Saturday 

and Sunday policy. 

Don Dowdy will manage the theatre as he 

has in the past seasonal summer operations. 

Each automobile will be furnished a gallon 

of gasoline free to run the heater for the 

patrons' comfort. 

Commonwealth Holds 

Drive-In Meeting 

pddie Rosecan, owner of the Rialto, Haimlbal, 

returned from a business trip to New KANSAS CITY—Commonwealth Theatres 

York City . . . Maurice Schweitzer, manager, executives and manager of the circuit's 16 

Monogram-Allied Artists, visited Kansas City 

drive-ins held their annual all-day drive-in 

and Springfield. III. . . . Exhibitors seen along meeting here Tuesday (26). 

Filmrow included Tom Edwards, Farmington; Led by Howard Jameyson, president of the 

Dick Fisher. Willow Springs; Joe Goldfarb, circuit; R. M. Shelton, general manager, and 

Alton: BUI Williams, Union; Tom Bloomer, home office officials Dick Orear, Francis 

Belleville; Bill Waring jr., Cobden; A. B. Moore and Fred Muhmel, the drive-in meeting 

"Buzz" Magarian. East St. Louis; Eddie 

was under the direct supervision of Jack 

Clarke, Metropolis; Russell Armentrout, Braunagel, head of the circuit's outdoor theatre 

operations. 

Louisiana; Mrs. Ethel Chilton, Doniphan; 

Eddie Rosecan, Hannibal; John Dromey, Publix 

Discussions centered around 1952 product 

Great States, Chicago, and Izzy Weinshenk, 

Alton, district manager, Publix Great States; 

outlook and policy for the theatres, maintenance 

and improvements, accounting proce- 

A. H. "Gus" Boemler, North Alton; Forrest 

Birtle, Jersey ville; Rani Pedrucci, feature 

booker, Frisina Amusement Co., Springfield; 

E. H. Weicks, Staunton; Hermann Tanner, 

Pana; Mrs. Chester Heidbreder, Virginia; 

Howard Bates, Gape Drive-In, Cape Girardeau; 

Charles Beninati, Carlyle; Dale Turvey, 

Pawnee, and John Rees, Wellsville. 

Projector copper drippings are needed. 

dures, advertising and stunts, concessions and 

new ideas on promotion. 

Wally Kemp, manager and partner at the 

Grand Island, Neb., drive-in, which Commonwealth 

just acquired, attended the meeting 

as did other managers, all of whom spoke. 

Managers attending included Doyle Mowrey, 

Ed Weaver, Henry Seamans, Phil 

Blakey, Ed Kirk, Dale Stewart, Darrell Manes, 

Bob Walter, Bert English, Bob Reeves, Kemp 

and others. 

HELD OVER 2d WEEK 

First Re-issue Date 

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Theatrical Sales Manager 

The March of Time 


New York 17, N.Y. 

SEND FOR PRESSBOOK 

Answers for Local 110 

CHICAGO—Attorney Daniel D. Carmell Is 

filing a reply for projectionists Local 110 in 

the RKO $250,000 damage suit resulting from 

closing of the Grand and the union's failure 

to supply projectionists for the reopening of 

the Palace Theatre. RKO circuit executives 

went to Miami for a meeting with Business 

Manager Eugene Atkinson of the operators 

union in an effort to settle the dispute. 

/tunning Tine 56 Minutes' 

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. . An 

KANSAS CITY 

TJill Bradfield, owner of the Roxy, Carthage, 

has returned home after 30 days at the 

Mayo clinic in Rochester, where he underwent 

surgery . . J. T. Ghosen, Sedalia and 

. 

Versailles theatremen, and his wife have been 

on vacation in New Orleans, Florida and 

Amy Sinclair, secretary 

other southern points . . . 

to Bob Withers at Republic who has 

been on a one-year leave, returned to her Job 

after a tour of Europe. Amy said that she 

traveled through England. France, Switzerland, 

Italy, Spain and Portugal. 

Visitors on Filmrow included Warren 

Weber, Midway Drive-In, Junction City; 

Charles Knickerbocker, Maywood, Galena, 

and Liberty, Columbus; Dale Danielson, 

Mecca and Dream, Russell; Beverly Miller, 

Leavenworth theatre operator; Joe Stark, 

Wichita; Jay Wooten, Hutchinson; Ben 

Adams, Liberal; J. Leo Hayob, Marshall; Harley 

Fryer, Lamar; Ed Harris, Orpheum, 

Neosho; Tom Spergeon, Moderne, Stanberry; 

Mr. and Mrs. John Travis, Carl, Carl Junction; 

J. H. Neeley, Star, Hays; Joe Ruddick, 

Pox, Sedalia; Jim Fronkier, Fox theatres, 

Coffeyville; Craig CuUey, Pastime, Medicine 

Lodge. 

Ed Brancli, chief clerk at RCA Service Co., 

returned to work Monday (25) after recuperating 

from an appendectomy ... Ed 

THEATRES FOR SALE 

In keeping with the Consent Judgment entered 

into with the Department of Justice, the following 

theatres are offered for sale: 

Atchison, Orpheum Theatre 

CoHeyville, Tacketl Theatre 

Dodge City, Crown Theatre 

Emporia, Strand Theatre 

Ft. 

Scott. Empress Theatre 

Hutchinson. Fox Theatre 

Pittsburg. Cozy Theatre 

Salina. Jayhaivk Theatre 

Wichita, Wichita Theatre 

KANSAS CITY. MO. 

Isis 

Theatre 

Madrid Theatre 

Vista Theatre 

Waldo Theatre 

ILLINOIS 

MISSOURI 

Benton. Star Theatre 

Centralia, Grand Theatre 

Jacksonville. Times Theatre 

Mt. Vernon. Plaza Theatre 

Marion. Plaza Theatre 

West Frankiort, State Theatre 

Carthage. Crane Theatre 

Excelsior Springs. Siloam 

Theatre 

Joplin. Orpheum Theatre 

Lexington, Eagle Theatre 

Springfield, Jewell Theatre 

Anyone interested in the acquisition of any 

of the theatres listed above, should contact 

L. O. HONIG 

Real Estate Department 

FOX MIDWEST THEATRES 

3706 Broadway, Kansas City, Mo. 

Saunders, RCA home office official, has been 

visiting the RCA Service office. Saunders 

is a specialist on electron microscopes and has 

been supervising installation of the units. Joe 

Moore, field supervisor, and Saunders made a 

trip to Lincoln and Iowa City recently to install 

the units. 

. . . All 

. . Ralph Ferris, 

With the resignation of Lois Cromer, bookkeeper 

at Columbia, several staff changes 

were made. Betty Randolph, switchboard 

operator, became new bookkeeper; Barbara 

Sue Williamson took over at the switchboard 

and Geraldine Summers was promoted from 

availability clerk to student booker 

Columbia salesmen were in this week for 

meetings with Manager Tom Baldwin on the 

Columbia Round the World drive . . . Jack 

Ragar, booker, will enter St. Mary's hospital 

Monday (3J for an operation . 

booker, has returned to work after 

a 

lengthy illness . . . Lou Weinberg, home office. 

New York, was in town and he and Ben Marcus, 

district manager, went to Des Moines 

and Omaha. 

Hall Bartlett, producer of Lippert's "Navajo," 

was here recently to see his parents. He 

was on the way to his home in Hollywood 

after attending the New York premiere of 

his film . . . Offices at Warner Bros, have 

had a new paint job in light green . . . "King 

of Kings" opened Tuesday (26) at the Midway 

in Kansas City, Kas. . . . Harold Lyon said 

the opening hour of "The Greatest Show on 

Earth" at the Paramount found a long line 

of patrons . Icecreamolator has been 

installed by NTS in the T. H. Slothower's 

new Sunset Theatre in Wichita. 

Sam Abend, head of Exhibitors Film Delivery 

and new owner of the Home and Tenth 

Street theatres in Kansas City, Kas., reopened 

those houses Friday (29) after a five-day closure 

for cleaning and repair. Clyde Head, 

manager of the Jayhawk in the city across the 

river, also will manage the Home and Tenth 

Street. 

Forrest Judd, formerly in this area as a 

film distributor, is mentioned in the New York 

Times as associate producer of "Jhansi Ki 

Rami" ("Queen of Jhansi"), produced in India 

in Technicolor. Judd, who is president of 

Film Group in Hollywood, recently produced 

"Monsoon," also in Technicolor, in Bombay. 

GDCHT MPTCDM 

STAGE EQUIPMENT COMPANY 

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3305 Cariitli. Dallas Texa? 

Teleohoiies: EM 0238 EM 7489 

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70 


Sparkling Premiere 

For 'Song' in Miami 

MIAMI—Abe Goodman of the New York 

advertising office of 20th-Fox, who arrived 

here to work with Sonny Shepherd on the 

world premiere of "With a Song in My 

Heart." commented "This is the biggest campaign 

I ever got into in my life!" The premiere 

included the presentation by the national 

president of TOA, Mitchell Wolfson, of 

a scroll to Jane Froman, who, with Thelma 

Ritter, was here in person. The picture is 

the story of Miss Froman's life, played by 

Susan Hayward, with Miss Froman's voice 

doing the singing. 

"This man Shepherd thinks of everything," 

Goodman said. Shepherd has charge of advertising 

for the Wometco first run theatres. 

The premiere took place at the circuit's 

Carib, Miami and Miracle. 

A CELEBRITY SCREENING 

Nearly 200 celebrities and press representatives 

turned out for the 2 a. m. Celebrity 

screening of the picture. They were present 

until after 5 in the morning. The guests were 

asked to sign the register as they came in, 

and practically every big show business name 

in the area was represented, including Sophie 

Tucker, Lou Walters, Jackie Miles, Henry 

Youngman, Sid Franklin, etc. 

A feature story in the Herald described the 

"thousands of film fans crowding the main 

streets of Coral Gables, Miami and Miami 

Beach on opening night. 

"Flooded with klieg lights and surrounded 

by a Hollywood-type atmosphere," Miss Froman 

and Miss Ritter made personal appearances 

at the three theatres. Highlight of the 

motorcade of the three municipalities was the 

finale appearance at the Carib. A 150-piece 

band led the parade down Lincoln road and 

the mayor of Miami Beach greeted the guests. 

EMCEES MOTORCADE 

Guy Rennie, who has appeared in several 

motion pictures and is currently filling a club 

engagement here, acted as traveling emcee 

for the motorcade. 

Coral Gables had a special interest when 

Miss Froman came there to the Miracle Theatre. 

It was more than five years ago that 

she resided in that city between radio shows, 

at that time wearing a heavy brace on her 

leg and undergoing painful treatment in an 

effort to save her leg. When she walked 

up unassisted to receive the TOA award, it 

was exactly the same as the film's finale. 

At the ceremonies at the downtown Miami 

Theatre, the Greater Miami boys drum and 

bugle corps acted as honor guard. 

Theatre Receipts Up 

BIRMINGHAM—Theatre receipts in November 

were up a healthy 8 per cent over 

October, according to the University of Alabama 

bureau of business research. The survey 

is based on sales tax receipts. At the 

same time the bureau reported that the November 

receipts represented a 3.3 per cent 

gain over November of last year. 

War Brides Are Guests 

CHILDERSBURG. ALA —War brides of all 

foreign countries and their families were 

guests of Manager John Clark when "Japanese 

War Bride" was shown at the Coosa. 

Fred 

Young 44 Years 

In Picture Industry 

Fred Young, veteran Filmrow businessman, 

and his secretary, Grace Chisholm. 

ATLANTA—Fred Young has his 72nd 

birthday coming up on March 29, and he 

has no plans for retirement. He heads 

Atlanta Popcorn Supply Co., Southern Balloon 

Co. and Southern Carbon Co. which 

handles Lorraine carbons. 

He is winding up his career in the supply 

business but, he points out, a lesser known 

fact in the trade is that he was an exhibitor 

as far back as 1909. In that year he 

opened the Princess Theatre in Cedar 

Rapids, Iowa. Three years later, he was 

in distribution, with the sales force of 

World Films Co. in Buffalo. 

In 1917 he came to Atlanta as manager 

of Mutual, which in those days was a sizable 

company. He was transferred to Kansas 

City in 1919, but returned here eight 

years later to undertake a pioneering work 

in theatre air conditioning and popcorn 

sales. Both were new in the industry a 

quarter of a century ago. That was his 

start in the equipment and supply business, 

and he has remained with that phase 

of the trade since. 

Joey Roo Takes the Honors 

Alone in New Orleans 

NEW ORLEANS—Joey Roo. the Australian 

kangaroo, had to substitute here for his traveling 

companion, Loretta North, the Sydney 

beauty who is on tour with him plugging the 

20th Century-Fox picture "Kangaroo." Before 

arriving in New Orleans. Miss North, a 

19-yeai'-old model who won the "Miss Kangaroo" 

contest in Sydney, was stricken with 

pneumonia. 

Joey kept the appointments. He and June 

Badger, a zoo aide who travels with him and 

Miss North, spent a busy day in New Orleans. 

Besides being interviewed, they made appearances 

on radio and television. Joey upheld 

the dignity of the occasion when he was presented 

a key to the city by Safety Commissioner 

Bernard McCloskey at the city hall. 

'Pop' Stockard Dies 

MEMPHIS—The lovable "Pop" Stockard, as 

F. J. Stockard was affectionately known, died 

last week. He was 76 and retired. All the 

oldtimers knew Pop. who for many years was 

checking supervisor at Warner Bros. Far 

and wide, theatre people came to Pop's desk 

to chat with him. Even after his retirement, 

he never lost touch with Filmrow and its people. 

He visited as often as possible. 

Williams Will Build 

Gurdon, Ark., Airer 

GURDON, ARK.—Work will be started this 

spring on a $50,000 drive-in theatre by K. 

Lee Williams, owner of the local Hoo Hoo 

Theatre. Williams said he had options on two 

tracts of suitable acreage and would announce 

the location of the new theatre soon. 

Williams now operates two drive-in theatres 

near defense plants and is very optimistic 

over local prospects with the influx 

of construction and operating crews for the 

$33,000,000 aluminum plant to be built at 

Gum Springs near here by the Reynolds 

Metal Co. 

Restrictions on critical building materials 

will not be too difficult, Williams said, other 

than a supply of copper wiring. Allotments 

of copper are sufficient to start the construction 

and with later allotments additional 

space could be added to the theatre. 

Williams now operates 26 theatres in Arkansas, 

Oklahoma and Texas. 

Paul F. Jones Terminates 

22 Years With Malco 

PINE BLUFF, ARK.—Following up the appointment 

of Bruce K. Young as new manager 

of the Malco Theatres here, as reported 

in BOXOFFICE last week, it is learned that 

Paul F. Jones will i-emain in busine.ss here. 

Jones recently announced his resignation, 

terminating 22 years with the Malco corporation, 

headquartered in Memphis. 

Jones, who managed the local theatres for 

the past 13 years, has purchased Long's Book 

and Gift shop at 217 Main and will operate 

it under the present name. He was originally 

a commercial artist. The theatres over which 

Young will assume supervision of operations 

are the Saenger, Malco and Strand. 

Memphis Area Drive-Ins 

Set Opening Dates 

MEMPHIS— Several drive-ins in the Memphis 

trade territory set spring opening dates. 

Lake Drive-In, New Johnsonville, Tenn., will 

reopen March 30. Douglas Pierce owner, announced 

Jaxon Drive-In, Jackson, Tenn., reopened 

February 15. Sundown Drive-In, 

Paris, Tenn., set March 19 as reopening date. 

C. J. Collier, new owner, announced 65 

Drive-In. Conway. Ark., would open February 

29. 70 Drive-In, Hot Springs, Ark., will 

reopen March 2. Skyvue Drive-In, Jone.sboro. 

Ark., wiU reopen March 14. Starlite Drive-In. 

Jonesboro, Ark., will reopen April 15. 

Installs New Screen 

ALICEVILLE, ALA.—The Palace Theatre 

here, one of a chain operated by Roth Hook, 

has installed a new Glascreen and new sound 

and projection equipment. Samples of the 

screen were passed out to patrons attending 

the first showing. 

Enlarge Theatre Front 

JAY. FLA.—The Santa Rosa Theatre is getting 

a new front. The front wall is being 

extended outward several feet and a broad 

front extension added. This will provide a 

base at night for neon Ught signs. More 

space will be allotted the lobby. W. C. Mc- 

Curdy is manager. 

BOXOFFICE March 1, 1952 SE 71

. . Ernest 

. . Marsh 

! 

. . 

CHARLOTTE 

NTS Manager Bob Turnbull reports com- 

f^harles Utley, who for the last five years pletion of the redecoration of the front and 

has been with the Fuller Sams organization 

interior of the local office. A new Movie Hour 

as manager in Statesville, has resigned carbonated drink dispenser has been sold to 

to join Hallmark as zone manager in the Frank Allen for his new drive-in at North 

Charlotte area, replacing Jack DeVoss who Wilkesboro, scheduled to open soon 

resigned to return to his home in Ohio. Utley Emery Wister, 

. 

Charlotte News movie editor, 

started in the theatre business as usher with felw to New Orleans to take in the Mardi 

the Wilby-Kincey circuit in Greensboro in 

The York Road Drive-In here has 

Gras . . . 

1933, later becoming manager with assignments 

resumed full-time operation. 

in Goldsboro, Burlington, Rocky Mount 

and Wilson. After four years of army 

The virus, which has caused a minor business 

service 

Utley returned to eastern North 

slump in this area and seriously affected 

Carolina as 

school attendance, 

a partner with Roy L. Champion 

has laid up 

in the operation 

of a small cu-cuit of theatres, where he 

quite a few 

on Filmrow, including Robby Robinson, RKO 

salesman, 

remained until joining the Sams company 

and his wife Jerry; Charlie Fretz, 

Warner booker, and the wife of Jay Schrader, 

in 1947. 

Charlotte Poster Exchange . . . William A. 

Lett, the father of Western Adventui-e Productions 

sales manager Scott Lett, died in 

Los Angeles February 21. Mi's. Lett henceforth 

will make 'her home here with her 

son . . Mrs. Sara Schrader. mother of 

. 

Charlotte Posters' Jay Schrader, died last 

week at her home in Columbus, Ohio. 

The Lilfield Theatre Corp. has been 

granted a charter to operate the Pineville 

Road Drive-In in Charlotte, formerly owned 

and operated by H. B. Meiselman. The new 

company is headed by Tom Little and Frank 

Beddingfield who have named O. R. Gill as 

the manager. The aii'er went into full-time 

operation when the new owners assumed control. 

Joe Bi-shop, Kay Films manager, reports 

exhibitors jumped on all prints of "Burning 

Cross," the Ku Klux Klan film, following the 

aiTests of eastern Carolina klansmen in conjunction 

with Klan kidnaping and beating activities. 

Bishop is booking the picture solid 

starting off with a day-and-date booking in 

the Charlotte Theatre and the Pineville Road 

Drive-In. 

Local Warner Manager Grover Livingston 

hosted employes and circuit bookers at the 

Pecan Grove to celebrate his victory in their 

recent WB sales drive . . . C. L. Autry has 

moved up from booker to salesman at MGM. 

He was replaced by Belton Hogan . . . Russ 

Henderson of Theatre Booking Service made 

a flying trip to Atlanta to buy for their accounts 

in that territory . . . Harry Pickett, 

Craver Theatres, attended the Virginia TOA 

convention at Richmond. 

. 

. 

The Airport Drive-In, Clinton, extensively 

remodeled, was reopened February 23. Owner 

J. R. Reynolds conferred with Queen City 

Booking Service officers who handle his account 

Stellings, owner of the 

Visulite here, continues his art policy . . 

. 

Byron Adams, UA manager at Atlanta, was 

on Filmrow. He formerly held the same position 

here Funderburke, Warner 

salesman who has been laid up with a heart 

condition for several months, was a welcome 

sight when he made the rounds on the Row. 

He is gradually working back into his regular 

activities . . . S. L. Pinkston has purchased 

property on the Mocksville road near Salisbury 

for construction of a drive-in. 

Owner-Manager S. L. Stalling will open his 

Cloverleaf Drive-In at Newberry early in the 

spring. He has engaged Queen City Booking 

Service to handle his buying and booking . . . 

Sonny Baker, Webb Theatre, Gastonia, is 

back at his theatre after several days in the 

hospital to treat a virus infection . . . Bill 

Turner, Waylin Theatre, Charleston, S. C, 

brought tlie Charleston Golden Gloves team 

up for the regional finals . . . "Quo Vadis" 

was held for a second week at the Carolinas 

Theatre here, the first picture to play two 

weeks at this house since "Gone With the 

Wind." 

Cheaper Films Scheduled 

To Up Theatre Revenue 

EVERGREEN, ALA.—The management of 

the Pix Theatre has abandoned its fight for 

repeal of the city's amusement tax, but 

cheaper pictures will show here in the future. 

Manager Herman "Bing" Smith, after the 

city council had refused to repeal or lower 

the tax, started a poll among his patrons to 

deterrhine their sentiments. He had said 

that the theatre could not operate at a profit 

without higher admission prices or a reduction 

in the tax. 

Then Martin Theatres In Columbus, Ga., 

notified Smith that the prices would not be 

increased, but cheaper pictures would be 

shown here in the future. 

Tlie council had declined to change the tax 

because the revenue was pledged to retirement 

of bonded indebtedness on a gymnasium. 

The tax is 1 cent on a child's 15-cent 

ticket and 2 cents on an adult 40-cent ticket. 

It yields about $3,000 annually at the Pix. 

Three Partners Building 

Drive-In Near Oakdale 

OAKDALE, LA.—Roy Navarre of Oberlin, 

Percy Duplissey of DeRidder and L. D. Guidry 

of Opelousas, all of Louisiana, will construct 

a 250-car drive-in. to be called the Melody, 

on Highway 165 approximately one and onehalf 

miles south of town. 

Fort Myers Airer Started 

FORT MYERS, FLA.—Cleon L. Singleton 

has pmxhased a tract of land south of the 

city on the Tamiami Trail for $7,500. He and 

Park T, Piggott are starting work immediately 

on a drive-in on the site and work is to be 

rushed to completion. 

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Carlisle Theatre Burns 

CARLISLE, ARK.—Lyle Theatre, owned by 

Henry Pickens, burned to the ground here 

February 13. The fire started late in the night 

after the patrons had gone home. 

Newport, Ark., Airer Reopens 

NEWPORT, ARK.—Mrs. Artemis Gray, 

owner, said all is in readiness for reopening 

for the summer season of her Skylark Drive- 

In near Newport on March 1. Booking and 

buying will be handled out of Memphis. 

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. . . Arkansas 

. 

. . Ortha 

[ 

Dale Robertson Visits 

Ark-La-Tex for 'Return' 

SHREVEPORT, LA.—Dale Robertson, 20th 

Century-Fox star, made his first visit to the 

Ark-La-Tex as a full-fledged motion picture 

personality Sunday last week and was given 

an enthusiastic welcome both at Municipal 

airport and during his three personal appeai'ances 

on the stage of the Don Theatre. 

Approximately 4,500 persons saw him in the 

theatre and many others swarmed around 

him at the airport, in the restaurants and 

hotel lobby. Amateur photographers had a 

field day, also snapping pictures of this popular 

star. Autograph seekers almost cru.shed 

him against the marble walls outside the Don. 

Robertson W'as here in behalf of his latest 

film. "Return of the Texan." He w'as accompanied 

by Jimmie Gillespie, studio exploiteer, 

and Billy Bryant, New Orleans 20th- 

Fox manager. Doyle Maynard, general manager 

of the Don Theatres, met the star at the 

airport. 

Second Theatre Closes 

In McMinnville, Tenn. 

McMINNVILLE, TENN.—Tlie Dixie Theatre 

here will close on March 15, making the 

second local house to shutter permanently. 

Cumberland Amusement Co.. owner of the 

Dixie, said that lack of business was the 

reason for closing the 30-seat Dixie. The 

Center Theatre here has been closed several 

years. 

Shuttering of the Dixie leaves this city w-ith 

only the 1,200-seat Park Theatre in operation. 

The Dixie has been in operation since 1923 

and is one of the first fireproof theatres ever 

built in the state. 

Robert E. Agle Promoted 

By Statesville Corp. 

BOONE, N. C—Robert E. Agle. district 

manager for Statesville Theatre Corp., has 

been promoted to general manager. He will 

have houses in ten cities under his supervision. 

Carlton H. Trotter, former manager of 

the Appalachian and Pastime theatres, has 

been made executive assistant to the president. 

Mark L. Sanders to Move 

WAUCHULA, FLA.—Mark L. Sanders, 

manager of the Floyd Star-Lite Drive-In, has 

resigned to return to Geneva, N. Y., to get 

ready for the 1952 season of the Seneca Drive- 

In at Seneca Lake. He and Mrs. Sanders 

will drive north in easy stages, planning to 

arrive at Geneva March 15. 

BOOK IT 

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the world's most thrilling 

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831 S. Wabash Avenue, Chicago S, III. 

MEMPHIS 

The Tristate Theatre Supply Co. reports four 

new theatres will open soon in this territory: 

the 35 Drive-In, Carthage, Mi.ss.: Plaza 

Theatre, Memphis: 62 Drive-In, Central City, 

Ky., and the Speedway Drive-In. Hohenwald. 

Tenn. Tristate sold Century equipment to all 

four. 

M. A. Lightman jr., Malco executive, made 

a business trip to New Orleans . . . Steve Stein, 

who operates Met Theatre and Met-N-Movie 

Drive-In. Jackson. Tenn.. looking well after 

an operation, was in on business . . . Loretta 

Healey wa.s promoted to office manager's 

secretary at U-I. Mrs. Sally Morris is a new 

employe at U-I. Josephine Jackson underwent 

an appendectomy at St. Joseph's hospital. 

. . . R. 

. . Mr. and Mrs. Guy Majors of 

The Drive-In Movies on Lamar avenue here 

was sold by Bernard Woolner, Memphis and 

New Orleans, to Abner and Dave Lebovitz. 

who are planning an early opening 

C. Settoon. U-I manager, and his family attended 

the Mardi Gras in New Orleans and 

Wake New.som sold his 

visited relatives . . . 

DLxie Theatre at Marmaduke. Ark., to Tliomas 

E. Smith . 

Jackson. Mi.ss.. became parents of a baby boy. 

Mrs. Majors is the daughter of S. C. Bullington, 

RCA service engineer in this territory . . 

Jane Galliano. Filmrow contract clerk, and 

Gene Freula were married at St. Paul's 

Catholic church. 

N. B. Blount, manager at Monarch Theatre 

Supply Co.. made a business trip to Nashville 

exhibitors booking on Filmrow 

included Carl Christian. Cozy. Tuckerman: 

W. L. Moxley. Mox. Blytheville: Alvin Tipton. 

New at Caraway. Monette and Manila: 

Frank Patterson. City. Junction City: Orris 

Collins. Capitol and Majestic. Paragould: 

Mrs. F. R. Watson. New. Elaine: Robert Lowrey. 

Starlight and Skyvue drive-ins, Jonesboro. 

and Walter Lee. Gem. Heber Springs. 

Margnerette Keen, contract clerk at MGM. 

will be married to Barrett Griffith March 

16 . Visiting exhibitors from Tennessee 

. . 

included Mrs. H. A. Fitch. Erin. Erin; G. H. 

Goff. Rustic. Parsons: Louise Mask, Luez. 

Bolivar, and M. E. Rice jr.. Rice. Brownsville. 

From Mississippi came J. C. Bonds. Von. 

Hernando: Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Azar. Harlem 

and Lincoln. Greenville: H. C. Langford. Lam 

at Lambert and Folly at Marks, and Joe Wofford. 

Eupora. Eupora. 

Additional drive-ins are setting spring opening 

dates. Included in this week's announcements 

are: Chief Drive-In at Cleveland. Miss., 

owned by B. F. Jack.son, opening February 

29: Skyvue Drive-In. Fort Smith, owned by 

J. Fred Brown, the 22nd: Pines Drive-In, Pine 

Bluff, Ark., owned by C. P. Bonner. March 

2. and Airview Drive-In. West Helena. Ark., 

owned by Joe Anderson, opyening this week. 

Vera-Ellen. MGM's diminutive dancing star, 

was in town to promote the opening of her 

picture. "The Belle of New York." at Loew's 

Stat« but wasn't too busy to call on the MGM 

exchange. Vera-Ellen explained she has had 

that hyphen all her life. She said she was 

christened Vera-Ellen Rohe of Cincinnati so 

"I w-as born with that hyphen." 

Allied of Midsouth. 410 S. Second St.. has 

started booking and buying for Allied members 

as an additional service . . . Many 

Memphlans are planning to attend the Arkansas 

Theatre Owners convention which is 

set for May 19-21 at Little Rock . . . Whyte 

Bedford, Marion. Hamilton, Ala., was in 

town on business . . . Henry Pickens, Semo, 

Steele, and Roy Dillard, Dillard, Wardell, 

were here from Missouri. 

Herbert Lane, Universal auditor, is making 

an audit at Realart . Lee Baker, 

office manager's secretary at Universal, resigned 

to go to work for Memphis light, gas 

and water division . . . N. B. Blount, manager, 

and Neil A. Murphy, salesman. Monarch 

Theatre Supply Co.. made an extensive 

trip through Arkansas. 

To Edit Will Rogers Story 

Folmar Blangsted has been named to edit 

"The Story of Will Rogers" for Warner release. 

Lawrence Amusement Co. 

1.322 Riverwood Dr. 

N.ishiUle 6, Tenn. 

MONARCH 

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492 So. Second SI. 

Memphis. Tenn. 

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— 

HART 

pRED BEARDEN had plenty of news about 

ville. 

Bearden also related 

the new drive-in 

being built for Jay Solomon at the foot of 

Lookout mountain at Chattanooga will have 

two boxoffices, one for selling tickets and another 

about 150 feet to the rear for taking 

tickets. 

SPECIAL TRAILERS 

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pany Plymouths, are set for the largest business 

in the history of the local exchange. 

Southeastern Theatre Supply Co. The firm 

has taken the exclusive distribution of Pure Kelly said U-I is redecorating an office in 

Food Concentrates Jacksonville a few doors from the 20th-Fox 

fruit juices and dispensers. 

The first in- 

June 1. U-I expects to occupy its new of- 

exchange on Bay street for an opening about 

stallation was in the fices here about May 20, earlier than at first 

Orand Theatre at anticipated. 

Macon, Ga. Southeastern 

also has in- Ralph Berquist, 

* * * 

who spent 15 months in 

.stalled a third-dimension 

the air force, is back at U-I, this time as 

effect screen student booker. Lindsey Jones, booker, has 

at the Five Points resigned. Ruth Swenson, stenographer, says 

Theatre in Jackson- 

she doesn't like the southern climate, and is 

resigning to return north. 

Ted Toddy of Toddy Pictures, back from 

New Orleans, Is booking his recently acquired 

"Native Son." 

Charles Fortson of Wil-Kin Theatre Supply 

was back from Jacksonville. He said the 

Ri-Mar Drive-In at Lockhai-t, Fla., was enlarging 

its capacity for the second time in 

90 days, adding more Motiograph speakers. 

J. R. Pierce of Kingsport, Tenn., expects to 

W. D. Kelly of U-I, P. J. A. McCarthy and 

J. V. Frew attended the opening of Crescent 

Amusement Co.'s new Tennessee Theatre in open his 300-car drive-in soon. 

Nashville this week (28). The U-I exchange Others from Atlanta at the opening of the 

was a beehive of activity with every staffer 

talking up the Nate Blumberg drive and the 

new Tennessee Theatre in Nashville and the 

world premiere of "About Face" were Ralph 

forthcoming visit by Ann Sheridan and John Innuzi, Warners: Mr. and Mrs. E. D. Martin 

Lund, who will appear at the southern premiere 

and Roy Martin jr., Columbus; Edward 

of "Steel Town" at the Alabama Thea- 

Brauer, Republic; Walter Titus, Dave Prince, 

tre in Birmingham March 20. Following the Ira Stone of RKO; Jomes Harrison, Kilby- 

Birmingham appearance, they will fly to Atlanta 

Kincey Service Corp.; Bob Ingram and 

for the opening at Loew's Grand on George Roscoe, Columbia; Ed H. Hayes, 

the 21st. 

Realart. 

U-I salesman, equipped with the new com- 

Manager Brauer of Republic said the Rex 

Allen month got off to a big start with over 

400 theatres in this area booked with Allen 

pictures. 

Set for United Artists' "The Ring" was 

welterweight boxer Art Aragon. 

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THEATRE

. . . Eddie 

. . Murl 

. . 

. . The 

MIAMI 

IJarry Brandt of the Brandt theatre chain 

has been here for a combined vacation 

and business trip. The Brandts operate the 

Flamingo and the Roosevelt here, both in 

Miami Beach. "Bunny" Schwartz, associated 

with the Roosevelt as assistant manager for 

a number of years, is at present in the main 

New York office. 

Key West, where "The Frogmen" and "Reap 

the Wild Wind" were made, may respond 

to the call of "Camera!" again soon. Hal 

Wallis plans to send a unit there this summer 

to shoot "Key West," a Paramount release 

to star Charlton Heston and Lizabeth Scott 

Cantor arrived to give a sendoff 

to the United Jewish Appeal meeting . . . 

Peter Lawford is expected here on a vacation. 

Variety Club conducted brief exercises at 

the opening of the Terry National art exliibit 

here. A committee of entertainers gave 

a short dedicatory program to promote the 

purchase of paintings, with all commissions 

going to Variety Children's hospital . . . 

Florida State's Olympia, landmark of Miami, 

is celebrating its 26th anniversary starting 

Wednesday (27). What is termed a "triple- 

.star stage show" is headed by Joe Frisco, 

Buddy Baer and Mary Small. On the screen 

is "Tembo," ballyhooed as the greatest all 

wild animal full-length feature picture. 

"A Streetcar Named Desire" topped all other 

movies of the year in everything, three to 

one, in Herb Rau's local newspaper poll . . . 

Thelma Ritter, here in person for the world 

premiere of "With a Song in My Heart," 

donned a nurse's uniform to be photographed 

iniblicizing Mount Sinai's all-star benefit this 

Claughton Theatres had a 

week (28) . . . 

tie-in with a local chain grocery on a Lady 

Pair coffee ad. The circuit's theatres were 

Mr. and Mrs. Sonny Shepherd, the 

listed . . . 

Walter Jacobs, Thelma Ritter and a few other 

close friends, were present at the informal 

birthday celebration for John Burns, husband 

of Jane F^-oman, here for the premiere 

of "With a Song in My Heart," 

Barbara Paiyton and Franchot Tone have 

been noted about the night spots here . 

Harry Levene, United Paramount vaudeville 

booker, conferred with Al Weiss and Bob 

Daugherty of the Olympia . Deusing 

of the Milwaukee Public museum, who had 

been repeatedly selected by Walt Disney for 

assignments calling for the most exacting 

kind of outdoor photography, is here to bring 

the color film, "Backyard Safari," to local 

audiences. This is part of the Audubon Screen 

Tour series. 

Hopes of Miamians for more than one television 

station within the next two years, even 

with the contemplated lifting of the FCC 

freeze, were dimmed today, according to Larry 

Birger of the Miami Daily News staff. Dr. 

Maurice E. Strieby of the AT&T company 

says that legal and technical difficulties will 

hold up construction of new stations indefinitely, 

even though live TV probably will 

reach this area by next July. "Barring unforeseen 

difficulties, I am almost certain 

Miamians will be able to view direct broadcasts 

of the political conventions," he said. 

Work on the cable is being done at approximately 

50 booster points between here and 

Jacksonville. 

The Sidney Meyers of the Wometco clan 

hare just become grandparents . . . Emory 

Austin of the Atlanta MGM office escorted 

the company's ballet star, Vera-EUen, about 

town the other day. She will attend the 

Delray Beach gladiola festival. 

Mrs. George C. Hoover gave a tea honoring 

Mrs. Frank D. Rubel w'ho, with her husband, 

is moving to Des Moines. Hostess with 

Mrs. Hoover was Mrs. Tracy B. Hare. Among 

the 100 guests were members of the Variety 

Children's hospital of which Mrs. Rubel was 

chairman of the women's committee. 

Jimmy Durante entertained the teenagers 

of the Youth Roundup club and appeared on 

their radio show . . . The Tropicaire Drivein, 

which likes to assist in neighborhood affairs 

whenever possible, is doing its bit to 

help ballyhoo the horse show which the 

Lions club is sponsoring at the racetrack 

adjacent to the theatre. Proceeds from the 

show will go to the sight conservation fund. 

In cooperation with another neighborhood 

business, the drive-in purchased a block of 

tickets to the horse show and will award 

them to patron winners. The loudspeaker at 

intermission will announce the event and the 

theatre will give it all possible publicity. 

Owner D. K. McComas of the Tropicaire. 

thinking ahead to the coming months, has 

done some checking to find out just how 

effective some of last season's special holiday 

events have been. At Christmas time, the 

Tropicaire, in cooperation with the Coral 

Way and 27th Avenue drive-ins, staged an 

evening show at which admission was by 

canned food. The food thus collected was 

given to the Variety Children's hospital. 

McComas does not need to check back on the 

effect of his Halloween experiment as he is 

still receiving telephone calls on its farreaching 

results. For this holiday, the 

Tropicaire approached numerous neighborhood 

merchants, many of whom agreed to 

give gift certificates good for a certain amount 

of merchandise. The theatre then gave several 

awards to "the largest families" present 

Halloween. Winner of the first award was a 

mother of nine children, one of whom was in 

need of medical treatment. 

M. A. Kirkhart, owner and operator of the 

North Miami Theatre, has installed new RCA 

equipment in the booth. He finds business 

is more than holding its own, and has enjoyed 

a substantial increase since he purchased the 

property some months ago. 

Larry Cotzin, who used to be assistant manager 

at the Carib, joined the police force and 

now waves his arms at traffic . . . Martin 

Wucher, who formerly was assistant at the 

Miami, stepped into the same job at the 

Carib . Carib's manager, Tom Rayfield, 

helped open the Miami in 1947, with 

Sonny Shepherd. Subsequently he moved to 

the Carib with Shepherd, who is managing 

director of Wometco's first runs, and maintains 

his office in the Carib. 

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BRYANT 

227 S. Church St., Charlotte. N.C 

Litfield Theatre Corp. 

Leases Pineville Airer 

CHARLOTTE, N. C—The Pineville Road 

Drive-In has been leased by the Litfield 

Theatre Corp. and launched full-time 

operation February 22. The deal was made 

with H. B. Meiselman. Under the new management, 

the 320-car theatre will become one 

of the most modern in this area. Plans call 

for renovating and modernizing all equipment 

and the concession stand. Until the 

change, the drive-in was open only on Friday, 

Saturday and Sunday. 

Joe Murnick, vice-president of Litfield Theatre 

Corp., said the ozoner will cater to 

family trade. His associates are T. A. Little, 

Frank Beddingfield and Sam Craver. It will 

be operated by Consolidated Theatre Corp. 

O. R. Gill, w-ith many years theatre experience, 

will manage the airer, which is located 

less than four miles from Independence 

Square. 

Rotarians Elect Exhibitor 

REFORM, ALA.—W. E. Parrar, Pickens 

Tlieatre manager who is serving his .second 

term as mayor of Reform, has been elected 

governor of Rotary International for 26 

counties in the north Alabama district. Farrar 

also is co-owner with Roth Hook, theatre 

circuit head, of radio station WRAG. 

ABC

. . King 

ISMillEAU 

for 

RN THEATRE PLANNERS 

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PLANNING INSTITUTE 

325 Van Brunt Blvd. 

Kansas City 1, Mo. 

Gentlemen: 

Please enroll us in your RESEARCH BUREAU 

to receive information regularly, as released, on 

the following subjects lor Theatre Planning: 

n Acoustics 

Lighting Fixtures 

D Air Conditioning 

g plumbing Fixtures 

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n "Black" Lighting 

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D Drive-In Equipment D Vending Equipment 

D Other Subjects 

ATLANTA 

. . . Maggie 

A farewell party was held at the Georgia 

Theatres office for Mrs. Nell Hanson, who 

has resigned to join her husband in Texas, 

where he has been transferred 

Gouge's husband Joe has been recalled to duty 

in the armed forces . . . W. W. "Doc" Fincher 

is opening a new drive-in in Chattanooga. 

Equipment is being supplied by National Theatre 

Supply. NTS now handles a complete 

concessions line from popcorn to canned 

barbecue in addition to concessions equipment. 

Visitors on the Row: Mrs. T. W. Petree, 

Valley Drive-In, and W. T. Duncan, West 

Point: M. T. Varnell. Park Theatre, Trion: 

Paul Gaston, Griffin; Bill Yarbough, Hartwell; 

L. P. Brichetto, Knoxville; W. W. 

Fincher, Chattanooga; Mrs. Marguerite Stith 

and Ebb Duncan, Carrollton. 

. . . Sonny 

Rudy Lehmann's wife Ethel has recovered 

from injuries suffered in a recent accident. 

Rudy is a salesman for Kay Film Co. . . . 

Hai-vey RudislU, also of Kay, attended the 

opening of the Crescent Amusement Co.'s new 

Tennessee Theatre in Nashville 

Plunkett, former shipper for National Theatre 

Supply, said he was "holding up very 

well" under the boot training at Parris Island, 

S. C. . . . Charles Kessnich of MGM was given 

a surprise birthday party by the office employes. 

Leonard Allen, publicity man for Paramount, 

was in Florida working on "The Greatest 

Show on Earth." This picture opened 

this week (28) at the Paramount Theatre 

here. More local newspaper advertising was 

alloted to this picture than any picture in 

recent years. Included in the advertising were 

50 24-sheets and 100 3-sheets . . . Nick Bucci 

has been added to Paramount's booking .staff. 

James F. Willard of Birmingham, formerly 

employed by Capitol City Supply Co. here, 

died recently . . . Earl Humphries of Theatrical 

Printing Co., has compiled a list of the 

local film exchanges' addresses and telephone 

numbers, including the distributors of 16mm 

trailers, advertising, supplies and booking 

agents. 

R. H. Brannon, Dahlonega; John Hackney, 

Porterdale; Mrs. M. M. Osman, Covington, 

and Walter Morris, Knoxville, were on the 

Row. 

York February 12 and is held on $25,000 bail. 

It seems Max played and looked the part so 

well because of past experience, having served 

five years in Joliet on a charge of armed 

robbery. He had fled to Jacksonville from 

Chicago, where he was wanted in connection 

with a tavern holdup. While police were 

searching for him, his face was being shown 

on hundreds of theatre screens throughout 

the country. 

"Buck" Roebuck from United Artists, Atlanta, 

and Sid Reams of Republic, Atlanta, 

visited Exhibitors Service . . . Cal Floyd has 

started construction on his drive-in at Haines 

City . announces that they are booking 

and buying for the Delray Drive-In at 

Delray Beach. 

Floyd Theatre Launches 

Haines City Drive-In 

HAINES CITY, FLA. — Construction has 

been started on the Lake Haines Drive-In 

and it Is expected to be completed by April 

1. The new drive-in built by Floyd Theatres, 

is located three miles west of Haines 

City on Highway 17-92. Original plans called 

for placing the drive-in on Lake Haines, between 

Haines City and Lake Alfred, but the 

new site was chosen because it was more 

desirable and accessible to Haines City. 

The drive-in will have a capacity of 300 cars 

aad will be equipped with in-car speakers. 

The grounds will be beautifully landscaped 

and the concession stand will be as complete 

as is possible to make it. Carl Floyd 

is president of the company, which has just 

completed a 250-car theatre, the Star-Lite, in 

Wauchula. 

H. M. Richey to Vacation Soon 

FORT LAUDERDALE—H. M. Richey, 

MGM exhibitor relations chief, is scheduled 

to be on vacation in Fort Lauderdale 

here soon. 

John Johnson Recovering 

AVON PARK, FLA.—John W. Johnson, 

manager of the Hilans Theatre, is recovering 

from an operation performed in Walker Memorial 

hospital. 

Theatre 

Seating Capacity.. 

Address 

City 

State 

Signed 

Postage-paid reply cards for your further convenience 

in obtaining information are provided in The MODERN 

THEATRE RED KEY SECTION (Nov. 24, 1951). 

Helen Williams, booking stenographer at 

Warners, became the bride of Warren Gill of 

the navy February 2. W. O. Williamson, district 

manager, visited the local office . . . 

When "Under the Gun" was filmed in Jacksonville 

about a year ago. Max Proskauer was 

given a role in which he played a convict 

because he "looked so much like a convict." 

Proskauer was arrested by the FBI in New 

Florida's FIRST Supply House 

NOW HAS TWO CONVENIENT 

LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOU 

UNITED THEATRE SUPPLY CORP. 

110 Franklin St. 

Tampa, Flo. 

Phone 2-3045 

329 West Flagler St. 

Miami, Fla. 

Copper is scorce. Save all your drippings. 

TO BE SURE 




1913 - 1952 

39 Years 

630 Ninth Aveur 

Service 

SoVisioctory 

of 

TO SOUTHERN EXHIBITORS 

Consult Us for Your Theatre and Drive-In Needs 

THE QUEEN FEATURE SERVICE, INC. 

19l2»i Morris Ave. Phone 3-8665 

BIRMINGHAM 3, ALABAMA 

76 BOXOFFICE :: March 1, 1952

. . Bob 

Norfleet lo Produce Miami Beach Roosevelt Is Turned 

^.B!^ P*'=*"" I Southwest Ed, 

Into Circus Midway for 'Show' 

DALLAS—Hal Norfleet, longtime Texas 

showman and public relations man, has 

started production on a series of one-reel 

Hal Norfleet and assistant Bobye 

Splawn, inspect photog:raphs of kids 

applying for parts in "Us Kids Circus," 

which Norfleet will produce. 

comedies using Texas children in the casts. 

The first reel is entitled "Us Kids Circus" 

and has 55 kids in leading roles with almost 

1,000 others in the cu'cuit audience scenes. 

It will be a takeoff on the new DeMille epic. 

Norfleet arranged with C. A. Dolsen, owner 

of Pappy's Showland, to use the stage and 

large auditorium there for interiors, shooting 

all day until the popular spot opens at 

6 p. m. Exteriors will be made in the city 

parks. Norfleet's plan is to create something 

Uke Hal Roach's old "Our Gang" comedies. 

It is also an entertainment feature and 

not merely a boxoffice stimulant where parents 

are charged fees for photographing their 

children in "home town movies." Norfleet's 

first one-reeler will be ready for release 

March 15, followed by one every three weeks 

until a series of ten is completed. 

Norfleet was in Hollywood himself in the 

1920s, where he wrote and directed westerns 

starring William Fairbanks, Franklyn Farnum 

and others. In 1924, he produced a shorts 

series, "Norfleet's Hollywood Revue," w'ith 

candid scenes of the stars. He has been assistant 

editor in the Fox studios scenario 

department and co-author and assistant director 

on Universal's "Collegians." 

The locally angled children's picture is not 

new to the producer. In 1927, he brought a 

complete camera crew and staff from Hollywood 

and produced four kid comedies especially 

for release on the Interstate Theatres 

circuit. 

Eady Tax Plan Enlarged 

The Eady tax plan of England was enlarged 

and made firm for a three-year period 

in August 1951. 

INCOMPLETE THEATRE SUPPLIEsT 

DRIVE-IN EQUIPMENT 

Prompt, Courteous Service 

DIXIE THEATRE SERVICE & SUPPLY CO. 

lOU North Slappey Drive Albany 

L. 

.one 3431 — Night Phone 2015 

JACKSONVILLE 

irisiting on Filnirow were Hugh Martin, Columbus; 

Harry Gordon, Carver, Orlando; 

Maurice Hensler, Auburndale; Dave Prince, 

district manager, RKO, Atlanta, accompanied 

by Ira Stone, Atlanta manager; Jack Galloway, 

Lippert, Atlanta; George Jones, Universal 

office manager, Atlanta; M. L. Miller, operator 

of the Isle-of-View Drive-In, Panama 

City, who stopped at Exhibitors Service which 

does his booking and buying; George L. 

Painter, Auditorium, Groveland; J. O. Biddle, 

Jasper; Bob Pollard, Republic, Tampa, and 

Kenneth Laird, Universal. 

Rudolph Berger, MGM division sales manager 

from Washington, spent several days 

here . . . Fred Hull, manager of the MGM exchange, 

made a trip downstate . . . Exhibitors 

Service has rented additional space in the 

Masonic Temple building to facilitate the 

handling of expanding business. 

Roy Smith attended the opening of the 

Starlight Drive-In, Wauchula, owned by Carl 

Floyd. Smith also made a trip to Orlando 

visiting customers. He and Leo Nemerovski 

of Pure Foods, installed a Pure Food drink 

dispenser in the Dixie Drive-In Corp. theatres 

in Orlando and Winter Park . Cannon 

of Live Oak, owner of seven Cannon 

Theatres, visited here. 

A former Jacksonville girl, Bettye McCormick, 

appeared here with the Vaughn Monroe 

show which made four appearances at 

the Florida Theatre. Bettye is a member of 

the Mooiimaid quartet. She has been with 

the Vaughn Monroe show for over a year and 

as a member of the Moonmaids has appeared 

in some of the best entertainment spots in 

the nation. 

Howard HiU, the man who goes after his 

game with bow and arrow, made three appearances 

at the St. Johns Theatre in connection 

with the opening of "Tembo." 

Dave Prince was in Jacksonville gathering 

information to submit to the home office in 

view of the possible opening of an RKO 

branch here. If RKO does decide to open 

here it will mean that every major distributor 

will have a branch in this city. 

Bud Chalman will do the booking and buying 

for the new City Drive-In on Cleveland 

avenue and U.S. 41. Owned by P. T. Pigott 

and C. L. Singleton, the theatre will have a 

400-car capacity and will be opened on or 

about March 15 . . . The Floriland Outdoor 

Theatre, located at 9505 Florida Ave., Tampa, 

was expected to open between February 26 and 

March 4. This theatre is RCA equipped 

throughout. AB will do its booking and buying 

. . . The Trail Drive-In, DeFuniak Springs, 

will be reopened by E. L. Goodwin, who also 

manages the Hiway 90 Theatre. ABC is doing 

the book and buying. 

Alan Dinehart HI Booked 

Alan Dinehart III, son of the late chartictcr 

actor, has been booked for Metro's romantic 

comedy, "Pat and Mike." 

MIAMI—Cotton candy, balloons, a calliope, 

a 35-piece band, speech by the mayor—these 

were some of the things that lent an air 

of circus day to the whole length of 41st 

street in Miami Beach when Brandt's Roosevelt 

Theatre opened "The Greatest Show 

on Earth." "It really stirred up the street," 

said Manager Bernard Lopata. The picture, 

according to the management, is playing to 

"tremendous" business. At times the line of 

waiting patrons extends down the street 

and around the corner a block. 

Crowds were so dense that among those 

standing on the sidewalk and attempting to 

keep everything in order was Harry Brandt 

himself. Brandt, who was here partly because 

of the opening, found him.self pressed into 

service in numerous capacities. Everyone, it 

seemed, had a wonderful time. 

So far, the boxoffice has had to stop selling 

tickets every evening while the line still 

forms. Even the 11 p. m. .show is well attended. 

There is a special kid show at 9:45 

Saturday mornings. On Sundays the lines are 

continuous, Lopata said. 

Opening day, a Wednesday, was a real event 

for the whole 41st street area. The school 

band led a parade down the street and 

caused plenty of excitement. Varicolored balloons, 

bearing the theatre's imprint, hang 

from the outer lobby ceiling and blow colorfully. 

The doorman in a tall hat, a clown 

out front, a cotton candy machine selling 

this circus confection, were all part of the 

free show outside. Tlie calliope was permitted 

to entertain by special permission of 

the city fathers who considered the event to 

rate its appearance. Children and grownups 

alike thoroughly enjoyed it. 

Inside the lobby there is a large display 

of midway wares. These are on sale and 

eagerly sought by small fry. Popular are 

horns, Indian headdresses, fancy hats, canes, 

noisemakers, pennants and canes. There are 

books describing the circus. 

Lopata worked closely with Seymour Vorzimer, 

member of the Brandt staff, on getting 

the theatre ready for the resumption 

of a motion picture policy. Stage shows, as 

formerly, were offered during the past months. 

Much preparation and many changes have 

been necessary to reinstall necessary picture 

equipment. 

Pilar Del Rey in 'The Miracle' 

Pilar Del Rey, Latin-American actress, has 

been signed for a featured role in Warners' 

"The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima." 

AL ROOK'S 

Film Booking Office 

Let Us Buy and Book for 

Your 

Theatre 

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Atlanta, 

Georgia 


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New Long Twin Airer 

Is Opened al Victoria 

DALLAS—A capacity crowd attended the 

opening of the new 975-car Twin Ranch 

Drive-In at Victoria, Tex., Tliursday night 

(28) and a number of Filmrow personalities 

were on hand to wisli Johnny Long success in 

this latest addition to his circuit. 

The ozoner is on the Goliad highway and 

has 18 acres of pavement. The towers are at 

either end with a beautiful ranch house in 

the center. The ranch house kitchen is on the 

north side and service for fried chicken, hot 

dogs, hamburgers and many other freshly 

cooked items is provided from outside as well 

as inside the building. 

On each end of the ranch house there is a 

patio and comfortable seating where theatre 

patrons may sit either mider open sky or an 

awning to watch whichever of the current 

pictures they prefer if they wish to get out 

of their automobiles. 

Ford Taylor Building 

Second House in Rankin 

RANKIN, TEX.—H. Ford Taylor expected 

10 begin construction on a 600-seat theatre 

luTe in February, weather permitting. The 

new entertainment site will be located directly 

across the street from the present theatre 

in town, which Taylor also owns. 

Grady Houston of San Angelo w-ill be 

contractor on the building, which will be 

constructed of concrete title with overall 

dimensions of 39x20 feet. Building was expected 

to be completed within 90 days. Taylor 

announced the project by saying, "I am proud 

to bring this modern facility to the people 

of Rankin and the area. It will represent a 

small measure of my sincere appreciation 

for your past patronage and, on behalf of 

myself and Manager Marvin Bell, I pledge 

the finest entertainment in the future." 

Ed Laird Back to Dallas 

As Claude York Quits UA 

DALLAS—Claude York, manager for United 

Artists here since last June, has returned 

from a trip to New York where he presented 

his resignation effective March 15. Ed Laird, 

UA manager here for 12 years until he resigned 

last May, will return to manage the 

branch effective Monday (3). 

York is leaving on a friendly basis and 

stated that he is also leaving the picture 

business to become a manufacturer's representative 

for a number of New York firms 

and will travel the four-state southwest area. 

He will continue to reside in Dallas and will 

occasionally visit Filmrow to .see the many 

friends he has made since working here. 

Texas Premiere to Be Held 

For 'Zapata' at McAllen 

McALLEN, TEX."The Texas premiere of 

"Viva Zapata!" will be held at the Palace 

Theatre here Monday (3). The film, parts 

of which were filmed last .summer at Roma, 

includes several area residents as bit players 

and many Roma residents in crowd scenes. 

The film will be shown March 4-8. 

Paul T. Vickers. manager of the local 

Chamber of Commerce, said residents of Mexico, 

particularly northern Mexico, are invited 

here for the premiere. 

YOUNGEST AUTOGRAPH SEEKER 

Stephanie Osborne, year-old daughter 

of Ml', and Mi's. Marion W. Osborne 

jr., of Miami. Okla., turned out to be 

the youngest bobbysoxer fan seeking 

an autograph from Dale Robertson. 

20th-Fox star of "Return of the Texan," 

when he was in Oklahoma recently to 

launch his newest picture. The bobbysoxers 

gave Robertson a royal welcome, 

which in some instances reached almost, 

a mobbing point. Tliis photo was made 

on Stephanie's first birthday at a party 

given by her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. 

Marion W. Osborne sr., Oklahoma City, 

where Osborne is manager for 20th- 

Fox. Young Osborne is assistant city 

manager for Video Theatres, Miami. 

Honor Karl Hoblitzelle 

At Dallas NCJJ Event 

DALLAS—Karl Hoblitzelle will be presented 

citation." 

Jack Chaney. Long Booker; 

Belchers Manage Wharton 

WHARTON, TEX.—Jack Chancy, manager 

of the Plaza Theatre, has been transferred to 

the Bay City office of Long Theatres where 

he will become a circuit booker. Mr. and Mrs. 

George Belcher will be the new managers of 

the Plaza and also the Queen Theatre. J. E. 

Goodwin, manager of the Queen, was transferred 

at the same time to the management 

of a larger theatre in Hou.ston. 

The transfers were effective February 8. 

H. C. Overt Appointed 

SHERMAN. TEX—H. C. Overt has been 

named manager of the Campus. Plaza, Texas 

and Ritz theatres here, succeeding Harry 

Hardgrave, who has gone to Tulsa, Okla.. to 

take over operation of the Modern-Aire 

Drive-In. Overt assumed full management of 

the theatres here February 17. 

O'Donnell Citation 

Lauded at Dallas 

DALLAS—Filmrow exchange persomiel and 

exhibitors were happy to read that Robert J. 

O'Donnell, vice-president and general manager 

of Interstate Theatres and national 

campaign director for COMPO in Movietime 

U.S.A., had been chosen for the Look magazine 

Exhibitor of the Year award. 

Col. H. A. Cole, co-chairman of Texas 

COMPO with O'Donnell, and president of the 

board of directors of Allied Theatre Owners, 

said, "I am pleased beyond words that Bob 

has received this recognition which he so 

thoroughly de.serves." 

Kyle Rorex, executive director of Texas 

COMPO Showmen: "We in Texas COMPO 

are proud and happy to learn that our own 

R. J. O'Donnell has been awarded the Look 

Exhibitor of the Year award. His leadership 

has not only been inspirational in Texas, but 

all over the country." 

John Rowley, Rowley United Theatres and 

past chief barker of Variety Tent 17: "The 

Exhibitor of the Year award to R. J. O'Donnell 

is a tribute which a vast audience will 

enjoy. He is a great showman and has certainly 

earned this recognition." 

Paul Short, division manager for National 

Screen Service: "It pleases me immensely to 

know that Bob has received this significant 

and coveted honor. He typifies Mr. Showbusiness 

in all of its brightest and most lovable 

characteristics." 

Timpson Partners Sell 

Theatre to H. L. Hillin 

TIMPSON, TEX.—H. L. Hillin, prominent 

businessman and cattleman of Carthage, is 

the new owner of the Fox Theatre here and 

assumed its management in February. He 

purchased the theatre from A. D. Cremean 

a national citation durmg the celebration of 

and J. V. Huntley, who have owned it for the 

National Brotherhood week here. Around 600 

past two years. 

guests are expected to fill the Crystal ballroom 

of the Baker hotel Monday i3) night 

The former owners said they were going 

to Florida to fish. They made many friends 

for the event, at which Eric Johnston, national 

chairman of the week, will be principal 

during their residence here. 

speaker. 

Carl L. Phinney. chairman of the committee 

in Dallas, said. "During the evening the 

NCCJ will honor our beloved citizen, Karl 

Hoblitzelle, by presenting him with a national 

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BOXOFFICE March 1, 1952 sw 79

. . Gene 

. . Kaye 

THIS IS 

IT! 

The Only Major Production Ever Filmed 

Dealing with America's No. 1 Problem. 

DtKIKC-INflLUHCiKAMAJic 

upest'of 

308 S. HARWOOD 'W STcrling-2S52 

DALLAS, TEXAS 

DALLAS 

TV/rorris Loewenstein, president of Theatre 

Owners of Oklahoma, has extended an 

invitation to friends in Texas and Dallas 

Variety Club members to attend their forthcoming 

convention March 23-25 at the Biltmore 

hotel in Oklahoma City. Alfred Starr 

of the Bijou Amusement Co.. Nashville, will 

be one of the speakers. Members from here 

who attend will naturally visit Oklahoma City 

Variety Tent 22 in the Black hotel while attending 

the convention . Autry was 

seen on Filmrow in the company of his 

friends Phil Isley. Jimmy Prichard and Claude 

Ezell. 

Alfred Sack, owner of the Coronet Theatre, 

commissioned Ed Bearden to paint a portrait 

of Ela Hockaday, founder of the Hockaday 

School for Girls, which was unveiled and 

dedicated Wednesday (27) evening at the 

tlieatre. where it took its place alongside oils 

of four other civic leaders. W. C. Scurry was 

the speaker. 

Harvey D. Hill, who was re-elected business 

agent of Moving Picture Machine Operators 

Local 249, reports the installation of new officers 

was held in the club quarters at 20241-2 

Commerce St.. February 12. Newly elected 

were P. W. Humphries, president; C. J. Moore, 

vice-president: Harvey Hill jr.. recording secretary: 

Earl Median jr.. financial secretary; 

Earl Ballard, treasurer; Charlie Harcum, 

chairman of trustees: Sam Hoffman and Jasper 

Barron, trustees. Appointed executive 

board members were Guy "Pappy" Luther and 

Clarence Holt . . . Friends of "Pappy" Luther 

will be glad to know he is recovering nicely 

from a major operation at St. Paul's hospital 

recently. 

Jack Hunt, composer and singer of western 

songs, has a full week schedule on radio 

WFAA . Anderson. Hammond organist, 

will be a feature for luncheon and dinner 

at the Variety Club starting February 29 . . . 

Variety will salute Duke Clark, former division 

manager for Paramount, at its regular 

Barkers are 

business meeting March 3 . . . 

haunting tlie golf links preparing lor the 

. . Beatrice 

1952 golf tournament in May . 

Kay, singer of Gay Nineties songs, was held at 

the Century room. 

^Retreat, Hell!' Parades 

Out Front in Dallas 

DALLAS—The business graph was fairly 

static, with two attractions hitting 90 per 

cent and the other two at 75. The leader 

was "Retreat. Hell!" at the Majestic, while 

the art film, "The Medium," attained the 

same percentage in its smaller run. 

Coronet—The Medium (Lopert) 90 

Maiestit^-Retieat. Helll (WB) 90 

Palace—Phone Call From a Stranger (20th-Fox) 75 

Tower-Weekend With Father (U-I) 75 

In Belgium musical pictures are as popular 

as historical and dramatic pictures but 

with different audiences. 

TOWER 

PICTURES 

CO 

302 S. Norwood Dallas, Tex. 

Proudly announces 

the appointment of 

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Exhibitors, why not stop by and see Walter? He will be happy 

to take care of your needs . . . For the best in reissues, see Tower. 

BASKETBALL FIX 

And now these new pictures — with more to come: 

THE BUSHWHACKERS 

S2 BETTOR PANCHO VILLA RETURNS 

BRIDE OF THE GORILLA 

EMPEROR'S NIGHTINGALE 

Models. Inc 


OKLAHOMA CITY 

. . . Republic 

/êorge Bannan of Tower Television FOms, 

who was an exploitation man for Warner 

Bros, until recently, was in town 

Pictures is planning to film a movie at 

Ft. Sill near Lawton in April based on the 

World War II story of the national guard 

and to be titled "Tlie Citizen Soldier." John 

T. Bourke, location manager, said the plot will 

evolve around a group of Oklahoma guardsmen 

receiving training at Ft. Sill and then 

going overseas into combat. 

Charley Guthrie of the Video home office 

was one of the individuals to sign up to furnish 

a room in the city's new YMCA building. 

Firms and individuals agreeing to furnish 

a dormitory in the new YMCA building 

will get their name on a door plaque . . . Dee 

Fuller, a former theatreman who is now 

the head man at the Municipal auditorium, 

reports attendance at all functions is up and 

bookings for next year are keeping pace. During 

1950-51, the auditorium took in about 

$112,000, he said, adding indications are that 

revenue in this fiscal year, ending June 30, 

will top that mark. He figured total attendance 

at conventions and expositions held 

in the building to be around the 300,000 mark. 

C. H. "Buck" Weaver, Paramount manager 

and chief barker of Variety Tent 22, was reelected 

second vice-president of the Oklahoma 

County Health Ass'n. The Variety Club provides 

the heaJth center, rent free, for the 

association. Among the other officers reelected 

was Charles Hudgens, U-I manager, 

who is to serve again as treasurer , . . Two 

theatres held Leap year Sweetheart previews 

of "With a Song in My Heart." The shows 

for the "gals" to take their guys opened at 

11 p. m. February 29 in Cooper Foundation's 

Criterion here and in the Orpheum in Tulsa, 

a Downtown Theatres circuit situation. The 

film will open for a run in the former April 

12 and in the Orpheum April 17. 

TO BE SURE 



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Stepin Fetchit Stars 

At Phil Isley Party 

DALLAS—A group of showmen and their 

wives were guests at a party Saturday night 

123) given by Mr. and Mrs. Phil Isley. 

As a surprise, the Isleys had the noted 

Negro star Lincoln Perry, better known as 

Stepin Fetchit. to entertain. Fetchit was appearing 

at a local night spot. After 13 years 

he is again in pictures, appearing in "Bend 

of the River." He did his always-popular sadsack 

routine and for encore changed costumes 

and convulsed the guests with his zoot-suit 

character. His slow drawl in telling stories 

and his lazy .shuffle-dance were a big hit. 

Although 60 years old, Fetchit's act looks 

just as good as it did 30 years ago. He paid 

a tribute to the late Will Rogers who helped 

him in his early picture career. He said working 

with Jimmy Stewart in "Bend of the 

River" was almost like the good old days with 

Rogers. He also paid tribute to Isley who 

has helped in his staging a comeback. 

In the Isley party were Mr. and Mr-s. Claude 

Ezell, Ml-, and Mi-s. Hank Roob, Mr. and Mrs. 

C. D. Leon, Mr. and Mrs. Haywood Simmons 

and Hal Norfleet and friends. Beatrice Kay, 

currently at the Adolphus Century room, 

joined the party after her show. 

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Sponsor Veteran Visit 

CORPUS CHRISTI—Sam Stokes, city manager 

of Corpus Christi Theatres, recently 

.sijonsored the visits of Lieut. Harrol Klser 

and Lieut Wilber N. Herndon, mai'ine corps 

heroes of the Korean war, who spoke at a 

luncheon of the Lions club February 12. 

They also spoke over three local radio stations, 

and were here in behalf of the picture 

"Retreat, Hell!" which opened at the 

Centre February 17. 

Charles McCarty Dead 

YOAKUM, TEX.—Charles J. McCarty, local 

theatre executive, died from a heart attack 

in his office at the Grand Theatre about 

10 a. m., Sunday morning. February 10. Mc- 

Carty, who was only 45, was a native and 

had been associated with theatres here most 

of his life. For the past four years he had 

managed the Grand, Ritz and Sunset theatres. 

Marines at 'Retreat' 

CORPUS CHRISTI, TEX.^Sgt. Frank 

Franks, Sgt. Georg-e E. Frazier and Sgt. Mary 

Crompton, marine recruiters, were at the 

Centre Theatre tl-Lree nights during the showing 

of "Retreat, Hell!" 

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Circus Atmosphere 

Prevails for 'Show' 

OIVLAHA—Clowns, calliope, sideshow and 

big top featured the showing of "The Greatest 

Show on Earth" at the Paramount and put 

the whole town in a carnival spirit. 

Manager Don Shane arranged for a .sideshow 

in the lower lounge. The front of the 

theatre was bedecked with a tent-like canopy. 

And a calliope was brought in from Hastings, 

Neb., to add more circus flavor. 

Clowns paraded the streets selling tickets. 

The surrounding countryside was well plastered 

with bills proclaiming the presentation 

of "The Greatest Show." During the 

show five-minute intermissions permitted 

hawkers to parade up and down the aisles 

selling popcorn, peanuts and chewing gum. 

Mr. and Mrs. Luther Fuller of Hastings and 

their calliope have joined "The Greatest 

Show on Earth," at least for a while. The 

Hastings couple were hired to bring their 

equipment to Omaha for the showing of the 

movie at the Paramount. The idea proved so 

successful all the way around that the Fullers 

and calliope went on to the showing at Kansas 

City, then to Des Moines. 

A clown giving away balloons on a downtown 

street corner caused a near riot among 

women shoppers and children. 

And the five-minute intermission between 

shows was so well received, Miskell plans to 

continue the practice for one-feature showings. 

"It gives the people time to get settled, 

visit restrooms or stop at the concessions 

counter," he said. "They seem to be in a 

better frame of mind for the movie. And it 

also helps them to get in on the start of the 

film. Nothing can dull a picture like seeing 

the end first or missing the first part." 

$40,000 Estimated Loss 

In Brahctm Theatre Fire 

BRAHAM, MINN.—An estimated $30,000 to 

$40,000 loss resulted from the fire at the 

Park Theatre here early in February. The 

12:30 a. m. conflagration completely destroyed 

the building, w-hich was built by the late H. B. 

Smoots and Lowell Smoots in 1937. They 

operated the theatre until 1944, when they 

sold the property. 

The fire is thought to have been caused 

from an explosion, the initial blast of which 

sent the popcorn machine flying out into the 

street. Also thrown out by the concussion were 

the ticket box and a floor model radio in the 

lobby. Mr. and Mrs. Robert Alexander, owners 

of the theatre, had left after the .second 

show and were notified at their home. 

'Modern Minute Men' Film 

Shown in Minneapolis 

MINNEAPOLIS—Filmrow turned out en 

masse and there also was a large number 

of exhibitors present for the invitational preview 

of "Modern Minute Men," short subject 

produced by the Northwest Bell Telephone 

Co. in cooperation with the Minnesota 

civil defense organization. 

Exhibitors will show the picture as a public 

service. It is being distributed by Al Aved. 

opper 

drippings 

Des Moines Tent Inducts Officers 

DES MOINES—The Variety Club of Des 

Moines is situated in one of the smallest 

cities boasting a Variety group, but it is 

one of the oldest, having been founded 15 

years ago. Its charities are the Raymond 

Blank Memorial hospital and the YMCA 

Boys club near Johnston. William S. 

Beardsley, governor of Iowa, was the honored 

guest at the recent annual installation 

of officers. Nate Sandler, known as 

the granddaddy of the Des Moines tent, 

was awarded a plaque for his efforts in 

R. D. Hutchings Announces 

300-Car Portage Airer 

PORTAGE, WIS.-R. D. Hutchings, manager 

of the Portage and Home theatres here, 

announced the purchase of land near this 

city for the construction of an outdoor theatre 

by F. J. McWilliams and himself, Hutchings 

to be the manager. 

There will be a 60-foot screen tower with 

a 50-foot screen. Ramps for cars are to be 38 

feet apart, with speaker posts, each serving 

two cars, spaced at 18-foot intervals. There 

will be space for 500 cars ultimately, but, at 

the start, only 300 spaces will be provided. 

The start of construction will depend on the 

availability of material. The location on 

Highway 51 will also be accessible from Highway 

16. 

Glenn Slipper to Manage 

Des Moines, Omaha NTS 

OMAHA—Glenn Slipper has been appointed 

manager of the National Theatre Supply Des 

Moines branch in addition to his present position 

as head of the Omaha branch. 

Slipper, Variety Club first vice-president, 

has asked to be relieved of his duties as cochairman 

of the tent's membership drive 

committee and Meyer Stern, Hollywood Picture 

Corp., has agreed to serve with I. M. 

Weiner, Universal manager. Chief Barker 

Jack Renfro announced the drive would start 

at an early date. 

Cyrus B. Hagedone Dies 

LEXINGTON, NEB.—Funeral services were 

held here for Cyrus B. Hagedone, father of 

Walter Hagedone, Cozad, Neb., theatre operator 

and prominent civic leader. The elder 

Hagedone. 87, was the son of Nebraska settlers 

and had lived in the county nearly all 

his life. 

building the organization. Marc J. Wolf, 

Variety International chief, and William C. 

McCraw, executive director, spoke at the 

ceremony. Left to right in the photo are 

Wolf, Chief Barker Milton Feinberg of 

Tent 15, Sandler, McCraw, Governor 

Beardsley, Meyer Stien of Omaha and Don 

Hicks, International canvasman. Officers 

who were inducted were Feinberg, president: 

Robert Conn and Leon Mendelson, 

vice-presidents: Russ Fraser, secretary, and 

Lou Lew, treasurer. 

Sam Pylet, 70, Operated 

Watertown Nickelodeon 

MILWAUKEE—Sam R. Pylet, oldtime Milwaukee 

theatre manager, died February 19 at 

the age of 70 in Illinois Ma.sonic hospital, 

Chicago, after a long illness. He sold his last 

hou.se here in 1937 and moved to Chicago, 

where he operated a candy store until illness 

forced his retirement in 1944. 

The Boston-born .showman came to Milwaukee 

as a child and opened the first nickelodeon 

at Watertown when he was a young 

man. In 1907 he returned here to manage the 

old Grand Theatre for five years. Then he 

operated the Murray, Strand and Astor theatres. 

In 1917, Pylet became manager of the 

old Columbia, where he staged legitimate 

and tab shows and, occasionally, some Yiddish 

repertory. 

Pylet built the Hollywood Theatre here in 

1926, his last active operation. He leaves his 

wife, two daughters, three sisters and a 

brother. 

Two Omaha Row Girls 

Married in February 

OMAHA—Helen Janicek, Republic cashier, 

and George Kurmel were married Saturday 

(23) at Assumption church, A wedding breakfast 

and reception at Bohemian National 

hall followed. Kurmel, in the navy reserve, is 

being recalled to Great Lakes May 5. 

Kathleen Uehle, Monogram stenographer, 

and Sgt. Samuel Knapp were married Valentine's 

day in a military wedding at Offutt 

air force base chapel and honeymooned in 

Ohio, visiting the sergeant's home town near 

Cleveland. Mrs. Knapp is from Danbury, 

Iowa. 

Wilfred Cline will photograph "The Story 

of Will Rogers" for Warner release. 

BOXOFFICE March 1, 1952 NC 83

. . Patria 

. . Dode 

OMAHA 

Jolmny Trude, Paramount booker for several of "The Harlem Globetrotters" at the Omaha 

years, has been named office manager and and "Death of a Salesman," scheduled at the 

head booker at Columbia . . . Former Omaha Brandeis soon . 

Kosiut, MGM cashier, 

was one of five members of the Omaha 

radio announcer Charlie Dugdale was master 

of ceremonies for the grand premiere of Sports club who trekked to Colorado for skiing 

at Loveland pass and Cooper Hill, and 

•Quo Vadis" in Hollywood and a tape recording 

was made for Charlie's mother. Mi-s. C. almost got caught in a snowstorm . . . Evelyn 

F. Dugdale of Omaha. 

Cannon, MGM office manager, went back to 

school last week—to 'Walnut Hill kindergarten. 

Her daughter, Judy, took part in a 'Wash- 

RKO is keeping the steam up in the Ned 

Depinet drive and the Omaha office still is 

ington's birthday program. 

holding third place . . . RKO Office Manager 

Bill Laird helped at his 4-year-old son Billy's Don McLucas, United Artists manager, 

birthday party recently . . . RKO Manager spent part of last week in Des Moines meeting 

Max Rosenblatt went to Des Moines for a 

with circuit heads on coming pictm-es. 

McLucas said he was elated with comments 

conference with circuit heads . . . 

'Virginia 

Hansen, formerly in the office of William after a screening of "The African Queen" . . . 

Miskell, Tri-States district manager, now is Filmrow visitors included Leola Schuler, Humboldt; 

treasurer at the Omaha. 

Phil Lannon, 'West Point: Jack Cook, 

Falls City; Aj-nold Johnson. Onawa; Arnold 

Meierdirks. Pender; Earl Cowden, Sidney; 

Wade Manchester, Dow City; Kenneth Gregg, 

new owner at Avoca, Iowa, and Howard 

Brookings, Oakland, Iowa. 

"Uncle Lou" Weinberg of the Columbia 

home office. New York, captain of the company's 

special contest, visited two days in 

Omaha with Manager Joe Jacobs. Other New 

York Columbians in Omaha were Herbert 

Slote and George Haupert of the auditing department 

. . . District Manager M. A. Levy 

and his assistant Saul Malisow of Minneapolis 

were in Omaha for a meeting with 

20th-Fox salesmen. 

Warners scheduled a screening of "Lion 

and the Horse" March 19 and "Jack and the 

Beanstalk" April 2 . . . Ceil Wolback of the 

MOM staff has just won a bout with the flu. 

She recently scored a 481 series—103 pins 

over her average—in the Sokol 'Women's Bowl 

ing league . 

Mullin. MGM secretary 

to booker Johnny Jones, visited relatives at 

Creston, Iowa . . . Lois Schroeder, MGM ofncc, 

and Bob Conrad. Creighton university 

student, visited her parents at Wisner. 

Dale and Evelyn McNaab, who recently 

bought the Circle from the Epstein Amusement 

Co., are doing extensive remodeling and 

adding new equipment at the neighborhood 

house . . Jules Serkowich of Columbia's staff 

. 

is in Omaha in connection with the showing 

One of a series of Think 

Pieces obout improving 

your theatre and its 

equipment. 

RCA products are 

among the best to 

be had—buy wisely 

Jake Rachman, 'World-Herald critic, writing 

in his Sunday Stage and Screen column, 

said: "Here's the surest way of knowing if 

a certain theatre did good business on a certain 

day. Drop in late and if you see a floor 

almost devoid of popcorn, cartons and candy 

boxes, business hasn't been good. If business 

is big, you have to wade thi-ough the stuff" 

. . . Mi-s. Jack Jorgens, wife of the MGM 

salesman, returned to Omaha after an operation 

at the Abbot hospital in Minneapolis, 

her home town . . . Vince Flyn, MGM manager, 

spent two days in Des Moines. 

Jock Renfro Plans Party 

OMAHA—Jack Renfro of the Theatre Bookmg 

Service is giving a luncheon March 11 

at the Omaha Athletic club for all exhibitors 

in the territory on his list. A speaker 

will talk on conditions in the industry. 

copper drippings for defen 

Some Seats Suggest Carving 

Maybe juveniles resent old, 

wornouf seating! . 

Bad seating can start bad boys on cutting sprees tiiat I 

ore hard to stop. New seats with new advertising about I 

comfort, and you gain parents' interest and cooper- I 

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EMERGENGIES! 

When repairs are 

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I 

• 

' 

I 

— 

'Bend of River' Gross 

125 in Twin Cities 

MINNEAPOLIS—Despite the fact the 

Martin and Lewis stage show was breaking 

all boxoffice records at the 4,000-seat Radio 

City, the Orpheum's "Bend of the River" 

came through with a surprisingly fine gross. 

It 'ivas one of only two important straight 

film newcomers. The other was "Invitation" 

which fared only moderately -well. 

Century—Phone Call From a Stronger (20th-Fox), 

2ndv'k 90 

Gopher -Red Skies oi Montana (20th-rox), Znd wk, 80 

Lyric—The Sellout (MGM), Shadow in the Sky 

- 

(MGM) 

Orphfum—Bend oi the River (U-I) 

90 

125 

Chicago Calling (UA) . 80 

Flying Dutchman (MGM), 

Pan—The Big 

Pix Pandora 

Night (UA), 

and the 

2nd run - 

100 

Radio City-Reunion in Reno (U-I), plus stage 

show 300 

State—Invitation (MGM) - 90 

World—The Lavender Hill Mob (U-I), 2nd wk 140 

Week 

'Quo Vadis' First 

Hits 175 in Chicago 

CHICAGO—"Quo Vadis" is establishing a 

new record at the Oriental Theatre with great 

business day after day. It did over $70,000 the 

first week. Its percentage was 175. "The 

Medium" and "The 'Whistle at Eaton Falls" 

each scored 115 per cent and "The Small 

Back Room" and "Death of a Salesman" 

(third week) each clicked 110. The new double 

bill of "Boots Malone" and "Indian Uprising" 

was over average vrith 105, while 

"Tales of Hoffmann" was still strong in its 

fifth week. 

"Lone Star," with Lon Chaney in person 

on the stage, did an average second week. 

RKO's Palace and Grand theatres are still 

dark due to labor trouble. 

Chicago—Lone Star (MGM), plus stage show, 

2nd wk 100 

Carnegie—The Whistle at Eaton Falls (Col) 115 

McVickers- Detective Story (Para); The Wild 

Blue Yonder (Rep), 5th d,t, wk 105 

Oriental—Quo Vadis (MGM) _ 175 

Roosevelt—Boots Malone (Col); Indian Uprising 

(Col) 105 

State Lake—Submarine Command (Para); Silver 

City (Para), 2nd wk 100 

Suri—The Medium (Lopert) 115 

United Artists—Native Son (Classics); The Girl 

on the Bridge (20th-Fox), 2nd wk 105 

Woods—Death oi a Salesman (Col), 3rd wk 110 

World Playhouse—The Small Back Room 

(Snader) 

HO 

Ziegfeld—Tales of Hoffmann (Lopert), 5th wk HO 

'Sailor' Continues Strong 

At 120 in Omaha 

OMAHA—The Orpheum topped the field 

for the second week with "Sailor Beware." 

hitting the 120 per cent mark. Close behind 

came "Room for One More" at the Paramount, 

which chalked up 115 per cent and 

earned a shift to the Omaha for a second 

week. 'Weather generally remained the Mayin-Pebruary 

variety. 

Brandeis-A Girl in Every Port (RKO) 95 

Omaha—Aladdin and His Lamp (Mono); The Steel 

Fist (Mono) 85 

Orpheum—Sailor Bewore (Para); Elephant 

Stampede (Mono), 2nd wk 20 

Paramount— Room for One More (WB) 115 

State—The Strange Door (U-I); Purple Heart 

Diary (Col) 100 

Town—The Flame of Paris (Hoffberg); Voodoo 

Man (HP); Lawless Cowboy (Mono) 100 

Merle Bums Improves Sun 

EMERY. S. D.—Merle Burns, manager of 

the Sun Theatre, has improved the house's 

heating system this winter and installed a 

I 

I large blower. It was relocated in the base- 

_! ment to alleviate auditorium noise. 

84 


. . The 

. . 

Northwest Tent to Fete 

Anderson and Berger 

MINNEAPOLIS — Northwest Variety Club 

will honor its former three-time head, Art 

Anderson, Warner district manager, and new 

Chief Barker Bennie Berger, circuit owner, 

at a banquet at the Hotel Nicollet March 17. 

State and local dignitaries, including the 

governor, and Twin cities newspaper publishers 

will be the club's guests. There will be 

orchestra music and other entertamment. A 

program of brief talks will be limited to one 

hour's duration. Tickets at $10, available at 

the club, will cover beverages and the dinner. 

Anderson played the leading part during his 

incumbencies in engineering the raising of 

$500,000 for the club's heart hospital project. 

Union Halts Picketing 

To Permit Stage Play 

OSHKOSH, WIS.—Union members stopped 

picketing the Grand Theatre here to permit 

the Oshkosh Community Players to present 

"Uncle Harry," a stage play. A spokesman 

for lATSE Local 167 said picketing would be 

resumed when fibns were again shown at the 

theatre. 

Picketing was ordered by the union to protest 

the firing of two union projectionists. 

Tony Polonka Charged 

In Shelby Theatre Fire 

SHELBY, NEB.—Tony Polanka, who with 

his mother operated the Shelby Theatre here, 

has been charged with arson following a fire 

at the theatre. He waived a preliminary 

hearing and was taken to the Platte county 

jail at Columbus. 

County Attorney Philip Nyberg said Polanka 

had signed a statement admitting he 

had set fire to the theatre. The building 

was not badly damaged. 

Iowa-Nebraska Allied 

Confab Set April 15, 16 

OMAHA—The Iowa-Nebraska Allied annual 

convention will be held at the Fontenelle 

hotel here April 15, 16, not April 22, 23 as 

previously reported. Elmer Huhnke, Allied 

treasurer, is convention chairman and in 

charge of reservations. 

MINNEAPOLIS 

Timmy Nederlander, Lyceum manager, visited 

with his parents in Detroit. While he 

was away the legitimate theatre's back stage 

was refui'bished, dressing rooms painted and 

a new stage cover and apron installed . . . 

Bennie Berger, circuit owner who recently returned 

from Hawaii, will take a second vacation, 

visiting California and Arizona . . . Dave 

Rosen got in from New York to beat the 

drum for "Death of a Salesman," which follows 

"The Lavender Hill Mob" into the World 

here. He's a brother of Eph Ro.sen, MOM 

assistant manager and Twin cities salesman. 

. 

Feeling fine, Harry B. French, Minnesota 

Amusement Co. president, who spent a few 

days in the hospital under observation and 

at home, is now on a three-week Florida vacation 

. . . M. A. Levy and Sol Malisow, 20th- 

Fox district manager and his assistant, were 

in Omaha this week for a sales meeting . 

"Pandora and the Flying Dutchman" ran 

three weeks at the St. Paul World, a considerable 

accomplishment for any picture in 

Exhibitors visiting Filmrow 

that city . . . 

included Frank Kinas, Thorp. Wis.; G. 

Compston. Sleepy Eye, Minn.; Reinhold Ladner, 

Dodge Center, Minn., and Henry Human, 

Veblen, S. D. MAC Capitol, Aberdeen, 

S. D., and the Aster, St. Paul, are being 

redecorated by Sebco, Minneapolis. 

During: the Martin and Lewis engagement 

at Radio City the past week, the theatre 

kept two boxoffice windows in continuous 

operation and had five girls, instead of the 

usual one, behind the candy and popcorn 

counters. It's estimated the theatre increased 

its average recent sale of refreshments 20 

times. The Martin and Lewis deal called for 

50 per cent of the gross from the first dollar 

and it is estimated they left with $30,000 to 

$40,000 for their end of the engagement. In 

addition to themselves, they provided and 

paid for the rest of the stage show, including 

three other acts, orchestra conductor Dick 

Stabile and the latter's own drummer and 

DON'T WAIT 

pianist and 15 other musicians recruited locally 

and comprising the stage band. 

Northwest Variety Club is holding a general 

meeting Monday (3) to discuss activities for 

the rest of the year and a plea has gone 

forth to members to be present. The club 

also has started another gin rummy tournament 

... "A Streetcar Named Desire" goes 

into the RKO Orpheum here March 21 for 

its first regular price run. It also has been 

awarded similarly to the St. Paul RKO 

Orpheum. 

, . . 

Jack Schlaifer, Realai-t Pictures vice-president 

and general sales manager, visited his 

local distributor, Don Swartz 

"For Men Only" goes into 

. 

the 

. . Lippert's 

MAC's first 

Pat Halloran, 

run Lyric here March 19 . . . 

former Minneapolis film salesman now with 

20th-Fox in Omaha, was in an auto crash 

but emerged with only minor injuries 

Lou Weinberg, Columbia's midwest division 

sales captain, held a pep meeting here this 

week to give impetus to the sales drive. He 

The ninth 

also met with local exhibitors . . . 

week of the Ned Depinet sales drive found 

the local RKO branch in sixth place nationally. 

BOOK IT 

WAHOO is 

NOW!!! 

the world's most thrilling 

screen ganie. NoW being used 

successFully by hundreds oF indoor 

and outdoor theatres all over Am.ierica. 

Send (or complete details. Be sure 

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Hollywood' Amusement Co. 


Variety Shifts Date 

OMAHA—Because of conflict in schedules 

the Variety Club general meeting the last 

of February was changed to March 17, St. 

Patrick's day. A dinner session is slated at 

the Blackstone hotel.

. . . New 

. . Carl 

. . M. 

. . 

. . 

MILWAUKEE 

Chowmen in this area should be happy to 

learn that "Milwaukee is no lowbrow theatre 

town." Such, at least, was the prevailing 

opinion at the windup of the Theta Sigma 

. . . The 

Phi, profe'siona! joi-rnalism sorority, meeting 

held at the Milwaukee Pi-ess club 

"Best Movie of 1951 Editor," care of the Capital 

Times. Madison, was swamped with mail, 

relative to the "You Can Be a Movie Critic" 

gimmick. Theatre managers of Madison, Middleton 

and Sun Prairie contributed theatre 

tickets, which were awarded as prizes. 

Last count was 41 theatres in the Milwaukee 

area to which the kiddies could go for a nickel 

—February 15-March 29—and a label from 

a "jar of swell-tasting Planters Peanut Butter." 

Milwaukee's Jack Carson devoted one and 

one-half minutes of his television network 

time at the end of the All-Star Revue to 

urge his former neighbors in this area to 

donate blood. The Milwaukee Journal's TV 

station started a movement which has mushroomed 

throughout the entire country. Five 

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thousand pints of blood are sought for the 

armed forces in Korea. Jack lent a hand, 

adding: "I know Milwaukee people won't let 

us down." 

MGM's "Quo Vadis" at the Towne has 

opened up a vast number of e.xploitation possibilities. 

The Milwaukee County Historical 

society came up with one of the original 

translations done at what is now known as 

Greendale by Jeremiah Curtin. Curtin spoke 

more than 40 languages and rates in these 

parts. There is a movement to make a shrine 

out of his old tumble-down home. Theodore 

Mueller, curator at the public library, loaned 

some priceless antiques of the "Quo Vadis" 

era to tiein with the big exploitation program. 

Mike Weinstein, who has been out of the 

theatre for a few years, took over the Oakland 

Theatre from Fox-Wisconsin to begin 

where he left off. He has Family nights every 

Tuesday and Wednesday at 21 cents plus 

and says he expects to have a kiddy matinee 

program in operation soon . Kelley, 

Tower manager, has a weakness for interesting 

his patrons in projection room equipment. 

He displays various parts in the labby for 

inspection. His assistant George Habhegger is 

now with the marines. He started as an usher 

three years ago and worked up to assistant. 

National Theatre Supply has received a 

shipment of lawn furniture, settee and chairs. 

Drop in and loaf to your heart's content . 

Dick Satschel, screen resurfacing engineer, 

has been sending "wish you were here" cards 

from Mexico. Dick is one of the big guns 

with the Harlem Globetrotters' aggregation. 

The Trotters' next stop is Honolulu . A. 

Levy, 20th-Fox division manager, dropped in 

for his routine visit. 

Universal publicity man Ed Borgan was in 

GOLDEN HULLESS POPCORN 

SILVER HULLESS POPCORN 

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POPCORN BAGS 

Price list upon request. Also samples. 

PRUNTY POPCORN DIVISION 

20 N. 2nd St.. SI. Louis 2. Mo. 

Popcorn Processors—In Our 77th Year. 

U-I salesman here is Lew Breyer . . . 

The Ray Smith Co. has been furnishing 

the big Allen Bradley Mfg. Co. here with all 

its spotlight equipment and even sent some 

material up to Fond du Lac for the firm . 

Benny Benjamin, Screen Guild-Realai-t boss 

here, is so busy in the Milwaukee area he 

hasn't had a chance to get caught up on his 

out-of-town calls lately. 

Nod department: To Donna Borchert, Sturgeon 

Bay: Each year over 6,000 migrant 

workers are brought in from all parts of the 

country to pick cherries from the world's 

largest cherry orchards. The season is short. 

HANDY SUBSCRIPTION ORDER

Drive-In. 

. . Mary 

. . Allan 

Thealre Owners Corp. 

Elects Willis Vance 

CINCINNATI—Theatre Owners Corp.. 

buying, booking and service organization for 

motion picture theatres, held its annual meeting 

of stockholders at the Sheraton-Gibson 

hotel here recently and elected Willis Vance 

as president for the coming year. 

Others elected; Charles W. Ackerman, first 

vice-president; Maurice Chase, second vicepresident: 

Louis Wiethe, treasurer; Herman 

Himt, secretary, and Rex A. Carr, general 

manager and assistant secretary-treasurer. 

Completing the list of directors are John 

Hewett, Bethel; Elstun Dodge, Mount Washington; 

Mrs. M. M. Weinig, Cincinnati; 

Manny Marcus, Indianapolis; Jerome Kunz. 

Cincinnati, and Sante Macci, Greenville. 

Now in its sixth year of operation and 

representing 50 theatres in Ohio, Kentucky 

and West Virginia, Theatre Owners Corp. has 

grown to be of great assistant not only to 

the exhibitor but also to the fUmgoing public 

in bringing to the theatres the tjije of entertainment 

the entire family enjoys. 

United Detroit Circuit 

Shifts 13 Managers 

DETROIT—A number of managerial appointments 

have been confirmed by United 

Detroit Theatres for city and suburban 

houses, led off by two on the distaff side. 

Marie Olcese. former manager of the Norwest, 

replaced Ben Johnson as manager of 

the Alger, and Jennie Schoppe, former assistant 

at the Fisher, was upped to manager 

of the Varsity, replacing William Pitts, who 

goes to the Mel in Melvindale. William Cadmus 

from the Mel takes over the Rosedale 

in place of Ted Maiberger. Thayne Lentz, a 

newcomer, succeeded John Bies as manager 

of the Bloomfield in Birmingham. 

Among assistant managers, Frank Morbitzer 

of the Fisher replaced Paul Widdis at 

the Michigan, w'ith Widdis going to the Madison 

to replace Lenore Young, who moved into 

the Fisher vacancy. Steve Simon, a newcomer, 

went into the Palms-State, replacing 

Allen Dickie, who took the other Fisher 

vacancy. 

Donald Fi'ushour, assistant at the Norwest, 

replaced William Collins at the Regent, with 

Robert George of the publicity department 

going into the Norwest. 

Ray Morrison Elected 

TOLEDO—Ray L. 

Morrison, executive vicepresident 

of the DeVilbiss Co., has been elected 

president of the Northwestern Ohio Industrial 

council, succeeding Jules D. Lippmann, 

president of the Textileather Corp., 

who was the council's first president. The 

council was organized in 1950 to provide a 

fact finding and evaluating organization for 

the diversified industries of the Toledo area. 

Three Sign for Bookings 

GRAND RAPIDS—Independent Exhibitors 

Theatre Service, headed by Clive R. Waxman 

of Grand Rapids, has taken over booking and 

buying for three upstate houses—R. Curtis 

Guthrie's Lona, Mancelona; Jack Wilsterman's 

Kent. Cedar Springs, and E. C. Loomis' 

State at Elk Rapids. 

New Faces Award Winners 

To Be Guests in Detroit 

DETROIT—The winners of first and second 

places in the first New Faces Going Places 

contest, Jeff Chandler and Piper Laurie, will 

be guests of honor at an award presentation 

linicheon March 26. Event will be held at the 

new Veterans Memorial building, with Universal 

bringing its two stars in especially for 

the occasion. 

The awards are based on popular vote in 

a contest conducted by Helen Bower, film 

editor of the Detroit Free Pi-ess, with the 

industry arrangements handled by Alice Gorham 

of United Detroit Theatres. 

The judges are shown in the photo, left to 

right; Mrs. John R. Miller, state motion 

picture chairman for the International Federation 

of Catholic Alumni; Adolph Goldberg, 

Community Theatres, and the assistant director 

of the Detroit Children's Center. 

Nightingales Hold Party 

DETROIT— Series of major activities is 

under way for the Nightingale club, after the 

annual party Monday (25) at the Labor Temple 

at midnight. 

1,200 Films lo Video 

In $250,000 Deal 

DETROIT—The biggest video film deal in 

local history and one of the biggest ever 

made by any station was completed by 

WXYYZ-TV. involving a package deal for 

1,200 films, at a film rental in excess of 

$250,000. Six different groups of films were 

involved, including some of comparatively recent 

vintage and of outstanding production 

caliber, as well as an assortment of westerns, 

mysteries, and adventure pictures. 

These films embrace such outstanding features 

as The Story of GI Joe, Open City, 

Street Scene, The Chase, City Limits, Trocadero. 

Rain, As You Like It. Desert Victory, 

Turnabout, The Iron Duke, The Greeks Had 

a Word for It, the famous Topper series. The 

Battle and many others. 

Rights run for one and two years on different 

groups involved, and include exclusive 

rights to repeat showings during this period. 

Top films will be largely reserved for Motion 

Picture Academy, sponsored by Rose Jewelry 

Co. through W. B. Doner & Co., at 11 p. m. 

Sundays and 11;15 p. m. Fridays—the two 

top listening nights, for this type of entertainment. 

Unique kickoff is scheduled for Friday (29) 

when the Rose Co. is waiving its rights to 

commercial spots, with the time to be u.sed 

for dramatic pleas for Red Cross blood donors. 

Film will be "The Story of GI Joe," .said to 

be the most expensive picture yet offered on 

video, with film rental believed to be close 

to $2,000. 

CINCINNATI 

TTera-Ellen. MGM dancing star and a former 

local girl, appeared at the Palace last 

week in behalf of "The Belle of New York," 

which was to open at the Palace on the 27th. 

She visited the Norwood high school, where 

she once was a student, and was presented a 

huge birthday cake. 

Walter Dills has joined Lippert as salesman 

in Kentucky and West Virginia. He 

formerly managed the West Theatre in 

Charleston. Jack Frisch, Lippert manager, 

was in Dayton and Columbus calling on exhibitors 

. . . Joseph A. McKnight is the new 

Kentucky salesman for Paramount, succeeding 

Patrick Newbury, who resigned . . . 

Ray 

RUS.SO. Paramount booker, has joined 20th- 

Fox as salesman in Kentucky, replacing Sam 

Weiss, transferred to the Columbus territory. 

Many exhibitors visited Filmrow, including 

J. B. Steadman. Marietta, Ohio; Garland 

Jones, who is preparing to reopen his drivein 

at Franklin. Ky.; Ray Frisz and Bill Settos. 

Springfield; Fred Donohoo. New Boston: 

Charles Crago, Chillicothe; Charles Scott, 

Vevay, Ind.: Charles Williams, Oxford: Clarence 

Brown, Jackson Center: Foster Lane, 

Three Percentage Suits 

DAYTON—Three percentage suits have 

been filed here in U.S. district court against 

Sante Macci and Rolland Macci, doing business 

as Macci Bros., by Universal-International, 

United Ai-tists and Paramount. The 

actions involve the Wayne Theatre, Greenville. 

Ohio. 

Williamsburg. Ky.: Kenneth Williams, Paintsville, 

Ky.; Paul Espel, Salem. W. Va.; Jim 

Herb, Dayton: Mi', and Mrs. Nick Halkias. 

Whitesville, W. Va.; W. B. Hannah, South 

Shore. Ky.; C. F. Pfister, Troy: Sam Scheidler. 

Hurricane. W. Va.; J. S. Joseph. Salem. 

W. Va.. and Charles Behlen. Lexington. Ky. 

Bab Harrell of Cleves. Ohio, w-ent to Florida 

to fish during March and April . . . Theatre 

Owners Corp. has added tw-o theatres to 

their booking and buying service: the Montgomery 

I Ohio 1 owned by Phil Smith 

of Boston, and the Swan Theatre, Fedscreek, 

Ky., owned by Rowland Rowe. 

. . . 

Eva Joesting, Lippert cashier, spent last 

weekend in Chicago . Klag, mother 

of Mary Klag of Midw-est Theatre Supply, 

died at her home recently. She was 69 

Roy Waller, New Concord exhibitor, reports 

he suffered a small loss by fire in the appliance 

store he operates there . . . Fred Rowlands. 

Columbus exhibitor, entered the hospital 

for an operation . Moritz. local 

exhibitor, reports his son Allan jr. and wife 

recently became parents of a baby daughter. 

their second child. 

BOXOFFICE March 1, 1952 ME 87

. . . Sam 

. . Bill 

. . 

. . Harry 

. . Max 

. . James 

. . Wally 

. . Anthony 

. . 

D E T O I T 

pdvvard J. Bonnville, manager of the Dexter, 

checks on neighborhood show business 

by the number of cars in the parking lots 

Brown, circuit operator for 25 years, 

is virtually out of show business with the 

closing of the Grand in Highland Park . 

Irving Belinsky, circuit owner, and his entire 

family, weekended at Great Lakes naval 

station in Illinois, where his son is stationed 

Ronald Boyer, son of Al Boyer of 

. . . Cinema Service, is the new manager of the 

Eastwood in East Detroit, succeeding Jack 

Gardner, who leased the Romeo. 

Ted Szypulski of the Conant tried out a 

new dish deal, giving patrons a choice of 

two kinds of dishes. He reports a very nice 

business pickup . Bradley, formerly of 

the Russell, has taken over the American Legion 

new assignment for Theatrical Post 

from Wayne Roberts of the Virginia . . Bill 

. 

Green, formerly of the staff at the Bagley, 

has taken over management of the Virginia, 

replacing Edward Terris, who is busy with a 

production job. 

. 

Nick Brozovich, formerly of the Nortown, 

is a partner with Thomas W. Ryan in the 

new ownership of the Franklin. Robert 

Juckett, formerly of the Jefferson, is the new 

operator Nott, formerly assistant 

at the Royal, is now manager of the Mercury, 

replacing Don Breen . . . Maude Van Orsdall 

is new assistant at the Royal . Mansfield 

is filling in a few days a week at the 

Royal booth until the house is reassigned. 

Cass Newell of the Cinderella has left for 

Clyde Wixom, former 

a southern trip . . . 

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finishes, there are plastic covered junction boxes 

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You'll find other outstanding features such as: 

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CONCESSION SIGNALS ... two types available. 

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Allen Johnson Named 

Teni 27 Chief Barker 

GRAND RAPIDS—Allen Johmon, currently 

national director for Allied Theatres of Michigan, 

has been elected chief barker of Grand 

Rapids Variety Tent 27. Other new officers 

are: assistants, Jack Loeks, Midtown, Beltline 

and Division drive-ins, and Charles 

Bissell; doughguy, Walter Fisher, Galewood 

and Stocking: property master, Clive R. Waxman, 

head of Independent Exhibitors Theatre 

Service. 

manager of the Columbia, was down for the 

grand opening of "The Greatest Show on 

Earth," appearing on television as owner of 

the Wixom Circus title. 

Joseph EIluI, now at the Sans Souci in 

Fort Lauderdale, reports the weather fine and 

Eddie Loye, new 

sailfish really biting . . . 

champion of the Film Bowling league, offers 

advice—"Don't force the ball on the downswing—let 

it get its speed from the normal, 

Al Westaway 

natural swing of your arm" . . . 

sent greetings from Hollywood, Fla., via the 

latest returnee, Ernie Forbes 

Edward Waddell and his 

. . . 

cohorts 

Captain 

of the 

George Arthur team turned on the heat in 

the Nightingale league, but were unable to 

wilt Lorenzen's Flowers, who took all four 

points. 

Joseph Lee was host for screenings of "Five 

Fingers" Wednesday, followed by "Lydia 

Bailey" on Monday . 

A. Swarga 

of Nu-Way Popcorn Sales has been spending 

a couple of weeks at the Mayo clinic, Rochester, 

Minn. . H. Parks of the Vogue 

booth recounts 25 managers for the house in 

the 15 years he has been there . . . Roger M. 

Kennedy, lATSE vice-president, is reported a 

little better, still confined to his home. 

Kenneth Guibord, out of the army after 

his second period of service, is the new booker 

for Paramount. Hank Dudek and John Lawrence 

have left the booking desk there . . . 

George Juckett of the Crystal is back after 

several weeks with a roadshow in the southern 

and eastern states, closing in Jacksonville. 

His son Robert of the Jefferson is moving to 

a new home . Mazur, former manager 

of the Ave, has moved to Inglewood, 

Calif., where he is taking a special course. 

He plans to return here for a visit in July. 

. 

John Schuyler, Delft circuit executive, flew 

in for the big Allied Theatres meeting 

Your scribe's appearance with crutch and 

cane can be blamed on a hole in the sidewalk 

worn by the recent crowds rushing into Dave 

Idzal's emporium of amusement . . . Harold 

Morrison of Universal and Jack Saxe of 

Monogram held down their offices singlehanded 

on the Washington's birthday hohday. 

TO BE SURE 





. . Frank 

. . Oscar 

. . Charles 

. . Joe 

. . Jerry 

. . Horace 

. . 

. . Women 

. . Loew's 

. . Milton 

Third House Acquired 

On A&W Anniversary 

DETROIT—Completion of the first year of 

operation of the A&W Theatres was marked 

by acquisition of a third house, the Parltside, 

first venture of the circuit on the east side. 

Plans for fm-ther expansion by acquiring additional 

theatre properties are in the making, 

according to Ai-thur Weisberg, active head of 

the organization. Associated with him as 

partners are Benjamin and Mitchell Fishman. 

The Parkside deal does not involve the 

bowling alley and tavern formerly operated 

under a joint management under the direction 

of Mike Basone. Owners of the house 

were Agnes Alper. Irving Dworman and Florence 

Seyburn. 

Thomas Beeton, manager of the Senate, 

will move over to manage the new house, 

which has not had a manager since the death 

of Lewis Stavale in an auto crash several 

months ago. Only policy change to be made 

at this time will be a switch to earlier openings 

on matinees, Saturdays, Sundays and 

holidays. 

Three More Theatres 

Closed in Detroit 

DETROIT—Tliree more Detroit and one 

upstate house have given up the ghost, at 

least temporarily, and gone dark, with no 

plans for reopening in sight. At Elkton, the 

William J. Schulte circuit closed the Star. 

The three city houses are the Jefferson, 

recently taken over by Sam Carver circuit, 

which now is reduced to one house, the Columbia: 

Stanley, operated by Joseph Oleszkowicz. 

and the Lakeview in suburban St. Clair 

Shores, which was reopened Christmas week 

by Community Theatres. 

WANTED 

THEATRE MANAGERS 

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Year round Salary for Both 

Experience and References necessary. 

Enclose Photo with Application. 

All information confidential. 

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CLEVELAND 

Toe Goldstein, who has been in the advertising 

business since he left Schine's booking 

department, is back in the industry as buyerbooker 

for Ohio Drive-In Management Co. 

He takes the job vacated by Tony Stern, who 

resigned to become an automobile distributor 

in the Pittsburgh area . Wechsler, 

Warner manager, is a grandfather for the 

fir.st time. A daughter was born to Mrs. 

Leonard Wechsler, who lives in McKeesport, 

Pa. Mrs. Wechsler is a daughter of the late 

M. A. Ro.senberg, onetime president of Allied 

of Western Pennsylvania. The elder Wechslers 

went to McKee-sport to meet the new arrival. 

Jimmy Ochs is now a marine, stationed at 

Parris Island, N. C. The youngest son of 

Herbert Ochs. drive-in circuit operator, was 

inducted into the service on February 15 and 

immediately assigned to the leathernecks . 

Lou Ratener of the Magic City Drive-In, 

Barberton, and the Skyview Drive-In, Norwalk, 

has returned from California where he 

has been since Christmas . Shock 

is reopening his Lima and Gloria drive-ins, 

Lima, on March 14. 

Bernie Rubin of Imperial Pictures is on a 

ten-day business trip in New York attending 

a flock of conventions, including Realart, 

Favorite, Allied and Mutual, all of whose pictures 

he distributed in northern Ohio. He 

e.xpects to see Mutual's new picture, "Models, 

Inc.," starring Howard Duff, John Howard 

and Coleen Grey . Slavik of Mount 

Gilead and Wellington, canceled the Saturday 

(231 kiddy show at the Capitol, Mount 

Gilead, because of the local flu epidemic . . . 

Louis Gross of Central Shipping is in Florida 

deep sea fishing . . . M. B. Horwitz, general 

manager of the Washington circuit, shared 

birthday honors February 22 with George 

Washington. 

Bob Bial of Luthi Sign Co., chairman of the 

Film building Red Cross committee has named 

Annette Cohen and Leah Appel, both of Columbia, 

and Mary Maxwell of Modern Theatres, 

as his assistants . . . Al Ploenes notified 

the exchanges that the Orpheum, Akron, 

. . . Another 

is closed until further notice 

casualty is the McKinley, Niles, belonging to 

the Robins circuit . . . Jane Toth Beers, former 

secretary to Warner Manager Jerry 

Wechsler, is the mother of a little girl born 

at Huron Road hospital . . . Lee Lefton of 

Academy Film Service and her husband Gilbert 

are leaving March 11 for a three- week 

stay in Mexico . Adelman. NSS 

shipper, and his family spent the long weekend 

driving to Washington. 

Local exchanges were closed all day on 

Washington's birthday. A few offices were 

open part-time . Mason, transferred 

here from Pittsburgh, where he was 

short subject booker, succeeds Dave Yellen 

in the Warner Theatres booking department. 

Yellen resigned to join a local department 

store as accountant . Longo, RKO exploitecr 

who has been in the east for the last 

month working on "Snow White," is back 

in the territory . . . Dick Hedglen, MGM 

booker, is another local filmite who shared 

the spotlight with George Washington on 

Marie Roessell, Universal 

February 22 . . . 

cashier, entertained members of her family 

over the weekend. 

Filmrow visitors included Mike Hendrach. 

Mingo, Mingo Junction; Larry Circosta, Ritz, 

Shadyside; Mrs. Carl Duncan, Duncan, Killbuck; 

Blair Russell, Russell. Miller.sburg, who 

reports his new baby is doing fine; Jack 

Armstrong, general manager of the Schwyn 

circuit; Glenn Pliehman, Woodsfield and 

Caldwell theatre owner . State will 

present the first stage show of the year the 

week of March 21. Headliners will be Tony 

Bennett and Tony Ai'den. 

Mount Vernon barred children from theatres 

over the weekend. Rea.son: a flu and 

common cold epidemic . Mooney 

of Cooperative Theatres of Ohio was in Buffalo 

to attend the formal reopening of his 

branch buying-booking office which Myron 

Gross is heading . attending the 

ITO convention in Cleveland May 19, 20 will 

have an opportunity to see what makes a big 

department store tick. Bob Wile, ITO secretary 

arranged with Halle Bros. Co. for a luncheon 

and a backstage tour of the store, with 

every guest receiving a Halle charge-a-plate. 

Wile, on a recent trip to Cleveland, said he 

soon will announce names of outstanding industry 

representatives as convention speakers. 

Republic District Manager John P. Curtin 

was in town conferring with local Manager 

Irwin Pollard on Republic product in general 

and "The Quiet Man" in particular . . . Present 

plans call the opening of "The Greatest 

Show on Eartli" at the Stillman at the end 

of the 15th week of "Quo Vadis." Policy will 

be the same as for "Quo Vadis," 90 cents for 

matinees and $1.50 for evenings . . . Mrs. 

Katherine Mack, former UA inspector and 

mother of NSS's Hazel Mack, is in St. Vincent's 

Charity hospital undergoing treatment. 

Michigan Agents Elect 

DETROIT—New officers elected by the 

Michigan Ass'n of Theatrical Agents are 

Peter J. lodice, president; Mike Falk, Betty 

Bryden, vice-presidents; Harry Lee, secretary, 

and Al Rice, treasurer. Installation was 

held February 27 at the annual banquet. 

Important Announcement to 

Theatre Owners 

ARGUS, INC 

PAUL SCHOLZ ond JIM EDWARDS 

owners 

Offer the finest 35mm ond 16mm equipment 

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. . Charles 

. . Joe 

: 

— 

COLUMBUS 

'The Dixie, 500-seat west side house operated 

by Charles G. and Delton R. Taylor, is 

the tenth local house to close since the end 

of World War II. The Dixie is the oldest 

neighborhood theatre in Columbus, having 

been opened 45 years ago by the late A. Taylor. 

The building will be sold . . . Mark C. 

Bowman, former manager of a Fox West 

Coast theatre at San Bernardino, Calif., has 

been appointed manager of the Uptown, local 

THiA TRE 

FOR SALE- 

Here is a rare opportunity to purchase 

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Can realize a profit of $10,000 to 

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Includes all excellent equipment, 

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There has to be a good reason for 

selling, and there is. 

IF 

INTBRSSTED 

CONTACT 

H. G. BERNSTEIN 

1401 CENTER AVE. 

BAY CITY, 

BpOK IT 

WAHOO is 

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NOW!!! 

ihe world's most thrilling 

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successfully by hundreds oF indoor 



and give seating or car capacity. 



OUTSTANDING CRAFTSMANSHIP

Showman Wins Praise 

For Getting Out Vote 

PROVIDENCE—Albert J. Clarke, popular 

manager of the Majestic Theatre, one of the 

two local C&F houses, assisted in the campaign 

to line up a record-breaking number 

of eligible voters when the new permanent 

registration law went into effect, compelling 

all Rhode Islanders, whether real estate owners, 

personal property voters or plain, poll 

tax-paying citizens, to register in order to 

vote in next November's election. Clarke 

established a booth in his lobby where prospective 

voters could sign the books. 

By so doing, the showman gave considerable 

impetus to the campaign and a local 

newspaper took cognizance of his civic enthusiasm 

by .sending a photographer to the theatre 

and catching a group of patrons signing 

up. The photo appeared in all editions of the 

Bulletin, which also carried a detailed story 

of Clarke's activities. 

In addition to being a leading light in 

theatrical circles in New England, Clarke is 

known for his many charitable and civic undertakings. 

Every fund-raLsing campaign, 

whether for Red Cross, polio. Community 

Chest or Catholic Charities drive, has found 

the theatre manager planning, promoting and 

generously contributing to its success. His 

patriotism has brought about the enlistment 

of scores of servicemen. Whenever a film 

dealing with any branch of the service plays 

the Majestic, Clarke sets up a recruiting 

booth in the lobby and, to round out interest 

in matters military, has as many as 200 

servicemen as his personal guests. 

Tliis latest effort, promoting the registration 

of voters, has won him praise not only 

from all political parties but from city and 

state officials. 

Haverhill, Mass.. Building 

Sold to NY Interests 

HAVERHILL, MASS.—The block of offices 

and stores housing the Strand Theatre has 

been sold by the Puritan Amusement Enterprises 

to the Greeley-Ai'cade of 132 West 

31st St., New York City. It is understood 

that the transaction involves nearly $150,000. 

The property is assessed by the city at $136,- 

900. Louis Rothenberg heads the miritan 

group and had operated the Strand for nearly 

ten years before it was taken over last year 

by the Walnut Amusement Co. of Boston, 

consisting of the R&W circuit and George 

Markell. The latter group will continue to 

operate the Strand under the new owners. 

The street floors are occupied by Liggett 

Drug Co., Newman's clothing store and the 

Strand. The offices on the second floor are 

occupied by the Boston Mutual Life Insurance 

Co.; the Ca-simir-Brosky Studio of 

Music; Dr. Hai-old Lacaillade. dentist, and 

the Professional Woman's club. The newowners 

have not revealed any major changes 

in the property. Reports are that it was 

acquired by the New York interests for investment 

purposes. 

Worcester's 55th Film Year 

WORCESTER^Tliis year will be celebrated 

locally as the 55th anniversary of the 

first motion picture shown in Worcester. The 

film was the Jim Corbett-Bob Pitzsimmons 

fight. It was screened at the old Worcester 

Theatre for the first time on Aug. 30, 1897. 

Saul Shiffrin Resigns 

MGM New Haven Post 

NEW HAVEN— Saul Shiffrin. MGM booker 

here, resigned as of March 1 to become office 

manager and head booker for Columbia 

in Albany. Shiffrin started at MGM 11 

years ago as poster clerk. 

Philip Gravitz. manager, and other members 

of the staff here feted Shiffrin at a farewell 

party, and gave him a cash gift. Gloria 

Altieri, office managers secretary, with MGM 

here for the last ten years, has been promoted 

to succeed Shiffrin as booker, while Madeline 

Massare, biller, becomes secretary, and Barbara 

Beck, biller. 

Joe Samartano Resigns; 

Back to Providence Job 

PROVIDENCE—Joseph G. Samartano, for 

several years manager of Loew's State Theatre 

before being promoted to city manager 

of Loew's theatres in Baltimore, has returned 

to this region. 

Retiring from the theatrical industry, 

Samartano, who has a host of friends in this 

area both in and out of show business, has 

been appointed assistant vice-president of the 

Columbia National bank, one of the oldest institutions 

of its kind in this city. 

Award Helps 'Quo' Gross 

PROVIDENCE—The story that "Quo 

Vadis" won the annual Christopher award 

broke at a propitious time for Loew's State 

Theatre, where the MGM fibn was having a 

third sensational week. The award news made 

page one of the Pi-ovidence Visitor, official 

newspaper of the diocese, with a two-column 

head, and the Visitor's 300,000 readers are 

definitely swayed by the opinions and columns 

of their own newspaper. 

Joan Taylor of Paramount's Golden Circle 

group appears in an important role in 

"Military Policemen." 

Measure Governing 

Airers Criticized 

BOSTON—Ray Feeley, executive director of 

the Drive-In Theatre Ass'n of New England, 

has sent out bulletins to all members urging 

them to contact representatives and senators 

at once regarding the wording of House Bill 

961 which reads: "No license shall be issued 

for any drive-in theatre, so called, which is 

within 2.000 feet of any building occupied 

in whole or in part as a public or private 

school having more than 50 pupils or any 

public or private hospital having more than 

25 beds or any church." 

Feeley explains that although the sponsor 

of this bill has been quoted as saying that 

the bill will not affect drive-ins already built, 

the wording is so ambiguous as to be interpreted 

as meaning that if a licensing board 

saw fit to prohibit the issuance of a license 

granted yearly, it could put a theatre already 

established out of business, should a church, 

school or hospital be built within 2,000 feet. 

The bill does not specify the building license 

and so may be interpreted to apply to the 

entertainment license which in most cases is 

issued yearly. Feeley ended his bulletin by 

warning, "this is a most glaring example of 

putting home rule out the window" and 

drive-in owners should contact their selectmen 

and other town officials at once. The 

bill was approved recently by the legislative 

committee on mercantile affairs, but first 

must go through the house, then the senate 

before it becomes law. 

Shift Program Changes 

HARTFORD—New film programs now 

change on Sundays and Wednesdays at the 

Lyric, neighborhood house operated by the 

Hartford Theatre circuit, according to Ernie 

Grecula. director of advertising and publicity. 

The previous policy had the house changing 

product on Sundays. Tuesdays and Thursdays. 

Joe Rugerio is house manager. 

LOEW'S POLI SETS DRIVE—Managers of the Loews Poli Theatres in Connecticut 

and Massachusetts met with Loew's executives recently to plan their participation in 

Loew's Salute to Spring drive, an all-out campaign to publicize pictures. Left to right, 

seated: Paul Klinger, manager, Bijou, New Haven; Matt Saunders, manager, Poll, 

Bridgeport; Ruth Bolton; Harr.v F. Shaw, divi-sion manager, Loew's Poli New England 

Theatres; Oscar A. Doob, New York, general theatre executive of Loew's; AI Domian, 

Globe, Bridgeport; George Freeman, Poli, Springfield, and Bob Carney. Poli, Waterbury. 

Standing: Lou Brown, director of advertising and publ'city of Loew's Poli New 

England Theatres; Floyd Fit/simmons, >IGM exploiteer; John DiBenedetto, Poli, 

Worcester; Joe Boyle, Poli, Norwich; Harry Rose, Majestic, Bridgeport; Morris Rosenthal, 

Poli, New Haven; Lou Cohen, Poli. Hartford; Fred Grecnway, Palace, Hartford; 

Sid Kleper. College. New Haven; Morris Mendlesohn, legal department, and Tony 

Masclla, Palace. Meriden. 

BOXOFFICE March 1, 1952 NE 91

. . Sam 

. . Rhode 

. . Joe 

. . The 

. . 

. . . "The 

. . 

BOSTON 

IVôlly Daytz, office manager of Daytz Theatre 

Enterprises, has returned from a 

14-day cruise to South America. She is a 

sister of Al and Mickey Daytz . . . Charlotte 

Cutler, office manager at the Rifkin circuit, 

back from a week's cruise to Bermuda and 

. 

is 

Nassau Island exhibitor Ted 

Rosenblatt's son Robert was confirmed at 

Temple Emanuel, Providence. The event was 

attended by the following from Affiliated 

Theatres: Arthur Howard, Seth Field, Joe 

Hochberg, Carl Goldman and Tobey Tobaschnick 

. Berg, head booker at 20th- 

Fox, and his wife are off to Florida for a 

vacation. 

Actor Charles Coburn was signing autographs 

at the opening at the Plymouth Theatre 

of "The Long Watch," starring Walter 

Abel, in its pre-Broadway tryout. Coburn is 

co-producer with Anthony Farrell . . George 

. 

Roberts of the Rifkin circuit reported the 

death of his mother, Mrs. Samuel Rabinowitz 

of Brookline. She is survived by another 

son, Maj. Mack Roberts, and two daughters, 

Mrs. Frances Oppenheim and Mrs. Edith 

Shohet, the latter the wife of Fred Shohet, 

Universal salesman . Cohen, independent 

buyer and booker, attended the funeral 

services of his uncle. Dr. Isaac Gerber, of 

Providence. 

. 

Will Yolen, former OSS officer, is in town 

working with publicist Phil Engel of 20th- 

Fox on the New England campaign for "Five 

Fingers," tying in with the local civil defense 

authorities for an all-out campaign 

Stanley Young, who was in a serious auto 

accident, is back at his salesman's post at 

20th-Fox. 

Robert M. Sternburg, district manager for 

New England Theatres, is again serving as 

volunteer chairman for the Celebrities night 

program to be held April 27 at the Boston 

Garden. The star-studded show, featuring top 

names in the entertainment world, will benefit 

the Jewish Memorial hospital's research 

and medical care program . Motion 

Picture Salesmen's club has selected the Boston 

club for the site of its annual dinnerdance 

late in April . . . Hai-ry Folsom of 

MGM, assistant to E. F. Cummings, chief of 

branch operations, was in town, as was 

Charles Bell, auditor for the same company. 

Arthur Kennedy, who has been nominated 

for an Oscar for his work in "Bright Victory," 

is due in town for two days in connection 

with the advance on "Bend of the 

River," which will have its New England premiere 

at the Keith Memorial March 11. Ken- 

WANTED 

EXPERIENCED THEATRE 

MANAGERS 

For conventional and drive-in theatres. 

In Greoter Boston area. 

Pleasant Working Conditions. 

All replies confidential. 

Write, stating experience to 

BOXOFFICE, 14 Piedmont St., Boston 

nedy will give press and radio interviews and 

will be guest of honor at a luncheon while 

in town. He is a native of Worcester and a 

graduate of Worcester academy, and John 

McGrail, Universal publicist, is working out 

dates for his appearance in that city. 

A. R. Willard jr., Bennington, Vt., drive-in, 

and Edward King, Valley View Drive-In, 

South Deerfield, Mass., have applied for membership 

in the Drive-In Theatre Ass'n of 

New England, a subsidiary of Independent 

Exhibitors, Inc. Calvin King, Walden Theatre, 

Williamston, Mass., has applied for membership 

in Independent Exhibitors. 

Jack Yonkers has been appointed office 

manager at National Screen Service, replacing 

Ralph Geffen, who resigned to enter 

another field of business. Yonkers has two 

theatres in Charlestown, which he leases to 

E. M. Loew, and has been manager for Interstate 

Theatres Corp. . . . "Cry, the Beloved 

Country" is booked into the Astor March 5 

Greatest Show on Earth" will follow 

the personal appearances of Martin and 

Lewis at the Metropolitan March 13. It will 

play at advanced prices of $1.25 top. 

. 

Peter Johnson, poster boy at National 

Screen, has joined the ranks of National 

Life Master Bridge players. The American 

Contract Bridge league of New York sent 

him a wire that he has amassed more than 

300 master points to become the 433rd life 

master bridge player in the country 

Danny Kaplan, shipper at National Screen, 

back on the job after 16 months in Korean 

is 

waters on the U.S.S. New Jersey, where he 

was a machinists mate, third class . . . 

Dominic Alizio, a shipper at National Screen 

for eight years, has resigned to enter the 

insurance field. 

Joe Naimon, member of the Variety Club of 

New England, is in the Anna Jacques hospital 

following a serious smashup on the 

Newburyport turnpike . . . Bill Koster, executive 

director of the Variety Club, is taking 

reservations for the special Boston railroad 

car traveling to Las Vegas, Nev., for the 

Variety International convention. 

Al Kane, former New England manager for 

Paramount who was recently named southern 

division manager, was honored at a 

farewell luncheon on Tuesday (26) at the 

Roof Garden of the Hotel Bradford. The 

Variety Club of New England is sponsoring 

the affair to say goodbye to the Kanes, who 

are moving to Dallas, Tex., where he will 

make his headquarters. All exhibitors, distributors 

and friends of the motion picture 

industry attended. Hy Fine, New England 

Theatres district manager, was emcee and 

toastmaster. 

The Boston office of Columbia has arranged 

a mass booking of "The First Time," 

with Barbara Hale appearing on the stage in 

16 theatres throughout New England over a 

period of three weeks. She will visit theatres 

in Vermont, Maine, Rhode Island and 

Massachusetts and at each stop will give 

press and radio interviews. Her schedule is 

Strand. Providence: Saxon, Fitchburg: Center, 

Fall River: Opera House, Newport, R. I.: 

Empire, Portland, Me.: State, Waterville, Me.: 

Opera House, Bangor, Me.: Auburn, Auburn. 

Me.: Bijou, Springfield; Victoria, Greenfield: 

Luncheon Will Fete 

Irving Mendelson 

BOSTON—Irving Mendelson, New England 

and New Haven manager for Lippert, will be 

honored at a luncheon sponsored by the 

Motion Picture Salesmen's club March 15 at 

the Boston club. Nate Levin of Monogram is 

handling arrangements for the testimonial. 

Mendelson, who lives in Brookline with his 

wife and 16-year-old daughter Carol, a junior 

at Brookline high schol, is a native of New 

Bedford and a graduate of the Boston university 

class of 1929. He started his film 

career in 1936 as a poster boy with Universal 

and was sent to Washington, then to Albany 

as a salesman. 

In 1939, he joined Paramount as a booker 

in Albany and in 1944 transferred to United 

Artists as booker, then office manager in 

New Haven. He returned to Boston, where 

he first was salesman, then city salesman and 

finally acting branch manager. In January 

this year he opened the Lippert New England 

office at 12 Piedmont St. as manager. 

Grand, Rutland, Vt.; Strong, Burlington, Vt.; 

Mohawk, North Adams. Mass.; Boston; Park, 

Woonsocket, R. I.; Leroy, Pawtucket, R. I., 

and back to Boston. 

The following theatres have shipped copper 

drippings to Capitol Theatre Supply: 

Modern, Harwichport; Rialto, Roslindale: 

Embassy, Waltham, all in Massachusetts: 

State, Bridgton, and Uptown, Bath, both 

in Maine. 

E. P. Isacksen has been named city manager 

for the Uptown and State theatres in 

Dover, N. H.. owned by Lloyd Bridgham. 

The State, most recent acquisition to the 

Bridgham holdings, opened February 17 after 

extensive renovation and remodeling by Robert 

Lamb of Dover. It seats 340 persons. 

Isacksen started his film career with the 

former Lavery circiut at the Lafayette, Haverhill, 

now operated by Norman Glassman, 

president of Independent Exhibitors, Inc., of 

New England. Isacksen has also managed 

theatres for the Graphic circuit in Franklin, 

N. H., and in Ellsworth, Me. He recently 

joined the Bridgham banner as manager 

of the Uptown in Dover. 

Following a spread on the Jimmy building 

in Time magazine. Life photographers were 

in town for four days taking pictures for 

another national layout which will give special 

credit to local New England exhibitors 

for their efforts on behalf of the drive. Bill 

Koster, who has just returned from a Florida 

and Cuba vacation, reports that a spread on 

the Jimmy building was in a Havana newspaper. 

Save all your drippings 

TO BE SURE 

OF BEST QUALtTY and QUICK SERVICE 

MADE-TO-ORDER 



. . . Bob 

. . The 

. . Jack 

. . Barney 

. . 

. . 

' 

. . The 

. . Joe 

. . Ernest 

NEW HAVEN 

TJlakeslee equipment is grading and filling an 

Allingtown site for a proposed 600-car 

Bowl Drive-In. The Bowl Drive-In Corp., 

with Seymour Levine as president, applied 

for a $30,000 permit . . . Robert EUiano, Chief 

barker, and Ray Wylie, member of the board 

of directors, will represent Variety Tent 31 

April 27-May 1 at the convention at Hotel 

Flamingo, Las Vegas. 

Frank Meadow of Cottage Street, New 

Haven, is opening the 261-seat State, formerly 

operated by Fred Dandio, and recently redecorated 

and equipped . Pitkin, 

RKO manager, and his wife flew to San 

Francisco to visit with their son marine Pfc. 

Marshall Pitkin at Oceanside. The Pitkins 

will be gone two weeks . . . The Sam Germaines 

of 20th-Fox sent glowing cards from 

Hollywood, Fla. . . . Norman Ayers, Warner 

eastern district manager, was in to visit with 

Max Biinbaum. 

I. H. Rogovln, Columbia district manager, 

and Lou Aster, home office sales executive. 

dropped in on the New Haven exchange . 

Sam Rosen of Rosen's Theatres is back from 

a Florida fishing trip . . . Rutli Bolton. Loew's 

Poli relief manager, is moving into new quai-- 

ters dm'ing her current vacation 

Worstell, MGM, is back from Florida . . . 

Charles Lane still is operating his drive-in in 

Florida, but is expected back soon to reopen 

the East Haven Drive-In. 

Phil Gravitz, 

MGM maaiager, says he likes 

his new constant reminder of "the boss" in 

the form of autographed photo of Jack 

Byrne in his office. Byrne reminds Phil, 

"from office boy to branch manager—keep 

swinging" . . . Joe Mansfield of UA, Boston, 

was in on the advance exploitation of "The 

African Queen," breaking at the Loew's Poli 

house March 7 . . . The Miss America Beauty 

and Talent pageant attracted much trade 

at tHe Roger Sherman. 

The Leonard Sampsons of the Lincoln and 

Art Cinema were in Boston for a four-day 

holiday . . . Mi-s. Morris Rosenthal, wife of 

the Loew's Poli New Haven manager, is vacationing 

in Canada with her famUy . . . Dr. 

J. B. Fishman, head of Fishman circuit and 

noted bio-chemist, is on a new research 

project at Yale on arteriosclerosis . . . "Sailor 

Beware" opened big at the Paramount . 

Dave Kaufman, Loew's Poli artist, is taking 

the last week of his vacation for some skiing 

Carney, manager of the Poli, Waterbury, 

and hLs wife were guests of honor at a 

20th anniversary dinner party at the Hotel 

Elton. Among those present were Mi', and 

Mrs. Harry Shaw, Mr. and Mrs. Lou Brown. 

Mr. and Mrs. Sid Kleper, Morris Rosenthal, all 

of New Haven, and Mrs. Harry Rose, Bridgeport. 

Pavone, new Monogram booker, was in 

Bill 

Boston office on business ... At U-I, the 

staff celebrated Charlotte Etkind's birthday 

. New Haven counterpart of the 

stricken boy in "Room for One More." was 

introduced on the "Strike It Rich" program, 

after his foster mother called the coincidence 

to 'WB attention Posts, Fishman 

Theatres booker, 

. 

said his .son Jerrold won 

second prize in the Inter-Agency Brotherhood 

contest. Jerry is a prize-winner in many 

fields. 

Providence Avon Goes 

Scotch for 'Charlie' 

PROVIDENCE—Patrons of the Avon Theatre 

were treated to a real Scotch evening 

on the opening night of "Bonnie Pi-ince 

flunlii 1 )isi net Manager Charles R Darby 

ol Luckwood & Gordon Enterprises and 

Manager Seymour Ladd of the Avon promoted 

tie-ins with the Pat Fallon Scotch 

and Irish Hour over station WRIB for the 

Rhode Island premiere of the film. 

Two genuine Scotch bagpipes and a bonnie 

la.ssie named Sunshine MacLellan, a dancer, 

stood outside the theatre while patrons were 

entering. The bagpipes played Scotch tunes 

up and down the aisles before the film 

opened. To make the picture more complete, 

the cashier wore a Scotch tarn and 

Darby and Ladd both were resplendent in 

Scotch bow ties. 

The Avon has a Scotch doorman, Jim Mac- 

Nicol, who donned his own MacLeod tartan 

for the run of the film and emphasized his 

native Scotch burr. The bagpipers and Sunshine 

MacLellan were so enthusiastically received 

that they were brought back for another 

performance later in the week. Sunshine 

performed a real Highland fling from 

the stage of the Avon, accompanied by the 

bagpipers. 

More Top-Quality Films 

Urged by Gene Autry 

HARTFORD — "The movie business is a lot 

like a lot of other industries—put top quality 

into your merchandise, and you don't 

have to worry about competition," Gene 

Autry, western film player, told Allen M. 

Widem, Hartford Times motion picture editor, 

in an interview. 

"I'd like to see more big quality pictures 

coming out, films like 'The Greatest Show 

on Earth,' 'Quo Vadis' and 'Death of a 

Salesman.' 

"I've made 85 movies since 1935 . . . Don't 

let anybody kid you; Moviegoing is a habit. 

We've got to get more and more people into 

that pleasant habit permanently!" 

Autry and his show of 30 entertainers 

played two capacity performances at the 

3,300-seat Bushnell Memorial here. 

Although never known as a musical actress 

Joan Fontaine will sing a snatch of song 

in Paramounfs "Something to Live For." 

HARTFORD 

IJenry L. Needles, managing director of the 

Art Theatre, has been named chairman 

of the amusement division of the Hartford 

1952 Red Cross campaign . Borgnine, 

actor in "The Mob" and "The Whistle at 

Eaton Falls." was in town, appearing with 

Helen Hayes in a pre-Broadway presentation 

of the new Mary Chase comedy, "Mrs. Mc- 

Thing," at the 1,147-seat New Parsons. Mary 

Chase is author of "Harvey." 

Jim McCarthy of the Strand screened "Retreat, 

Hell!" for members of the marine corps 

league and auxiliary . . . John McGrail, U-I 

field man, was in town, working on openings 

of "Meet Danny Wilson" and "Here Come 

the Nelsons" . Al Schumans of the 

Hartford Theatre circuit are vacationing in 

Miami Beach, Fla. 

Gus Schaefer of the Hartford Theatre circuit 

was a Boston visitor . . . Paul Papa, assistant 

manager at the Strand, has resigned 

James Ashcraft, 

to enlist in the air force . . . 

Columbia exploitation man, huddled 

with George E. Landers, E. M. Loew circuit, 

on "Death of a Salesman." 

Eddie Neye resigned from the backstage 

staff at the State . Borenstein of the 

Strand, New Britain, staged a benefit performance 

of "Retreat, Hell!" for the New 

Britain marine corps league . . . Ru.ss Ordway, 

L&G cii'cuit, gave away free comic books to 

the first 500 youngsters at a recent matinee 

at the Webb, Wethersfield. 

Sol Adorno sr. of the Adorno-Middletown 

Theatres, vacationing at Fort Lauderdale, Fla., 

phoned his son. State Treasurer Joe Adorno, 

in Hartford, to report he's under medical care 

for an injury he sustained shortly before 

his departure for the south. According to 

Joe. his dad was walking in downtown Middletown 

and passing a location where construction 

work was under way. A loose board 

fell between his legs, causing him to fall 

forward and land on the sidewalk with sufficient 

force to severely bruise his hands. The 

matter was investigated by police and 

Adorno sr. received medical care and apparently 

had nearly recovered when he left for 

the south. His general condition, he assured 

Joe, is favorable. 

Theatremen in Hartford 

To Study Film Tastes 

HARTFORD—Plans are under way for 

implementation 

in mid-March of an experiment 

to determine at just what hour an evening 

audience in Hartford theatres prefers to see 

the main feature. 

Harry F. Shaw-, division manager, Loew's 

Poli-New England Theatres, presided at a 

meeting of downtown and neighborhood theatremen 

at the Marquee House restaurant recently, 

with tentative plans calling for a ballot 

system via newspapers, with readers asked 

if they prefer to see feature at 8;30 or 9;30 

p. m. At present, the majority of local houses 

play main feature at 9:30 for last time. 

Full details will be discussed at meeting of 

metropolitan Hartford showmen. 

Elephant's Foot on Her Face 

Gloria Grahame allows an elephant to 

place its foot on her face in Paramounfs 

"The Greatest Show on Earth." 


. . The 

. . Manager 

. . Boy 

. . 

— 

: 

. . Theatres 

WORCESTER 

n patron of the Elm Street g'ave Manager 

Bob Portle a towel bearing the name of 

the Lincoln hotel, which occupied the site 

of the theatre prior to 40 years ago . . . Bob 

Daggett, who formerly operated theatres in 

Westboro, is doing television work in New 

York City . . . S. N. Behrman, who has written 

many film scripts—he collaborated on 

"Quo Vadis"—is the subject of an article being 

written for the New Yorker by Allen Price 

of Worcester, who was Behrman 's vaudeville 

partner 40 years ago in a little-known era of 

Behrman's career. Forty Whitinsville altar 

boys were guests of the Elm Street for "Quo 

Vadis." 

Acting Manager Johnny DiBenedetto of 

Loew's Poll set a Miss Springtime contest, to 

run seven weeks, with six preliminaries. He 

got a department store to contribute a woman's 

complete wardrobe to the winner . 

The Elm Street will take a one-day flier into 

vaudeville April 2 when Carlo But! will head 

the bill . . . "Quo Vadis," in its fourth roadshow 

week at the Elm Street, tied the record 

of "Gone With the Wind." 

William T. Dyson, 53, janitor at the Plymouth, 

was arrested on a charge of larceny 

after a patron lost her wallet in the theatre. 

Police charge Dyson found it while cleaning 

and appropriated the money . Scouts 

of Marlboro were guests of George Heeley, 

manager of the Marlboro in that city, in observance 

of Boy Scout week. An investiture 

service was conducted on the stage between 

pictures. 

Bob Portle, manager of the Loew-Poli Elm 

Street, received a letter from an oldtime 

vaudevillian who told of other stage veterans 

who ai'e now doormen in Broadway legitimate 

Shaye Cogan, who appears 

theatres . . . in Abbott and Costello films, played a week's 

stage engagement at the Moors in suburban 

The wife of Leo Lajoie. 

Shrewsbury . . . 

manager of the Capitol, is much improved. 

Jack Hauser, stage manager of the Poll, 

had his picture in the Familiar Faces page 

of the Sunday Telegram. Jack has been in 

show business here nearly 40 years . . . When 

"David and Bathsheba" returns for a popular-priced 

engagement, it won't play the Poll 

houses, where it was roadshown, but will go 

into the Capitol. This is the first time in 

film history such a booking has happened 

here. 

An Evening Gazette columnist dug up some 

little-known history of Jack Hauser, stage 

manager at Loew's Poll, revealing he was a 

singer in New York night clubs 40 years ago 

prior to coming to Worcester to join the 

Poll circuit . . . Paul Aboody returned from 

Miami Beach . opening day of "Sailor 

Beware" broke the record at the Capitol, 

previously held by "That's My Boy," which 

also starred Lewis and Martin. 

Arthur Ceroid, former operator of the 

Westboro Red Barn Theatre, was married in 

Bogota, N. J., to Marilyn Day, musical comedy 

actress . . . Poll conducted a Leap year 

midnight party, featuring "With a Song in 

My Heart" 

. Leo Lajoie of the 

Capitol got a newspaper break with the news 

that a Worcester seaman appears in the submarine 

sequence of "Sailor Beware." 

Bob Portle of the Elm Street was the subject 

of this Valentine jingle, printed in the 

Evening Gazette 

You can remember " 'way back when," 

As dean of Worcester's playhouse men; 

But folks recall the knack and skill 

You showed of yore in vaud-a-vill. 

'Snow White' Is Great 

In Deep Boston Snow 

BOSTON—The worst snowstorm in several 

years caused a weekend drop in business, 

although "Snow White and the Seven 

Dwarfs" at the Keith Memorial did capacity 

business through the no-school week. It was 

held over and possibly may go a third week. 

Two theatres are cashing in on the ascension 

of Queen Elizabeth. The Beacon Hill added 

"Heir to the Throne," approved by the English 

government, to "Another Man's Poison," 

while the Exeter Street continued the Eastman 

color film, "Royal Journey," with "The 

Browning Version." 


Astor—Death of a Salesman (Col), 5th wk. 75 

Beacon Hill—Another Man's Poison (UA), 4lh wk,; 

Heir to the Throne (SR) 120 

Exeler Street The Browning Version (U-I); Royal 

Journey (UA), 4th wk 125 

Memorial—Snow White and the Seven Dwaris 

(RKO). Olympic Elk (RKO) 200 

Metropolitan—This Woman Is Dangerous (WB), ,. 90 

Paramount and Fenway—David and Bathsheba 

{20th-Fox) 85 

State and Orpheum—Ten Tall Men (Col); Magic 

Face (Col) 

go 

'Snow White' and 'Quo Vadis' 

Tie at 140 in New Haven 

NEW HAVEN—The third week of "Quo 

Vadis" held up in spite of bad weather and 

it went into its fourth week in town. "Snow 

White and the Seven Dwarfs" lined them up 

for half a block at the Roger Sherman afternoons, 

while evening shows were also good. 

The booking coincided with a one-week school 

holiday throughout New Haven. 

College—Quo Vadis (MGM), 3rd wk... 140 

Lincoln—The Medium (Loperl) 90 

Loews Poll—Red Skies of Montana {20th-Fox); 

Harem Girl (Col) 75 

Paramount—Meet Danny Wilson (U-I); Pool of 

London (U-1) 80 

Roger Sherman—Snow White and the Seven 

Dwarfs (RKO); Sloughter Trail (RKO) 140 

'Quo Vadis' Grosses 170 

In Third Week 

HARTFORD~"Quo Vadis" went into a 

third week at the Palace. Another downtown 

holdover was "Death of a 

second week. 

Salesman," in 

BOWLING 

BOSTON—The Kenmore team retained its 

one-point margin over Harry's Snack Bar by 

taking three out of four from the Independents 

while Harry's took three from RKO. 

The standings: 

Team Won Lost Team Won Lost 

Kenmore 14 6 Alfiliated 9 11 

Harry's 13 7 Independents 9 II 

MGM 12 8 Macaulay 7 13 

NE Theatres 11 9 RKO 5 15 

NEWHAMPSHIRE 

Doom for One More" was shown at the State 

in Manchester during Washington's birthday 

week and ads explained it was "selected 

for the holiday week because of its great 

appeal to children, teenagers and adults . . . 

Betty Ann Hunt of Gilford, now a costume 

designer for the Brattle Theatre Co. in Cambridge, 

Mass., will be married soon to Boardman 

O'Connor, associated with the television 

production department of WBZ-TV in Boston. 

O'Connor formerly was connected with 

the Brattle Theatre Co. and the Cleveland 

Playhouse in Cleveland. 

Harold Retter, mayor of Franklin, has 

named a committee to work with Manager 

Paul Barker of the Regal Theatre on the 

problem of selecting suitable pictures for 

children's matinees on Saturday afternoons. 

The group has decided to recommend comic 

strips, instead of wild west and murder serials, 

to test the reaction of the youngsters. Matinee 

features at the theatre have been under 

criticism for several months. 

Gardner A. Browning sr., motion picture 

operator at the Empire in East Manchester, 

was the subject of a lengthy feature article 

in a Tops in Trade series in the New Hampshire 

Sunday News. Starting as an usher 

in the old Bijou in the Queen city. Browning 

has been in the theatrical business for 

nearly 50 years. For a number of years, he 

appeared on the professional stage in a 

vaudeville act with Mike Downey. Since a 

Downey and Browning billing was considered 

too long, the pair were booked as Downey 

and Dean, and Browning took the stage name 

of Johnny Dean. 

FALL RIVER 

Thousands of children and adults viewed 

"Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" shown 

at the Center after an areawide promotion 

campaign, which included the award of gifts 

and a tie-in with Donald Duck bread. Full 

page ads in the local press invited children to 

participate in coloring of principal characters 

appearing in "Snow White" and present 

them as entries in a children's contest. 

Winners received $25 savings bonds and other 

miscellaneous awards totaling 250. Parents of 

winners of the first prize in each of the five 

classifications of contestants were given $50 

savings bonds. Autographed portraits of 

Adriana Casalotti, the original voice of "Snow 

White," were given to the first 500 children 

admitted to the theatre. Long lines of children 

and adults awaiting admission while 

capacity audiences viewed the presentation 

were observed in the area adjacent to the 

theatre. 

Pfc. Norman L. Dupras of the marine corps, 

formerly of the Capitol Theatre staff, was 

wounded in Korea, his co-workers have 

learned . aJong Main street benefited 

considerably from the overflow of children 

unable to attend performances of "Snow 

White and the Seven Dwarfs" shown during 

school vacation at the Center. Children were 

observed leaving the long queues at the Center 

and entering either the Empire, Capitol 

or Academy. 

Copper is vitol—save machine drippings 


Six New Situations 

Opened by FPC 

TORONTO--Three new theatres and three 

new drive-ins were opened by Famous Players 

Canadian during 1951. J. J. Fitzgibbons. 

president, disclosed in an ai'ticle printed in a 

recent issue of the Financial Post. The new 

theatres were opened in Prince Rupert, B. C, 

Lindsay, Ont., and Sillery, Que., and the 

drive-ins at Orillia, Ont., and at Moose Jaw 

and Prince Albert, Sask. 

In addition, FPC acquired interests in two 

existing theatres in St. John's. Nfld., one each 

in Montreal, Windsor and London, Ont., and 

in drive-ins at Weston, Ottawa and Agincourt. 

Ont. 

Since last January 1, FPC and its associates 

have opened the Paramount Theatre in 

Port Alberni, B. C, the Paramount in 

Bathurst, N. B., and between now and June 

1 will complete and open the Alouette at 

Montreal, the Westwood in Islington, Ont., a 

drive-in in Moncton, N. B., another drive-in 

at Ottawa, and hopes to complete the Paramount 

in Edmonton during the summer, 

Fitzgibbon related. 

St. Catharines Company 

Aids Variety Roadshow 

TORONTO—When the Tommy Trinder 

roadshow played the Palace at St. Catharines 

during the benefit tour for the Toronto 

tent's Variety Village School for Handicapped 

Boys, an important industry of St. 

Catharines, McKinnon Industries, Ltd., used 

a half-page newspaper advertisement to boost 

not only the show but the Variety project 

here. 

The show, which featured the English 

comedian and vaudeville luminaries, was presented 

under the auspices of the Niagara 

Peninsula Theatre Managers Ass'n as its annual 

demonstration for the Variety tent. 

The big advertisement carried the line: 

"This advertisement sponsored by McKinnon 

Industries, Ltd., to assist in the great 

efforts of Variety Village for crippled children." 

Hiram McCallimi Named 

To Exhibition Vacancy 

TORONTO—The hot issue over the appointment 

of an assistant general manager 

for the Canadian National exhibition has 

been ended by the board of directors by 

the naming to the post of the former mayor, 

Hiram McCallum. Mayor Allan Lamport had 

supported O. J. Silverthorne, veteran chairman 

of the Ontario board of motion picture 

censors. Silverthorne, absent from Toronto 

on a vacation, had said nothing in the 

wrangle. 

The CNE board moved for more emphasis 

on Canadian talent for the fair's grandstand 

shows. Headline stars were Jimmy Durante 

last summer and Danny Kaye in 1950. 

Ontario MPTA to Fight 

Toronto Marquee Curbs 

TORONTO—Tlie Motion Picture Tlieatres 

Ass'n of Ontario has organized to fight the 

latest move on the part of the city council 

to require the removal of theatre marquees 

and protruding signs on a long stretch of 

Yonge street. The association has taken the 

stand that a canopy is an integral part of a 

theatre building, as well as providing a safety 

factor for patrons. 

'Aduh' in Ontario 

TORONTO—The following features have 

been classified as "adult entertainment" by 

the Ontario motion picture cen.sors: "Death 

of a Salesman," "Phone Call Fi'om a Stranger," 

"Native Son," "Japanese War Bride," 

"Big Night" and "Another Man's Poison." 

Variety Wives in Session 

TORONTO—A parade of spring hat fashions 

featured a general meeting of the 

women's committee of Toronto Variety Tent 

28 in the clubrooms. The barkers' wives discussed 

plans for the furtherance of Variety 

Village. 

Scrap Drive Will Aid 

Village oi Variety 

TORONTO—A copper salvage and scrap 

metal drive has been organized among all 

exhibitors under the chairmanship of George 

Altman, president of Mavety Film Delivery 

Service, Toronto. Money from the sales will 

go to the heart fund of Toronto Variety Tent 

28 in aid of Variety Village. The scrap material 

is needed in the production of munitions. 

Details of the collection will be found in a 

brochure which is being mailed to all theatres. 

Exhibitors are to be asked to collect 

copper drippings, old advertising cuts, outmoded 

equipment and broken parts which will 

be delivered to a central depot for disposal. 

The suggestion has been thrown out that 

theatre managers should seek the cooperation 

of the public. 

Sign Move in Ottawa 

OTTAWA—The city council has tackled 

the question of regulating illuminated business 

signs on the front of office, store and 

theatre buildings, more or less following in 

the footsteps of the Toronto council which 

has banned all overhanging signs on two 

business thoroughfares. In Ottawa, the proposal 

has been made for a heavy increase 

in annual sign fees as well as inspections 

and the requirement of public liability insurance. 

Protests of 728 merchants or companies 

have been registered against the move. 

Winner 

Ottawa Capitol Is 

OTTAWA—The Capitol won first place in 

the Famous Players Canadian competition for 

the sale of gift booklets of admission tickets 

during the Christmas season, according to 

information from Famous Players Canadian 

Corp. Other winners were the staffs of the 

Capitol theatres in Winnipeg, Edmonton and 

Calgary. 

NFB Presents Program 

OTTAWA—The National Film Board presented 

a group of timely pictures at the 

National Research auditorium for invited 

guests for three nights. February 25-27. The 

program included a short subject on Queen 

Elizabeth's marriage and home life prior to 

her visit to North America, and also "Trooping 

the Color," in color, by a Guards regiment. 

Another short was about Variety Village, 

sponsored by the Toronto tent, for 

which comedian Tommy Trinder presented a 

performance here Sunday night. 

Show Fashion Film 

MONTREAL—Canada's fashion industry 

has received recognition from the film world, 

and the result was shown in a special preview 

at the Princess Theatre. The film, entitled 

"It's the Fashion." and directed by Ron 

Weyman, is one of the National Film Board's 

Canada Carries On series. In its brief 15 

minutes it goes from the manufacture of synthetic 

materials to designing of a dress and 

the showing of the result in a fashion show. 

HONOR ODEON t'ONTK.ST WINNKKS— Elliott Hrown, standing, manager of the 

.Arthur Rank Better Business and Show- 

Odeon Victoria, grand award winner of the J. 

manship contest, conducted by the Odeon circuit, responds to the presentation address 

made by David Griesdorf, second from right, Odeon general manager, at the award 

luncheon at King Edward hotel. Toronto. Others at the head table are, left to right: 

Harvey Hunt, Odeon chief booker and buyer; Harvey Harnick, vice-president of the 

Motion Picture Distributors Ass'n, and Ivor Smith, executive assistant to Griesdorf. 

BOXOFFICE March 1, 1952 K 95

. . . The 

. . Arthur 

. . perry 

. . The 

. . Lou 

. . Ken 

. . Dave 

. . Bob 

. . The 

. . Herb 

. . 

VANCOUVER 

"The Siirry Drive-In near WMte Rock opened 

for the season, making three outdoor 

spots now operating in British Columbia. All 

drive-ins in the province are expected to be 

open by the middle of March , Mayo, 

assistant at the Vogue, was married to June 

Caponero of Vancouver . Tisman 

of the Chilliwack Drive-In was on Filmrow 

lining up bookings . local branch of 

Canadian Pictui'e Pioneers will hold its annual 

dinner and election of officers at the 

Devonshire hotel February 28. 

Famous Players screened "Quo Vadis" for 

200 local church heads and their wives at 

the Stanley Theatre. It's reported FPC has 

offered its theatre workers an 8 per cent increase 

in weekly wages following a union request 

for a pay hike. Odeon has made no 

offer to date. 

Owners of seven drive-in theatres and the 

lATSE projectionists Local 348 reached a settlement 

which calls for two men in a booth, 

each at $2.52 an hour. Tlie contract is for 

two years 

, Elliott, RKO Calgary 

manager, became father of a son, the Elliotts' 

first child . . . Frank Kershaw, who operates 

three drive-ins in the Calgary-Edmonton 

area, is on vacation in California . . . Lou 

Segal, Monogram, announced his engagement 

to Helen Wodlinger of Leask, Sask. Miss 

Wodlinger, an artist now residing in Vancouver, 

recently had an oil painting exhibited 

in the Vancouver Art Gallery. 

A local man's $50,000 heartbalm claim 

against one of the famed Ink Spots must 

go ahead in supreme court here despite an 

out of court settlement of $1,300. Chief Justice 

Farris refused to dismiss the suit of 

Roy Buchanan against tenor Bill Kenny 

when Kenny's lawyer appeared in court. 

Buchanan alleged in his suit that Kenny 

"lured his wife away from him with gifts 

and promises" 

. 

Wright, manager 

at Empire-Universal, was in the interior on 

a sales trip covering the outdoor theatres 

town of Drumheller, Alta., where 

the theatre was destroyed by fire, is now 

being serviced by a 16mm outfit. 

Odeon gave a dinner here recently for the 

winners in the circuit's showmanship contest. 

Winners present were Elliott Brown of the 

Odeon in Victoria, Al Jenkins of the Vogue 

and Bob Hardy of the Varsity, who received 

cash awards, and Al Mitchell, the popcorn 

king of the circuit and manager of the Paradise 

here. 

The North Vancouver Board of Trade, in a 

letter to city council, has urged immediate 

steps be taken to compel the Odeon circuit, 

owner of the Lonsdale Theatre which has 

been closed for over a year, to complete 

alterations to the front of the building, and 

failing this, has asked the city to seek authority 

to have the theatre torn down. The action 

was decided upon following numerous complaints 

to the board by residents and storekeepers 

in the vicinity of the unfinished 

theatre. The council will study plans of the 

proposed alterations for the building. There 

was no comment from Odeon officials. 

Motion pictures taken secretly of a woman 

doing heavy work were shown to the supreme 

court to refute her claim for damages against 

the British Columbia Electric Railway Co. 

It was the second time in Vancouver courthouse 

history that motion picture had been 

used as evidence. The woman, who twice 

before in the past five years had collected 

damages from the company for injuries, was 

termed an "unscrupulous claimant" by the 

judge, who dismissed the action with costs 

and commended the company for its actions. 

Lloyd Taylor, general manager for Skyway 

Drive-In Theatres at Hamilton, Ont., was 

here in advance of the Tommy Trinder British 

show, whose tour across Canada is being 

sponsored by the Toronto Variety Club. 

Film Awards April 27 

Al Toronlo This Year 

OTTAWA—Walter Herbert, chairman, reports 

the fourth annual presentation of Canadian 

film awards will be made April 27 at 

Toronto. All types of Canadian-made pictures, 

including factual shorts and amateur 

productions, released in 1951, are eligible for 

the competitions. 

Herbert said that some 50 entries are expected, 

the judging to be done in Montreal 

prior to the award festival at Toronto. 

The presentations were made at the local 

Odeon a year ago and at the Elgin here in 

1950. 

The awards are sponsored by the Canadian 

Ass'n for Adult Education, the Canadian 

Film Institute and the Canada Foundation. 

O. R. Hanson Is Executor 

TORONTO—As executor, O. R. Hanson, 

veteran film trade figure of Toronto, is winding 

up the estate of Charles F. Mavety who 

was killed in a recent traffic accident near 

this city. One of the assets is My Theatre 

at nearby Weston, the lease of which runs 

to July 1, 1961. Mavety was a close associate 

of Hanson for many years, both having 

been officers of Canadian Picture Pioneers. 

John Beattie. winner of a talent contest 

sponsored by Warner Bros., has been set for 

a role in "Alexander, the Big Leaguer." 

ON VACATION—J. A. Basha, owner of 

the Palace at Corner Brook, Nfld., sent 

home a photograph taken of him recently 

on his vacation at Hollywood, Fla. Basha 

was making friends with a pelican on the 

Florida waterfront when the picture was 

taken. The Newfoundlander, his wife and 

daughter wintered in Florida while son 

Fred managed the Palace. 

WINNIPEG 

Jtstral's double bill, "Wherever She Goes" 

and "Worm's Eye View," is ui its fifth 

week at the Valour, George Rathwell's art 

house, and continues to do smash business 

without any sign of a letup. "Worm's Eye 

View" was recently chosen No. 2 on England's 

list of most successful pictures . . . Within 

the last two weeks the Foto-Nite cash presentations 

have been given away both Wednesdays. 

The first Wednesday Bill Minuk's 

Corona participated in the $600 cash offer. 

Tlie following Wednesday Harry Prygrocki's 

King's gave $500 for a patron's photograph. 

The Theatrical Curling league has reached 

the divisional playoffs, with Ernie Kellet the 

class A favorite, and Charlie Kirby the class 

B favorite . . . Tommy Trinder, Briti.sh music 

hall comedian fulfilling a playdate here, has 

accepted an invitation to attend the seventh 

movie ball while in Winnipeg. Trinder will 

bring his entire troupe with him. This 

year for the first time reserved tables will 

be available at the ball. 

Mort Calof, exhibitor with the suburban 

Vogue, recently purchased a new car . 

Peggy Thorsteinson, head booker at Western 

Theatres, has announced her engagement and 

will be married sometime in September . . . 

International shipper Bob Rose recently 

joined the reserve outfit of the famed Winnipeg 

Grenadiers and is taking a special 

course in signal work . Black, 

RKO shorts booker, was chosen the best 

dressed booker on Filmrow. The announcement 

was made by Bert Segal, J. Arthur 

Rank booker, who is president of the bookers 

club. 

Ben Sommers, owner of the State, has returned 

to Winnipeg for a two-week visit of 

booking and conferences with Manager Jock 

Emslie . Hurwitz, general manager 

of the Main Street Pool, celebrated his 

20th wedding anniversary. Congratulations 

poured in from exhibitors and distributors 

and other friends all over Canada and acrcss 

the border. 

"Tales of Hoffmann" will show at the 

Gaiety in March on a reserved seat basis. 

All advance ads contain a mail order form 

to be clipped and mailed in with the proper 

amount of money. Initial showing of the 

picture will be at the Uptown under the 

auspices of the women's committee of the 

Winnipeg Ballet. Performances at the Gaiety 

will be at 2:30 p. m., 5:30 and 8:30 daily. 

Roadshow admissions prevail . . . Bill Novak 

is using a large number of advance teaser 

ads on the forthcoming showing at the Capitol 

of "Quo Vadis" . command performance 

Technicolor thriller, "Ivory Hunter," 

is in its third and final week at Tom Pacey's 

Odeon, key Odeon chain house. 

Eddie Newman believes in playing them 

hot. Last week "Sailor Beware" had its 

world's premiere in Miami. This week Newman 

is showing it to Winnipeggers at the 

Met . Saifeer is presenting "The 

Raging Tide" at the Garrick . . . Bill Novak 

is enjoying a second week at the Capitol with 

"The Blue Veil" . . . Mesho Triller's Dominion 

is showing "No Sad Songs for Me" . . . Gaiety 

has "Behave Yourself," Grand has "Fort 

Osage," Bijou has "Jungle Manhunt" and 

Starland has "Show Boat." 

96 


. . There 

. . Under 

. . 

— 

. . General 

. . Eloi 

. . 

M ARITIMES 

"The largest concentration of warships of the 

U.S. navy in a Canadian Atlantic port 

since the end of World War II put into Halifax 

for a four-day stay. Some 7.000 men 

spent their leisure time in the theatres of 

both Halifax and Dartmouth . discussion 

at city hall in St. John was the 

question of city taxation of the Paramount 

and Capitol. Representing Famous Players 

was Angus MacCumi, Toronto, in charge of 

real estate and assistant treasurer. It is understood 

the local assessors promised a reduction 

in the a-ssessment on both theatres. 

St. John is reported to have one of the highest 

tax rates on theatre properties in Canada. 

The high rate has been a subject for complaint 

by theatre owners for many years. 

For the huddle with the assessors and council, 

the FPC executive was accompanied by 

a local lawyer. 

Before leaving for Bathurst to manage the 

new Kent, Fred Fellows was given a traveling 

bag by the staff of the Capitol. Halifax, 

where he had been assistant manager for 

about three years. Despite his departure from 

the Capitol, largest maritime theatre. Fellows 

continues in the Famous Players chain. The 

Kent has been placed in the FPC lineup by 

J. H. Kent, owner. 

The condition of T. M. Lynch, manager of 

the Halifax Capitol, is improved after .several 

days in the hospital ... No other film 

exhibitor apparently is giving attention to 

stage shows to the extent of Malcolm Walker 

of the Halifax Gaiety and Armview. The 

Gaiety, flagship of the Walker chain, has a 

stage attraction practically every night. 

. 

. . . Tlie happy 

. 

Penetrating the realm of rhyme is Bob 

Galbraith, manager of the Community, Yarmouth. 

Making his debut as a rhymester. 

with: "The entertainment's at it's best 

The shows are really fine 

And have a 

patron comes here to rest . . . 

jolly good time" has been an increased 

representation of French-language 

citizens in St. John theatres this winter, because 

men come to St. John from New 

Brunswick province. Nova Scotia, Prince Edward 

Island and Quebec for work at the docks 

and freight sheds. The winter port operations 

will transfer to Quebec and Montreal 

in early April. This winter, the number of 

people of French descent patronizing St. John 

theatres is believed to constitute an all-time 

record. 

Among the pallbearers for Les Kerr, former 

booker of 20th-Fox, St. John, were Eddie Cox 

and Walter Golding. There were wreaths 

from Paramount Theatre, Maritime Film 

Board, 20th-Fox, F. G. Spencer Co.. St. John, 

and the Gaietys at Fairville and Minto. 

Incidentally, Bobby Feller, star hurler of 

the Cleveland Indians, didn't need a friend at 

Miami Beach and neither did Sam Babb but 

the speedballer listened when the theatreman 

whispered in his ear a plug for a St. John 

Pitching star. The latter. Jackie Bowes, 22. 

did some hurling in Ontario last summer. 

Feller and Syd Rosen, also of the Indians, advised 

Babb to have the young St. John 

pitcher look them up while they are whooping 

it up in Florida and mention that Babb had 

been babbling about him to the front-rowers. 

Bowes is heading for a trial with the Indians 

this year and may catch on with an Indian 

farm. Incidentally again, Babb played some 

baseball in his youth at St. John and particularly 

on the west side. He is also a basketbailer. 

Sam Babb, manager of the Mayfair Theatre, 

St. John, has joined the family in Florida, 

He is becoming somewhat of a veteran 

of Miami Beach .sojourns, where he is again 

a guest of his father-in-law Joe Franklin, 

head of the Franklin & Herschorn circuit. 

Mrs. Babb and their young son have been 

wintering with her parents at the Franklin 

seasonal home at the beach. The Mayfair 

pilot expects to be back in harness at St. 

John early in March. In the meantime, the 

only Franklins in the maritimes are Mitch 

Franklin, vice-president of F&H. his wife and 

three children. A picture of Babb, which 

appeared in this column last week, was incorrectly 

designated as that of Fred A. Basha. 

Spring in Vancouver 

Cuts Theatre Trade 

VANCOUVER — Spring weather kayoed 

weekend business here while holdovers also 

proved a deadweight on trade. "I'll See You 

in My Dreams" dropped off sharply m its 

second week at Capitol. 

Capitol— I'll See You in My Dreams (WB), 

2nd wk 

Cinema—Lost Continent (LP); As You Were 

Fair 

- (LP) Average 

Dommion—Slailift (WB); Elopement (20th-Fox), 

2nd d. t. wk Fair 

Orpheum—Sailor Beware (Para), 2nd wk Good 

Paradise Try and Gel Me (UA). Bowery 

Blilzkreig (Mcno) Fair 

Plaza—Appointment With Venus (JARO) Fair 

Sta!.:—Daughter of Rosie O'Grody (WB), 

plus stage show Moderate 

Strand— The Girl on the Bridge (20th-Fox),- 

Forbidden (20th-Fox) Fair 

Studio—The River (UA), 4th wk 

Voqu.r— Decision Before Dawn (20th-Fox) 

Fair 

Good 

'Quo Vadis' Is Far Ahead 

In Toronto Ratings 

TORONTO—"Quo Vadis" continued to be 

the pre-eminent grosser at Loew's in its second 

week at advanced prices. In second place 

was "The Death of a Salesman" at the Eglinton. 

also in its second stanza. "Bend of the 

River" was held for a third week at the 

Uptown. There were four other holdovers in 

a good week. 


Eglinton—The Death of a Salesman (Col), 2nd 

wk 120 

Hyland—The Long Dark Hall (UA), 3rd wk 95 

Imperial—Hong Kong (Para) 115 

Loews—Quo Vadis (MOM), 2nd wk 190 

Odeon—Decision Before Dawn (20th-Fox) 120 

Shea's— I Want You (RKO), 2nd wk 90 

Tivoli, Capitol—Elopement (20th-Fox); FBI Girl 

(LP) 90 

University, Nortown—Phone Call From a Stranger 

(20th-Fox). 2nd wk 90 

Uptown—Bend of the Hiver (U-I), 3rd wk 85 

Victoria—Citizen Saint (SR) 105 

Curtain at 8:30 Now 

In 30 FPC Theatres 

Toronto—The Curtain at 8:30 policy of 

weekly one-night presentation of special 

pictures, all seats reserved, has been put 

into effect at 30 theatres in the Dominion, 

it has been revealed by the International 

Cinema Guild of Canada, Toronto, which 

sponsors the movement. 

Typical recent attractions for the 

Thursday night performances include 

"Bicycle Thief" at the Famous Players' 

Capitol, Petcrboro, and "Mister Drake's 

Duck" at the iOth Century Theatres' 

Esquire at Brantford, which is under the 

management of J. J. Paul. 

MONTREAL 

D R. Saksena, high commissioner for India 

in Canada, came here from Ottawa for 

the premiere at the Orpheum of "The River." 

He had as his guests 30 of his fellow countrymen 

in native dress and a contingent of 

over 40 veterans of the RCAF .squadron 435, 

who were stationed in India. Tlie McGill 

students gave the high commissioner a 

check for $400 for the Aid to India fund. His 

excellency received the Indian guests in the 

theatre lobby where lavish preparations were 

made for the ceremonies attendant on the 

premiere. 

"The Greatest Show on Earth" is booked 

for Loew's, where it will follow "I'll See You 

in My Dream" about March 14 ... At the 

Palace, "Bright Victory" commenced February 

29 ... J. L. Chartier of the Royal, Malartic, 

was among the exhibitors in town. He came 

all the way from the Quebec mining district 

The former Cinema de Paris at Pointe 

Gatineau. which had been converted into 

apartments sheltering 47 persons, was destroyed 

by fire a few days ago with damage 

estimated at $50,000. 

The Midway Theatre on St. Lawrence boulevard 

lost $2,000 when two masked robbers 

gagged and bound the watchman and broke 

open the safe. The burglars apparently had 

hidden in the theatre cellar after the last 

. show Theatre Supply Co. has 

provided new equipment for eight British 

Columbia theatres, the Capitol. Orpheum and 

Broadway. Vancouver; the Paramount. Port 

Albemi, the Capitol and the Tillicum Outdoor 

Theatre in Victoria, the Columbia in New 

Westminster and the Starlite Drive-In, 

Nanaimo. 

First newsreel picture of the funeral of the 

late King George to reach Montreal was 

flown to the Palace and inserted in the regular 

program, where it remained for the balance 

of the week . Cormier, salesman 

for Peerless Films, spent three weeks on busine.ss 

in the Matane district, and Romeo Goudreau, 

salesman for Paramount, spent a week 

in Quebec City. 

Amherst is experiencing a brisk demand 

from wômen patrons for a new giveaway of 

Charmian British Empire dinnerware . 

FYom the London Daily Mail's comment on 

"Royal Journey," the Montreal Herald extracts 

the following: "Canada seems as plain 

architecturally as it is beautifully .scenic." 

A National Film Board team which spent 

15 months in the Canadian Arctic has returned 

with a unique color film of life among 

the Eskimos. Douglas Wilkinson, Toronto, director, 

and Jean Roy, Montreal, photographer, 

shot 30,000 feet included in which is the first 

motion picture ever taken inside an igloo. 

One sequence .shows the birth of an Eskimo 

baby in an igloo at Chesterfield inlet, a 

Royal Canadian Mounted Police post on the 

west coast of Hudson bay. Roy, who is 23, 

spent some weeks in the laboratory of the 

National Research Council, testing his cameras 

and other equipment under simulated 

Arctic conditions. He took with him four 

cameras, three lighting sets and two generators. 

Wilkinson, who had previously directed 

another northern picture. "Rskimo Dog 

Team," suggested the fUm of Eskimo life. 

all copper drippings for metal drive. 


. . Win 

"fe^TTM 

. . The 

. . February 

. . 

" 

TORONTO 

n rch H. Jolley, able and popular executive 

secretary of the Motion Picture Theatres 

Ass'n of Ontario, soon will celebrate his seventh 

anniversary as the key official of the 

largest exhibitor group in Canada . . . James 

and William Georgas. members of the wellknown 

theatre family at Owen Sound, ran 

off with the Ontario championship honors in 

the Canadian Amateur Ski Ass'n two-day 

weekend meet at Collingwood and Midland. 

Jim took the all-around skiing title on points 

in four contests while his older brother Bill 

was the runnerup. 

The Biltmore at suburban Weston was 

opened for a morning community memorial 

service for King George VI . Barron. 

Canadian editor of Paramount News, 

claimed a newsreel beat against all comers 

when he had 1,400 feet of pictures on the 

funeral of King George VI in London on five 

Toronto theatre screens ahead of the opposition 

on Pebruai-y 18. The theatres were the 

Imperial, University, Nortown. Downtown and 

International Cinema. 

Douglas V. Rosen, general manager of International 

Film Distributors, got his picture 

at the top of the film comment column in the 

Toronto Telegram when he wrote to Stan 

Helleur, the reviewer, to say he was tired 

of seeing Helleur's portrait in the masthead. 

Next day, Rosen's vignette was in the heading 

but, two days later, Helleur was reinstalled. 

The Famous Players' Village offered "Passport 

to Pimlico" at an evening performance 

An Exhibitor 

WITHOUT 

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THEATRE 

STREET 

TOWN 

STATE 

NAME 

POSITION 

under the auspices of the auxiliary of the 

University Settlement . . . James R. Grainger, 

Republic executive, was here to introduce 

J. V. O'Gara as the Canadian distribution 

supervisor, the product being handled 

by Empire-Universal Films. 

K. J. Kennedy, owner of the Rio at Levack, 

is one of two new members of the Motion 

Picture Tlieatres Ass'n of Ontario. W. J. 

McLaughlin has also taken out a membership 

for the Princess at Massey. 

22 Years at One Theatre 

Observed by Boothman 

HALIFAX—Ever since Famous Players 

Canadian opened the Capitol Theatre here 

some 22 years ago, Bill 

Bezanson has ^^^^ 

been 

J0l9tîf^ projectionist at the 

g ^\ house, the largest 

' 

JT 

maritime theatre. 

Bezanson entered the 

industry as an usher 

and doorman about 35 

years ago. He came to 

;. 

^ Halifax from Lower 

MHH ^Pl'^fcfcfc^ 

Kinsburg in Lunenburg 

^Hb ^ ^^^Kk county and became a 

^^ * ^^^K bellboy before going 

to the 

Bill Bezanson 

Family Theatre, 

now the Imperial, a 

Franklin & Herschorn house. After five years 

at the Family, he moved to the Community 

in the north end, where he remained for 

nearly eight years. He transferred back to 

the heart of the city with the opening of the 

new Capitol and for seven years he also 

operated at the Garrick. 

When the local projectionists unit was 

organized in 1929, Bezanson was one of its 

first members. He has been vice-president 

and for the last 12 years has been financial 

secretary and treasurer. At the start of the 

local there were 15 members. Now there are 

30. The most striking aspect of booth work 

to Bezanson is the contrast between the 

equipment and booths of today and 22 years 

ago. 

Bill is the father of six children and devotes 

much time to hunting and fishing with 

his family. 

Municipal Film Library 

Opened at Quebec 

Is 

QUEBEC—The new Municipal film library 

here has been officially opened at the Montcalm 

Palace. Mayor Lucien Borne headed 

a delegation of mumcipal leaders attending 

the ceremony with National Film Board officials 

and members of Laval's social .science 

faculty as well as the Provincial Film Bureau. 

As a beginning, the library offers 246 films 

in color and black-and-white, for a nominal 

fee. Seventy-four of the films have English 

sound tracks. AH combine education and entertainment. 

Among those to wish success to the new 

city-run enterprise were Beatrice Boudreau 

of the National Film Board and Arsene Turcotte 

of the social sciences faculty of Laval 

university. Following the opening, two films 

were shown. 

Defense Group Invites Theatremen 

TORONTO—The Toronto and York committee 

on civil defense has invited theatre 

managers and employes in the district to 

attend courses in first aid, rescue work and 

panic control for use in case of emergency. 

OTT AW A 

Tames Chalmers, newly appointed manager 

of the Odeon, formerly was manager of the 

Danforth in Toronto and previously had been 

manager of the Roxy at West Hill in the 

Toronto area ... A theatre at Gatineau 

Point, which was being used for emergency 

housing accommodation, was badly damaged 

by a fire believed caused by overheated stove 

pipes in one of the improvised .suites. Reports 

indicated that 60 persons, many of them 

children, were made homeless by the blaze. 

The comparatively new Strand in the south 

side, owned by William Farah, was broken 

into by two youths, who were caught by 

police in a prowler car. Their pockets were 

filled with merchandise from the candy bar 

and a small amount of cash . 21 

was a big day in the local theatre field, with 

the opening of "Quo Vadis" at the Regent, 

"Tales of Hoffmann" at the little Elgin and 

"Death of a Salesman" at the main Elgin. 

The large crowds showed that Ottawa, with 

its 

200,000 population, could take it. 

Bob Maynard, owner of the Francais. continued 

his weekly French-language series on 

Thursday nights with the presentation of 

Tino Rossi in "Le Soleil a Toujours Raison. 

His slogan is, "Encourage French Films in 

Ottawa" (Encouragez les Films Francais a 

Ottawa) . students of Carleton college 

staged a midnight benefit performance 

Thursday (22> at the Odeon for the college 

development fund. J. Arthur Rank Film Distributors, 

Ltd., donated "High Treason" . 

With higher capital expenditures coming up 

for both radio and television, the Canadian 

Broadcasting Corp. Ls expecting $6,250,000 for 

its annual subsidy from parliament for the 

fiscal year beginning April 1 and, in addition, 

another $7,000,000 grant to get TV broadcasting 

started. 

Injunction Against Film 

Denied in Canada Court 

MONTREAL—The French-Canadian film, 

"Little Aurore, Child Martyr," can continue 

to be screened, but its producers still face 

a $75,000 suit in superior court. That is the 

effect of the withdrawal in court of appeals 

here of an appeal against a superior court 

decision that refused an injunction to stop 

showing the motion picture film. 

The appeal had been launched by the 

father, brother and other relatives of a girl 

on whose life the picture was based. The 

film tells of the death of the girl after continuous 

ill-treatment by her stepmother. It 

has been shown in many theatres in Quebec 

province for 20 years. The depicted action 

took place 30 years ago, and the suit against 

the producers, France Film Co., was launched 

after the father was released from a life sentence 

for manslaughter. The girl's mother 

had been sentenced to hang, but died in jail 

after commutation to life imprisonment. 

'Juliet' in Towne Cinema 

TORONTO—After eight weeks of "The 

River" at roadshow prices, the Towne Cinema 

went into a revival of "Romeo and Juliet." At 

the sister art theatre, the Towne Cinema, 

"You Can't Beat the Irish" remained for a 

fourth week but "Tom Brown's School Days" 

was being readied as the next show. 


— 

O)(OfflCE(BD0i^JJ]i/ÛJDI 

The EXHIBITOR HAS HIS SAY More Pertinent Comments 

ABOUT PICTURES 

From Exhibitor Reports 

An open forum in which, for the most part, exhibitors report on subseqtient-run THIS IS ALL RIGHT for the older people, 

but teenagers didn't like it . . . 

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 

It needs a fuss made about its coming to 

Weather: 

tre, Fruita. 

Rain.—Bob Walker, Uintah Thea- 

Colo. Rural trade. • * * trade. * * * (Continued on next page) 

reporting for one year or more. These columns are open to all exhibitors. 

town, or they'll let it go by . . . Of course 

it was silly, but who cares? . . . Monogram 

ought to put Barney in charge of 

COLUMBIA 

FBI Girl (LP)—Cesar Romero, George 

Brent, Audrey Totter. This is very good. The small-exhibitor-relationing . . . They have 

Barefoot Mailman, The (Col)—Robert Cummings, 

Terry Moore, Jerome Courtland. This 

BOXOFFICE review said it was poor but 

resurrected the Civil War about enough 

others gave it a nice rating and I agree with 

and the Indian days, too ... It is not good 

Is a nice little action feature that I made the 

them. Run three singles with it and stop 

for children, so ruins its usefulness to a 

mistake of booking on Sunday instead of 

worrying. Played Tues., Wed. Weather: Good. small town theatre . . . "Love" in a title 

Pri., Sat. Even so, it gave us normal business 

kills 

—Frank E. Sabin, Majestic Theatre. Eureka, 

a picture here . . . Truth in advertising 

pays for other businesses—why not 

and seemed to please almost everyone, so I 

Mont. Small town trade. * * * 

should not fret. The story is unusual and 

for motion pictures? 

Cummings is at his usual stride, as he keeps Lost Continent iLP) —Ce.sar Romero, Hillary 

Brooke, Chick Chandler. 

the fun popping. 

suspense at a high pitch. You'll find it different 

enough to give your patrons a welcome off if we had left it lost. These fantastic MacMurray, Dorothy McGuire, Howard Keel. 

to describe. I think we'd have better Callaway Went Thataway (MGM)—Fred 

change. Played Sun., Mon., Tues. Weather: things may be all right but I think there are Here's another good MGM which drew a full 

Lovely.—Bob Walker, Uintah Theatre, Fruita, too many of them that are an awful chance house both nights. Fellow Exhibitors, I don't 

The "gators" keep the 

me 

This is hard for 

been 

Colo. Rm-al trade. • • • for an exhibitor. I would say if you play it, think you need to worry about the crowd 

buy it cheap. Played Wed.. Thurs. Weather: going thataway if you advertise thLs well. 

Convicted (Col)—Glenn Ford, Broderick Okay.—Edwin A. Falk sr.. Roxy Theatre, Played Sat., Sun. Weather: Good.—T. M. 

Crawford, Millard Mitchell. This picture let Billings. Okla. Small town, farmer, oil trade. Patton, Scenic Theatre. Lexington. 111. Small 

us down badly. When classified as adult entertainment, 

• 

town trade. • • • 

a picture is poison to us. Played 

Wed., Thurs. Weather: Mild.—Harland Rankin. 

Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ont. General CÂmerican in Paris, An (MGM)—Gene Forrest. William Demarest. A nice little musi- 

METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER 

Strip, The (MGM)—Mickey Rooney. Sally 

patronage. * * * Kelly, Leslie Caron, Oscar Levant. Don't cal show which did good business on Christmas, 

as it was new and had not played all 

make the mistake of thinking this one is presold 

to small town and rural audiences. That around me. It is good, light entertainment. 

Corky of Gasoline Alley (Col)—Jimmy Lydon, 

Scotty Beckett, Patti Brady. This is wasn't the case here. The farmers in general Played Tues., Wed., Thurs. Weather: Good.— 

not a bad picture. Some said they enjoyed haven't heard the music and don't share the E. M. Freiburger, Dewey Tlieatre, Dewey. 

it for a change. It is not big but just a city folks' entliusiasm for ballet. It needs . a Okla. Small town trade. * • • 

different thing from what we have been fuss made about its coming to town, or they'll 

running. It didn't do bad business for 

Tall Target, 

us. let it go by. It is a great picture and 

The (MGM)—Dick Powell, 

patrons' 

comments were divided.—Ed Schoen- 

Played Wed., Thiu-s. Weather: Okay.—Edwin 

Paula Raymond, Adolphe Menjou. This is a 

A. Falk sr., Roxy Theatre, Billings, Okla. thal. Sun Theatre, Hildrege. Neb. Rural and 

good mystery with a different angle. It was 

* 

Small town, farmer, oil field trade. 

• something new. However, the boxoffice was 

small town trade. 

down—as I had expected it would be. Played 

Lorna Doone (Col)—Barbara Hale, Richard C Angels in the Outfield (MGM)—Paul Tuesday. Weather Clear and cool.—Herman 

Greene, Carl Benton Reid. This is extra Douglas, Janet Leigh, Keenan Wynn. This is a M. Perkins jr.. Alpha Theatre, Catonsville, 

* 

good, an early English story in color. Many good picture and was well liked by those who Md. General patronage. 

came who had read the novel in their youth. were able to get to the show. With schools 

—Frank E. Sabin, Majestic Theatre, Eureka, closed and half your trade down with 

Yellow 

the 

Cab Man, The (MGM)—Red Skelton, 

Mont. Small town trade. * * * flu, you cannot blame any company 

Gloria DeHaven, Walter Slezak. Red is a 

or picture 

for poor business. There is nothing wrong 

good drawing card and this has many hearty 

laughs. 

Riders in the Sky (Col) — Gene Autry. with this picture. Played Sun., Mon., Tues. 

Of course it was silly, but who cares? 

Gloria Henry, Pat Buttram. Autry is more Weather: Okay.—Edwin A. Falk sr., Roxy 

The customers .showed up in round numbers. 

Played Fri., Sat., Sun. 

popular here than in our other situations, Theatre, Billings, Okla. Small town, farmer, 

Weather: Okay.— 

* Frank E. Sabin, Majestic Theatre. Eureka, 

but nothing to brag about. Played Fri., Sat. oil field trade. 

Mont. Small town trade. • 

• 

Weather: Mild.—Harland Rankin, Erie Theatre, 

Wheatley, Ont. General patronage. * * * 

MONOGRAM 

When You're Smiling (Col)—Jerome Courtland, 

Frankie Lane, Lola Albright. I doubled 

Byington, Anthony Caruso. Brett King. It's 

GlobetTotters Liked 

According to Mrs. Hoyle (Mono)—Sprinu 

this with "The Harlem Globetrotters" and 

By a Varied Audience 

a shame that they couldn't have given Barney 

everyone came out saying this was weak, but JJARLEM GLOBETROTTERS, THE another 10 or 20 minutes more footage on 

after seeing it, I think they were just so weU 

(Col)—Thomas Gomez, Dorothy Dandridge. 

Bill Walker. I don't know enough As it was, the only complaint we had was 

this one and made it a real crowd-pleaser. 

entertained by the Trotters that they didn't 

need this. Actually, I felt it was a cute little adjectives to start on this baby. Anyway, 

that the story wasn't finished. Doubled with 

feature that would be a credit on most dual 

in all the years I've been in this "Call of the Klondike" to average or better 

crazy business, I can never remember business on a wintry run. As usual, Barney 

bills, but the Trotters just didn't need anything 

else. Played Wed., Tliurs. Weather: pulling such a mixed crowd and finding helped us sell the picture with a lot of advance 

dope, broadsides, etc. How many other 

Nice.—Bob Walker. Uintah Tlieatre, Fruita, them so unanimous in their praise. I 

Colo. Rural trade. • • * had the local basketball coaches, their producers give a darn what you do with their 

wives and their teams as our guests on pictiu-es? Monogram ought to put him in 

the opening night, and still we did Sunday 

business on Wednesday. We got scads Sun., Mon., Tues. Weather: Cold, .snow.—Bob 

charge of small e.xhibitor relationing. Played 

LIPPERT PRODUCTIONS 

Baron of Arizona iLPi—Vincent Price. Ellen of repeats and had really rough competition 

both nights. It is full of wonderful trade. * * * 

Walker, Uintah Theatre. Fruita, Colo. Rural 

Drew, Beulah Bondi. There aren't many features 

made that are more entertaining and comedy, no one will mind the basketball, 

absorbing than this. A good cast does an the Trotters are tops, the little lady is Cavalry Scout (Mono) — Rod Cameron. 

outstanding job, yet try as I would, I could lovely, the story appealing. When Jolson Audrey Long, Jim Davis. This is another 

not sell my rural trade on this feature. Rain sang again, I suffered, but here's hoping Scout picture of the way-back-when days. 

and mud probably held us back some, but the Trotters trot again. Played Wed., Rod Cameron does okay for us, but really 

business was worse than it has been in over a 

Nice.—Bob Walker, they have resurrected the Civil War about 

year for this change. Played Fri.. Sat. 

enough—and the Indian days, too. We have 

Thurs. 

Uintah 

Weather: 

Theatre, Fruita, Colo. Rural 

BOXOFFICE BookinGuide :: March 1, 1952

. everybody 

— 

The 

EXHIBITOR HAS HIS SAY 

(Continued from preceding page) 

a lot of pretty decent Indians around here. 

This is okay, even with my gripes, but I have 

seen better Cinecolor. Played Fri., Sat. 

Weather: Okay.—Edwin A. Palk sr., Roxy 

Theatre, BiUings. Okla. Small town, farmer, 

* 

oil field trade. 

PARAMOUNT 

Here Comes the Groom (Parai — Bing 

RKO RADIO 

(RKO)—John Wayne, 

Flying Leathernecks 

Robert Ryan, Don Taylor. There is good action 

in this picture. Business was only fair, 

as the picture played all around me before 

I got it. Played Sun., Mon. Weather: Good. 

—E. M. Freiburger, Dewey Tlieatre, Dewey, 

Okla. Small town trade. * * * 

On Dangerous Ground (RKO)—Ida Lupino, 

Robert Ryan, Ward Bond. Tliis is a fair picture, 

with good performances by Ida Lupino 

and Robert Ryan, but my patrons failed to 

come out to see it. Played Wed., Thurs. 

Weather: Okay.—O. Fomby, Paula Theatre. 

Homer. La. Small town trade. * * * 

REPUBLIC 

Heart of the Rockies (Repi—Roy Rogers, 

Penny Edwards, Gordon Jones. Now what 

smart company is going to put Roy Rogers 

back on the screen in those 70-minute color 

films that will keep the small town exhibitor 

happy on Fri., Sat.? He has a following that 

it is a shame to overlook. This is the usual 

Rogers story, but don't forget, people like 

them. Played Fri., Sat. Weather: Okay.— 

Edwin A. Falk sr., Roxy Theatre, Billings, 

Okla. Small town, farmer, oil trade. * 

Played Fri.. Sat. Weather: Cold.—Ed Schoenthal. 

Trail of Robin Hood (Rep)—Roy 

Sun Theatre. 

Rogiers, 

Holdrege, Neb. Rural and 

Penny Edwards, Gordon 

small 

Jones. Very 

town patrons. 

• 

good. 

I hate to see Roy quit as he is good draw here. 

Also, the guest cowboy stars helped a lot. especially 

Rex Allen, who is our pet here. Played 

UNIVERSAL-INTERNATIONAL 

Saturday. Weather: 

Abbott and Costello Rainy.—Audrey Thompson, 

Ozark Theatre, Hardy, (U-D—Bud Abbott, 

Meet the Invisible Man 

Ark. Small town, 

Lou Costello, Nancy 

rural trade. 

• Guild. I doubled this with "When Willie 

Comes Marching Home" (20th-Fox), an old 

one, both second run. Business was very good, 

20th CENTURY-FOX 

especially for the junior crowd. My goodness, 

the popcorn they can eat! The film is 

Decision Before Dawn (20th-Fox)—Richard 

Basehart, Gary Merrill, Oskar Werner. A not too scary, and the fight scene kept 

big picture of its kind—wonderful acting, 

in stitches—the best A&C in some 

wonderful scenes, but my patrons just wouldn't 

come to see the excellent picture. Those Warm, fair.—Melvin M. Edel, State Theatre, 

time. Played Sun., Mon., Tues. Weather: 

who saw it thoroughly enjoyed it. I guess the Centralia, 111. Smalll town trade. * * * 

people in the small towns are just fed up with 

the war pictures. Business was below average. 

Played Sat., Sun., Mon. Weather: Good.—O. 

Fomby, Paula Theatre, Homer, La. Small 

town patrons. • • » 

Fixed Bayonets (20th-Pox)—Richard Basehart, 

Gene Evans, Michael O'Shea. I didn't 

see very much of this one. However, what I 

did see I liked and am pleased to report that 

1 heard many comments, all good. Played 

Thurs., Fri. Weather: Clear.—Herman M. 

Perkins jr.. Alpha Tlieatre. 

General patronage. 

Catonsville. Md. 

• 

Irish Eyes Are Smiling (20th-Fox)—Monty 

Woolley. Dick Haymes. June Haver. I played 

this one very late, but did we fill the houses! 

We packed them in at every performance. 

Here are the musicals of yesterday that Fox 

made so well and that will bring them in 

from all corners. Music, color and the story 

the best we have seen in musicals for many 

years. Played Wed.. Thurs. Weather: Pine. 

Dave S. Klein, Astra Theatre, Kitwe/Nkana, 

Northern Rhodesia, Africa. Business, mining 

Crosby, Jane Wyman, Alexis Smith. This is and government patrons. * • 

a good picture but it had been milked before 

I got it, so I just broke even on it. Played 

Sun., Mon. Weather: Good.—E. M. Preiburger, 

Dewey Tlieatre, Dewey, Okla. Small 

town trade. * * * 

bad show and will please if you can get them 

Union Station (Para) — William Holden, in for it. Played Tues., Wed., Thurs. Weather: 

Nancy OLson, Barry Fitzgerald. Tlie handful Good.—E. M. Preiburger, Dewey Theatre, 

of loyal moviegoers who weren't scared away Dewey, Okla. Small town trade. * * • 

by the trailer sat spellbound as they watched 

this tense story unfold. It is like participating Let's Make It Legal (20th-Fox)—Claudette 

in the police dragnet, and a top cast does a Colbert. Macdonald Carey. Zachary Scott. 

great job in making you feel like you are in That would be swell applied to rental. This 

on things. It is not good for children lacks a lot of being a super-duper in our 

though, so ruins its usefulness to a small town book. It looks bad in red ink. Maybe some 

theatre. Played Wed., Thurs. Weather: places go for it. Tlie acting is not bad by 

Thawing.—Bob Walker, Uintah Theatre, two good actors, but it just did not click 

Fruita, Colo. Rural trade. * * * here. Played Sun., Mon., Tues. Weather: 

Let's Make It Legal (20th-Fox)—Claudette 

Colbert, Macdonald Carey, Zachary Scott. A 

good comedy, played to average business which 

failed to make me any money. It is not a 

Says It's Tailor-Made 

For the Small Towns 

IJEUNION IN RENO (U-D—Mark Stevens. 

Peggy Dow, Gigi Perreau. This 

little Universal, rich, warm and friendly 

picture scored above average business and 

pleased nearly everyone on preferred running 

time here. We took a chance and 

made more money on this than on a lot 

of super pictures. It is tailor-made for the 

small town trade. Played Sun., Mon., 

Tues. Weather: Cold.—Ken Christianson, 

Roxy Theatre. Washburn. N. D. Small 

town trade. * * * 

Okay.—Edwin A. Palk sr.. Roxy Theatre, Billings. 

Okla. Small town, farmer, oil trade. * 

No Highway in the Sky (20th-Fox)—James 

Stewart. Marlene Dietrich, Glynis Johns. 

Heart-warming chuckles from James Stewart, 

and Glynis Johns is lovably charming. I 

hope to see her again. Dietrich is very good 

and folks will like this. Reslant the ads to 

sell it for what it is instead of adventure. 

Flame of Araby, The (U-I) — Maureen 

O'Hara, Jeff Chandler. Maxwell Reed. Tliis is 

a good picture with very good coloring. All 

comments I heard on this one were good. 

This seemed to bring them in and to be well 

liked by all. Played Sun., Mon. Weather: 

Rain.—Herman M. Perkins jr., Alpha Theatre. 

Catonsville. Md. General patronage. * 

Golden Horde (U-I) Ann Blyth. David Parrar, 

George Maoready. This was a good picture 

of its kind but this type of pictm-e never 

draws well in our small town. The color was 

excellent and it had a good cast. Played Sat.. 

Sun. Weather: Good.—T. M. Patton. Scenic 

Theatre. Lexington. 111. Small town trade. * * • 

Reunion in Reno (U-I)—Mark Stevens. 

Peggy Dow. Gigi Perreau. This is a swell 

little picture. Our trade really likes that little 

Perreau girl. She is a honey. Give us more 

like this and "The Lady Pays Off." Who says 

there aren't any more Shirley Temples? And 

I used to be a Temple fan. Played Wed.. 

Thurs. Weather: Okay.—Edwin A. Falk sr.. 

Roxy Theatre. Billings. Okla. Small town, 

farmer, oil trade. • 

Saddle Tramp (U-D—Joel McCrea, Wanda 

Hendrix, John Rassell. They don't have to 

make better pictures than this to please the 

fans of Fruita. This is excellent family fare, 

western style. Comments were tops and business 

held up in spite of sub-zero weather. 

No records broken but a comfortable gross. 

Don't let it go begging.—Bob Walker. Uintah 

Theatre. Fruita, Colo. Small town, rural 

trade. * » « 

WARNER BROS. 

Charlie McCarthy and Mortimer Snerd in 

Sweden (WB>—Short subject, and very entertaining. 

It was a defmite draw in this Swedish 

community. If you live amongst Scandinavians, 

don't miss playing it. Played Sun., 

Mon. Weather: Cold.—Ed Schoenthal. Sun 

Theatre. Holdrege, Neb. Rural and smaU 

town patrons. 

• 

(WB)—Gary Cooper, Ruth Roman. 

Dallas 

Steve Cochran. Personally. I thought this one 

of Gary's weakest, but it pleased a largerthan-usual 

number of weekend customers and 

earned the rental they asked for it. so who 

am I to complain? Business-wise, you can't 

do much better if Gary is strong in your town. 

Played Sun., Mon., Tues. Weather: Beautiful. 

—Bob Walker, Uintah Theatre. Fruita. Colo. 

Rural trade. * * • 

Jim Thorpe—All American (WB)—Burt 

Lancaster. Charles Bickford. Steve Cochran. 

This is one of the best shows we have ever 

shown here. Most people thought, after 

seeing the show, that Jim Thorpe had never 

gotten a square deal out of life and many 

asked questions about his present whereabouts 

and finances. Played Wed., Thurs. 

Weather: Good.—Audrey Thompson, Ozark 

Theatre, Hardy, Ark. Small town, rural 

trade. 

• 

On Moonlight Bay (WB)—Doris Day, Gordon 

MacRae, Billy Gray. I'm late on this, 

but here is a picture! Tliis is the 100 per 

cent formula for family fare—not too much 

singing, and what there is is down-to-earth. 

The kid steals the show, the folks love it, and 

everyone is happy. This picture rated more 

comment than any in many a day. Brother, 

this really proves Movies Are Better Tlian 

Ever. Played Sun., Mon., Tues. Weather: 

Okay.—Edwin A. Falk sr., Roxy Theatre. Billings. 

Okla. Small town, faimer, oil field 

trade. » 

Wish You Were Here (WB)—Short. If you 

haven't run this great Technicolor short on 

Florida, don't put it off. The people all 

stayed through it the .second time both 

nights. It's one of the best. Played Fri., Sat. 

Weather: Rain.—Bob Walker, Uintah Theatre, 

Fruita, Colo. Rural trade. » * • 

MISCELLANEOUS 

She Shoulda Said No (Hallmark) — Lila 

Leeds, Alan Baxter, Lyle Talbot. I did a nice 

business on this roadshow, which pleased all 

who came. It deals with the dope and narcotics 

traffic. It is a fair picture and Hallmark's 

super-advertising sold it for me. It 

showed a profit. Played Sun., Mon. Weather: 

Good.—E. M. Freiburger, Dewey Theatre, 

Dewey, Okla. Small town trade. • • • 

BOXOFFICE BookinGuide :: March 1. 1952

. . 

I Cimarron 

iwnm 

An interpretive analysis of loy and tradepress reviews. The plus and minus signs indicate degree of 

merit only; audience classification is not rated. Listings cover current reviews, brought up to dote regularly. 

This department serves also as an ALPHABETICAL INDEX to feature releases. Numerol preceding title 

is Picture Guide Review page number. For listings by company, in the order of release, see Feature Chart. 

DJB5 

+t Very Good; + Good; - Fair; — Poor; = Very Poor. In the summary t+ is rated 2 pluses, = as 2 minuses. 

A 

1345 Aaron Slick From Punkin Crick 

(95) Comedy Para 

1239 Abbott & Coslello Meet the Invisible 

J-23-5Z - 

Ills - 

f I I i S-'t 

CD 3:ir :> iZ â:a.slzo 

Man (S2) Comedy U-l 

Abilene Trail (64) Western Mono 

1271 According to Mrs. Hojie (60) Drama. . . Mono 

Sup-West. MGM 

1300 Across the Wide Missouri (81) 

1301 Adventures of Captain Fabian (100) Drama. Rep 

1332 African Queen, The (105) Drama UA 

1233 Air Cadet (94) Com-Dr U-l 

1341 Aladdin and His Lamp (66) Drama Mono 

1224 Al Jennings of Oklahoma (79) Drama... Col 

in 1275 Alice Wonderland (75) Fantasy RKO 

1256 Alonn the Great Divide (88) West-Dr WB 

1293 American in Paris, An (115) Musical.. MGM 

1293 Angels in the Outfield (102) Drama MGM 

1310 Anne of the Indies (81) Drama 20th-Fox ] 

1331 Another Man's Poison (89) Drama UA 

1253 Apache Drums (75) Western U-l 

1251 Appointment With Danger (90) Drama... Para 

1303 Arizona Manhunt (60) Western Rep 

As You Were (57) Comedy LP 

1267 As Young as You Feel (77) Com 20th-Fox 

1340 At Sword's Point (81) Drama RKO 

B 

1264 Badman's Gold (56) Western UA 

1300 Bannerline (87) Drama MGM 

1313 Barefoot Mailman, The (S3) Comedy Col ] 

1304 B.isketball Fix, The (70) Drama Realart 

1223 Bedtime for Bonzo (83) 

"' Behave Yourself! (81) 

Comedy 

Comedy 

U-l 

,...RI

REVIEW DIGEST ++ Very Good; + Good; — Fair; — Poor; — Very Poor. In the summory ++ is rated as 2 pluses, = as 2 minuses. 

1337 Harem Girl (70) Comedy Col 

1312 Harlem Globetrotters, The (80) Drama ...Col 

1303 Havana Rose (77) Drama Rep 

1343 Hawk of Wild River, The (59) Western. . 

.Col 

1245 Heart of the Rockies (67) Western Rep 

1267 He Ran All the Way (77) Drama ITA 

1276 Here Comes the Groom (114) Rom-Com. .Para 

1336 Here Come the Nelsons (73) Comedy U-l 

1256 Her First Romance (73) Comedy Col 

1299 Hijhly Oanjerous (81) Drama LP 

1208 Highway 301 (SS) Drama WB 

1292 Hlohwayman, The (82) Drama Mono 

1297 Hills of Utah (70) Western Col 

1280 His Kind of Woman (120) Drama RKO 

Hold That Line (64) Comedy Mono 

1259 Hollywood Story (77) Mys-Dr U-l 

1259 Home Town Story (61) Drama MGM 

1320 Honeychile (89) Comedy Rep 

1319 Hono Kono (91) Drama Para 

Hoodlum Empire (..) Drama Rep 

1270 Hoodlum, The (61) Drama UA 

1311 Hot Lead (61) Western RKO 

1301 Hotel Sahara (87) Comedy UA 

1239 House on Telegraph Hill (93) Drama. 20th-Fox 

1277 Hurricane Island (72) Drama Col 

I 

1244 I Can Get It for Vou Wtiolasale 

(91) Drama 20th-Fox 

1313 I Want You (102) Drama RKO 

1246 I Was an American Spy (85) Drama. . . .Mono 

1252 I Was a Communist for the FBI 

(84) Drama WB 

1225 I'd Climb the Highett Mountain 

(88) Drama 20th-Fox 

1328 I'll Never Foroet You (90) Drama. .20th-Fox 

1327 I'll See You in My Dreams (110) Musical. WB 

1261 In Old Amarillo (67) Western Rep 

1331 Indian Uprising (70) Drama Col 

1237 Inside Straight (87) Drama MGM 

1260 Inside the Walls of Folsom Prison 

(87) Drama WB 

1246 Insurance Investigator (60) Drama Rep 

1338 Invitation (85) Drama MGM 

1276 Iron Man (82) Drama U-l 

1323 It's a Big Country (89) Drama MGM 

1-26-52 + 

CO X cc > iZ XK a.E zro

++ Very Good; + Good; — Fail Very Poor. In the summary ++ l; rated as 2 pluses, ~ as 2 minuses. REVIEW DIGEST 

1291 People Against O'Hara (103) Drama ... MGM 

1287 People Will Talk (110) Comedy ,20th-Fox 

1334 Phone Call From a Stranger 

1279 Pickup (78) Drama Col 

1263 Pier 23 (58) Drama LP 

1288 Pistol Harvest (60) Western RKO 

1282 Place in the Sun, A (122) Drama. ... Para 

1289 Pool of London C86) Drama U-l 

1266 Prince Who Was a Thief (88) Drama... U-l 

1256 Prowler. The (92) Drama UA 

1318 Purple Heart Diary (73) Drama Col 

Q 

1238 Quebec (85) Drama Para 

1244 Queen for a Day (107) Drama UA 

1320 Quo Vadis (172) Drama MGM 

1254 

1295 Saturday's Hero (111) Drama Col 

1278 Savage Drums (70) Adv-Dr LP 

1339 Scandal Sheet (82) Drama Col 

1245 Scarf, The (86) Drama UA 

1302 Sea Hornet (84) Drama Rep 

Sealed Cargo (90) Mys-Dr RKO 

1258 

1226 Second Woman, The (91) Drama UA 

1274 Secret of Convict Lake, The (83) Dr,101h-Fox 

1195 September Affair (104) Drama Para 

1327 Shadow in the Sky (78) Drama MGM 

1268 Show Boat (108) Musical MGM 

1272 

1306 Silver City (90) Drama Para 

1246 Silver City Bonanza (67) Western Rep 

1273 Sirocco (98) Drama Col 

1264 Skipalong Rosenbloom (72) Comedy UA 

Sky High (60) Comedy LP 

Slaughter Trail (78) Drama RKO 

1311 

1339 Smoky Canyon ( 55 ) Western Col 

1259 Smuggler's Gold (64) Adv-Dr Col 

1252 Smuggler's Island (75) Drama U-l 

1263 Snake River Desperadoes (54) Western. .. Col 

1243 Soldiers Three (92) Drama MGM 

1226 So Long at the Fair (85) Drama UA 

1340 Something to Live For (90) Drama... Para 

1315 Son of Dr. Jekj.ll, The (76) Drama Col 

1316 

(96) Drama 2Dth-Fox 

R 

Santa Fe (89) Western Col 

1274 Secrets of Monte Carlo (60) Drama... Rep 

1327 Sellout, The (83) Drama MGM 

Silver Canyon (70) Western Col 

South of Caliente (67) Western Rep 

1229 Spoilers of the Plains (67) Western ... Rep 

Stagecoach Driver (52) Western Mono 

to Stage Blue Ri-er (56) Western Mono 

Starlift (103) Musical WB 

1313 

1344 Steet Fist (73) Drama Mono 

Steel Town (..) Drama U-l 

Stop That Cab (56) Comedy LP 

Stormbound CJO) Drama Rep 

1331 Storm Over Tibet (87) Drama Col 

Storm Warning (91) Drama WB 

1214 

1314 Strange Door, The (80) Drama U-l 

Strange World ( ) Drama UA 

1269 Strangers on a Train (101) Drama WB 

1321 Street Bandits (54) Drama Rep 

8-25-51 -H 

8-18-51 -f 

52 + 

51 + 

51 It 

51 + 

51 H 

51 ± 

51 + 

51 -f 

51 + 

51 + 

51 H 

51 + 

10-51 * 

3-51 + 

16-52 + 

5-52 + 

16-50 + 

3-51 ± 

16-51 -H 

24-51 - 

+ ± -H ± -H- -f 10+2- 

++ ff +t ++ ++ -f 12+ 

+ + + 

± ± + 

+ +f ff 

± + =t 

+ + + 

± ± + 

± ± + 

ff + 9+ 

+ + 7+3- 

± 5+5- 

4+1- 

+ 

H ft 13+ 

+ + 7+3- 

± + 8+1- 

± H 8+5- 

± 6+3- 

- ± + - + ± 5+5- 

± + ff ± ft 8+2- 

ff H ft ff ff + 13+ 

± + 

± + + 

+ + tt 

H + 

+ ft 

ft ± ± 

ft ff + 

1309 Racket. The (90) Drama RKO 51 -f 

± 7+3- 

1309 Racing Tide. The (92) Drama U-l 51 - 

6+3-- 

1344 Rancho Notorious (89) Drama RKO 52 + + + 

6+ 

Rashomoii ( ) Drama RKO 

+ 4+ 

1235 Raton Pass (84) Western WB 

+ 8+5- 

1238 Rawhide (86) West-Dr 20th-Fox 3-10 + + 

+ 10+ 

1288 Red Badge of Courage (69) Drama, , MGM 8-18 ± + ff - ft + 8+2- 

1214 Redhead and the Cowboy (S2) Drama. , , Para 12-16 

+ - + + 5+4- 

1319 Red Mountain (84) Western Para 11-17 

tt ft + 8+3- 

1337 Red Skies of Montana (99) Drama ,20th-Fox 1-26 H ft + ff tt 9+ 

1343 Retreat, Hell (95) Drama WB 2-16 -f ± ff ff + 7+1- 

1343 Return of the Texan (88) Western .20th-Fox 2-16 + 

+ + 4+ 

1302 Reunion in Reno (80) Drama U-l 9-29-51 + + + ± 6+3- 

1284 Rhubarb (94) Comedy Para 8- 4-51 ff 

ft + ft ft 10+1- 

1230 Rhythm Inn (71) Musical Mono 2-10-51 -f 

+ ± 5+3- 

1276 Rich. Young and Pretty (95) Musical. MGM 7-51 + + + + + ft ft 9+ 

1299 River, The (99) Drama UA 9-22-51 + =t ff ft tt ff ft 12+1- 

1348 Road Agent (60) Western RKO 2-23-52 -f + + 4+1- 

1284 Roadblock (73) Drama RKO 4-51 -t- - + - 4+4— 

Roaring City (57) Drama LP 

± 1+1- 

1284 Rodeo King and the Senorita (67) West,. Rep 51 ± + + =t + 5+2- 

Rodeo ( - . ) Western Mono 

1333 Room for One More (95) Comedy WB 52 ^^ ff ff ft ff ff + 13+ 

1339 Royal Journey (47) Documentary UA 52 -t- + ft 4+ 

1229 Royal Wedding (92) Musical MGM 51 tt + ff ft ff ff ff 13+ 

S 

1247 Saddle Legion (60) Western RKO 

+ ± 5+3- 

1324 Sailor Beware (106) Comedy 

'. . , . Para 

ft + + 11+ 

1275 St. Benny, the Dip (80) Comeify UA 51 zt 

+ It 6+4- 

1084 Samson and Delilah (128) Drama Para 49 ff ft ff tt ft 

+ + 

± — ±: 

51 

52 + ± ± ± 

51 zt 

51 ± 

51 + 

51 + 

51 + 

51 - 

51 It 

51 + 

51 It 

51 H- 

+ ft 

51 + It ± 

51 + ± ± + 

51 + ± ± 

51 + ± It It 

51 + It di It 

51 ± + - + 

52 + ± 

51 + ± ± ± 

+ + 

+ ft 

+ + 

ff + 

rt + ± ± 

+ tt + + 

± + ± + 

+ ff + + 

± + 

+ ft 

± 4- 

ft 

ft 

+ + 

ff + 

± + 

ft 

ff 

-f ± 

+ + 

+ + 

+ ± 

ff 14+ 

It 7+2- 

-f 9+ 

± 4+5- 

+ 7+3- 

it 9+3— 

6+5- 

+ 8+1- 

+ 7+3- 

+ 8+1- 

it 5+6- 

6+2- 

+ 9+1- 

6+4- 

ft 14+ 

5+3- 

6+2- 

it 6+3- 

+ 7+4- 

4+3- 

- + 4+3- 

+ + 4+1- 

+ i 7+5- 

+ 

+ 

± 

± 

7+5- 

5+4- 

+ 51 ± + 

8+1- 

ft + 

51 + ± + + ff + ft 9+1- 

52 -ft 

51 + It + ± 

5+1- 

± + 

± + 

± 

+ + ± 

+ + + 

+ ± 

+ 

+ + :fc 

+ tt + 

6+4- 

5+3- 

6+2- 

2+2- 

6+1- 

it 5+3- 

1+2- 

± 1+2- 

6+2- 

+ 9+ 

* 7+7- 

m ZK i xL xir £e zo » 

1270 Streetcar Named Desire, A (122) Drama, .WB 6-16-51 ff + ff ft ff ft + 12+ 

1273 Strictly Dishonorable (94) Drama MGM 6-30-51+ + + + + + + 7+ 

1286 Strip, The (85) Drama MGM 8-11-51 + 

ft + 

Stronghold (73) Drama LP 

1294 Submarine Command (87) Drama Para 9-1-51 + + + 

1228 Sugarfoot (SO) Super-West WB 2- 3-51 ± + ± 

1295 Sunny Side of the Stieet (71) Musical, Col 9- S-51 ± 

Superman and the Mole Men (58) Drama, LP 

1239 Sword of Monte Cristo (SO) Drama 20th-Fox 3-17-51 ± 

1269 Take Care of My Little Girl (93) Mus,20-Fox 

1348 Tale of Five Women, A (86) Drama UA 

Tales of Robin Hood (59) Drama LP 

1284 Tall Target. The (78) Drama MGM 

1318 Tanks Are Coming, The (90) Drama WB 

1228 Target Unknown (90) Drama U-l 

1244 Tarzan's Peril (79) Drama RKO 

1329 Tembo (SO) Documentary RKO 

1313 Ten Tall Men (95) Drama Col 

1236 Teresa (105) Drama MGM 

1242 Texans Never Cry (68) Western Col 

1298 Texas Carnival (77) Musical MGM 

Texas City (54) Drama Mono 

Texas Lawmen (54) Western Mono 

1266 Texas Rangers, The (74) Western Col 

1268 That's My Boy (98) Comedy Para 

1264 They Were Not Divided (102) Drama,,,. UA 

1250 Thing From Another World (86) Drama.. RKO 

1225 13th Letter. The (85) Drama 20th. Fox 

1293 This Is Korea (50) Documentary Rep 

1339This Woman Is Dangerous (98) Drama. WB 

1232 Three Guys Named Mike (90) Comedy. MGM 

1272 Three Steps North (85) Drama UA 

1252 Thunder in God's Country (67) Western ,. Rep 

1285 Thunder on the Hill (84) Drama U-l 

1255 Tokyo File 212 (84) Drama RKO 

1222 Tomahawk (82) Sup-West U-l 

1311 Tom Brown's School Days UA 

(93) Drama 

1288 Tomorrow Is Another Day (90) Drama. 

1311 Too Young to Kiss (91) Comedy MGM 

1340 Trail Guide (60) Western RKO 

1344 Treasure of Lost Canyon, The (81) Drama. U-l 2-16-52 ff 

1209 Try and Get Me (92) Drama UA 12- 9-50 + 

(Reviewed as Sound of Fury) 

6-16-51 - 

2-23-52 + 

8- 4-51 + 

11-10-51 + 

2- 3-51 + 

3-24-51 + 

12-22-51 + 

12- 3-51 + 

3- 3-51 ± 

3-17-51 ± 

9-15-51 + 

6- 2-51 + 

6- 9-51 + 

5-26-51 It 

4-14-51 + 

1-27-51 tt 

9- 1-51 ff 

1- 2-52 ft 

2-17-51 + 

6-23-51 + 

4-21-51 + 

8-11-51 + 

5- 5-51 It 

1-13-51 + 

10-27-51 + 

8-18-51 + 

10-27-51 + 

2- 2-52 + 

± + ff ± + 

± + 

1304 Two- Dollar Bettor (72) Drama Realart 9-29-51 + ± ± + + + 7+3- 

1274 Two Gals and a Guy (70) Comedy UA 6-30-51 ± - It It = ± 4+7- 

1273 Two of a Kind (75) Drama Col 6-30-51 + ± It It + ± It 7+5- 

1309 Two Tickets to Broadway (106) Musical. .RKO 10-20-51 + + + tt tt + ± 9+1- 

V 

1310 Unknown Man, The (88) Drama MGM 10-20-51 + it - ± It + + 

1315 Unknown World (63) Drama LP 11- 3-51 — 

6-1-4- 

it ± - 2+4- 

1236 Up Front (92) War Drama U-l 3-3-51 + + tt + + + tt 9+ 

1316 Utah Wagon Train (67) Western Rep 11- 3-51 + It i + + ± 6+3- 

1234 Valentino (105) Drama 

Valley of Eagles ( ) Drama 

1318 Valley of Fire (63) Western Col 11-10-5110-51 + 

Vanishing Outpost (..) Western Realart 

Varieties on Parade (60) Musical LP 

. 

1342 Viva Zapata! (110) Drama 20th-Fox 

w 

Waco (68) Western Mono 

Wanted: Dead or Alive (58) Western. Mono 

1265 Warpath (95) Drama Para 

1324 Weekend With Father (83) Comedy U-l 

1295 Well, The (88) Drama UA 

1260 Wells Fargo Gunmaster (60) Western Rep 

1321 Westward the Women (116) Drama.,,, MGM 

1249 When I Grow Up (90) Drama UA 

12S7 When the Redskins Rode (78) Western Col 

1294 When Worlds Collide (81) Drama Para 

1316Whip Hand, The (81) Drama RKO 

1250 Whirlwind (70) Western Col 

1287 Whistle at Eaton Falls, The (96) Drama,, Col 

Whistling Hills (58) Western Mono 

1325 Wild Blue Yonder, The (98) Drama Rep 

1335 Wild North, The (97) Drama MGM 

1348 With a Song in My Heart 

(117) Musical 20th-Fox 

Wings of Danger ( , , ) Drama LP 

1338 Woman in the Dark (60) Drama Rep 

1347 Woman in Question, The (88) Drama Col 

tt 

ft 

tt 

It 

+ - 

+ + 

ft tf tt H ff 13+ 

± + It - 3+5- 

7+3- 

1+2- 

+ 7+3- 

± 5+6- 

5+3- 

± 2+2- 

± 8+5- 

+ 7+3- 

4+2- 

+ ± 

± + + ± 2+2- 

± + + ff + + S+1- 

± 7+3- 

± + 

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+ + 

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+ 

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-f + 10+ 

8+ 

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-f + 9+ 

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+ ± 6+6- 

+ + 7+1- 

-f 9+ 

+ 7+1- 

+ 9+1- 

4+2- 

5+1- 

± 9+1- 

2-24-51 t+ + tt tt tt + + 11+

D. 

C. 

. 51 

. .M. 

. . C 

, . . D 

1 

1 Fother 

I 

Montono 

COLUMBIA 

g a 

. 320 

©Volentino (lOS) D . 

Elo:inor I'.irker. .\nlhony Doxler. 11. Cirlson 

©Sonto Fe (89) W . .330 

li'.miloliili Scotl. .lanis Cnrler. Jerome Coinil;md 

Fury of the Congo (69) D. .329 

.iiilninv WeissriiuIlOT. Sherry Morelalid 

Whirlwind (70) W. .354 

Gene .Aiitry. Smiley Burnette. Giiil D:ivis 

Brave Bulls, The (108) D. .321 

i\lel FelliT. Minislava. .Aiilhimy Quinn 

Her First Romonce (73) C. .358 

iMartniel (lilnen. All.iii M.ijtin jr.. J, IlunI 

©When the Redskins Rode (78) W . . 339 

.Icii II. ill. M,.iv Caslle. .himes Se;iy 

Smuggler's Gold (64) D..315 

Gene Autry. Cli.'impion, Gail Davis 

Sirocco (98) D. .348 

llomphrev Botarl. Toren 

l,ee .1. CoUb. Mai la 

©Hurricone Island (72) D . . 349 

350 

Two of a Kind (75) D . 

Eilmiiiiil (I'Brieii. LizaUeth Seott. Teny llonre 

Big Gusher (68) D..306 

UaMio llirris. I'leston Koster. llorotliv I'aliick 

Bonanza Town (56) W..367 

©Mosk of the Avenger (83) .359 

Unrk. Milhoiiy Uuinn. l.aurance 

.Inliii .Iiiily 

"Whistle at EatonlFolls, The (96) D. .322 

l.lmd Bridges. Ilorolhy GIsh. C. 

Never Trust a Gambler (79) 

Carpenter 

D. .326 H Vorieties on Parade (60) M. .5020 

Han riark. CaHiy O'llonnell, Tom Drake 

Jackie Coogan. All-Star Ifeiiie 

Pickup (78) D. .357 ail Lost Continent, The (86) D. .5004 

Cesar liomero, Hillary Brooke, Chick Cliandlei 

lleiuli Mielia.ls, Huso Haas, Allan Nixon 

Cyclone Fury (54) W..368 

(It Cli.itle^ Si, III, .Smiley Biirnelle. I''. Sears 

Chain of Circumstances (68) D. .309 

liioh.ird Grayson. Marearel Field. H. Foivley 

Saturday's Hero (111) D..40I 

.lohn Derek. Donna Ueed, Blaokmer 

Sidney 

Lody and the Bandit, The (79). D. .337 

Fran.Ts I„ini;rniii, Tiinv lliimano. Ben Lessv 

Family Secret, The (85) D. .414 

Lee Cuhli. .liilin Derek. J. Lawrancc, 

,1 

Pecos River (55) W..484 

Jtalrs st.inrll. Smiley Burnet te, F. Jenks 

Boots Moione (103) D. .419 

Willi, nil llolilni, ,lnlmny Stewart. S Clements 

©Indian Uprising (70) SW. .417 

GenrRe illniiiBoniery. Audrey Long. C. B. 1,'eid 

Old West, The (61) W. .473 

Grne Aulry. Gail Davis, Pat Buttram 

Smoky Canyon (5S) W . . 483 

Ctiarles Starrett. Smiley Burnette 

LIPPERT 

a Donger Zone (56) D. .5017 

llui;li Itr.iiimool. Eduard Brophy. Tom Neal 

Ml Pier 23 (58) D. .5018 

Until It.'.iiuiinii!, Ann Savage. R. Travis 

a Rooring City (58) D. .5016 

Hugh Beaumont. Richard T'lavls, W. McKay 

a Kentucky Jubilee (67) C. .5007 

Jeny Colonna. Jean Porter. James Ellison 

Feature productions by company in order ot release. NuiT>ber In square Is national release date. Running 

time is in parentheses. Type of story is indicated by letters and combinotions thereof as follows: (C) 

Comedy; IDI Droma; (CD) Comedv-Dromo; iFI Fantosy; (M) Musicol; (W) Western; (SW) Superwestern. 

Releose number follows: l.i denotes BOXOFFICE Blue Ribbon Aword Winner. O denotes color photography. 

For review dates and Picture Guide page numbers, see Review Digest. 

1 Little Big Horn (85) W. .5003 

John Ireland, Marie Wimlsur, Lloyd Bridges 

Savage Drums (70) W . . 

5001 

S 

Sabu, Lita Baron, Sid Melton 

m G.I, Jone (62) C. .5012 

Jeau Porter. Tom Neal. Iris Adrian 

iT| Yes Sir, Mr. Bones (54) M. .5019 

All-star Minstrel Show 

. 5102 

m For Men Only (93) D . 

Paul Henreid. Margaret Field. R. Sherman 

gllMon Bait (78) D..5103 

George Brent. Marguerite Chapman 

M-G-M 

] UFother's Little Dividend (81). C. 124 

Spencer Tracy. Joan Bennett. Elizabeth Tavlor 

9 Soldiers Three (92) D..126 

Waller Piilgenn, Sleuart Granger. David Niven 

iti©Greot Caruso, The (109). . .127 

_Maii" l.air/,i. Aim lllilli, lloiolliy Kirsten 

©Painted Hijls, The (68)77 D. .125 

Lassie. Paul Kelly. Gary Gray, lloran 

Anil 

f Home Town Story (61) D..128 

Doiiaid Ciisji. Jeflrey Lyini. llevnolds 

Maijorie 

!Go for Broke! (93) D..129 

Van Johnson. Warner .-Vnderson. L. Nakano 

gj Night Into Morning (86) D..130 

Rav Nancy Davis 

Miljaiiil. Joliii llniliak. 

P No Questions Asked (81) D..132 

Arlene Dalil, G ge Miophy, Sullivan 

Barry 

S ©Excuse My Dust (82) M..133 

Red Skelton. Sally Forrest, Macdonald Carey 

S Kind Lady (78) D..134 

Elbe! Barry more. .Mauric e Evans. A. l.ansbiny 

(H Strictly Dish(rno7able"(94) D. . 131 

Ezio Pinza, .lami l,ii-h, Millard Mitchell 

13 ©Show Boot (108) M..135 

Kathryn Oruysmi. Ilmiaid Keel. Ava Gardner 

m Law and the Lady, The (104) . . 1 36 

Greer Garson. Micliael Wilding. iManoile Main 

gJTeresa (105) D..137 

Pier Angeli, John Collinge 

Erieson, Patriciii 

(U ©Rich, Young and Pretty (95). M. 138 

Jane Powell, Vic Damone, Danielle Daiiieux 

10) Toll Target, The (78) D . . 1 39 

Dick Powell, Paula Raymond. Adolnhe Meiijou 

m Strip, The (85) D .. 1 40 

Mickey Rooncy. Sally Lewis 

I'lirresl. Monica 

m People Against O'Horo (10^) D. .201 

Spencer Tracy. John Hoiiiak, Diana l.vnn 

llll tiAngels in the Outfield (102). D. .202 

Paul Dniiglas, ,lanet Leigh, Keenan W>mi 

a ©Mr. Imperium (87) M .203 

Lana Turner, Ezio Pinza, Sullivan 

Barry 

^ Collaway Went Thataway (81). C .214 

Dorothy McGiiire. Fred MaeSliuray. H, Keel 

HI It's a Big Country (89) Doc. .215 

Rllirl llairMin.re, lliiv Inoper. Van 

H Westword the Women (116) 

Johnson 

D..216 

lloliirt Taylor. Iieiiise llaieel. Julie Bishop 

0] ©Pandora and the Flying 

Dutchman (123) D. .217 

Gardner. James Patrick 

Ava Mason. Nigel 

S Sellout, The (83) D..219 

Walter Pldgeon. Audrey Toiler 

MONOGRAM 

HI Canyon Raiders (54) 

Whip Wilson. Fuzzy Knight, Phylli' 

m 1 Was on American Spy (85), ,1 

Ann Dvorak, Gene Evans. Douglas K 

m Blazing Bullets (51) 

,liil 1 .Mack Piiiuii, Luis Hall, 11 

ESCavolry Scout (78) 

\iiilii>\ Lung, Itiiil Cainernn, Jim 

gS According to Mrs. Hoyle (60). 

Spiing P.yingtnu. 'lanis Chandler. 1 

@ Nevada Bodmen (58) 

Whip Wilson. Fuzzy Knight. Phyllh 

ICoso Monono (73) 

511 

7514 

ers j 

.510 

512 

Km;; 

.515 

Ii.il.nl ri,..l..', Virgini,! Welles. K. 

C. .512 

Tokes the Air (61). . . 

Williiirn. Walter Bates 

I.'ayini.n.l Catlett, 

Desperado (51) 

F. 

W. .514 

Johnny Mack Brown, Virginia Her 

HI Yukon Manhunt (63) 

Kirhy Grant. Chinook, Gail Dai 

H Stagecoach Driver (52).... 

Whip Wilson. Fuzzy Knight. J 

a Let's Go Navy (68) 

Leo Uorcey, llulltz Hall, Tom 

, ,D. .512: 

M, Field 

W. .515: 

d] Wanted: Dead or Alive (58) . . W . 515'! 

Whip Wilson. Fuzzy Knight. J. Bannon 

m Joe Palooka in Triple Cross (60) D, .SHE 

Joe Kirkwood. Cathy Downs, James Gleas 

a Disc Jockey (77) M. .AA21 

Oinny Simms. Michael Jane Nigh 

O'Sbea. 

WhisTTing Hill i (58) W. .5145 

El 

James El 

J..l..Ill^ 

e Yellow 

.Mi.-k 

Fin 

I'.i..«n. 

(74) 

W.iMie .M.iin:;. Uamian O'Flyn 

a©Highwoyman, The (82) 

Philip Friend. Wanil.i lieiiiiri 

Elephant Stompede (71), 

5110 

Johnny Sheffield. Donna Martell. R.austu 

E. 

. 

N, Neill 

0. .510E 

rian 

D 

Bootll 

AA20 

a Lawless Cowboys (58) W. .5155 

Whip Wilson. Fuzzy Knight. Bannon Jim 

( 

©Flight to Mors (71) D..5103| 

10] 

Jl.u-.i.nl.. Cliipman. Cimeion Mileliell 

SI Crazy Over Horses (65) C..5114 

Leo Gorcev. Huntz Hall. David Goi-ev 

H Longhorn, The (70) W, .5223 

Bill Elliott. Phyllis Coates, Healey 

Myron 

g] Texas Lawmen (54) W..5146 

Joliniiy Mack Brown. James L. Hal 

Ellison. 

Northwest Territory (61) D, .5124 

B] 

Kirhy Grant, Chinook. Gail Davis 

§o| Stage to Blue River (56) W..5156 

Whip W ilson. Fuzzy Knight. J, Banniiii 

[g steel rTst (73) D, .5217 

Krisline Miller, Kiiil.lv yi.ii..uall, 

H Texas City (54) 

H, Laut 

W..5241 

S 

Joliniiv .Maek llrown. James Ellison 

D . . 5299 

©Aladdin and His Lamp (66) . . 

Patricia Medina. John Sands, Richard Erdman 

iisl Stronghold (73) D . 

Deolh of a Salesman (113) D..423 

Fredric March, Mildred Dunnock. Milclioll 

C. 

fa Navajo (70) Doc. .5104 

First Time, The (89) C. .424 

Cumminps Navain Indian east 

Knijert Barliara Hale. BarH,' 

Harem Girl (70) 

.Mona 

C. .422 

07 

Zaehary Seott. Veronica Lake. A. DeCordova 

Joan Davis. Arthur Blake. I'et'cle Castle 

Howk of Wild River, The (59). W. .482 

Charles Starrett, Smiley Burnette. C. Moore 

, 

m Invitation (85) D . 220 

Dorothy McGuire. I'.unn 

Van Johnson. Ruth 

E Lone Star (94) D . . 222 

Clark Gahle, Ava Craw find 

Gardner Broderick 

mShodow in the Sky (78) D, 221 

Ni"icv Dai-ls, Ralnb Meeker. J.ioi^s Wh tmme 

e ©Belle of New York, The (82). M . . 223 

Fred Astaire. Vcra-Ellen 

, 

HI Night Raiders (52) W .5251 

Knigbf. J. W'hip Wilson. Fuzzv 

5ol©Fort Csoge (72) 

Banm.n 

W 5102 

Rod Cameron. Jane Nigh. Morris Anknnii 

m Waco (68) W . 5224 

Bill Elliolt. Peggy Stewarl 

My six Convicts (. .) D~ 

Gilbert Roland. John Beal, Mileb.'ll 

M, 

Okinawo (. .) D.. 

I'at O'Brien, Cameron DenninB 

Mitchell, B. 

ill Scandal Sheet (82) D. .415 

Broderick Crawfoid. Donna Reed. John Derek 

Night Stage to Galveston (. .). D. . 

Gene Aulrv. Pal Buttram 

Jungle Jim in the Forbidden 

Lond (, ,) D. 

a Wings of Danger (. .) D. .5106 

Zaehary Seott. Robert Beatty, K. Kendall 

H Vollev of Eogles {..)... D 51 14 

.1. Jack Warner. Nadia Gray. MrCalliim 

m Just This Once (90) D. .224 

Peter Lawford. Janet Leigh. I.C" is Stone 

Love Is Better Than Ever (81). C. E3 225 

Elizabeth Tavlor. Larry Parks 

ID ©Rodeo (. .) W 5104 

Jane Nigh. John Archer 

m Hold That Line (64) 

Leo Gorcev, Ilimtz Hall 

a Man From the Black Hills (. 

5211 

5242

. 51 

D. 

. 1 

2 

PARAMOUNT 

Molly (83) C..5011 

(Kev. as The Goldbergs) 

Tim Molt. IKirolhv Malone, liicliard Martin 

(Hitiiiile Bi'ie. riiilip Loeb 

m Footlight Varieties (61) M. .116 

tQuebec (85) D..S017 Jack Parr. Ked Hut tons. Leon Errol 

.Inliii u.inmiiu' jr.. Corinne Calvet, P. Kjiowles 

Lemon Drop Kid, The (91) C..5018 

lluli llii|ic. Miuilyn Jla.well, Lloyd Nolan 

RKO RADIO g jg 

ii Soddle Legion (60) W..117 

IE My Forbidden Post (70) D. .114 

Ava Gardner, Melvyn Douglas. liobert Milcllum 

REPUBLIC 1 1° 

FEATURE 

CHART 

Appointment With Danger (90) D. .5019 

Alan Ladd, Jan Sterling. I'llyllis Calvert 

©Lost Outpost, The (89) D. .5020 

HoiiaUl lleagan, lihonda Fleming. Peter Il.mson 

ig Tokyo File 212 (84) D . 75 

Fkirenee Marly. liobcrt Peyton. K. Ilaida 

tBKon-Tiki (73) O. .173 

Tlior Heyprdahl, Knut Ilaugland 

Trio (92) D. .5030 

Jean Simmons, Anne Crawford 

Michael Kennie, 

19] Sealed Corgo (90) D . . 1 1 8 

n.iii.i Andiens. tiaiide liains. Caria Balenda 

Isl ©Jungle Headhunters (65) D..177 

Lewis follow. All Native Cast 

I 

©Best of the Badmen (84).... W 176 

Robert llyan, Claire Trevor. Jack liuelil 

©Possoge West (80) SW . .5022 

John Payne. Arleen Wllelan. Ileimis IIKeole 

Big Cornivol, The (112) D..5023 

(Itoi. as Ace in the Hole) 

Kirk liouglas. J.ui Sterling. Purler il.ill 

I 

Hord, Fast and Beautiful (78). D. 1 19 

Claire Trevor, Sally Forrest. Carleton Young 

Peking Express (85) D. .5024 

Joseph Cotten. Corinnp Calvet, Edmund Gwenu 

Thot's My Boy (98) C. .5026 

Dean Martin. Jerry Lewis. Rulh Hussey 

©Worpoth (95) SW. .5025 

Edmond O'Brien, Dean Jaggcr. Forrest Tucker 

Here Comes the Groom (1 14). .C. .5101 

Ring Crnsbv, Jane Wyman. Franehot Tone 

Place in the Sun, A (122) D..5102 

Montgomery Clift. Hizabelh Taylor 

Rhubarb (94) C. .5103 

Ray Millaiid. Jan Sterling, Gene Lockhart 

m IjOAIice in Wonderland (75). . .291 

(Walt Disney cartoon) 

Lilli Marlene (73) D. .203 

Lisa Daniely, Hugh BIythe 

McDerniott, J. 

e Flying Leothernecks (102) 0. .261 

John Wame. Hubert Ryan, Janls Carter 

Roodblock (73) D . . 204 

Charles MeGraw. Joan Di.son. Lowell Gilmiue 

Pistol Horvest (60) W..205 

Tim Holt, Joan Dixon. Richard Martin 

m His Kind of Woman (120) D. .201 

Robert Mitclmm. Jane Russell, Vincent Price 

[S On the Loose (74) D . . 202 

Joan Evans, Melvyn Douglas, Bar! 

Lynn 

S Behave Yourself I (81) CD .206 

Farley Granger, Shelley Winters, Demarest 

W. 

©Crosswinds (93) D. .5104 

John Pavne, Rhnnda Forrest Tucker 

Fleming. 

Darling, How Could You! (96). C. .5108 

Joan Fontaine. John Lund. Mona Freeman 

W . 209 

Hot Lead (61 ) 

Tim Holt. Richard Martin, Joan Dixon 

m ©Slaughter Trail (78) W .. 207 

Brian Donlevy. Virginia Grey. A, Devine 

. 

Detective Story (103) D. .5111 

Klik IliiuKlns. EliMiior Parker. Bendi.>: 

W. 

Submarine Command (87) D .5107 

William Ibildiu. NaiH-v (IKou. W. Bendix 

©When Worlds Collide (81) D. .5106 

lliehard Derr. Barbara Hush. J. Hnyt 

. 

US ©Drums in the Deep South (87) D 211 

Payton, C. Madison 

J.imcs 

S Blue 

Craig, Barbara 

Veil, The (114) D..263 

J.ine Wyman. Charles Laughton. Bloiidell 

J. 

. 208 

. 21 

Racket, The (90) D. .2l0 

Robert Milehiim. Lizabelh Scott. U. Rsan 

Jungle of Chang (67) D . 

liociimenlary of Thailand 

©Two Tickets to Broadway (106) M. .264 

Janet Leigh. Tony Martin. Eddie Bracken 

Whip Hand, The (81 ) D 

Elliott Reld. Carta Balenda. L. Tiittle 

Silver City (90) SW. .5112 

Yvonne DeCarlo. R. Arlen 

Edmond O'Brien. 

My Fovorite Spy (93) C..5110 

Bob Hope. Hedy Lamarr, L. Sulllan 

Francis 

Double Dynamite (80) C. .214 

Jane Russell. Frank Sinatra. Groucho Marx 

On Dangerous Ground (82) D..215 

Ida Liiiiiiiu. RuliiTt Kvan. Ward Bond 

Overland Telegraph (60) W 216 

Tim Holt. Gall Davis, Richard Martlti 

©Hong Kong (91) D. .5109 

lionald lleagan. Khnnda N. Bruce 

Fleming. 

I Want You (102) D. .251 

Dorothy McGiilre. Dana Granger 

Andrews, F. 

©Tembo (80) Doe. .265 

Howard Hill 

Sailor Beware (106) C..5114 

llean Martin. 

©Flaming 

Jerrv Lewis. 

Feother (78) 

Corinne Calvet 

SW .5118 

Sterling llayden. Arleen Whclan. F. Tucker 

SGirl in Every Port, A (86) C. .218 

nrniicbo Marx. Marie Wilson. William Bendix 

Las Vegas Story, The (88) D. .217 

Jane Russell. Victor Mature. Vincent Price 

Troil Guide (60) W. .219 

Tim Holt, Richard Martin, L. Douglas 

iron Slick From Punkin 

rick (95) C. .5119 

Young. Dinah Shore, Robert Merrill 

©Roncho Notorious (89) SW..221 

Mirleiie Dietrich. Arthur M. Ferrer 

Kennedy, 

©At Sword's Point (81 ) D . . 220 

Cornel Wilde. Maureen O'Hara, Cooper 

G. 

H Something to Live For (90) . . . . D . 

>an Fontaine, Ray Mllland, T. Wright 

05

SW. 

. 

I 

yi'll 

I 

Room 

I 

Retreat, 

g Strangers on a Troin (101 ) . . . . D 

Vicil.lle 

.IVfaurice 

Puppet 

-Michael 

' 

j 

FEATURE 

CHART 

UNITED ARTISTS g i° 

[S Badmon's Gold (56) W. .262 

IS Scart, The (86) D . . 644 

lij Long Dark Hall, The (86) D. .214 

lli'v llinisiiii. Lilli Palmer, Tania Held 

gg When I Grow Up (90) D..215 

linhhv |iri:.(Mll. Ili.ljert I'rcston. M. Scott 

go] Skipolong Rosenbfoom (72). . . . W. .213 

.Max Hosi'iiljloiim, .Max Baer. Jackie Coogan 

HI Oliver Twisf (105) D. .216 

BMon From Plonet X (70) P.. 647 

a Try and Get Me (92) D . . 643 

(Itev. as Sound of Fury) Frank Lovejoy 

33] First Legion, The (86) D. .648 

Charles Uoyer, Lyie Bettger, Leo G. Carroll 

115] Odette (105) D. .652 

Anna Ncagle, Trevor Iloivard, Marius Goring 

a Prowler, The (92) D. .650 

Van H eflin. Evelyn Keyes, John Maxwell 

[T] Fobiolo (96) D..6S1 

Mlchele Morgan, Henri Vldal. Michel Simon 

ID Man With My Foee, The (75). . .0. .659 

Ncl.son, C. Harry Lynn AInley, Matthews 

1] Three Steps North (85) 0..657 

Lloyd Bridges. Lea Padovani. Aldo Fabrlzl 

. 646 

m Queen for a Day (107) D. .645 

Avery. McGavin 

Phyllis Jlarren 

a He Ran All the Woy (77) D . 

lohn Garfield. Shelley Winters. W. Ford 

Cyrono de Bergeroc (113) D..660 

.lose Ferrer, Mala Powers, William Prince 

Hoodlum, The (61 ) 

D . . 653 

Lawrence 'Plerney, Allene Roberts, L. Golm 

. 649 

SI Pardon My French (81) C.1402 

Bonlfas 

P. aul Henreld. Merle Oberon. 

m Four in a Jeep (97) D.1139 

It.-ilph Viveca IJndfors, Meeker. M. Medwin 

©New Mexico (74) D . 

Lew Avres. Marilyn Maxwell. Andy Devlrie 

St. Benny, the Dip (80) C. .658 

Nina Foch. Roland Young 

I lick Ilayraes, 

m Two Gals and a Guy (70) C. .654 

Janis Paige, Itohert Alda, James Gleason 

m Obsessed (77) D . 1 1 88 

David Farrar, Geraldlne R. Culver 

Fitzgerald, 

Gold Raiders (56) W.1172 

George (IBrien, Sheila Talbot 

Ityan, L. 

Mister Drake's Duck (76) C..655 

jr., Douglas Fairbanks Yolande Oonlan 

Hotel Sahara (87) D.1 143 

Yvonne DeCario. I'eter Culver 

Ustinov. R. 

HI Mr. Peek-a-Boo (74) C.1146 

Joan Greenwood, Marcel Arnold. R. Trevilie 

(U Tom Brown's School Days (93).. D.1 148 

John Howard Oavles. Robert Newton 

©Fort Defiance (81) 

SW.1147 

Dane Clark. Ben Jolinson, Peter Graves 

m UChristmas Carol, A (86) D . 1 149 

Aiastalr Sim. Kathleen Harrison, J. Warner 

a Big Night, The (75) D.1 151 

John Rarrymore jr., Preston Foster. J. Loring 

[4] Lody Soys No, The (82) C.1150 

Joan raiilflflil. Ilavid Niven. J. R Juslire 

lUlChicogo Colling (74) D.1152 

lian lluryca. .Mary Anderson. Ellioll 

R. 

SI Another Man's Poison (89) D.1154 

Bette Davis. Gary Merrill. E. Williams 

5J Cloudburst (83) D.1 153 

Rnl)frl I'r.'sto n, Elizabeth Seilars. C. Tapley 

[8] Buffalo Bill in Tomahawk 

Territory (66) W.1214 

Clavlnn Monre. Thundercloud, Yowlachie 

ID ©River, The (99) D.1 140 

Arthur Stiields. Nora Swinburne. Tommy Breen 

m One Big Affair ( . . 

D . 1 1 57 

K\rl\ti KeM's. Dennis O'Keefe, M- Anderson 

2f Green Glove, The (88) D . 1 56 

Glenn Ford, (Jeraldine Brooks, Andre 

Gaby 

^JTole of Five Women, A (86). . . .D.1161 

lionar Colleano. Anne Vernou 

111 ORoyal Journey (47) Doc . 1 164 

llDVal Tour of Canada 

PlOAfricon Queen, The (105) ... D. 1155 

Humiihrey Rogart, K. Hepburn, Morley R 

©Mutiny (. .) D. 

Mark Stevens. Angela Lansbury, P. Knowles 

Stronge World (..) D. 

Ancelie.i Knauff. Helmut Schneider 

) 

1 

) 

D . ©Steel Town ( . . 

UNIVERSAL-INT L > ig 

Up Front (92) C..118 

David Wayne. Tom Bertl 

Ewell, Marina 

©Double Crossbones (75) MC..119 

Donald O'Connor. Helena Carter, Will Oeer 

Ma ond Po Kettle Back 

on the Farm (80) C..117 

Marjorie Main, Percy Kilbride, Meg Randall 

Fat Man, The (77) 

D..120 

J. Scott Smart, Rock Hudson, Julie London 

Katie Did It (81) C..122 

Ann Biyth, Mark Stevens, Cecil Kcllaway 

©Smuggler's Island (75) D..121 

Jeff Ctlandler, Evelyn Keyes, Philip Friend 

©Apache Drums (75) SW. .123 

Stephen McNally, Colecn Wlllard Parker 

Gray, 

Hollywood Story (77) D . . 124 

Richard Conte. Henry Hull. Julia Adams 

Francis Goes to the Rocet (88). .C. .125 

Donald O'Connor. Pi|ipr Laurie 

©Prince Who Wos a Thief (88). D. .126 

Tony Curtis, Piper Laurie, Cecil Kellaway 

Comin' Round the Mountain (77) C .. 127 

Bud Abbott. Lou Costello. Dorothy Shay 

Iron Man (82) D. .130 

Jeff Chandler, Evelyn Keyes, Stephen McNally 

©Mark of the Renegade (81). . . 129 

J. Kicardo Montalban. Cyd Olarisse. C. Nalsh 

©Cottle Drive (77) SW . .128 

Joel McCrea, Dean Stockwell, Leon Ames 

©Little Egypt (82) CD.. 131 

Rhonda Fkmlng. Mark Nancy Guild 

Slevens, 

You Never Can Tell (78) D..132 

nick Powell, Peggy Dow, (Tharles Drake 

Thunder on the Hill (84) D..133 

Cl.'iude«te Colbert. Ann BIyth, Douglas 

R. 

©Lody From Texos (78) D..136 

Howard Duff. Mona Freeman, J. Hull 

Reunion in Reno (80) C. .135 

Mark Stevens, Peggv Dow. G. Perreau 

©Golden Horde, The (76) D..134 

David Farrar. Ann Biyth. G. Macready 

Strange Door, The (SO) D. .204 

Charles Laughton. Boris Karloff, Forrest 

S. 

Weekend With Pother (83) C..206 

Van Heflln. Patricia Neal, Glgl Perreau 

Bright Victory (97) D. .208 

Arthur Kennedy. Peggy Dow. Nana Bryant 

©Flame of Aroby (77) D..207 

Maureen O'llara. Jeff Cha?idler. Chane.v 

Lon 

©Cimarron Kid, The (84) W. .213 

Audle Murphy. Beverly Tyler. Yvette Dugay 

Finders Keepers (75) C..211 

Tom Ewell, Julia Adams, Evelyn Vardcn 

©Bend of the River (91) SW. .212 

James Stewart. Arthur Kennedy. Julia Adams 

Meet Danny Wilson (88) C. .205 

Frank Sinatra. Shelley Winters. Alex Nicni 

Here Come the Nelsons (73). . .C. .210 

Ozzie Nelson. Harriet Hilllard and family 

Ann Sheridan. John Lund 

©Treasure of Lost Conyon, The 

(81) D. .209 

William I'nnEll. Julie Adams, C. Drake 

Flesh ond Fury ( .) D. . 

Tonv Curtis. Jan Sterling. Mona Freeman 

WARNER 

BROS. 

a Roton Pass (84) W. .021 

Dennis Morgan, Patricia Cochran 

Neal. Steve 

a Only the Valiant (105) SW. .022 

Gregory Peck. Barbara Payton. Ward Bond 

(U 

I Was a Communist for the 

FBI (83) D. .023 

Frank Lovejoy. Dorothy Hart, Phillip Carey 

g Goodbye, My Fancy (107) C..024 

Joan Crawford, Robert Young. Lovejoy 

Frank 

m Along the Great Divide (88) . . SW . .025 

Kirk iiouglas, Virginia Mayo. John Agar 

] Inside the Wolls of Folsom 

Prison (87) D. .026 

Sieve Cochran. David Brian. Philip Carey 

.027 

Farley Granger. Ruth Roman, Robert Walker 

J ©Fort Worth (80) SW. .028 

Randolph Scott, David Phyllis Tliaxter 

Brian, 

i©On Moonlight Bay (95) M,.029 

Doris Day, Gordon MacRae, Jack Smith 

lu] i>©Captain Horatio Hornblower 

(117) D. .030 

Gregory Peck. Virginia Mayo. R. Beatty 

gH Force of Arms (100) D. .102 

William Holden. Nancy Olson, Frank Lovejoy 

SI Tomorrow Is Another Day (90).. D.. 103 

Ruth Roman. Steve Cochran, L. Tuttle 

fU ©Painting the Clouds With 

Sunshine (87) M..105 

Dennis Morgan. Virginia Mayo. S. Z. Sakall 

iCome Fill the Cup (113) D..106 

James Cagney. James Gleason, Massey 

R. 

1)1 Tanks Are Coming, The (90). . . .D. .108 

Lody Pays Off, The (80) D..202 (6] Close to My Heart (90) D. .107 

Ray Mllland, Gene Tlerney. Balnler 

Linda Darnell. Stephen McNally. G. Perreau 

Fay 

Raging Tide, The (94) D. .203 

Shelley Winters. Richard Conle, Blckford 

C. 

©Cave of Outlaws (76) SW..201 

Steve Cochran. Marl Aldon. Pblllp Carey 

Alexis Smith, Macdonald Carey, Vlelor Jory 

I©Distont Drums (101) D..111 

Gary Cooper. Marl Aldon. Richard Webb 

See You in My Dreams 

(110) M. .112 

Doris Day. Lovejoy 

Danny Thomas. Frank 

for One More (95) C. .113 

Cary Grant, Betsy Drake. Iris Mann 

m This Woman Is Dangerous (97). D. .114 

Joan Crawford. Dennis Morg.an. David Brian 

Hell! (95) D. 115 

Frank Lovejoy. Anita Carlson 

Louise. R. 

©Bugles 

] in the Afternoon (85). D .116 

Ray Mllland. Helena Carter. Hugh Marlowe 

H Streetcar Named Desire, A (122) D .104 

Vivien Leigh. Marlon Brando. Kim Hunter 

a ©Big Trees, The (89) D..117 

Kirk DouL'las. Patrice Wvmore. Eve Miller 

. 

FOREIGN 

AUSTRALIA 

FILMS 

Bitter Springs (73) 9-29-51 

(Belli. .Chips Rafferty. Tommy Trlnder 

BRITAIN 

Alice in Wonderland (80) 8-18-51 

(.Slim lini'l .Caifil Mai.li. Sieiilien Murra 

Angel With the Trumpet (98). . 

1-19-5J 

(Snailer) luleen llerlie, Basil Sidney 

. 

Blackmailed (73) 9-29-51 

(Belli.. .Mai ZWterling. Dirk Bogardc 

Bonnie Prince Charlie (98) 2-16-52 

(Snader) . .David Niven. Margaret Leigliton 

Cage of Go!d (82) 2-16-52 

(Ellis) .Jean Simmons, David Farrar 

Cry, the Beloved Country (105) 2- 9-52 

(L rll (anad.i Lee, C. Carson, S- Poitier 

Exchange Girl (83) 8-18-51 

(Films Iiit'l) , Rennie, Yolande Donlan 

Galloping Major, The (82) .... 1 1-17-51 

(Souvaine) Basil Radford. Janette Scott 

. 

Her Panelled Door (84) 9-29-51 

(Souvaine) . .Phyllis Calvert, Helen Cherry 

History of Mr. Polly, The (94), .12- 1-51 

(IRO). .John Mills. Sally Ann Howes, F. Currle 

Inheritance, The (90) 3-10-51 

(Fine Arts). Jean Simmons. Derrick DeMarney 

Interrupted Journey (80) 10-13-51 

(Snader) Rieliard Todd. Valerie llobson 

Laughter in Paradise (97) 12-15-51 

(Stratford) Alastair Sim. Fay Compton 

Manioc on Wheels (76) 7-14-51 

. (Infl) .Dirk Bogarde. Bonar Colleano 

Man in the Dinghy (83) 11-10-51 

. (S:;ader) .Miclniel Wilding, Versois 

Odile 

Murder Without Crime (76) 1-12-52 

. (SIralford) .Iiennis Price, Joan Douling 

No Orchids for Miss 

Blandish (95) 4-14-51 

(Renown) . Jack LaRue. Travers 

Linden 

No Place for Jennifer (90) 9-15-51 

. (Stratford) .Leo Genu. Rosamund John 

Portrait of Clare (99) 2-16-52 

(Str.ilford) Margaret Jnlinston. Richard Todd 

. 

Rots of Tobruk (85) 7- 7-51 

(David Brill).. Grant Taylor, Peter Finch 

Reluctant Widow, The (86) 10- 6-51 

. (Fine Arts) Je.in Kent, Guy Roife 

Small Bock Room, The (83) 2-16-52 

(Snader) .David Farrar. Kathleen Bvron 

. 

Third Time Lucky (87) 10-28-51 

. (IRQ) .Glynis Johns, Derraot Walsh 

Tony Draws a Horse (90) 6-23-51 

(Fine Arts).. Cecil Parker. Anne Crawford 

Wonder Boy (86) 1-19-52 

(Snader) . .Bobby Henrey, Shackleton 

Robert 

Wooden Horse, The (98) 9-29-51 i- 

. (Snader) .Leo Genu, Anthony Steel 

Young Scarface (80) 11 -24-51 

(MKD) . .Richard Atlcnborongh. Carol Marsb i 

CZECHOSLOVAKIA 

| 

©Emperor's Nightingale, The (70) 7-14-51 

| 

(Rembrandl) . Fantasy I 

j{ 

Dream Ballerina (78) 8-18-51 

(AFR) Verdv. Romney Brent 

Face to the Wind (85) 7-28-51 

(Soinaiiitl Pierre Larquey, Morlet 

Jane 

God Needs Men (95) 5-26-51 

(AFE) . .Pierre Fresnay, Madeleine Robinson 

Lody Ponome (97) 8-18-51 

(Discina) .Louis Joiivet. Suzv Dolair 

. 

Lovers of Verona, The (90)... 8-18-51 

(Souvaine) .Anonk Aimee, Serge Regglani 

. 

Monon (91) 2- 3-51 

(Dlscina) .Cecllc Aubrey. Michel Auclair 

. 

Mo Pomme (Just Me) (90) 12- 1-51 

(Discina) Chevalier, S. Dcsmarets 

Marie DuPort (90) 1- 5-52 

(Rellnn-Fouike) .Jean Gabin, B. Brunoy 

. 

Miquette (83) 7-28-51 J 

. (Disclna) -Louis JoNvet. Dnniele Delorme 

Oh, Amelia (86) 6- 2-51 { 

(Lux) -Danielle liarrieus, Dcsallly 

Jean - 

Possion for Life (85) 2-16-52 

(Braridi.iil. Dnnard Biier, Juliette Faber 

Red Angel, The (97) 2-24-51 

. (Spatter) .Tilda Thamer, Meurisse 

Paul 

GERMANY 

Eroieo (89) 1- 5-52 

, 

(Academy) . .E»,ild Balser. M. Schoenauer | 

. 

ITALY 

Miracle in Milan (96) 1-12-52 

. 

(Joseph Biirstvn) -F. Golisano. E. Orammatlca 

Path of Hope, The (104) 11-24-51 

(Luxl-.Raf Vallone. Elena Varzl. Baro Crzl 

Thrill Thot Kills, The (80) 8-18-51 

. 

(Dist-) -Fosco Glacheltt. Jacque Sernas 

Under the Olive Tree (107) 10- 6-51 

(Lux)..Raf Vallone. Lucia Rose 

Women Without Names (93).. 9-15-51 

(Lopert) Valentina Cortesa. Slmone Simon 

- 

MEXICO 

Roncho Grande (100) 5-19-51 

(Azieca) . .Jorge Negrele. Trio Cabav.aras

12-27-51 

10-11-51 

I BOXOFFICE. 

. 2-29-52 

8- 

. 11- 

8-24-51 

2-24-52 

11-23-51 

. . . 

12-24-51 

Short subjects, listed by company. In 

release, second the date of review 

review, -fr 

Very Good, -t- Good, n F 

rder of release. Running time follows title. First dote Is national 

Symbol between dotes Is rating from BOXOFFICE 

r. -Poor. = Very Poor 3 Indicotes color photogrophy. i)}jfliiri) fjiJiiiiT 

Columbia 

Pioil No. Title Rel. Date Rating Rev'd 

ASSORTED COMEDIES 

3426 Woo Woo Blues (16)... 7- 2-51 + 7-21 

1951-52 SEASON 

4411 Pleasure Treasure (17).. 9-10-51 

4412 She Took a Powder (16). 10-11-51 ± 11-24 

4413 Trouble rii La«.s (16) . + 12- 1 

4422 The Cliamp Steiis Out 

(I6I/2) 11-15-51 + 12- 8 

4423'Fraidy Cat (16) 12-13-51 =t 1-5 

44H A Fool and His Honey 

(16) 

4414 Happy-Go-Wacky (16).. 

1-10-52 ±2-9 

±3-1 

2- 7-52 

4424 Rootin' Tootin' Tenderfeet 

(16) 2-14-52 

4425 Aim. Fire. Scoot (..).. 3-13.52 

CANDID MICROPHONE 

. 

(One- Reel Specials) 

6-14-51 ± 6-23 

6 (10) 815-51 

3555 Subject No. 5 (lO^/j) . . 

3556 Subject No. .. 


4551 Subject No. 1 (10)... 10- 4-51 H 11-17 

4552 Subject No. 2 (ID... 12- 6-51 ± 12-22 

4553 Subject No. 3 (10) 2- 7-52 i 3- 1 

CAVALCADE OF BROADWAY 

3654 New York Alter Midnioht 

(11) 6-28-51 H 7-21 

4651 The Gay Nineties (10) 11-15-51 


.. 4651 Eddie Conilon* (10) 11 -15-51 ± 12- 8 

4652 Bill Hardy's (9) 2-14-52 

COLOR FAVORITES 

(Technicolor Reissues) 

3610 Air Hostess (8) -f 6-23 

6-21-51 

Eos 3611 The Hunt (71/2).. 7-26-51+ 7-21 

3612 Merry Manikins (8).... 8-23-51 


4601 Ihe Horse on the 

Merry-Go-Round (7). . 

9-13-51 

4607 Monkey Love ( ) 3-13-52 

COMEDY FAVORITES 

(Reissues) 

4431 She's Oil Mine (IT/z- 9-20-51 + 10-20 

4432 Midiiiijhl Blunders 

(171 2) 11-22-51 ± 1-26 

4413 Olaf Lauahs Last (17) +2-9 

. 

4434 High Blood Pleasure (19) 2-28-52 ±3-1 

lOLLY FROLICS 

(Technicolor) 

4501 Georgie and the Dragon 

(7) 9-27-51 H 10-20 

4502 Wonder Gloves (7) 11-29-51 + 12-8 

4503 The Oompalis (7) 1-24-52+11-10 

4504 Rooty Toot Toot (..)., 3-27-52 .... 

MR. MAGOO 

(Technicolor) 

4701 Fuddy Duddy Buddy (7). 10-18-51 + 11-17 

4702 The Grizzly Golfer (7) .. 12-20-51 ff 1- 5 

4703 Sloppy Jalopy (7) 2-21-52 -^ 3- 1 

SCREEN SNAPSHOTS 

3Sh0 The Gre.1l Director (9). 7-19-51 


at Play 

4851 Hollywood 

(10' j) 9-13-51 + 10-20 

Hupaloiig 4852 in Hoppyland 

(9''2) 10-18-51 + 12-15 

Hollywood 4S53 Goes Western 

(9) 11-15-51 ± 1-26 

a 4854 Hollywood on Sunday 

Afternoon (IO1/2) ...12-20-51+ 2-9 

4S55 Memories of Famous Hollywood 

Comedians (9) . 1-24-52 

4856 Meet Mr. Rhythm, Frankic 

Laine ( ) . 3-20-52 

STOOGE COMEDIES 

3J0S Scrambled Brains (16).. 7- 5-51 + 7-21 


9- 4jni Merry Mavericks (16). 6-51 .... 

4402 The Tooth Will Out 4-51 

. 

(16) 10- + 11-24 

11- ± 12-15 

440? Hula-La-La (16) 1-51 

4404 Pest Man Wins (16)... 12- 6-51 12-22 

440' A Missed Fortune (16).. 1- 3-52 ±2-9 

+ 

( 440r, Listen, Judge .) 3- 6-52 

TWO-REEL 

3440 A Day With tHe FBI 

SPECIALS 

(19) 7-21-51 ff 5-26 

VARIETY FAVORITES 

4951 Noro Morales & Orcb. 

(11) 9-20. 51 + 12-22 

4952 Dick Stabile and Orch. 

(10) 10-25-51 

4953 Randy Brooks & Orch. 

(11) 12-27-51 ±2-9 

4954 Kehoe's Marimba Band 

(11) 2-28-52 ±3-1 

WORLD OF SPORTS 

3810 Anglers Aweigh (10).. 7-26-51 


4801 The Willie Hoppe Story 

(9) 9-22-51 + 10-20 

4802 Flying Skis (9) 10-25-51 ± 12- 1 

4806 Wrestling Demons ( . ) . 3-20-52 

4803 Gymnastic Champions 

.11-24-51 

. . . 2- 

10-27-51 

a 

SHORTS CHART 


7301 Tommy Doisey and His 

Oicliestrn (15) 11- 7-51 ± 11-10 

TiO? Woolly llciiiwirs Varieties 

(15) 12- 5-51 + 11-17 

7303 Nnt Km Cole and tlie Joe 

Ad.in.s Orcli. (15) .... 1- 9-52 

7304 Dicl< Stabile and His Oich. 

(15) 1-30-52 

7305 Blue Barron and His 

Orchestra (15) 3-12-52 +f 2-23 

TWO-REEL SPECIALS 

6?fl2 Aniohl the Benedict 

(18) 8- S-51 ± 7-14 


7701 Dainier Uinlcr the Sea 

(I6I/2) 12-10-51 4+ 11-10 

TECHNICOLOR CARTUNES 

(Reissues) 

6330 VUlio's Cooliin' Wlio? (7). 7-16-51 

6331 I'ieil Pilier of Basin Street 

(7) 8-20-51 

6332 ]00 Py ies and Andy 

Panda (7) 9-17-51 

6333 llie rux aiul tile Rabbit 

(7) 10-15-51 


7321 Loose Nut (7) 10-24-51 -f 12- 8 

7322 Aliou Ben Boooie (7) .. 11-19-51 ± 12- 8 

7323 Painter and Pointer 

(7) 12-12-51 44 12- 8 

7324 Bathing Buddies (7) 1- 7-52 ± 2-23 

7325 Slinliorn Kino of Polaioo 

(7) 2- 4-52 + 2-23 

7326 Crow Crazy (7) 3-3-52 

7327 Reckless Drier (7) 3-31-52 

7328 Poet and Peasant (7) 4-28-52 

. . 

VARIETY VIEWS 

6347 Romeo Land (9) 8- 6-51 + 7-21 

eS'lS r/lonliey Island (9) 9-10-51 ± 7-14 


7341 Italian Interlude (9) ...11- 5-51 ± 12- 8 

7342 Brooklyn Goes South (9) 1-21-52 .... 

7343 Sail Ho! (9) 2-25-52 

7344 Rhythm on the Reef (9) 4-14-52 .... 

WOODY WOODPECKER CARTUNES 

(Technicolor) 

6354 Sliiui Shot 6% (7) 7-23-51 + 6-30 

6355 Hedwonil Sap (7) 10- 1-51 it 9-15 

6356 Woody Woodpecker Polka 

(7) 10-29-51 + 9-15 


7351 Destination Meatball 

(7) 12-24-51 + 11-10 

7352 Little Monster (7) 2-25-52 

Warner Bros. 

Pioil No. Title Rel. Date Ratinu Rev'd 

BLUE RIBBON HIT PARADE 

(Technicolor Reissues) 

7312Sionx Me (7) 7-21-51 

7313 the Stiiiiid Cuiiid (7).. 9-1-51 


. . . 3-15-52 

8301 Holiday lor Slioesliings 

(7) 9-15-51 

8302 Lady in Red (7) 10-13-51 

8303 Sniffles ami Bookwoim 

(7) 11-10-51 

8304 Goldilocks Jivin' Bears 

(7) 12- 1-51 

8305 Of Thee I Sing (7) 1-12-52 

8306 From Hand to Mouse (7) 2- 9-52 

8307 Brave Little Bat (7) 

8308 Snow Time for Comedy 

(7) 4-12-52 ... 

BUGS BUNNY SPECIALS 

(Technicolor) 

7726 His Hare Raising Tale 

(7) 8-11-51 +9-8 


8723 Ballot Box Bunny (7).. 10- 6-51 +4 11-24 

8724 Big Top Bunny (7) 12- 1-51 f4 1-19 

«725 Oneiation Rabbit (7)... 1-19-52 

8726 Foxy by Proxy (7) 

. . . . 2- 23-52 

8727 14 Carrot Rabbits (7).. 3-15-52 

8728 Water, Water Eycry Hare 

(7) 4-19-52 

FEATURETTES 

/IO6 Law of the Badlands (20) 8- 4-51 


Thrower (20). 9-29-51 8101 The Knife 44 10-20 

8102 A Laugh a Day (20) . 44 1-19 

8103 1 Won't Play (20) 12-29-51 

8104 Gun to Gun ( ) 3-22-52 

. . 

HIT 

PARADE OF GAY NINETIES 

7803 The Naughty 20s (9).. 8-18-51 

lOE McDOAKES COMEDIES 

7486 So You Want to Buy a 

Hsed Car (10) 7-28-51 ± 9-8 


8401 So Yon Want to Be 3 

Bachelor (10) 9-22-51 -f 11-10 

8402 So You Want to Be a 

Plumber (10) 11-10-51 ± 1-26 

8403 So Von Want to Get It 

Wholesale (10) 1-12-52 

S404 So You Want to Enjoy 

Life (10) 3-29-52 

MELODY MASTERS BAND 


8801 U.S. Army Band (10) .. 10-13-51 + 12- 1 

8802 Jan Garber and Orch. 

(10) 11-17-51 

8803 Richard Himber and Orch. 

(9) 2- 9-52 

MERRIE MELODIES 

, 

(Color) 

7716 Wearing of the Grin (7) 7-14-51 

7717 Legliorn Swoygled (7) 7-28-51 44 

. . 

7718 Cheese Chasers (7) 8-25-51 -f 


8701 Lovelorn Leghorn (7)... 9- 8-51 44 

S702Tweety's S.O.S. (7) 9-22-51 44 

8703 A Beat for Punishment 

(7) 10-20-51 

8704 Sleepy Time Possum (7). 11- 3-51 -f 

8705 Drip-Along Daffy (7) .. 11-17-51 44 

8706 Tweet Tweet Tweety (7). 12-15-51 

8707 The Prize Pest (7) .... 12-22-51 

8708 Who's Kitten Who (7) 1- 5-52 

8709 Feed the Kitty (7) 2-52 

8710 Gift Rapped (7) 2-16-52 

8711 Thumb Fun (7) 3- 1-52 

8712 Little Beau Peue (7).. 3-29-52 

8713 Kiddin' the Kitten (7) 4- 5-52 

SPORTS PARADE 

(Technicolor) 

7509 Making Mounlics (10).. 7-14-51 + 

7510 Kings of the Outdoors 

(10) 8-18-51 


8501 Art of Archery (10) . .10- 6-51 ± 

8502 Cowboy's Holiday (10).. 11- 3-51 ± 

8503 Every Dog Has His Day 

(10) 12-22-51 

8504 Dutch Treat in Sports (9) 2- 2-52 

8505 Emperor's Horses (..).. 3- 1-52 

8506 Glamour in Tennis ( . . ) 4- 5-52 

TECHNICOLOR SPECIALS 

7008 Enchanted Islands (20). 8- 4-51 44- 


8001 Winter Wonders (20)... 9- 8-51 8002 Ride. Cowboy. Ride (20) . 

+ 

8003 Lincoln in the While 

House (20) 12- 8-51 4+ 

8004 Land of the Trembling 

Earth (18) 1-26-52 

8005 Land of Everyday Miracles 

(16) 3- 8-52 

8006 The Seeing Eye ( . . ) 4-26-52 

VITAPHONE NOVELTIES 

7608 Disaster Fighters (10).. 8-11-51 44 


8601 To Bee or Not to Bee 

(10) 9-15-51 ± 

8602 Lighlcr Than Air (10) . .10-20-51 

8603 Stop! Look and Laugh 

(10) 10-20-51 -f 

8604 Songs of All Nations (. .) 2-16-52 

8605 Animals Have All the Fun 

( .) 4-19-52 

MISCELLANEOUS 

9- 8 

11-10 

11-24 

Piod. No. Title Rel. Date Rating Rev'd 

Monogram 

LITTLE RASCALS 

(Reissues) 

Choo-Choo (..) 10-28-51 

Bargain Day (..) 11-11-51 

Fly My Kite (..) 11-25-51 

Shiver My Timbers (..).12- 9-51 

( Slianky ..) 12-23-51 

Male and Female (..). .11-11-51 

Hide and Shriek (..).. .11-25-51 

Roainin' Holiday (..).. 12- 9-51 

Framirm Youth (..).. .12-23-51 

Second Childhood (20).. 1- 6-52 

Pigskin Palooka (10)... 1- 6-52 

Shrimps for a Day (20) 1-20-52 

Three Men in. a Tub (10) 1-20-52 

Fish Hooky (. .) 2- 3-52 

Came tlie Brawn (..).. 2- 3-52 

Sprucin' U|) (. .) 2-17-52 

Feed 'Em and Weep 2-17-52 

(..) 

Republic 

SERIALS 

5084 Don Daiedevil Rides Again 

12 Chapters 

5181 Goernment Agents vs. 

Phantom Legion 7-14-51 

12 Chapters 

5182 Pirates' Harbor 9-26-51 

15 Chapters 

5183 Radai- Men From the 

Moon 1- 9-52 

12 Chapters 

THIS WORLD OF OURS 

(Trucolor) 

5085 Belgium (9) 7-15-51 

5086 Switzerland (9) 9- 1-51 

5087 Italy (9) 11- 1-51 

5088 Egypt (9) 12-15-51 

Independents 

United Nations Screen Magazine 

No. 5 (10) UN + 5-12 


No. 6 (10) UN + 5-12 


No. 8 (10) UN -f 5-12 

W. B. Yeats— A Tribute 

(24) Brandon Films 4+6-9 

-f 

Pacific 231 (10) Pathe Cin 11-10 

Latuko (50) American Museum 

of Natural History -f 1-26 

SHORTS REVIEWS 

Baby 

Bluebiiids' 

Columbia (Color Favorite) 7 Mins. 

Good. First released in 1938, this 

Technicolor cartoon still possesses a 

certain amount of charm and appeal, 

but might strike the viewer as somewhat 

pallid when compared to more 

recent and lively offerings. It concerns 

a flock of bluebirds who care 

for a supposedly abandoned infant 

until they are able to locate his 

mother. Women will call it "sweet." 

3(3ndid Mike No. 2. Series No. 4 

(Candid Microphone) 

Columbia 

10 Mins. 

Good. Allen Funt conceals his 

mike and camera in a drug store 

and later in a premium shop. Most 

amusing of the unwitting performers 

is a pert moppet with a flair for 

comedy who creates sustained 

laughter in her efforts to memorize 

a school poem. Other objectives of 

Funt's humor are a bewildered chap, 

heckled into purchasing hair tonic, 

and a frustrated woman who attempts 

to count her coupons while 

Funt does his efficient best to prevent 

it. 

Happ-y-Go-Wack-y 

(Assorted Comedy) 

Columbia 

16 Mins. 

Fair. And wacky 's the word for it- 

Chester Conklin promises his nurse, 

Vera Vague, $10,000 if she rids his 

mansion of relatives. To do so Vera 

feigns lunacy—so convincingly that 

an S.O.S. is dispatched to the nearest 

asylum. Too late she learns that 

Chester has a headstart on her—he's 

really crazy. When the guards arrive 

a canary becomes lodged in a 

relative's dress and she, not Vera, is 

carted away. It shouldn't happen to 

a canary. 

High Blood Pleasure 

(Comedy Favorite) 

Columbia 19 Mins. 

Fair. This re-release caters to 

staunch slapstick addicts. Richard 

Lane, a butcher, to avoid being 

jailed for speeding, impersonates his 

twin brother, an eminent physician. 

He pretends that he's driving his pal, 

Gus Schilling, to the hospital for an 

emergency operation. Before you can 

say "Suture, please," they are both 

in surgery where Lane's cutups lead 

to a mad chase in, and finally out of, 

the hospital. 

Keohoe's Miirimba Band 

(Variety Favorite) 

Columbia 11 Mins. 

Fair. A vaudeville short, originally 

released in 1944, this features Reg 

Kehoe and his all-girl marimba band 

as headliners. The outstanding act, 

however, is a novelty number sung 

by Glenn Miller's Modernaires, one 

of the better vocal ensembles. Three 

Winter Sisters, acrobatic dancers, 

and Pansy, the dancing horse— 

two-men-in-a-horse affair — complete 

the offering. 

Sloppy Jalopy 

Columbia (Mr. Magoo) 7 Mins. 

Very good. This should be a solid 

hit Myopic Mr. Magoo, short on 

sight but long on charm, arrives at 

a used-car lot to buy a birthday 

present for his nephew, Waldo. He 

has a safe, conservative model in 

mind but his nearsighted eyes alight 

on a souped-up hot rod job which 

he takes out for a trial spin. At 

90 m p.h. Magoo not only skims the 

highways but also a roller coaster, 

ferris wheel and river. The latter he 

attributes to "fluid drive." He gives 

the car to Waldo, assuring himbecause 

he mistook the oil gauge for 

the speedometer—that it can't go 

over 30. 

Ghost Buster 

RKO (Comedy Special) 18 Mins. 

Good. An engaging comedy with 

enough material for a full-length feature. 

Gil Lamb, window-washer in 

a newspaper building, aspires to be 

a reporter and marry the editor's 

beautiful secretary. 

When a millionaire's 

nephew disappears, Gil sets 

out for the uncle's manison to score 

a scoop. Donning a white uniform 

and blonde wig, he acts like he's a 

little nurse. He emerges from a bedlam 

of weird events and eerie sound 

effects to win the case, the job and 

the girl. 

Hello Aloha 

RKO (Disney Cartoon) 6 Mins. 

Good. Escaping hectic city life and 

a Simon Legree boss, Goofey goes 

native in a lush Hawaiian island 

setting. Hammocks grow on bushes, 

the breadfruit (sliced) grow on trees, 

and the hula dancers grow on 

Goofey. But Goofey burns up when 

the islanders toss him, as a sacrificial 

offering, into a fiery volcano. 

This Technicolor short, like ils hero, 

is well done. 

Laughs From the Past 

RKO (Screenliner) 9 Mins. 

Very good. The heartaches of yesterday 

provide the belly-laughs of 

today in this revival of three Oscar 

candidates from the nickleodeon era. 

The tear-jerkers include "The Romantic 

Violinist," who can barely 

scrape a living and "The Mad Duke" 

who plays double-or-nothing with 

his wicked twin brother. "An Evil 

Shuffle," probably the Kefauver Committee 

of its day, was one of the 

first motion pictures ever produced,' 

and luridly depicts the curse of gambling. 

Songs of the Campus 

RKO (Special) 14 Mins. 

Very good. A collegiate Cook': 

Tour is achieved here via a medley 

of campus favorites, sung by the 

University of Michigan's Men's Glee 

Club. This proficient choral group 

sings the praises of West Point, Annapolis, 

Columbia, Cornell, Georgia 

Tech, Notre Dame, Wisconsin, Texas, 

California, Colorado, Oregon, Amherst 

and, of course, Michigan. Each 

song is accompanied by scenic campus 

views of the school mentioned. 

The college theme is a natural peg 

for exploitation but widespread appeal 

is indicated as nearly all the 

songs featured are so popular and 

familiar as to come within public 

domain. 

That Man Rickey 

RKO (Sportscope) 8 Mins, 

Good. The subject of this behindthe-scenes 

baseball short, is famous 

Branch Rickey, former mentor of the 

Dodgers and present manager of the 

Pirates. There are scenes of stars 

like Jackie Robinson, Pee Wee Reese 

and Don Newcombe in practice sessions 

with young rookies, and shown 

in workouts at Pittsburgh's Forbes 

Field are ace slugger Ralph Kiner 

and newcomer Dick Hall 

10 

BOXOFFICE BookinGuide March 1, 1952

. . Lovely 

. . It's 

FEATURE REVIEWS Story Synopsis; Adiines for Newspaper and Programs 

THE STORY: 

"Young Man With Ideas" 

When Glenn Ford, hard-working lawyer in Ray Collins' 

Montana firm, demands a partnership, he is fired and with 

his wife, Ruth Roman, and their three children, goes to 

Los Angeles. While studying to pass the California bar 

examination. Ford is forced to live in a bungalow formerly 

occupied by a bookie. Miss Roman accidentally accepts 

one of the bets over the phone and puts Ford in trouble 

,i 

unexpected help from Nina Foch on both his law course and 

on his part-time job as bill collector. After getting mixed 

up with a showgirl, Denise Darcel, who owes money, and 

with the furious winner of the bet, Ford lands in jail but 

he pleads his case in court so effectively that he is offered 

a small partnership in a low firm. 

CATCHLINES: 

The Young Man Had Ideas—But Three Beautiful Girls Had 

Ideas About H;m . Rulh Roman, Luscious Nina 

Foch and Curvaceous Denise Darcel Have Ideas About Handsome 

Glenn Ford . a Mad and Merry Mixup of 

Romance and Fun.

I 

wised 

I 

! sound 

602 

. . 

ATES: ISc per word, minimum S1.50, cash with copy. Four insertions lor price oi three. 

LOSING DATE: Monday noon preceding publication date. Send copy and answers to 

Box Numbers to BOXOFFICE. 825 Van Brunt Blvd., Kansas City 1, Mo. • 

mmu 

HELP WANTED 

W.inted; Drive-in manager, must be top man, 

in drive-in operation. Excellent oppor- 

;, I, inr energetic man. One of Colorado's finest 

Ideations. Lartie tourist city, cloee to 

' ,n . fine tiunting. fisliing, other sports. 

.11 iKiurid pay. Inquiries to 824 2Ist St., 

,imr. 

Colo. 

Wanted: Experienced tlieatre 

manager for drive-in 

eat re In New York state. Please give complete 

itory. Uosoffioe. 4617. 

W.ifiled: Competent operiitor for small eastern 

«ri I'ermanent position. Submit complete backdiittil 

III .ipplication. Bri.\offioe. 4(j27. 

POSITIONS WANTED 

M.iii.icjer. five years experience, married, ymtwA 

III (litircsshe. I'ast three years head booker and 

i>ii Can do art and exploitation work. Can be 

ii ilile projectionist if necessary. Wife experienced 

iii.iiii^êmenl of Concession stand. Now employed 

I uisli change. ,Available March 1. Best nf 

ifiirni-es Prefer southern states, but will go 

mluie if deal is right. Write Boxoffice, 4609, 

J 

Manager, tifleen years experience, four years in 

Irge metropolitan drive-in, with present employer 

It years: desire position in southeast or gulf 

lies. Boxoffice, 4618. 

Projectionist, 26 years experience. Electrician. 

lull III, m. sound technician, management. Wife 

[irniiu-ed manageress, cashier. Interview prernl 

inv distance. Now employed. Projectionist, 

i:;s ViTMon. St. Iûis, Mo. 

ntly managing, buying, booking two Louis- 

11 iircs. Desire buying, booking position 

Kill circuit. Know picture values and balii'gram 

booking, .\ssets, age, proven abilit.v 

ii-. of experience that warrant excellent 

I-. including present employer, seven years. 

iiiiitb central west or near east location. 

mate direct. II. S. Davidson. 5256 E. St. 

Indianapolis, Ind. Tel. Blackstone 820:i. 

Manager, 5 years in present location, 10 years 

piTifiire all phases. Strictly sober. Married. 

rail e\em|)t X-GI. Prefer change to southern 

lies Bi.xo:Ticc. 462fi 

BUSINESS STIMULATORS 

Bingo with more action, $3.50 thousand cards. 

so other ganirs, .Novelty Oames Co, 14,tt 

dtord Ave.. Bronklvn 16. N. V 

Giveaway Nev» 1952 car. .No cost lo theatre, 

^ns 5,000 population or over. Merchajit Adllsliit 

lleiip. Interstate Theatre Service, 1115 

^t Armour, Kansas City, Missouri. 

Comic books available as premiums, giveaways 

viiiir kiddy shows. Large variety, latest newsuiit 

eililjiins. Comics Premium Co., 412B, Green- 

>'! Si . N. Y. C. Publications for premiums 

xcliislvely) since 1939. 

Bingo die-cut cards, 75 or 100 numbers, $3.50 

r .\l rremium Products, 339 W. 44th St., New 

irk IS. N. Y. 

POPCORN MACHINES 

Popcorn machines, alL makes, $100 up. Kettle- 

T all mikes popcorn m.iclijnes. Consolidated Con 

irtlons. 1314 So. Wabash Ave.. Chicago, lli. 

Popper kettles for all makes of machines 

itiirs. star, -Manli'y piippers. Candy corn equip 

111 120 S. Ilalsled, Chicago 6, 111. 

' 

SIGNS 

Way to Paint Signs. Use letter patterns. 

ii'py work and wasted time. No eiperilid 

for expert work. Write for free samiin 

llahn. B-1329. Central Ave.. Chicago 

STUDIO AND PRODUCTION 

EQUIPMENT 

your own newsreels. produce commercial 

imation stand complete, $2,250: collap- 

::os. $14.95: 4 Maurer BM recording 

mm $1,495: Artreeves 35mm recorder 

-1.995: 35mm Synchronous dubbing pro- 

RCA Drive-ln Equipment 

^ 

%y^" 

Theatre Supply Dealer for the good news 

You"ll be pleasantly surprised how little it costs 

to buy RCA Drive-In Equipment. It saves you 

money in lots of ways. The widest choice of 

equipment . . . Drive-In Sound Systems . . . 

Drive-In Projection Systems— enables you to 

buy just the system that meets your particular 

needs. Your operating expenses are less because 

RCÂ precision-built equipment lasts longer 

and maintenance costs are low. RCA equipment 

assures vastly superior performances. 

Your I ndependent RCA Theatre Supply Dealer 

will gladly give you complete information, or 

write Theatre Equipment, Department 21-C, 

RCA, Camden, New Jersey. 

W** ""^ 

EASTERN THEATRE SUPPLY CO., INC. ELMER H. BRIENT & SONS, INC. 

496 Pearl Street, Buffalo 2, New York 925 New Jersey Ave., N. W., Washington 1, DC. 

ALEXANDER THEATRE SUPPLY CO. 

1705 Boulevard of Allies, Pittsburgh 19, Pa. 

' 

''';!« BLUMBERG BROTHERS, INC. CAPITOL MOTION PICTURE SUPPLY CORP. 

i'TOOtt'*,,i^j^^î, 1305-07 Vine St., Philadelphia 7, Pennsylvania 630 Ninth Avenue, N York 19, New York

%

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