Boxoffice-Febuary.14.1948

REPORT ON SUPREME COURT 

HEARING IN ANTITRUST SUIT 

TOA'S TELEVISION SURVEY 

Page 12 

COVER STORY: Filmrows of America 

Page 18

KEEP YOUR 

ON THESE! 

Last week seven wonderful motion 

picture entertainments were previewed 

at the M-G-M Studios. 

They give thrilling meaning to 

the industry's new slogan "M-G-M 

GREAT IN '48!" 

^'HOMECOMING' 

M-G-M presents CLARK GABLE • LANA TURNER • ANNE 

BAXTER • JOHN HODIAK in "HOMECOMING" • Ray 

Collins • Gladys Cooper • Cameron Mitchell • A MERVYN 

LeROY PRODUCTION • Original Story by Sidney Kingsley 

Adaptation by Jan Lustig • Screen Play by Paul Osborn 

Directed by MERVYN LeROY • Produced by SIDNEY 

FRANKLIN • A METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER PICTURE 

'THE PIRATE' 

l( 

STATE OF THE UNION Technicolor) 

( 

LIBERTYFILMSpresentsSPENCER TRACY. KATHARINE 

HEPBURN . VAN JOHNSON • ANGELA LANSBURY 

ADOLPHE MENJOU • LEWIS STONE in FRANK CAPRAS 

"STATE OF THE UNION" • Based on the Play by Howard 

Lindsay and Russel Crouse • Screen Play by Anthony Veiller 

and Myles Connolly • Associate Producer Anthony Veiller 

Produced and Directed by FRANK CAPRA • A METRO- 

GOLDWYN-MAYER PICTURE 

"B. F.'s DAUGHTER" 

M-G-M presents "B. F.'s DAUGHTER" starring BARBARA 

STANWYCK . VAN HEFLIN • CHARLES COBURN 

RICHARD HART • KEENAN WYNN • A ROBERT Z. 

LEONARD PRODUCTION • Screen Play by Luther Davis 

Based on the Novel by John P. Marquand • Directed by 

ROBERT Z. LEONARD • Produced by EDWIN H. KNOPF 

A METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER PICTURE 

n 

M-G-M presents JUDY GARLAND • GENE KELLY in 

"THE PIRATE" • WALTER SLEZAK • GLADYS COOPER 

REGINALD OWEN • Songs by COLE PORTER • Color 

by TECHNICOLOR • Screen Play by Albert Hackett and 

Frances Goodrich • Based on the Play by S. N. Behrman 

Dance Direction by Robert Alton and Gene Kelly • Directed! 

by VINCENTE MINNELLI • Produced by ARTHUR FREED,' 

A METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER PICTURE 

"EASTER PARADE" 

(Technicolor) 

M-G-M presents IRVING BERLIN'S "EASTER PARADE' 

starring JUDY GARLAND • FRED ASTAIRE • PETEE 

LAWFORD with ANN MILLER • Color by TECHNICOLOF 

Music and Lyrics by IRVING BERLIN • Director of Musica 

Numbers ROBERT ALTON • Directed by CHARLEJ 

WALTERS . Produced by ARTHUR FREED • A METRO 

[ 


I. 

j 

"THE BRIDE GOES WILD" 

M-G-M presents VAN JOHNSON • JUNE ALLYSON in 

"THE BRIDE GOES WILD" • BUTCH JENKINS HUME 

• 

CRONYN • UNA MERKEL • Original Screen Play by 

Albert Beich • Directed by NORMAN TAUROG • Produced 

by WILLIAM H. WRIGHT • A METRO-GOLDWYN- 

MAYER PICTURE 

'THE BIG CITY""?Kr f 

M-G-M presents "THE BIG CITY" starring MARGAREl^ 

O'BRIEN . ROBERT PRESTON • DANNY THOMAj! 

GEORGE MURPHY • KARIN BOOTH • EDWARI 

ARNOLD. BUTCH JENKINS • and introducing to the screei 

BETTY GARRETT and LOTTE LEHMANN . Screen Pla 

by Whitfield Cook and Anne Morrison Chapin • Additiona 

Dialogue by Aben Kandel . Based on a Story by Miklos Laszl( 

As Adapted by Nanette Kutner . Directed by NORMA!' 

TAUROG . Produced by JOE PASTERNAK • A METRO 


Generously For America 

Dthcrhood Week!,

°4' 

dJim: 

^^zr/^Si^ 

TRADE SHOW 

TONIC! 

Come and enjoy yo^^self. 

Bring the 

family. They'll tell you to book it 

fast. 

Just what the public needs! Just 

what your cash register needs too!

m^mmmma 

im'mmmmmMimmMi 

t£is^\S^^!^ 

iiMmiftt BOGART

IWARNERS' 

TREASURE OF SIERRA MADRE: 

of the best 

Hol^wood 

fiasdonS

I 

ESSE 

' 

' 

THE NATIONAL FILM WEEKLY 

PUBLISH.D IN 

NINE SECTIONAL EDITIONS 

BEN SHLYEN 

Editor -in-Chiei and Publisher 

JAMES M. lERAULD Editor 

NATHAN COHEN Associate Editor 

SHLYEN ^....Managing Editor 

IVAN SPEAR 

Western Editor 

I. HARRY TCLER Equipment Editor 

RAYMOND LEVY General Manager 

Published Every Saturday by 

ASSOCIATED PUBLICATIONS 

Edilorial Ollices: 9 Rock Plaza, Ne 

lies N M. 

Y tiaymond Levy, General Manag 

Jerauld Editor: Chester Friedman, Editor bnowman 

diser Seclion A. ) Stocker, Eastern Hepresenta 

live. Telephone Columbus 5-6370, S-B371, 5-6372. 

Coble addres BOXOFFICE. York. 

Cenlial Ollice;: 332 South Michigan Blvd., Chi( 

4, 111. 1. Horry Toler, Editor " 

"" 

' 

tioii Telephone WAbash 4575. 

stone 1186. 

WoBhinglon Ollices: 302-303 International Bldg., 1319 

F Si N W Lee L Garling, Manager. Telephone 

WAlio'nal 3482. Filmrow: 932 New Jersey, N W. Saro 

Young. 

London Ofiices: 136 Watdour St., John Sullivan. Manelephone 

Gerrard 3934-5-6. 

Public 

825 Von rd., Kc 

1, Mo, Nathan Cohen. Associate Edil 

Managing Editor; Morns Schlozmon 

ager. Telephone CHeslnut 7777-78. 

City 

Shilyen, 

Man- 

Other Publications; BOXOFFICE BAROMETEH, 

published 

ALBANY-21-23 Waller Ave., M. Berrigan. 

ATLANTA-163 Walton, N. W., P. H. Savin. 

BIRMINGHAM—The News, Eddie Badger. 

BOSTON—Frances W. Harding, 20 Piedmont St., Lib. 

9814. Home; Com. 4700. 

BUFFALO— 157 Audubon Drive, Snyder, Jim Schroder. 

CHARLOTTE— 216 W. 4th, Pauline Grilfith. 

CHICAGO—332 S. Michigan, Jonas Perlberg, WA-4575. 

CINCINNATI— 1634 Central Parkway, Lillian Seltzer. 

CLEVELAND—Elsie Loeb, Fairmounl 0046. 

DENVER— 1645 Laloyetle, Jack Rose, TA 8517. 

DALLAS^524 Holland, V. W. Crisp, J8-97E0. 

DES MOINES— Register & Tribune Bldg., Russ Schoch 

DETROIT- 1009 Fox Theatre Blvd., H. T. Reves. 

Telephones: RA 1100; Night, UN-4-0219. 

HARTFORD— 109 Westborne, Allen Widem. 

HARRISBURG, PA.—The Telegraph, Lois Fegon. 

INDIANAPOLIS-Rt. 8, Box 770, Howard M. Rudeoux. 

MIAMI—56 S. Hibiscus Island, Mrs. Manlon E. Harwood. 

2952 Merrick Rd., Elizabeth Sudlow. 

MEMPHIS— 707 Spring St., Null Adams, Tel. 48-5462 

MILWAUKEE-529 N. 13th, J. R. Gahogan, MA-0297. 

MINNEAPOLIS—29 Washington Ave. So., Les Rees 

NEW HAVEN—42 Church St., Gertrude Lander. 

NEWARK, N. J.—207 Sumner, Sara Corleton 

NEW ORLEANS—218 So. Liberty St., Mrs. Jack Auslel 

Telephone MA 5812 

OKLAHOMA CITY— 125 NW 15th St., Polly Trindie. 

OMAHA—Omaha World-Herald Bldg., Lou Gerdes 

PHILADELPHIA-4901 Spiuce St., I. M. MaWer. 

PITTSBURGH—86 Van Broani St., R. F Klingensmith 

PORTLAND, ORE.—David C. Kahn, 823 S. E. Ash St. 

RICHMOND—Grand Theatre, Sam Pulliam. 

ST. LOUIS—5149 Rosa, David Barrett, FL-3727 

SALT LAKE CITY— Deseret News. Howard Pearson 

SAN ANTONIO—333 Blum St., L J. B. Kelner. 

SAN FRANCISCO—25 Taylor St., Gail Lipman, 

ORdway 3-4812. 

SEATTLE—928 N. 84th St., Willord Elsey. 

TOLEDO^f330 Willys Pkwy., Anna Kline. 

IN 

CANADA 

CALGARY—The Albertan, Wm. Campbell 

MONTREAL^330 Wilson Ave., N. D. G., Roy Cormichael. 

Walnut 5519. 

ST. JOHN— 116 Prince Edward St., Wm. J. McNulty. 

TORONTO—242 Milwood, Milton Galbraith. 

VANCOUVER—411 Lyric Theatre Bldg., Jack Droy. 

VICTORIA—938 Island Highway, Alec Merriman. 

WINNIPEG—The Tribune, Ben Lepkin. 

Member Audit Bureau of Circulations 

OXOFFICE 

THE BIG CASE 

^-^Nf T long last the supreme court has heartl 

the arguments of plaintiff and defendants in the antitrust cast' 

Too, the "bystanders," while not direct parties, nevertheles 

affected, had an opportunity to present their side. Little tho(j 

has not already been reported was brought to light. It wati 

because of the restrictive time limitations, largely a summal 

tion of what the court received in the form of briefs and whoj 

earlier was brought out in the lower courts. 

Now the case is in. And the decision is awaited. 

When that will come, what it will be, how the industry wi 

be affected are questions subjected to conjectures with a 

many answers as there are people asked. About the onl 

certainty is that there will be a decision; and that it will com 

prior to the closing of the present term of court, which mean 

not later than June. 

It has taken a long time for these matters of conflict be 

tween exhibitors and distributors to reach the highest court i 

the land. Whether its judgment will resolve the difference 

that exist and create the climate of competition that is health 

ful for the majority in this industry—not forgetting the publi 

interest—remains for the future to tell. 

The Ascap Settlement 

The new licensing agreement effected by the Theatre Owr 

ers of America with the American Society of Composer 

Authors and Publishers represents more than just a victory fc 

the TOA. It demonstrates the value of unity. And it shoul 

serve to impress upon all in this industry that joint, dire< 

effort not only can but does get results. 

Prior to the begiiming of negotiations with Ascap to modii 

its announced increase in the music tax rates by 300 per ceni 

the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America and the Amer 

can Theatres Ass'n were functioning as separate exhibitor oi 

ganizations. In addition there was the Allied States Ass'n an 

two or three other independent groups. All had the same con 

mon interest in the matter, but each had a different approacl 

The division in the ranks made practical negotiation a virtue 

impossibility. 

However, when the MPTOA and ATA were merged into th 

TOA there was represented a majority of exhibitors, and the 

alone improved the exhibitors' position. Ted Gamble, pres 

dent of TOA, set about at once to tackle this important problen 

And, after five months of negotiation, this effort has resulte 

I 

Vol. 52 No. 15 

FEBRUARY 14, 1948

, sxhibitors 

i 

IktVulM 

y^tLAioiUn 

PuUc'&eaU 

To Tax Theatre Equipment 

As Personal Property 

Massachusetts supreme court rules in favor 

of Boston assessors to levy equipment as 

personal property, a new principle in the Bay 

state and one which, exhibitors there fear, 

might spread. 

n holding Ascap rates at their old level for approximately 

3,200 theatres, comprising the "small" houses of the land with 

ess than 500 seats, and relatively minor increase, for larger 

heatres—as compared to Ascap's original demands. With the 

:ontract calling for these rates to remain firm for ten years, 

in the United States are relieved of an important 

/"Worry for a substantial period. 

list casf I 

erlliels On the other side of the fence there is the action instituted 

Jtlle %. i)y Allied and also by ITOA, both of whom seek to "eliminate" 

Itwtfhe music fee altogether through legislative recourse. Desmmx 

pirable as that aim may be, it is at best a long and costly 

md wk course. And, as the saying goes, a bird in the hand is worth 

two in the bush. All exhibitors, regardless of organization 

affiliation, can accept the new rates provided under the TOA- 

Ascap arrangement. From this neutral corner it would seem 

iistrywi/hat acceptance would be far cheaper than court or legislative 

witi t ibattles. 

the 01 

TOA leaders are rightfully quite happy about the develop- 

''' "'' taent. It is the first important achievement in negotiation since 

i mem yjg formation of the new organization. And their plans call 

lor dealing with other exhibitor problems in this way. 

20th-Fox Seeks FCC Okay 

For Television Station 

Company expects to build in Boston and 

may file additional applications; will be the 

second major lilm company operating video 

station: Paramount was the first. 

Rank to Start Experiment 

In Theatre Television 

His Cinema Television, Ltd., will set up 

network this year and install equipment in 

six film houses in London area for daily programs; 

will use BBC facilities. 

$600,000 Antitrust Suit 

Started in Baltimore 

Windsor Theatre Co. accuses six major 

distributing companies and two Baltimore 

theatres, the Walbrook and Hilton, of conspiracy 

to restrain and injure its trade. 

njicl k I 

From at least two Allied units there has come the claim that 

'""•-"continuous Allied pressure" and especially the introduction 

1"f"'= bf the Allied-sponsored Lewis bill was responsible for the Ascap 

s hei: >'retreat." If this "second front" action did have such a 

"P"' salutary effect, then, it is to be wondered, how much more 

juickly the result would have come had ALL exhibitor groups 

:oordinated their combined strength in this matter. And this 

thought can be applied to the many other problems in which 

ALL exhibition has a common interest. 

Man Bites 

Dog 

E. K. Menagh, Fort Lupton, Colo., exhibitor, would absolve 

producers from taking all the blame for the unfavorable public 

attitude toward the industry. He believes that exhibitors are 

more at fault. And, in a letter, which is published elsewhere 

in this issue, Mr. Menagh not only gives his reasons but offers 

^me practical suggestions by which exhibitors may profit. 

' 

Briefly, this progressive exhibitor advocates greater care 

in booking; strongly advertising the better attractions and 

playing down or eliminating the inferior pictures. Additionally 

he stresses the need for improvement to the point of perfection 

in projection and sound and, along with orderly operation, 

full consideration of the patron's comfort. That's a sound for- 

;mula—at all times. 

\£e^vu 

Report Howard Hughes Buy 

For RKO Stock Clinched 

Meeting of several RKO directors at Floyd 

Odium's California ranch seen as indication 

that prospective purchaser has met price 

controlling shares in company. 

for 

Jack Schlaifer to Assist 

W. J. Heineman at EL 

Veteran distribution executive named to 

newly created post of assistant to vice-president 

in charge of distribution for Eagle Lion; 

recently with Allied Artists-Monogram. 

lATSE Semiannual Meet 

*. 

In Pittsburgh March 1 

Richard F. Walsh, international president, 

wUl preside at the sessions of the general executive 

board at the William Perm hotel 

during the week of March 1. 

* 

A. W. Schwalberg Executive 

Assistant to C. M. Reagan 

Former Eagle Lion distribution head in new 

sales post will streamline Paramount exchange 

service and methods of contact with 

exhibitors throughout the country. 

SRO Sales and Foreign 

Departments to Coast 

Move to be made in April, with only advertising, 

publicity and a sales representative 

remaining east; leasing Victoria Theatre 

for Broadway showcase, dickering for others.

: February 

DECISION OF SUPREME COURT 

IS EXPECTED ABOUT MID-JUNE 

Destiny of the Industry 

Is Now in the Hands 

Of Eight lustices 

By J. U. JERAULD 

WASHINGTON—The antitrust story ha.s 

now been presented to the United States 

supreme court. Eight of the nine justices 

were on the bench this week to liear the 

final act of the drama which began in 

July 1938. Only Justice Jackson, who wat 

attorney general when the case started 

disqualified himself. 

Indications are that some kind of a ruling 

or 

decision may be expected during the first 

half of June, as the court usually takes 

some form of action on cases it hears before 

the end of the term. 

A THREE-DAY SESSION 

The oral arguments made before the court 

on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday differed 

little from those which already had been 

projected in the various briefs. One of the 

surprises of the case was the acceptance of 

competitive bidding by MGM; another was 

the contention of Whitney North Seymour, 

counsel for Paramount, that the lower court 

erred in failing to permit testimony from 

exhibitors on how the decree would affect 

them. Hence, he suggested, the case should 

be sent back to the lower coui't for correction 

of this error. 

Tom Clark, attorney general, made the 

opening arguments for the government and 

Robert L. Wright, assistant attorney general, 

who conducted the case in the lower courts, 

was joined by John Sonnett, in charge of the 

antitrust division of the Department of Justice, 

in rebuttal arguments. Herman Levy, 

counsel for MPTOA, and Abram F. Myers, 

general counsel for Allied States, did not 

speak, but the court accepted their amicus 

curiae briefs. However, the exhibitor viewpoint 

was not without representation. Thurman 

Arnold appeared in behalf of ATA and 

John O. Jackson and Colonel Robert Barton 

gave arguments in behalf of the Confederacy 

of Southern Ass'ns. 

COURT IS A SELLOUT 

In the language of the theatre, the sessions 

of the court were "sellouts." Those who 

did not have tickets stood in line. There were 

hundi-eds of these and about 50 were permitted 

to stand in the rear of the courtroom. 

The auditorium, with seats for the 

press and some of the spectator attorneys 

placed between the majestic pillars, held 316 

persons, exclusive of the judges and court attendants. 

It was, indeed, an impressive and 

solemn drama. 

FIRST DAY 

Attorney General Tom Clark was the first 

speaker. The only interruptions in this court 

are by the justices who ask questions. The 

speakers don't harangue. There is no obvious 

oratory. 

Clark insisted that complete divorcement 

of exhibition from distribution was the only 

John W. Davis (center), who represented Loew's, Inc., before the supreme court, is 

shown leaving the building with J. Robert Rubin (right), vice-president and general 

counsel for Loew's, and Carter Barron, the company's representative in Washington. 

way to "pry open" competition. He said the 

government had contended since 1944 that 

"no appropriate relief could be obtained without 

divorcement." 

He pointed out that the expediting com-t 

ruled there had been restraint of trade both 

before and during the three-year period of 

the consent decree by fixing minimum admissions: 

by conspiring with each other to 

maintain a nationwide price-fixing system; by 

"conspiracy to maintain a nationwide system 

of runs and clearances which was substantially 

uniform as to each local competitive 

area"; by granting "discriminatory 

license privileges to theatres affiliated with 

other defendants"; by "allowing deductions 

of film rentals on double featui'es so as to 

have a competitive advantage"; by moveovers; 

by excluding "foreign pictures and 

those of independents"; by master agreements 

and franchises; by conditioning the licensing 

of one pictme on another, and by "formula" 

deals. 

In reviewing the statistics of first run ownersihip 

by major distributors, he said: 

"As the court found, in the 92 cities of the 

United States with a papulation of 100,000 

or more, 70 per cent of all the first run 

theatres are affiliated with one or more of 

the major defendants. Although they liave 

interests in only about one-sixth of the 

18,000 theatres in the United States, those 

theatres pay about 45 per cent of the total 

domestic film rental received by the eight 

distributor-defendants. Of the remaining 55 

per cent, about 5 per cent is received from 

the five largest unaffiliated circuits and bhe 

balance of 50 per cent is received from the 

remaining independent theatres. The court 

also found that the theatres affiliated with 

the major defendants paid to the major defendants 

from 71 to 81 per cent of all film 

rental paid by those theatres and paid to 

the three nonexihlbitor defendants from 16 

to 26 per cent. Thus 97 per cent of the rentals 

paid by these affiliated theatres was paid 

to the defendants, and all independent distributors 

together received only about 3 per 

cent. 

"The court foimd that in 38 of the 92 cities 

of 100,000 or more in population all of the 

first run theatres are affiliated. Most of the 

affiliated theatres are located in cities of 

24,000 or more and most of them are first 

run theatres. For this reason about 70 per 

cent of the film rental that comes from first 

rmr exhibition of the defendants' films in 

cities of 25,000 or more comes from affiliated 

theatres. There is no region in the United 

States in which one or more of them is not 

dominant." 

As was expected, Clark took a stand 

against competitive bidding. It was unsought 

and was not discussed prior to the filing of 

the opinion in June 1946, he said. The decision 

was not adequate to end tlie violations 

found, he asserted. 

Clark again took a stand against crosslicensing 

of pictures among defendants' theatres. 

To the surprise of some of the spectators 

Thurman Arnold, former assistant attorney 

general, appearing for the ATA and the 

Southern California Theatre Owners Ass'n, 

was the next speaker. He sought permission 

to intervene. His argument was confined entirely 

to an objection to competitive bidding. 

He described bidding as "the foul part of the 

decree." It directs a course of action for exhibitors 

not a party to the suit, he said. An 

important objection to biddir^, he declared, 

was that it compelled exhibitors to accept the 

defendants' judgment on reasonable prices 

for film and forces them to submit to uniform 

rules—something contrary to the purposes 

of the antitrust suit. 

"How can they determine the best bid?" he 

asked, and then he answered his own question 

by saying that "complete discretionary 

power" was left with the distributors. 

John O. Jackson, attorney for the Confederacy 

of Southern Ass'ns, also an opponent 

BOXOmCE : 

14, 1948

Abram F. Myers Col. Robert Barton W F. Crockett James F. Byrnes 

Among the participants in the arguments before the court 

were Abram F. Myers, general counsel for Allied; Colonel Robert 

Barton, of the Confederacy of Southern Ass'ns, shown with W. F. 

of bidding, pointed out tliat 5,471 new theatres 

had been erected since the start of the 

suit and more tiian 4,000 had been put up 

by independents. He insisted this was evidence 

of lack of restraint of trade. 

Col. Robert Barton, also representing the 

southern group, who shared the time allotted 

to this organization, declared exhibitors 

would have no recourse for damages under 

the bidding system, whereas under bargaining 

they often get adjustments. 

JOHN W. DA^^S SPEAKS 

John W. Davis, representing Loew's, Inc., 

was the first of the attorneys for one of the 

major defendants to speali. 

"The outlines of this case are very simple," 

he said. "The government must show monopoly 

or restraint of trade." 

He pointed out that 3,137 theatres are supposed 

to be controlled by the major defendants, 

but that there were no common stockholders, 

no common directors, and no common 

officers. Then he told the court, Loew's 

has 131 theatres, which makes the company 

the owner of about seven one-thousandths 

of the total of 18,000 theatres. Sixty-seven 

of the Loew houses, he said, are subruns, and 

in every city where Loew's operates it faces 

competition. 

"What's wrong with that?" he inquired. 

Answering Clark's objections to inter-company 

licensing, he said that what the government 

wants is to close 3.187 theatres "in the 

name of competition." 

In defense of clearances he said it was 

a financial impossibility to make prints so 

that 18,000 theatres could aU run pictures at 

the same time. 

Davis finished at almost exactly 4:30 when 

the first day's session ended. 

SECOND DAY 

The second day's session opened with the 

same waiting crowds that made the first day 

look like a personal appearance of a star. 

Most of the would-be spectators who lacked 

passes were lawyers, with a few women in 

the crowd. 

John W. Davis resiuned where he left off 

Monday afternoon. The closing phases of 

his argument were on competitive bidding. 

His easy flow of words, mixed with touches 

of humor from time to time, seemed to interest 

all of the justices. 

"I don't want to deprive the lower court of 

BOXOrnCE : : February 14, 1948 

any of its inventive originality," he said, referring 

to competitive bidding. 

Crockett, president of the Virginia Motion Picture Theatre Owners; 

and James F. Byrnes, former secretary of state, who appeared In 

behalf of 20th Century-Fox. 

Then he surprised all his listeners, except 

the lawyers who had seen his revised brief, 

by saying: "Loew's, Inc.. is a foremost protagonist 

of competitive bidding. We have no 

prophecies as to its success or failure; we 

will be ready to experiment with it. Loew's 

has tried it in 96 cities and in 281 theatres. 

40 on request of exhibitors. Twenty-four of 

these were affiliated with Paramount, 11 

were 20bh-Fox theatres and 12 Warner Bros, 

theatres. A total of 296 pictures was involved. 

Forty-four situations received 129 films, and 

smaller independent theatres received 212 

pictures. Two large Independents in nine 

spots secured pictures in this way. The compilation 

of these was not in the record of 

the case at the time of 

fDing." 

"NO RESTRAINT OF TRADE' 

Whitney North Seymour, Paramount counsel, 

tall and distinguished looking in a frock 

coat, and speaking in a casual conversational 

tone, tried to impress the court that there 

was no restraint of trade by the majors. He 

said two new distribution companies had 

come into the field since the filing of the 

antitrust case and competition had increased. 

If there had been a shortage of films, he 

said, it was due to increasing costs. Paramount, 

he declared, was in active competition 

all with distribution companies. The 

company gets about 15 per cent of the total 

gross from distribution among the major 

defendants. 

William J. Donovan, for RKO, contended 

that adequate injunctive rehef had been provided 

by the lower court, to assure full compliance 

with the law, and then he attacked 

what he described as an attempt by the 

lower court to "force distributors to adopt 

chain buying." Competitive bidding is unnecessary, 

he declared. 

He said that in the absence of supplemental 

bids competitive bidding had failed 

in 

200 situations. 

Then he attacked the injunction against 

theatre expansion. No violation of the law 

had been found in connection with theatre 

holdings, he said. 

RKO theatres, he declared, had been acquired 

for the purrose of finding a market 

for RCA sound equipment. This move in 

1932. he said, had not impaired competitive 

opportunities, but on the contrary had provided 

new ones for independents. RKO, he 

declared, has 190 theatres and gets 2.5 per 

cent of its revenue In affiliated theatres. 

Louis D. Frohlich, for Columbia, cast aside 

the restrained dignity that had characterized 

the proceedings up to that time. There 

was nothing wrong with the acoustics when 

he warmed up to his argument. 

Columbia, he said, had no theatres and 

had always operated "modestly." He based 

his argument against two restrictions-^block 

booking and competitive bidding. Theatres 

operated by the other defendants could acquire 

all of Columbia's best films under 

bidding, he asserted. 

WILL -POLICE THE INDUSTRY' 

"I have a right to sell my product in bulk," 

he insisted. "This bidding directive is an 

attempt to regulate and police the industry. 

The lower court can enjoin, but it had no 

power to take my copyrights away from me." 

"After 27 years we are forced to disregard 

our old customers," he declared. "Every 

company has a right to create goodwill. All 

industries have this right. We are singled 

out for this drastic treatment when 70 per 

cent of our business is with independent 

exhibitors." 

Justice Rutledge pointed out that the courts 

have the right to enjoin the use of copyrights 

in a conspiracy. 

Frohlich agreed, but declared there had 

been no conspiracy, and no evidence to show 

that block booking had any connection with 

a conspiracy. 

Thomas Turner Cooke, Universal attorney, 

said to the court there had been no monopoly 

of distribution by that company and that 

the government had conceded that there 

was no scarcity of inferior product. Tliese 

pictures are the money-makers, he insisted. 

He pointed out that Universal had few pictures 

In the highest bracket and that only 

one-fourth of one per cent of its pictures 

had been percentage pictures during the 

period the testimony this case covered. 

in 

Edward C. Raftery, for United Artists, 

stirred laughter several times and obviously 

had the eight justices enjoying his argument. 

He insisted that United Artists should 

have been dismls-sed from the case by the 

lower court. He traced the history of the 

formation of United Artists and said that 

(Continued on next page)

i 

Decision of Supreme Court 

Expected About Mid-June 

(Continued from preceding pagei 

its only assets were used office furniture: 

that the company was open to any independent 

producer capable of producing good 

pictures and willing to risk his own money; 

that United Artists had no control over the 

way in which these producers want their 

pictures sold. 

One year United Artists had only four 

pictures, he said. Another year it had 2d, 

and it usually has from 12 to 15. 

"How can we put our pictures on the 

auction block?" he asked. "The hardest task 

I have had in this case has been to find the 

name of United Artists named in the government 

brief. Our only attempt to control 

admissions is to name the price the exhibitor 

wants to charge after 5 o'clock in 

individual 

contracts." 

PROSKAUER IS 

IMPRESSIVE 

Joseph M. Proskauer, for Warner Bros., was 

the last advocate at the Tuesday session. He 

has an easy command of English, a fund of 

quotations, and an interesting combination 

of humor, sarcasm, and emotional emphasis. 

His discussion fascinated the courtroom 

audience. 

"It was the molding of the form of relief 

decreed by the lower court that I want 

to discuss," he said. 

Warner Bros, own three per cent of the 

theatres, he said, and takes about eight per 

cent of the gross, and "that's not very remarkable." 

Warners' acquisition of theatres was "one 

of the great epics of the business," he declared. 

"It cost $25,000 to install soimd and 

no exhibitor was willing to risk it until 

Warner Bros, introduced it. It introduced 

a new form of competition. Warner Bros, 

owned 540 theatres in 1931. Today we have 

40 less, while the total of theatres has increased 

from 16,000 to 18.000. 

FOREIGN INCOME 30 PER CENT 

"Thirty per cent of our income is from 

foreign trade. "We make no money from 

the domestic business. Fourteen per cent of 

our income comes from om- own theatres. 

25 per cent from affiliated theatres and 

the rest from independents we are supposed 

to be grinding down. Our customers' prosperity 

has increased to a point unheard of 

in any other Industry. We cannot be convicted 

of collective monopolistic intent. 

There is nothing in this case to prove a 

purpose of monopoly." 

He said that the court's injunction that 

distributors would have to own 95 per cent 

of each of their theatres in order to retain 

them could not be carried out. 

Proskauer also argued for the privilege of 

block selling, becau.se its prohibition hurt independent 

theatres. 

THIRD DAY 

James F. Byrnes, former secretary of state, 

appearing as attorney for 20th Century-Fox, 

.said that his company accepted all the injunctions 

contained in the three-judge court 

decree, but tihat he wanted to object to the 

government's plea for divestiture of theatres. 

He insisted that the lower court did not rule 

that ownership of theatres led to restraint 

of trade. 

Then he brought up the arbitration system 

and quoted statistics of the handling of cases 

Before the Court 

Counsel for Government 

TOM C. CLARK, attorney general. 

ROBERT L. WRIGHT, assistant attorney 

general, prosecutor for the government. 

JOHN F. SONNETT, assistant attorney 

general. 

chief. 

Department of Justice antitrust 

Counsel for Industry 

JAMES F. BYRNES. 20th Century-Fox 

THOMAS TURNER COOKE, Universal 

JOHN W. DAVIS, Loew's, Inc. 

WILLIAM DONOVAN, RKO Radio 

LOUIS D. FROHLICH. Columbia 

JOSEPH M. PROSKAUER, Warners 

HnDWARD C. RAFTERY. United Artists 

WHITNEY NORTH SEYMOUR, Paramount 

For Amicus Curiae Petitions 

HERMAN LEVY, MPTOA-TOA 

ABRAM F. MYERS, Allied States 

For Appeal to Intervene 

THURMAN ARNOLD, American Theatres 

Ass'n 

COL. ROBERT JACKSON, and JOHN G. 

JACKSON, Confederacy of Southern 

Ass'ns 

by local arbitrators and the appeals board to 

.support his contention that the system had 

worked well. 

The lower court endorsed arbitration, but 

took the stand that it could only recommend 

it and not order it. 

Justice Frankfiuter interrupted Byrnes to 

ask if he took the position bhat the supreme 

court had power to order it. 

"Yes," replied Byrnes with emphasis. He 

quoted authorities to support his statement. 

In concluding his argument he said: "No 

one can reach the conclusion that the lower 

coiut was composed of three wise men." 

Assistant Attorney General Robert L. 

Wrig'ht began his rebuttal at 1:40 p. m. by 

saying: "I want to show wihat actually happened 

during the trial and to discuss the 

evidence." 

the ground that it had enjoined pools in 

numerous cities and should have etxended 

this injunction to Paramoimt partnersJiips. 

He asserted that these were pools in spite 

of the fact that the theatres are lofifilly 

operated, because, in his opinion, the partners 

are under the control of Paramount. Then 

he declared that the injunction procedure 

would not bind against future cooperation. 

His insistence on a ban against cross-licensing 

of pictures among the defendants, he 

said, was due to a conviction that this would 

restore healthy competition In exhibition and 

would stimulate production. 

Assistant Attorney General John Sonnett, 

who is in charge of the antitrust division of 

the justice department, confined himself to 

a factual recital of the conclusions of the 

three-judge court, and again pointed out that 

distributor-owned first runs get 45 per cent 

of the total film revenue. 

Exhibitor Attorneys 

To Create TOA Unit 

WASHINGTON—A legal advisory council 

for the TOA made up of attorneys connected 

with a number of regional units and their 

legislative agents has been formed for coordinating 

the activities of the organization. 

Several meetings will be held each year on 

call. Industry problems will be raised from 

the local level to the national level and vice 

versa. The new organization will be a central 

clearing house for information and advice. 

One of the primary objectives of the new 

group will be to create an open forum for 

the industry, a project that has been brought 

up from time to time during the past two 

years. The TOA board will discuss it later 

this month. 

Details of Ishe new setup were decided upon 

at a meeting held in Herman Levy's suite 

the Statler hotel on Tuesday, Februarj- 10. 

All of those present were in Washington for 

the purpose of listening to or participating 

in the antitrust case appeal arguments before 

the supreme court. 

Those present were: Tom Friday, Comerford 

circuit attorney; MamT Miller, coimsel 

for the TOA New Jersey unit; Lawrence E. 

Gordon and BjTon Pollard of the Butterfield 

circuit, Michigan; Albert Bernstein, counsel 

for the Wometco theatres; Col. Robert Barton, 

counsel for the Theatre Owners of Virginia; 

Sidney Grossman, MPTO of New York 

State; Col. Henry J, Spites, Kentucky Theatre 

Owners Ass'n; and PhUip Harland. attorney 

for the Fabian theatres. 

Large-Screen Tele Sale 

To Home User Is Worry 

(More Television News on Pages 12-13) 

NEW YORK—A new plan to market largescreen 

television equipment to clubs, schools, 

assembly halls, restaurants and large homes, 

in department stores and other retail outlets 

is causing concern in exhibitor circles. 

Ed Lachman, president of Allied Theatre 

Owners of New Jersey, sees this as a new 

form of competition to theatres, because it 

permits large numbers of potential filmgoers 

to find entertainment away from 

theatres. 

Lachman says the theory that television is 

not substantial competition because home 

receivers cannot accommodate large crowds 

SAYS LOWER COURT ERRED 

will not hold water if large-screen equipment 

is sold to nontheatrical outlete. 

He insisted that the lower court had erred 

in failing to order theatre divorcement on Colonial Television Corp. intends to market 

its mobile television projector and 7x9 

.screen to nontheatrical outlets in Los Angeles, 

Cleveland, Philadelphia and New York. 

During the week two New York department 

stores, A&S in Brooklyn and Bloomingdale's 

began selling the Colonial equipment. 

The standard retail price is $2,195. 

Rental Film Library Plan 

To Be Started by MPAA 

WASHINGTON—The motion picture industry 

for the first time in its history is 

making available to public libraries throughout 

the nation films which may be loaned 

like books to adult education groups, it was 

announced this week by Roger Albright, di- ( 

rector of educational services of the Motion 

Picture Ass'n of America. On the library list 

is a total of 178 films, carefully selected. j 

in 

10 

BOXOFnCE :: February 14, 1948

: February 

TOA-ASCAP AGREEMENT WINS 

IMMEDIATE AND WIDE SUPPORT 

Estimated 8,200 Theatres 

Not to Pay Increase 

Under Settlement 

NKW YORK—A quick survey of 

opinion 

on the Ascap 10-year rate agreement with 

Theatre Owners of America indicates that 

many theatremen consider it the closest 

approach to a satisfactory agreement that 

lias been reached in many years. 

Most of the major circuits, including several 

in New York City, that are not members 

of the TOA are expected to agree to 

the formula. 

When it was announced some months ago 

that TOA was negotiating with Ascap, Allied 

leaders pointed out that any settlement vmsatisfactorj' 

to their membership would be 

challenged as "discriminatory" under the 

terms of the consent decree under which 

Ascap operates. 

AGREEMENT NOT BINDING 

Because this agreement is not binding and 

must be accepted voluntarily by eacli individual 

theatre no difficulties with the Depai'tment 

of Justice are expected. 

The Ascap negotiators agreed to recommend 

the settlement to their directors and 

they feel that it will be accepted. Similar 

acceptance Is expected by the TOA board. 

Because aU tlie TOA regional units are represented 

on the national board it is expected 

that the regional units will endorse it and 

that these endorsements will carry weight 

with all the theatre members involved. There 

.ue about 10,000 of these. 

Acceptance by a total of about 13,000 theatres 

is expected within a matter of weeks. 

This settlement will have no effect on 

the copyright law amendment backed by 

Allied, now in a house committee, which is 

intended to require distributors to furnish 

licenses both for recording and performance 

rights. 

Approximately 8,200 theatres in the country 

will not be called upon to pay any increase. 

These houses have 499 seats or less. 

Their rate rem.ains at 10 cents per seat per 

year for one capacity house. If they play only 

three days a week their rate will be half that. 

SPECIAL LIVE TALENT RATES 

It is figured that there are 5.400 theatres 

in the 500 to 799 seat classification. The increase 

for these is from 10 cents to 12 Vi 

cents. In the 800 to 1,599-seat classification 

it is figured there are 3,200 theatres. Rates 

for these jump from 15 cents to 19 cents 

per seat. There are about 785 theatres over 

1,500 seats, and the.se will have an increase 

from 20 cents to 25 cents per seat. 

Special rates will be made for theatres 

with continuous live talent shows. 

The period of ten years was decided upon 

to quiet questionings as to Ascap's right or 

intention of seeking new rate increases within 

the period. 

Ascap's negotiators were headed by Herman 

Greenberg. He made it a point to say 

that he had never conducted negotiations 

with any group in a greater spirit of give and 

take. 

Ted R. Gamble, TOA president, replied 

BOXOFFICE : 

14, 1948 

How the 

Settlement 

Affects Typical Area 

Here is how the TOA-Ascap agreement 

would affect a typical exchange area 

St. Louis. 

Of the 575 theatres in the district, 294 

would pay no increase. 

There are 180 theatres seating 500 to 

799 patrons, with 111,638 seats. They have 

been paying $11,163.80 at 10 cents a seat. 

Under the new agreement, these 180 theatres 

will pay $13,954.75 at UM cents a 

seat—a combined increase of $2,270. Average 

increase: $15.50. 

The St. Louis district has 92 theatres 

seating 800 to 1,599 persons. At the old 

rate of 15 cents a seat, the Ascap payment 

annually was $14,759.0; at the new 

rate of 19 cents, the payments will amount 

to $18,696.86, or an increase of $3,935.75. 

On the larger houses—there are nine 

with 1,600 seats or more—the old 20 cents 

a seat schedule brought in $5,146 to Ascap 

while under the new 25 cents rate, the 

total will be $6,279. 

Figuring that the average seating of 

the nine big houses is 2,850 patrons, with 

an average admission of 75 cents, the 

old schedule which Ascap had proposed 

and based on the total gross for a single 

capacity performance, each of the theatres 

would have paid $2,137.50 annually. 

At the compromise rate of 25 cents a 

seat, the fee will amount to $707.50, or 

$1,430 less than Ascap had asked. 

There are 336,215 seats in the St. Louis 

exchange area, and at 10 cents a seat 

earned $33,621.50 annually for the music 

society. Had the proposed single performance 

gross plan been instigated— figiiring 

40 cents average admission—the cost 

would have been $134,486 a year to the 

exhibitor. Under the TOA negotiated settlement, 

the cost will be $84,425 less than 

had been proposed by Ascap. 

quickly that so far as he knew this was the 

first time that any large organized group 

of exhibitors had settled down quietly to 

reach an understanding on an important controversial 

issue facing exhibitors. Negotiations 

began last September and for several 

weeks attempts were made to set up a formula 

for negotiations. 

The TOA committee included: Elmer C. 

Rhoden, Kansas City; Roy Cooper, San Francisco; 

S. H. Fabian, New York; Dan Michalove. 

New York; Fred Wehrenberg. St. Louis; 

C. E. Cook, Maryville, Mo.; Sol Hyman, Hrmtington, 

W. Va.; Maury Miller, Passaic; Paul 

Williams, Los Angeles; R. R. Livingston, Lincoln: 

Myron Blank and Ralph Branton, Des 

Moines; A. Julian Brylawski. Washington; 

Leonard Goldenson, New York; Herman 

Levy, New. Haven; Ted R. Gamble and Robert 

W. Coyne. 

Gamble described the new rates as "realistic 

and fair in the light of decreasing 

theatre boxoffices." 

"The rates," he said, "will be recommended 

to TOA membership as reasonable and the 

overwhelming bulk of our members, I am 

confident, will accept them. 

"The exemption of the small theatres from 

any raise in rates should silence any who 

might feel that the TOA represents 'big 

interests." 

"All in all I feel that it is a good day for 

exhibition when Ascap and TOA have demonstrated 

that a vital business problem can 

be settled by temperate negotiation without 

recourse to recriminations and invective that 

too often colored the approohes to industry 

problems. On the part of TOA's officers, 

directors and members I wish to thank the 

Ascap representatives for their patience these 

many weeks of trying negotiations." 

Allied Takes Some Credit 

For Ascap Settlement 

KANSAS CITY—In its current bulletin, 

Allied Independent Theatre Owners of Kansas 

and Missouri headlines the TOA-Ascap 

settlement "Ascap Wilts to Allied Pressure." 

The bulletin contends that the extremely 

modified rate schedule came "in face of 

pending court litigation and pending legislation 

and continuous Allied pressure." It 

v/as not arbitration but threatened court decisions 

which "scared" Ascap into the settlement, 

the bulletin contended. 

R.E. Martin is Killed 

In Airplane Crash 

BAY ST. LOUIS, MISS.—A plane carrying 

Roy E. Martin sr., head of the extensive theatre 

circuit bearing his 

name, and three other 

persons crashed near 

here Wednesday, sending 

all passengers to 

their deaths. Martin 

was 62 years old. 

Martin and his party 

were returning from 

New Orleans where 

they had attended the 

Mardi Gras festivities. 

The plane fell into the ^ 

Pearl river, w h i c li 

flows near this com- R- E. Martin sr. 

munity. 

The veteran Columbus, Ga., exhibitor entered 

the motion pictiu-e business in 1912 

when he acquired the Bonita Theatre in 

Columbus. Showing a talent for showmanship 

and possessing sound business judgment, 

he developed a circuit of theatres rapidly, 

and at the time of his death owned 

some 100 theatres in Georgia, Alabama, Florida 

and Tennessee. In addition to his theatres, 

he had extensive real estate holdings. 

Martin was popular in all communities in 

which he operated theatres and last year 

when his 35th anniversary in exhibition was 

observed, the event was celebrated in most 

of the cities. As a rule, he owned both the 

theatre property and adjoining buildings 

making it a point to become a taxpayer in 

each situation.

: February 

TAKE THE LEAD IN TELEVISION. 

TOA'S ADVICE TO EXHIBITORS 

Theatre Owners of America's 

television report urges exhibitors 

to get into the swim immediately. 

The National Broadcasting Co. 

halts an RKO large-screen demonstration, 

challenging the right 

of theatre pickups for paid audience. 

Exhibitors discuss possible effects 

of television newsreels on 

theatrical newsreels; 20th Century-Fox 

television new^sreel to 

bow February 16. 

Large-screen television plays 

Cleveland and Los Angeles, to 

exhibitor applause. 

NEW YORK—Developments in television 

moved swiftly across the country this week. 

Theatre Owners of America issued its 

comprehensive study of television and 

urged exhibitors to finance theatre television 

research, to keep abreast of all new 

phases of theatre television and to install 

television receivers in their theatre lounges 

as video stations open in their communities. 

TOA's bulletin, the first of its projected 

Theatre Business Review, went to the association's 

10,000 members. It is entitled "A 

Challenge to the Motion Picture Industry," 

and was prepared under the supervision of 

TOA's television committee which is headed 

by E. v. Richards Jr., of New Orleans. 

The bulletin points out that television may 

enrich the exhibition industry, or "presage 

the extinction of exhibition as it stands 

today." 

STUDY TELECAST EXCLUSIVES 

The TOA will investigate the po.ssibility 

arranging exclusive theatre telecasts on 

of 

.sports events and other happenings of public 

interest. The report quotes Ralph B. Austrian, 

former president of RKO Television 

CoiTJ., that a group of theatres can outbid 

any commercial advertising sponsor for exclusive 

television rights to important events. 

Austrian visualized the creation of booking 

offices which would have the dual purpose 

of purchasing video rights from promoters 

of such events as prize fights, football games, 

horse races, etc., and selling them to motion 

picture theatres on either a "per theatre" or 

"per seat" basis for an exclusive theatre 

broadcast. 

Austrian also is quoted as saying that 

"all that theatre television needs to become 

a reality, other than the theatre equipment 

itself, is a means of interconnecting a chain 

of theatres with a camera or cameras located 

TOA Conclusions on Television 

•THE SHARPNESS of the challenge offers no alternative other than it be met head 

on. The course is clear: 

1. Complete information concerning the new phenomenon must be every theatreman's 

stock in trade. 

2. Theatremen, recognizing television's close kinship to the theatre, should join 

and, ideally, lead in the development of television facilities throughout the nation. 

3. Television loimges should be established in theatres in concert with the expansion 

of television channels. 

4. The theatre industry should encourage and finance, if necessary, accelerated 

research in the field of theatre screen television to narrow the gap now evident between 

theatre and home television. 

5. Independent study by TOA must test the possibility of theatre exclusives on 

sporting events and other happenings of great public interest. 

at the scene of the subject matter desired 

to be exhibited on the theatre screen." 

TOA raises the question, however, of 

whether the FCC would permit the use of the 

air waves for telecasting of important news 

events to theatres exclusively and mentions 

the possibility that exclusive theatre telecasts 

might run afoul of the antitrust laws. 

The report reviews the two systems of 

theatre television now available— (1) direct 

cathode ray tube projection onto a screen 

using the Schmidt optical system or other 

high speed production lens system; I2) reproduction 

of the television image on film, 

with the film quickly processed and run 

through a regular theatre projector. The 

TOA contends that while the first system 

has a time advantage, the second permits 

repeat perfoi-mances and enables the exhibitor 

to fit a special event into the regular 

theatre program. 

The report lists two drawbacks to direct 

television projection: (1) equipment designed 

for a specific screen throw may have to be 

installed in an inconvenient location; (2) 

direct projection equipment may necessitate 

enlarging the projection booth to accommodate 

the equipment. It points out that with 

the film recording system, the projectionist 

would be required to learn film processing 

and film recording, but would not have to 

learn a new projection method. The film recording 

system permits editing of the film, 

it adds. 

"Both systems are perfectly feasible aijd 

will find their respective place in the future. 

The factor of selection probably will depend 

upon which system can best meet showmanship 

and commercial requirements," the report 

states. 

Discussing television as competition to motion 

pictures, the TOA reports that the present 

quality of television broadcasting in the 

opinion of experts is adequate for sports and 

spot news coverage, but is inferior to most 

theatrical newsreeLs and that there is no 

assurance sufficient light is available for 

large-screen theatre television projection. The 

TOA adds: "With theatres apparently waiting 

for perfected equipment and the large 

manufacturers—RCA and the Bell system 

waiting for theatres to decide whether they 

are interested and, if so, what they want, 

a stalemate seems to have developed." 

On the use of television in bars and restaurants 

the report speculates on the number 

of persons who would have gone to theatres 

to see the Louis-Walcott heavyweight championship 

fight if it had been shown on largescreen 

theatre television. NBC estimated that 

1,000,000 persons saw the telecast of the fight 

and other millions heard it over the radio. 

Nearly 20 per cent of the television receivers 

manufactured up to the first of October went 

into bars, restaurants and other public places. 

The report points out that on January 

of this year 19 television stations were on 

1 

the air and that a total of 54 cities in 29 

states was involved in current television 

broadcasting authorizations and applications. 

It also was revealed that upwards of 90,000 

television sets were in operation in the New 

York area on January 1, with 15,000 to 18,000 

in Philadelphia and about 11,500 in Chicago; 

12,000 in Los Angeles; 4.000 in Detroit; 3,700 

in Baltimore and from 1.000 to 3.000 in Cincinnati, 

Milwaukee and Schenectady. 

SET AS LOW AS $169 

Seats will be available for as low as $169 

plus installation chai'ges which run about 

$50, the report said. The committee predicts 

that by 1950 there will be a nationwide network 

of television stations. 

Statistics on television receiver manufactiue 

are given along with figures on the high i 

cost of constructing stations, wtiich is one 

of the chief barriers to the growth of television 

in smaller cities. The report touches 

on the importance of film in television. It 

mentions the new 16mm. Eastman Kodak 

camera for recording television programs 

from the face of the monitoring "picture 

tube" in the television broadcasting station. 

The TOA concludes: "It ( television i is a 

theatre problem. 'Production' by all odds will 

find a logical and lucrative role in the television 

scheme. The theatre role will be de- 

12 

BOXOFFICE 

: 

14, 1948

Change and movement have always been inherent in the theatre business. 

Static periods have meant periods of decline. The advent of television can be a 

new milestone in the theatre's dynamic history. But theatremen must work to make 

it so. 

—From Theatre Owners of America Bulletin on Television 

pendent upon the imagination and ingenuity 

of theatremen as they seek a basis of union, 

rather than confhct, with television. The 

advent of television can be a new milestone 

in the theatre's dynamic history. But theatremen 

must work to niake it so. 

In addition to Richards, the TOA television 

committee consists of Mitchell Wolfson, 

Arthur Lockwood, David Wallerstein, Charles 

Skouras and Myron Blank. 

NEWSREELS READY 

NEW YORK—Exhibitor organizations are 

already discussing the possible effects of television 

newsreels on theatrical newsreels. 

They want to know how much duplication 

there will be, and, pending an answer, they 

predict the value of theatrical newsreels will 

be lessened. 

Associated Theatre Owners of Indiana has 

issued a bulletin on the subject. 

From 20th-Fox comes the prediction that 

the television venture will improve newsreels 

and result in a general expansion of newsgathering 

facilities. Edmund Reek, producer 

of Movietone News, says this expansion is 

under way, with larger field staffs and a 

doubling of camera crews. 

New 

All negative will be s'hipped by air to 

York and processed. Ed Thorgersen will do 

the commentaries at the start. 

William C. Gehring, assistant general sales 

manager for 20bh-Fox, said the theatrical 

newsreels "wOl contain no subject previously 

released for television." This statement was 

contained in a letter sent to field sales heads. 

The 20th-Fox television newsreel will bow 

over the NBC five-station eastern television 

network Monday (February 16). United Press 

keeps Fox Movietone informed on news 

breaks. 

Paramount also is preparing to go into the 

television newsreel business, presumably with 

AP assistance. The company is lining up a 

national sponsor for a daily lO-mimite television 

newsreel. The Paramount news staff 

will be increased. 

Universal expects to close a deal for its 

television newsreel with a worldwide wire 

service within a few days. Both Warners and 

News of the Day, the latter owned by William 

R. Hearst, continue silent. 

Anything can happen, any day. During the 

war literally thousands of new cameramen 

were trained for the army and navy. They 

discovered 16mm film could be used with the 

small cameras that run on a spring. Television 

can use 16mm film, and the 16mm 

negative can be turned into 35mm. The 

cameramen are looking for jobs. 

It has been obvious for many months that 

television cameramen were showing newsreel 

pictures on home television receivers a week 

or two weeks ahead of the regular theatre 

newsreels. This was not important some 

months ago, but as the use of television sets 

expanded everywhere—into homes, cafes, juke 

box parlors, theatre lobbies, and elsewhere— 

the old fashioned newsreel teohnique was in 

danger of proving its obsolescence. 

All three of the principal wire services 

decided recently to supply motion picture 

films for television use. because most of the 

new television stations are going to be 

owned by newspapers. They found they 

had a new problem on their hands. Motion 

picture laboratories are expensive. This 

may be the explanation for their willingness 

to string along with the theatrical newsreels 

For several months, or possibly the next two 

years, the newsreel prints intended for television 

will be sent out the way the theatrical 

prints are now being sent out—by air. All 

radio stations use transcriptions and in 

smaller cities the bulk of their programs are 

from this source. Because television programs 

and television stations are so much 

more expensive both the television men and 

the film men predict that films will be the 

equivalent of transcriptions for television stations 

indefinitely. 

CLEVELAND 

CLEVELAND—Applause and requests for 

more greeted the first large-screen demonstration 

of television in Cleveland at the 

Almira Theatre last week. Although the 

subject was only a table-tennis match, the 

audience sat for 30 minutes dm-ing the break 

and watched the performance on a 7x9-foot 

screen. The picture was clearly visible from 

the back of the theatre. Colonial Television 

Corp., which perfected the set for theatre 

use, says the image is adjustable from six to 

63 square feet and can be projected from a 

distance of two to 15 feet. Victor Wolcott, 

manager of the Almira, said television programs 

would be used once a week as a novelty 

attraction and later, when more programs become 

available, may become part of the regular 

program. 

LOS ANGELES 

LOS ANGELES—Television as an adjunct 

to commercial theatre programming took 

another substantial step forward in the southland 

with the installation of a Colonial video 

receiver in the Lakewood Theatre, showcase 

in Lakewood Village, near Long Beach. The 

house is owned by S. Charles Lee, theatrical 

architect and exhibitor and a member of the 

recently formed television committee which 

operates under the auspices of the Southern 

California Theatre Ovraers Ass'n. 

Lee is now designing video installations for 

more than 20 other southern California showmen 

who are preparing to capitalize on the 

increasing popularity of the medium. 

The Lakewood, managed for Lee by Robert 

Mallon, has installed an 8xl0-foot screen and 

picks up telecasts daily when they are 

adjudged of worthwhile content or of special 

public interest. 

NBC Halts RKO Video Demonstration; 

Challenges Right to Tele Pickups 

NEW YORK—A new problem has developed 

in theatre television—whether an 

exhibitor legally may pick up regular television 

broadcasts for large-screen theatre 

television showings before paid audiences. 

It has called a temporary halt in plans 

for theatre television installations in the 

New York area. 

The question came to a head early this 

week when RKO was forced to cancel 

an evening showing of an NBC television 

broadcast of prize fights on large-screen 

theatre television equipment. NBC objected 

to duplication of its program before 

a paid audience. 

The demonstration was to be held at 

the RKO 58th Street Theatre with the 

receiver-projector equipment put out by 

Colonial Television Corp. RKO said the 

showing had been postponed until further 

notice "due to reasons beyond om- control," 

but made it clear that it had not 

abandoned plans for theatre television 

i:istallations. 

Spokesmen for the NBC and Du Mont 

television stations here agree that the 

entire problem of theatre duplication of 

television programs sent out to home 

receivers might eventually have to be 

settled by a test case in court. This same 

opinion has been voiced by James Nicholson, 

operator of the Picfair Theatre, Los 

Angeles. Following a showing of television 

on a 17x20 screen at the Picfair on New 

Year's day, Nicholson intimated that a 

friendly suit may be filed to let the courts 

decide. 

All of the three television stations 

broadcasting in New York carry property 

rights announcements. The NBC statement, 

which is read over WNBT several 

times daily states: "Tlie programs broadcast 

by this station may not be used for 

any purpose except exhibition at the time 

of their broadcast on receivers of the 

type ordinarily used for home reception in 

places where no admission, cover or mechanical 

operating charges are made." 

None of the New York television stations 

had decided at midweek whether 

they would grant special permission for a 

theatre television demonstration before a 

paid audience. NBC is permitting Colonial 

to use its programs to demonstrate its 

television system in theatres mornings 

before the houses open to patrons. 

BOXOFFICE : : February 14, 1948

THATX)aram| 

Gold ^Medal proof 

FROM THE PAYING PUBLIC 

ING CROSBY, 

winner of Photoplay's 

Gold Medal as America's 

Most Popular 

Male Star. 

i 

GIVE GENEROUSLY FOR 

AMERICAN BROTHERHOOD WEEK 

Paramount Cheers 

To The Stars 

:^y 

ALAN LADD, o 

the 5 Most Pel 

Actors in Photof 

Gallup Poll. 

JOAN CAULFIELD 

more fa- 

appearing in 

vorite pictures than 

any other star. 

I

I 

p- A X L^ IS THE JFORLD'S LEADING PRODUCER OF 

j 

I 

POPULAR SCREEN ENTERTAINMENT-WITH 

More Winning Pictures 

Than Any Other Company In 

Photoplay's Gallup Poll 

This is the judgment of the whole public— 2i judgment far more 

conclusive than any other Ten Best Lists as Paramount scores 

3 of Tfie dear's 10 Most Popular Pictures . . . 

"We/come Stranger/' ''Dear Ruth," ''Blue Skies" 

Ivote 

j 

And this is confirmation by millions of the unanimous exhibitor- 

that Paramount produced more Top Grossing Pictures 

during the past year than any other company — a fact repeated 

in the industry's 4 leading polls in Motion Picture Herald's 

"Fame"— in Boxoffice Barometer— in Variety's annual survey— 

and in Showmen's Trade Review poll. 

Paramount's wide-margin leadership is acclaimed by both 

(groups that count . . . the public who buy tickets and the 

showmen who sell tickets — and 

Paramo""*" 

Will Lead Again in '48 with Hits Like 

"THE EMPEROR WALTZ"'"ROAD TO RIO" -"DREAM GIRL"'"THE BIG CLOCK" 

Hal Wallis' "/ JVALK ALONE" - "WHISPERING SMITH" • "THE PALEFACE" 

"NIGHT HAS A THOUSAND EYES" • "SAIGON" • "THE SAINTED SISTERS" 

"THE LONG GREY LINE" -"SEALED VERDICT"

i 

TfteH^ €Utd Sf^'^^tt^ 

Television Costs 

T ITIGATION is in prospect over the use 

of television programs in theatres. The 

question of property rights in programs 

sent out over the air has never been settled 

in court. NBC, CBS and others claim 

they have a copyright and that these programs 

cannot be picked up and used where 

admission is charged. 

When the Scophony large screen television 

was demonstrated in the New Yorker 

Theatre several years ago the Scophony 

and theatre executives were warned they 

would be sued if admission were charged. 

In the first stages of the use of television 

in theatres'when exhibitors are trying 

to beat their competitors to a novelty 

some of them will use air programs. It 

has already been done on the coast. The 

litigation may begin over these, or it may 

not. This will be a passing phase of a 

new development. 

What theatremen vision is not the use 

of regular television programs, but the use 

of special attractions like the Kentucky 

Derby, a World Series, or a heavyweight 

championship fight—anything with assured 

boxoffice value. 

When these things come along after theatres 

have been connected with coaxial 

cables or radio relay stations the attractions 

will be bought at their source and 

sold to theatres for a definite price per 

seat. If 1,000 theatres with 1,000 seats 

each are willing to pay ten cents per seat 

for one of these special attractions, this 

means the bidder can plank $100,000 on 

the line at Madison Square Garden or 

Churchill Downs. 

Can any commercial advertiser seeking 

the rights for televising to home receivers 

match these figures? 

Theatres Stay Open 

Co PAR this winter the fuel shortages 

have not affected theatres very much 

even in the northeast where there has been 

a shortage of fuel oil. Some important 

lessons were learned during the war. 

There are dozens of theatres in upper 

New York state. New England and south 

of the Great Lakes that can convert from 

oil to coal or back again in a single night. 

Many of the boilers originally had coal 

grates and these are kept handy. In addition, 

some coal is stored just in case the 

oil supply gives out. 

Very few theatres use gas for heating 

in the east. It becomes too expensive far 

from the natural gas fields, or pipelines 

leading to them. 

No Ticket Tax Cut 

^TTMEROUS attempts to sound out senators 

and representatives on their attitude 

toward a ticket tax cut this year have 

not met much encouragement. The impression 

is now general in the industry that both 

the Republicans and Democrats will concentrate 

the tax reduction argument on 

income taxes for vote-getting purposes. 

This means that the discussion will be 

kept alive without much hope of getting 

By 

JAMES M. JERAULD 

actual results until after the presidential 

election. The groundwork for a concentrated 

campaign can be laid in the meantime, 

because it is increasingly apparent 

that tax-hungry municipalities are not 

going to wait for the government to lighten 

the burden. They are going to ti-y to impose 

theirs on the present tax load. 

Is It a Freezeout? 

\A7HEN Congressman Gordon L. McDonough 

told the house of representatives 

recently that he thought the British were 

aiming for a world market grab on films 

he put into words a thought that has 

found frequent expression among American 

film leaders. 

They are not afraid the British will be 

able to grab the world market, although 

they admit the possibility of being frozen 

out of Great Britain. Their chief concern 

is over the effects of the British example. 

The eventual settlement of these problems 

in a number of countries will depend 

upon how much pressure native exhibitors 

bring on their governments. Without 

American films, they face bankruptcy on 

tremendous investments. 

Flood Warnings 

YHEATRES in river valleys are in danger 

of trouble six or eight weeks from now. 

The snow cover is extraordinarily heavy. 

A sudden thaw with rain could stir up a 

lot of trouble in March. The past has 

shown that the Merrimac, Connecticut, 

Susquehanna, Monongahela, Allegheny, 

Ohio, Mississippi, Missouri and Arkansas 

River valleys are the worst spots. 

Theatres in the first five mentioned, because 

there are high hills along long 

stretches of their banks, have been the victims 

in the past of floods so sudden no 

advance preparations have been made. 

Even the Boss Is Told 

It's Against Rules 

Dallas—R. J, O'Donnell, vice-president 

of the Interstate Circuit, 

issued a general 

order to ushers to stop patrons in first 

row balcony seats from putting: their feet 

on the guard rail. 

Some time later, according to a story 

told on radio station KIXL this week,- 

O'Donnell was in Houston and dropped" 

into the Metropolitan Theatre, where he 

took a front row balcony seat and settled 

down comfortably to enjoy himself. Forgetting 

his own order, he propped his feet 

up on the raiL No sooner had he done 

so than an usher came over and told him 

he would have to put them down. 

O'Donnell complied, then turned his 

attention to some way Of rewarding the 

usher. Wondering how to go about it, he 

grew restless and fidgety. Finally the 

usher, noticing his uneasiness, came over 

and said, "I wouldn't have bothered you 

but the big shots are in town." 

Balaban Again Heads 

Film Unit of UJA 

NEW YORK—Barney Balaban, Paramount 

president, will direct the motion picture division 

of the 1948 

^^^^H^^^^M United Jewish Appeal 

^^^HJI^^^^^^H campaign for 

H^p^^^^^H 000.000 for overseas re- 

^^fcfc ^J^^P^B lief and rehabilitation. 

Jm ¥"^9^^ This is the second year 

» 

'J^ 9^ Balaban has agreed to 

^T^J^^^ head the UJA film di- 

^Kkf^^^^^k campaign. He 

^^^^V^^^^^H chairman during 

^^^^^K^^^^^k Balaban has 

^^^^^'^^^^^^ on all producers and 

„ „ , ^ exhibitors to give full 

Barney Balaban 

^^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^ ^^^_ 

palgn, which is called the "Year of Destiny" 

fund drive. He termed the appeal "a challenge 

to the hearts and minds of all Americans," 

and expressed confidence that "the 

film industry will respond generously and in 

full measure to the humanitarian causes 

represented by UJA." 

Cleveland Joins the MPF; 

Last Exchange Center 

CLEVELAND—This city is the last exchange 

center to join the Motion Picture 

Foundation, thus making its representation 

national. Fifty industry leaders, including 

distributors and theatre owners both independent 

and affiliated, expressed great enthusiasm 

for the project after Charles Lewis 

of New York and Moe Silver of Pittsburgh 

explained tlie aims and ideals of the foundation 

at a luncheon meeting Tuesday (10) in 

the Statler hotel. 

Harry H. Goldstein, Paramount district 

manager, was unanimously named trustee and 

Bert Lefkowich of the Community circuit was 

elected ohaii-man of the Cleveland unit. The 

meeting was oi-ganized by Nat Wolf, Warner 

Ohio zone manager, and Lefkowich. 

U-I Officials to England 

For Talks With Rank 

NEW YORK—A group of U-I executives— 

J. Cheever Cowdin, chairman of the board; 

Nate J. Blumberg, president; Joseph H. Seidelman, 

head of foreign distribution, and 

Charles D. Prutzman, vice-president and general 

counsel, sailed February 11 for Great 

Britain where they will confer with members 

of the J. Arthur Rank Organization. They 

were accompanied by Rottert S. Benjamin, 

president of the Rank Organization here. 

Although Rank is expected here next 

month, one of the Universal executives said 

their trip was necessary in order to review 

all phases of their vast joint interests with 

the British film leader. 

Lorber to Aid Schaefer 

NEW YORK—Herman Lorber. who recently 

resigned from Paramount after 31 

years with that organization, has been named 

assistant to George J. Schaefer, vice-president 

in charge of distribution for Enterprise 

studios. 

Film Director Reported Dead 

MOSCOW—Sergei Eisenstein, famous Soviet 

film director, was reported to have died here 

Wednesday (11). 

BOXOFFICE ;; February 14, 1948

IS me bcore 89 To Against You? 

Did you play "Road to Rio" when the road 

to your box-office featured The Big Snow? 

Has your oil 

man told you he can't get 

enough oil to carry you through the rest of 

the winter? 

Did your wife (or sweetie) demand a new 

mink coat on the day you figured up your 

income tax? 

Wouldn't your car start this morning? 

If so, what you need is a darn good laugh 

and to learn that there is hope in every situation. 

Screen for yourself (and you then 

will for your audiences) Paramount's new 

Polacolor short "Base 

Brawl." The Forest 

All-Stars weren't despondent when the 

Jungle Jumbos had built up a score of 89 to 0. 

They used a little showmanship (modern 

Webster for productive skull practice) and 

pulled themselves out of the hole. 

You too 

can use showmanship by booking " Base 

Brawl"— and watch your customers come 

back to see it a second and third time. 

*'lt's a short that's headed for America's acclaim 

With the funniest gags ever on America's game ..." 

Have your booker get on the phone and book 

Paramount's Short 

II 

A Screen Song Cartoon • In Polacolor 

A Famous Studios Production featuring 

The Bouncing Boll

J 

LEFT: The big three of the A. H. Blank operations. 

Left to right, Myron Blank, genera! 

manager of the Central States circuit; the 

pioneer exhibitor, A. H. Blank, and Ralph 

Branton, general manager of the Tri-States 

circuit. 

FIL.MI10WS OF AMERICA XIV 

HN 

DES MOINES 

Out of the tall corn country comes another 

story in the series devoted to film distribution 

and exhibition in the United States 

By RUSSELi SCHOCH 

Des Moines 

THE LAND where the tall corn grows, 

Filmrow stretches for three blocks aloiig 

Des Moine.s' High street. Here is the 

nerve center for a segment of the motion 

picture industry which boasts of such an 

illustrious a name in exhibition as A. H. 

Blank, as a literate spokesman for the independent 

as Leo Wolcott, and a long directory 

of veterans who have served the film business 

since its earliest days. 

The Des Moines Filmrow is primarily for 

Iowa. Of the 416 theatres serviced out of the 

High street sector, all but 17 are in the state. 

In the area, there are 192,906 seats and 20 

per cent of them are concentrated in the 

state's four largest cities—Des Moines, Davenport. 

Cedar Rapids and Waterloo, which 

have 43 houses. Des Moines has 21 theatres, 

with a total capacity of 14,000 seats. 

That Iowa is basically a state of small 

communities with small theatres is illustrated 

by the recently published Des Moines theatre 

directory by the Motion Picture Ass'n of 

America. It revealed that of the 416 theatres 

in the area, 141 have a seating capacity of 

less than 300, and 27 theatres have less than 

200 seats each. The rural character of the 

business is also highlighted by the fact ^lat 

there are 45 communities with less than 500 

population which have theatres. One of 

the unusual operations listed in the MPAA 

directory is the portable circuit of J. D. Peck, 

of Van Cleve, Iowa, which brings motion 

pictures to 41 communities in the state. 

THE STORY of A. H. Blank is the story of 

the growth of motion pictm-e exhibition 

in this area. Head of the vast Tri-States 

and Central States theatre empire. Blank 

is now in his 36th year as an Iowa film 

figure—and the circuit officially is celebrating 

its 35th year. The story goes back to 

1912 when he opened the Casino Theatre in 

partnership with the late Abe Frankl. 

With the idea of giving Des Moines something 

new in motion picture houses. Blank 

sold cut his Casino interest in 1914 to Frankl, 

and opened the Garden in its present location. 

At that time, the Garden was considered 

the last word in theatre architecture 

and construction. 

Quick to see the possibilities of the industry. 

Blank began an expansion program 

with new theatres in Davenport, Cedar Rapids, 

Omaha and many other cities of Iowa 

\ 

and Nebraska. He became a member of the 

executive committee of First National Pictures 

and soon was considered one of the 

major exhibitors of the midwest. 

In 1926, he sold a half interest in his 22 

theatres to Famous Players Theatre Corp., 

and three years later he disposed of his remaining 

interests to Paramount Famous 

Lasky Corp., and announced his retirement 

from the business. 

But Blank discovered about that time that 

retirement failed to satisfy him, and he 

organized Tri-States Theatre Corp., comprised 

of a group of independent theatres. 

It has since grown to become one of the 

largest motion picture circuits in the midwest 

and now numbers more than 50 theatres in 

Iowa. Nebraska and eastern Illinois. 

In 1929. Blank was named receiver of his 

original theatre holdings when the Paramount-Publix 

Corp. went into bankruptcy. 

Meanwhile, Central States Theatre Corp., 

also headed by Blank, was growing steadily 

after its organization in 1928. Today this 

chain numbers 52 houses, more or less paralleling 

the territory covered by the Tri-States 

group. 

The year 1937 was an important one for 

Blank. At that time he went into a permanent 

partnership with Paramoimt Pictures, 

Inc., retaining 50 per cent ownership in both 

Tri-States and Central States circuits. That 

year marked also one of the high spots in 

his life—celebration of his twenty-fifth anniversary 

in the motion picture business. 

On the evening of Dec. 9, 1937, more than 

400 of his friends both in and out of the 

industry met at Hotel Fort Des Moines to 

pay him tribute. Among the speakers and 

special guests were film executives from New 

York and Hollywood and exhibitors and distributors 

from all sections of the country, in 

addition to the governors of Iowa and Nebraska. 

In 1945, Blank was chosen winner of the 

Des Moines Tribtme's community award for 

outstanding service to the city during the 

previous year. 

At that time. Blank had just finished 

giving the city the new $300,000 "Raymond 

Blank Memorial Hospital for Children, in 

memory of his elder son. who had been 

associated with him in the theatre business 

and who had died in 1943 at the age of 33. 

In making the award, the committee which 

selected him—pointed out the hospital donation 

was but one of a "series of unselfish 

acts performed by Mr. Blank for the benefit 

of the city and state." 

He was cited for his record of service during 

the war years when he headed the war 

activities committee of the Iowa-Nebraska 

territory, leading the group's work in publicizing 

all of the war loan campaigns. In 

I Continued on page 23 

18 

BOXOFFICE :: February 14, 1948

I 

5 BUSY CONFERENCES AT EXCHANGES IN DES MOINES 

At Republic, lelt to right Dave Nelson, veteran 

ol the Rovif, the branch manager; Ernie 

Pickler, salesman; Jim Rickefts sr., salesman, 

and his son Jim jr., booker—only 

father-son team on the Row 

Staff at 20th Century-Fo>: Harold Lyons, 

salesman; Alice Weaver, veteran booker; 

Jim McCann, office manager; Ralph Pielovif, 

nev/ly-appointed branch manager, and 

Dave Gold, salesman. 

Universal-International's branch manager 

Lou Levy (second from left), with Helen 

Jacobs, his secretary, and two of the U-I 

salesmen—R. G. Olson and Morrie Relder. 

Levy is a 25-year veteran. 

LEO WOLCOTT, ALLIED LEADER, DROPS IN ON FILMROW 

Leo Wolcott chairman of the 

board of Allied Independent Theatre 

Owners, and his son Harrison 

.drop into the Paramount office to 

visit Harry Hamburg, manager. 

Paul Webster is Warner Bros, At MGM, this trio was snapped 

branch manager. He is shown in conference: Left to right—Fred 

with Myrtle Bechtel, the WB cash- 

Armington, office manager-head 

ier, who has been serving in that 

capacity for 19 years. 

booker; Harold Sutphin, booker, 

and Jack Kennedy, manager. 

At Eagle Lion's office, the cameraman 

caught (left to right) Mike 

Lse, branch manager; Bill Feld, 

the district manager, and C. B. 

Coflman, offici manager. 

AT RKO RADIO AND OTHER DISTRIBUTION OFFICES 

RKO branch manager, M. M. 

Rosenblatt, is shown with 

Gretchen Kelleher, cashier (left) 

and Novello Phillips, his secretary. 

Mel Evidon (L) 

Columbia m a n - 

ager; Oscar Galanter, 

office mgr. 

Julian King of King 

Enterprises (Film 

Classics, Screen 

Guild). 

jean Post, branch 

manager for Selznick 

Releasing Organization. 

Mayo Becrtty, branch manager for 

Monogram, with Zora Fini (center), 

office manager and booker; 

Charlotte Elmets, stenographer. 

BOXOFFICE : : February 14, 1948 

19

in its suspenseful 

ROBERT 

COLUMBIA PICTURES presents 

MARGUERITE 

YOUNG* CHAPMAN 

.M. WIILARD PARKER • AKl TAMIROFF 

- tOBEIII BARIAI - CIEM eiON MltUNE MIKE MAZIIIKI IIUU 

Screenplay by Winston Miller 

Directed by GEORGE SHERMAN • Produced by EUGENE B. RODNEY

Encounter. • • 

4leffiant love...

PRINCIPALLY IN EXHIBITION, IN DES MOINES 

UPPER PANEL: At the left is E. M. Gctrbett, who operates Iowa 

United Theatres, a circuit which has four Des Moines theatres and 

17 others throughout the state. The center trio consists of executives 

of the Central States circuit, one of A. H. Blank's interests (left to 

right) M. E. Lee, head booker and buyer; L. J. Wegener, general manager, 

and Neil Adair, booker. At the right is the staff at National 

Screen Service—Milt Feinberg (right), branch manager, with Bob 

(left), olfice manager, and Carl Sokoloff, head shipper. 

LOWER PANEL: (left to right) Jerry Bloedow, manager of the RKO 

Orpheum Theatre; J. E. Schlank, operator of the Iowa Theatre Service 

Co.; a trio of Paramount veterans, J. H. Foley, Charles Elder and 

Alberta Collins, head inspector; and, at right, Nathan Sandler, cfuef 

barker of the Variety tent, and head of his own circuit of theatres. 

DOUBLE QUARTET OF TRI-STATE CIRCUIT EXECUTIVES 

Tfiey 

H D 

help run the Tn-States circuit Left to right— (top) William Toney, maintenance manager, A G. Stolte, William Miskell ana 

Groves, district managers, and Mane Frye, merchandise manager, (below) A. Don Allen, advertising manager; Dale H. McFarland, 

film buyer and booker, and L. M. McKechneoy, treasurer.

heads 

FILIHROWS OF AMERICA 

(Continued from page 18 

addition, he served in Red Cross, U.S.O. and 

March of Dimes drives and was state chairman 

for the Russian war rehef effort. In 

December 1944 he was called by President 

Roosevelt to the White House to discuss 

publicity for the 1945 March of Dimes. 

Blank has been active in the B'nai B'rith 

and is one of the major supporters and contributors 

to the Jewish Home for the Aged 

and the Jewish welfare fund. He has long 

been a supporter of the Boy Scouts and is 

a member of the board of Iowa Methodist 

hospital. 

In 1946. Blanlc was appointed state chairman 

for the American Cancer Society drive. 

gORN July 25, 1880, in Galatz, Romania, 

he came with other members of the family 

to Council Bluffs when he was 8, to join 

the father who had preceded them. 

One of his first business ventures came 

with the opening of the Trans-Mississippi 

exposition in Omaha in 1898. There the 

ambitious youth began as a seller of balloons 

and other novelties. However, it was as a 

barker for the "Giant See Saw" on the Midway 

that he got his first idea of the possibilities 

of amusing the public. 

He was married to Miss Anna Levy of South 

Omaha, Neb., Sept. 20, 1905. She is the 

daughter of Judge Jacob Levy who occupied 

the bench there for 26 years. 

The Blanks' son, Myron, is associated 

with his father in the management of both 

theatre circuits. Myron, who served dui'ing 

the war as an officer in the navy, is currently 

general manager of Central States 

Theatre Corp. 

Long a business associate of the Blanks 

and for years a vital cog in Iowa theatre 

circles is Ralph Branton, general manager 

of the Tri-States chain. Other leading figui'es 

in the Blank empire are: L. M. Mc- 

Kechneay, Ti'i-States treasurer; William 

Toney, Tri-States maintenance manager; A. 

G. Stolte, William Miskell and H. O. Grove, 

Tri-States district managers; Marie Frye, 

merchandising manager for Tri-States; Dale 

H. McFarland, film booker and buyer for 

Tri-States, and A. Don Allen, advertising 

manager for Tri-States. 

In the Central States group are L. J. Wegener, 

manager; M. E. Lee, head booker and 

buyer, and Neil Adair, booker. Dorothy Day 

(Mrs. Harry Gottlieb > Central States' 

puDlicity department and is one of the veteran 

members of the Blank organization. 

In addition to the two theatre chains, 

Blank and Branton have other business interests 

togetlier in Iowa. Among these is a 

popcorn distributing agency recently organized. 

The two men, together with Phil Smith 

of Boston, Mass., are building drive-in theatres 

at Des Moines, Omaha and Lincoln, Neb., 

and Sioux City, Cedar Rapids and the Tri- 

Cities. 

On Jan. 31, 1948, sale of radio station KSO, 

a 5,000-watt CBS affiliate, to Tri-States and 

the Meredith Publishing Co. was announced. 

Each has an equal share in the new Tri- 

States-Meredith Broadcasting Co. Blank is 

to be president of the firm and Branton 

managing director. The company plans to 

originate both FM and television broadcasts 

in Des Moines. 

THE VOICE of the independents is Leo 

Wolcott, chairman of the board of Allied 

Independent Theatre Owners of Iowa and 

Nebraska. Prom his 300-seat house, the New- 

Grand, in Eldora (pop. 3,533 1, flows advice 

to independents, bulletins on trade practices, 

Tn-States' two largest downtown theatres 

in Des Moines adjoin each other in 

the heart of the theatre district. Each 

seats approximately 1,700 patrons. 

comments on pictures, barbs at distributois 

and such other information as he feels the 

small independent showman should have. His 

leadership has made the AITO of the twostate 

area a dominant regional group in the 

national Allied setup. 

There are a number of others who are 

prominent in the exhibition field. Nathan 

Sandler, the new chief barker of Des Moines 

Variety tent, operates a ntmiber of theatres 

thr-oughout the state. E. M. Garbett, head 

of Iowa United Theatres, anchors a circuit 

of 21 theatres with a quartet of houses in 

Des Moines. Smaller circuits in the state are 

operated by Earl Kerr, Charles Peterson and 

his son, Barney Brotman, Carroll Lane and 

A. S. Ames. Harold D. Field of the Pioneer 

circuit, with headquarters in Minneapolis, 

operates 14 theatres. 

No story of exhibition in Des Moines would 

be complete if it did not include the names 

of Harry Hiersteiner, the veteran operator 

of the Family Theatre in downtown Des 

Moines, and Jacob Schlank, former 20th-Fox 

salesman, who now rims the Iowa Theatre 

Service. Both are real pioneers in the field 

and respected by all in the business. 

Outside of the Paramomit association in 

the Blank properties the only distributor 

theatre interests in the area are those of RKO. 

This circuit owns the Orpheum, a 1,630-seat 

house in Des Moines, and five others in the 

state. 

pLEVEN film exchanges. National Screen 

Service, the Julian King Enterprises, the 

Des Moines Theatre Supply Co. and National 

Theatre Supply Co., and five film carriers 

are in the Fiimr-ow district to service the 

exchange area. Modern film distribution in 

Des Moines is 34 years old. It was in that 

year that Paramount, "first feature film 

branch in the state," opened an office with 

R. C. LiBeau, now Paramomit's district manager 

with headquarters in Kansas City, as 

the first executive. Nine years later, the 

company moved to High street, and today's 

ON THE COVER: 

An aerial view of Des Moines, with a 

montage of the marquee lights of the city's 

leading theatres. In the foreground are the 

Des Moines and Raccoon rivers, which have 

on occasion created considerable damage 

with flood waters. 

Pilmjow strip was on its way. Present manager 

for Paramount is Harry Hamburg who 

has been with the company for two decades. 

Following Paramount into Des Moines 

was First National, now Warners, with 

Harry Warren as the manager. Warren left 

distribution to become general manager for 

Central States circuit, and retired from the 

industry a year ago. Paul Webster who is 

branch manager today came to Des Moines 

from Salt Lake City. Warners hke to point 

out that many of its exchange employes are 

veterans on the Row. Larry Hensler, a salesman, 

has been with the industry for 30 years. 

Mrs. Myrtle Bechtel has been cashier since 

1929. One of the salesmen, Joe LeVee, is 

father of Paulette Goddard, screen star. 

As the film business expanded in the midwest 

farm belt, distributors began turning 

more and more to Des Moines as an exchange 

center. Warners was followed into Des Moines 

by MGM which opened an office m 1926, 20th 

Century-Fox and RKO. Ben Reingold was 

first 20bh-Fox's manager. Newest is Ralph 

Pielow jr. He took over two weeks ago. At 

MGM, the branch manager is D. C. "Jack" 

Kenny who started with the company when 

it opened up in Des Moines, and veterans 

with him include Harold Sutphin, head 

booker, who started as a stock clerk in 1929, 

and Fred Annington, office manager, who 

hired out as a clerk 12 years ago. 

lyiTAX ROSENBLATT is the RKO manager, 

having stepped into the post from a salesman's 

job in the Omaha office. He, too, has 

a veteran staff, including Florence Paschal, 

inspector 24 years; 

Gretchen Kelleher, cashier 

23 years; Thelma Washburn, booker 23 

years, and Florence Harris, inspector 22 

years—a total of 92 years of service to RKO 

on High street. 

Among branch managers, one of the veterans 

is Coltmibia's Mel Evidon, who has been 

in that position for 13 years. Another veteran 

is Lou Levy, who has headed the Universal-International 

branch office for eight 

years and has been in the film business for 

more than a quarter of a century. 

Monogram has been on the Row since 1937, 

when the franchise was held by Forrest Judd, 

who sold his franchise to the distributing 

company. A veteran film salesman, Mayo 

Beatty is exchange manager now. At Republic, 

the branch manager is white-haired David 

Nelson, an oldtimer who has served the company 

for a decade. It is at Republic that 

Filmrow has Its only father-son team—Jim 

Rickets sr. and jr. The father is a salesman, 

the son a booker. And young Jim's wife is 

with the office staff at Eagle Lion. 

Two newest exchanges are Eagle Lion, 

which is headed up by Mike Lee, and Selznick 

Releasing Organization, which is managed 

by Jean Post. 

One of the newcomers to Des Moines is 

Julian King, operator of King Enterprises. 

He handled Screen Guild Productions and 

Film Classics, and has a number of other 

operations to his credit. John Wynn, office 

manager and booker for Warners for two 

is decades, now serving King in the same 

capacity. 

The National Screen Service branch in 

Des Moines has been servicing exhibitors 

in the area for 20 years. A staff of 40 employes 

handles accounts in Iowa, Nebraska, 

and parts of Illinois and South Dakota. The 

manager is Milt Feinberg, who joined the 

company as a salesman three years ago. 

Servicing exhibitors also, in supplies, are the 

Des Moines Theatre Supply Co., headed by 

A. E. Thiele and E. M. Garbett, and National 

Theatre Supply Co., managed by A. C. 

Schuyler. 

BOXOFFICE : : February 14, 1948 

23

BEING SENT TO ALL EXHIBITORS 

^«TISTS PHODUCTIONS.INC. 

Ho..rwoop27,C.«roBKr. 

Mr. 

Exhibitor, 

What's wrong? . ô the English 

not 

-. - -"''"°'^' "; 

NOW, M3^- Exhibitor, 1- ocnpany 1 

.... .. .e 

t tell you that at leas^ 

^ for 

orallS

' 

ALL/ED ARTISTS 

PRODUCTIONS, INC 

Re/eose 

Oofes 

Correnf 

PRODUCTION 

CAST 

producer" 

D/RECTOR 

114 

Current 

Minotes 

Current 

Jon. 31 

~~~- 

THE GANGSTER 

-JJ!!::!^!^'^^ fhil Korlson 

SONG Of m H£ARr 

forry Su/l/von, Belifa 

King Bros. 

86 

Gordon Wiles Winofes 

feb. 22 

May 30 

SMART mm 

^HE TENDERFOOT 

84 

Alinutes 

Preston Foster, Be/ito 

J;errelVofl(in,torry' 

^ôit R. Dunlap 

8'ofce, Joseph Crehon 

85 

Jock Bernhord Alinutes 

Bnon Aherne, Constance 

Bennett, Borry Sullivon, 

flol E. Chester 

Wichoel O'Sheo 

90 

Edvv. A. Blott Minutes 

Gilbert Rolond, King 

Binnie 

Bros. 

Barnes, James Gleason ^W Neumann Minutes 

HîûTH storyl:;::^ 

, 

Tlir 

.^.-^ 

' 

r^~ 

fronk Me/ford 

Oct. 12 

The New Boxofflice Power is ALLIED ARTISTS!

FEBRUARY PRODUCTION LINEUP 

AT LOW POINT WITH 25 FILMS 

HOLLYWOOD—First noted last fall by 

viewers-with-alarm when the pressure of 

international and domestic conditions began 

to reflect itself at the boxoffice, the production 

panic went into a crash dive in the 

early days of February. 

The shortest month on the calendar loomed 

also as the shortest in many years from the 

standpoint of properties awaiting the studio 

starting gun, bringing with it a rush to the 

wailing wall by creative and technical talent 

as major and independent film-makers combined 

could muster up a dismal total of only 

25 candidates for camera work. This is a 

drop of ten from January's 35 scheduled 

starters and two below October 1947, whose 

total of 27 was the previous low. 

Aggravating the situation was the fact that 

four established production units—Screen 

Guild, the Selznick Releasing Organization, 

United Arti.sts and Warners—slated no new 

vehicles for the sound stages during the 

period. Of the month's scheduled entries. 

20 are new subjects, the balance having been 

carried over from January. By studios—and 

with the possibility of amplification as the 

period proceed.s—the lineup includes: 

Columbia 

Generally one of the most prolific studios, 

productionwise, this company exemplified the 

downward trend by scheduling only three 

entires on its slate for the month. Sam 

Katzman holds the production reins on "I 

Surrender, Dear." a musical, featuring David 

Street, radio and recording star, and Gloria 

Jean, and to be directed by Arthur Dreifuss. 

A release through Columbia has been secured 

by a new independent unit, headed by Actor 

Richard Quine and William Asher, for "Winner 

Take Nothing," a comedy-drama about 

the small-town prizefight game and the people 

who become involved in it. Quine and 

Asher will co-produce and co-direct, with 

the former in the male starring role. Carried 

over from the previous month was another 

Katzman property, "Superman," a 15-chapter 

serial based on the comic -strip and radio 

pi-ogram. To be directed by Spencer Bennet, 

it has Kirk Alyn in the title role, with Alan 

Dinehart III portraying him as a boy and 

Noel Neil cast in the feminine lead. 

Eagle Lion 

Two properties, both budgeted at aboveaverage 

levels, constitute the month's scheduled 

activities here. "Hollow Triumph," a psychological 

suspence yarn, co-stars Joan Bennett 

and Paul Henreid and is in the directorial 

hands of Steve Sekely, with Henreid doubling 

as associate producer under supervision of 

Bryan Foy. On a share-cropping basis. United 

California Productions contributes "Let's Live 

a Little," a romantic comedy in which Hedy 

Lamarr and Robert Cummings have the toplines, 

with Eugene Frenke producing and 

Richard Wallace as the director. Cummings, 

as an advertising genius, goes off the beam 

because all his clients are women. Miss 

Lamarr, an expert on neurology, looks into 

the problem and manages to straighten 

Cummings out after the usual comic and 

romantic obstacles. 

'Boy With Green Hair' 

Is Started at RKO 

In a month keynoted by onrushing 

production austerity, from the standpoints 

both of curtailed budgets and a 

slowdown in production tempo, the 

task of evaluating the period's most 

noteworthy celluloid entry was made 

considerably more difficult. Casting 

away the customary yardsticks of 

measurement—importance of cast and 

the price tag attached—made necessary 

the substitution of other appraising 

devices, chief of which is uniqueness in 

story line. 

As an example of Hollywood's newfound 

interest in novelty and off-thebeaten-path 

ideas for film fare, probably 

the month's outstanding entry 

comes from RKO Radio, which plans 

camera work on an opus provocatively 

titled "The Boy With Green Hair." 

Described as a "realistic fantasy," it 

spins the fable of a lad who, in a recurring 

dream, has a verdant thatch 

and is impelled to bring to the world 

a message of peace. Awaking, he discovers 

his hair has indeed turned green, 

and sets forth to spread his anti-war 

gospeL 

It is, of course, to be filmed in Technicolor, 

without which the title would be 

meaningless. Dean Stockwell has the 

role of the youth in the Stephen Ames 

production, which will be directed by 

Joseph Losey. Other cast topliners arc 

Robert Ryan, Pat O'Brien and Barbara 

Hale. 

Metro-Gold-wyn-Mgyer 

But one new starter is the best the Mighty 

Leo can do for the month to supplement the 

five properties already on sound stages. Tlie 

newcomer, as yet uncast, is "Vespers in 

Vienna," another contribution to the growing 

cycle of subjects devoted to life behind, before 

and amid Europe's Iron Curtain. Adapted 

from a story by Bruce Marshall, "Red 

Danbue," it purports to relate conditions in 

Vienna under Red domination and will be 

Ijroduced by Carey Wilson, with Victor Saville 

dh-ecting. 

Monogram 

Four nominees for starting date awaited 

the green light on this lot—three of them 

newcomers, the other a holdover from January. 

In the brand-new category is "I protege. Piloting chores are in the hands 

Wouldn't Be in Your Shoes," slated for production 

of Nicholas Ray. 

by Walter Mirisch and co-featuring 

Don Castle and Elyse Knox. It concerns an 

unemployed vaudeville dancer convicted of 

Republic 

Action is the watchword as concerns this 

mui-der, though innocent, and how he is 

cleared. Another whodunit is "Mui-der by valley studio's February output, with all four 

Alphabet," newest in the Charlie Chan 

scheduled starters placing emphasis onmelodramatic 

of its 

series, with Roland Winters as the Oriental 

motivations. A Sidney Picker' 

sleuth. James S. Burkett and WiUiam Beaudine 

production, "Secret Service Investigator,", 

toplines Lloyd Bridges, Lynne Roberts and;' 

are, respectively, the producer and 

director. 

Late in January Johnny Mack Brown 

started riding thataway in "Thunder on the 

Range," carving out another chapter in thi,^ 

sagebrush saga. Reno Brown and Raymonr! 

Hatton have supporting roles in the Barnt^v 

Sarecky production, which Lambert Hillynr 

directs. Held over from January was "Stat'o 

Struck," a Jeffrey Bernerd opus concerning 

the problem of adolescent delinquency, to br 

piloted by William Nigh. 

Paramount 

Supplementing three vehicles already ni 

work this studio had another trio on the 

starting line, one of them a new entry from 

Pine and Thomas. The P-T contribution i.

: February 

and 

George Zucco in a crime-smashing yarn about 

a counterfeiting ring. R. G. Springsteen is 

the director. On Lou Brock's slate is "Piison 

Train," to star Donald Barry, and based on 

a recent actual occurance in which a group 

of convicts being transferred from one prison 

to another attempt to escape. It will be directed 

by Phil Ford. Allan "Rocky" Lane is 

featured in "Carson City Raiders," another 

sagebrush epic in the "Famous Western" 

series, which Gordon Kay and Yakima Canutt 

as producer and director, respectively. From 

Stephen Auer's production unit will come 

"Daredevils of the Sky," in which Mae Clarke, 

one-time film favorite, returns to the screen. 

George Blair will direct. 

NT Showcases to Play Ad Films 

To Hike Revenue for 

Circuit 

20th Century-Fox 

This Westwood studio cut its January 

schedule by exactly one-third for the current 

month, with only one property earmarked 

for camera treatment. The sole starter for 

February is "Symphony Story," first chore on 

the lot for Preston Sturges in his dual capacity 

as producer and director. Sturges also had 

a hand in the script. The subject toplines 

Rex Harrison and Gene Tierney and casts 

Rudy Vallee in a supporting comedy role. 

Harrison portrays a temperamental conductor 

of a symphony orchestra and Miss Tierney 

is his beautiful but tempestuous wife. 

Universal-International 

One of but few bright spots, productionwise, 

is the hyphenated valley film studio, which 

faced the new month with a total of four 

projected ventures. Perennial U-I buffoons, 

Abbott and Costello, will turn out "The Brain 

of Frankenstein" under the productional 

guidance of Robert Arthur and the directorial 

supervision of Charles Barton. In this one 

the comics are heckled by a collection of 

U-I's favorite horror characters, including 

the Wolf Man (Lon Chaneyi, the Frankenstein 

Monster (Glenn Strange i 

Count 

Dracula (Bela Lugosi). Lester Cowan's independent 

unit is scheduled to begin rolling 

on "One Touch of Venus," film version of 

the Broadway musical, with William Seiter 

directing. Ava Gardner portrays "Venus," 

with Robert Walker, Dick Haymes, Eve Arden 

and Olga San Juan in supporting characterizations. 

The producer-director team of 

Leonard Goldstein and George Sherman will 

contribute two entries. "Larceny," starring 

John Payne, is the story of a confidence man 

and his reformation, based on "The Velvet 

Fleece." "The Wonderful Race at Rimrock" 

has Donald O'Connor, Marjorie Main 

and Percy Kilbride in the leads. 

Monogram Sets Reissues 

NEW YORK—Monogram will release 11 

reissues 

during 1948, according to Steve Broidy, 

president. They are: "Betrayed," formerly 

called "When Strangers Marry," starring 

Robert Mitchum and Kim Hunter; "Rose of 

the Rio Grande," starring John Carroll and 

Movita: "Sign of the Wolf," with Michael 

Whalen and Grace Bradley, and eight westerns. 

'Lawless' Gets New Title 

HOLLYWOOD—Columbia has set "Coroner 

Creek" as the final title for a new Cinecolor 

western starring Randolph Scott. The previous 

title 

BOXOFFICE : 

for the film was "Lawless." 

Here are the toppers among the National Theatres division presidents and aides 

who attended a recent four-day conclave in Los Angeles with Charles P. Sliouras, NT 

president, in charge of the meetings. Front row, left to right: Dicli Spier, San Francisco; 

Dave Idzal, Detroit; Harry C. Cox, Los Angeles; Skouras; Frank Newman sr., 

and John Hamrick, Seattle. Rear row, same order: Dick Dickson and George Bowser, 

Los Angeles; Elmer C. Rhoden, Kansas City; Dan Michalove, New York; Frank L. 

Ricketson jr., Denver; Harold Fitzgerrild, Milwaukee, and Harold Seidenberg, 

Philadelphia. 

LOS ANGELES—In a precedential move 

to augment revenues, National Theatres 

has established a new policy whereby 

the screens of its showcases throughout 

the country will carry advertising films. 

Although loath to discuss details of the 

program, NT executives here admitted the 

initial subject to be booked will be "Tobacco 

Land," an 8-minute short plugging 

Liggett and Myers' Chesterfield cigarets. 

Prints, in color, will be delivered in mid- 

March and will be in the theatres shortly 

thereafter. The advertising-picture policy 

is being supervised for the circuit by 

Thornton Sargent. 

Sargent emphasized that there will be 

no indiscriminate bookings of the commercial 

subjects and said they will have to 

measure up to high entertainment standards. 

He could not or would not supply 

the names of additional advertisers or 

footage lined up by NT. 

Rates established call for payment of 

$10 by the advertiser for each 1,000 paid 

admissions. 

In addition, important decisions reached 

at the recent four-day meeting here of 

National Theatres divisions presidents and 

executives were disclosures that: 

1. Theatre admissions will not be 

Universal Officers Deny 

Stockholder's Charges 

Skouras, circuit president. Sharing in a 

$100,000 melon were, in first place. Rick 

Ricketson's Fox Intermountain; second, 

Frank L. Newman's Evergreen; third. 

Elmer Rhoden's Midwest; fourth, Dick 

Dickson's southern California division of 

Fox Wisconsin; sixth, Dick Spier's northern 

Cahfornia division of FWC: seventh, 

Dave Idzal's Fox Detroit: and eighth, Harold 

Seidenberg's Fox Philadelphia unit. 

NEW YORK—Universal and three of its 

officers, Charles D. Prutzman, Nate J. Blumberg 

and William A. Scully, have filed a general 

denial of allegations made by Stephen 

A. Truncale, stockholder, in his federal court 

suit. The plaintiffs have asked for a dismissal 

of the action on the ground that they 

made no profits in stock trading for which 

they were accountable to the company, as 

charged by Trimcale. 

slashed, on the theory that present scales 

are "reasonable when compared to mounting 

prices and costs in other lines of goods 

or entertainment." 

2. A stricter control of expenses and 

operational costs must be maintained. 

3. Candy and popcorn sales have increased, 

particularly in the latter category, 

since new cardboard serving boxes 

have been introduced to replace noisemaking 

bags. 

4. Joseph M. Schenck, 20th Century- 

Fox executive and a guest at the sessions, 

declared that if needed economies are to 

be made, theatres must work with the 

studios to put out a top selling job wherever 

films lack big-name values. 

Winners in the 12th annual NT showmanship 

drive, which closed last December, 

were armounced by Charles P. 

'Paradine Case' for Miami 

At Advanced Admissions 

NEW YORK—David O. Selznick's "The 

Paradine Case" will open at advanced prices 

at the Cameo Theatre, Miami Beach, Fla., 

February 1, according to Milton S. Kusell, 

SRO vice-president in charge of domestic and 

Canadian sales. Advanced price engagements 

at the Lincoln, Surf and Miami theatres will 

follow. 

The picture is now playing at regular prices 

at the Radio City Music Hall here. 

14. 1948 27

. . MGM 

. . . Screen 

. . "Mr. 

. . 

ôUcfdM^ êfiwt 

Columbia to Produce Film 

About Associated Press 

Columbia, which more and more has been 

bending a receptive ear to outside commitments 

whereby it lends its distribution 

and /or production facilities to sharecropping 

independents, seems to have latched onto an 

exploitation natural in its latest deal of this 

type It has completed negotiations whereby 

Tony Owen, former Chicago newspaperman 

and" husband of Actress Donna Reed, wUl 

bring the story of the Associated Press, one 

of the world's great news-gathering agencies, 

to the screen. 

That the property, as yet untitled, will reap 

a rich harvest of publicity in those papers 

utilizing the AP service is a foregone conclusion. 

Under the arrangement, a share of 

the film's profits will be turned over to the 

AP for its employes' pension fund. 

Owen is using several documentary sources 

in the preparation of the script—"Barriers 

Down," by Kent Cooper, AP general manager: 

"The AP, the Story of the News." by Oliver 

Gramling; and research material provided 

from the agency's own files. The story wiU 

cover the organization's history from its inception, 

more than a century ago. 

Ob.servers will recall that 'Warners some 

years ago tried their hand at a similar undertaking—"Tlie 

Man From Reuter's," a story 

of the British news agency, which starred 

Edward G. Robinson. 

Story Market Sho-ws Gain 

With Seven Purchases 

Tempo of the hterary market hit a new 

high for 1948, both in quantity and quality, 

during the period, wherein seven transactions 

were completed through which as many film 

makers added to their stocks of story material. 

Probably of major importance was Paramount's 

acquisition of the current Broadway 

dramatic hit, "The Heiress," as a starring 

vehicle for Olivia De Havilland and the first 

producer-director assignment on the lot for 

William Wyler. Written by Ruth Goodman 

and Augustus Goetz, "The Heiress" stars 

Wendy Hiller and Basil Rathbone in its stage 

version. The central character is a shy, plain 

young lady who is considered a stupid object 

of contempt and pity by her cultured, intelligent 

father . purchased Joe 

David Brown's published novel, "Stars in 

My Crown," and assigned William Wright 

to produce it. possibly as a starring commitment 

for Robert Taylor. The drama deals 

with a fearless preacher who brought the 

gospel to a Tennessee town, overrun with 

tough characters, shortly after the Civil war 

. . . Republic delved into international affairs 

thi'ough its purchase of "Red Menace," an 

original by Sonya Marton, said to contain 

factual background material on the operation 

of Communist-front reorganizations. It 

is undecided as yet whether parts of the material 

will be Incorporated in another yarn, 

"Police State," or whether to produce a separate 

picture under "Menace" title . . . Also 

jumping aboard the semidocumentary bandwagon 

was Universal-International, which 

bought "Illegal Entry," an orginal by Ben 

Bengal, Dan Moore and Herbert Kline. It 

By 

IVAN SPEAR 

concerned with the war waged by the U.S. 

is 

bureau of immigration against alien smuggling 

rings, and will be scripted by Art Cohn 

for production by Jules Schermer. Howard 

Duff is set for the top male role . . Signet 

. 

Productions, headed by Producer-Dli-ector 

Irving Cummings, bought "The Pasadena 

Story," an original by Leo Rosten, from 

Michael Curtiz, who acquired it recently and 

then decided to dispose of it because he has 

five other properties closer to starting dates 

rights to "Fatima," novel by 

Douglas Carter with a carnival background, 

went to Sig Neufeld, who will produce it for 

Film Classics release . . . "The Trimming of 

Goosie," fantasy about a prosaic fellow who 

suddently sprouts wings and flies like a bird, 

was purchased by Marshall Grant Productions 

from James Edward Hopper. 

Joan Fontaine to Co-Star 

In Burt Lancaster Film 

Two independent units, both releasing 

through Universal-International, got together 

on a loanout arrangment when Norman 

Pi-oductions (headed by Harold Hecht 

and Actor Burt Lancaster) set a deal with 

Rampart Productions (headed by William 

Dozier and his actress wife, Joan Fontaine) to 

borrow Miss Fontaine for the femme starring 

lead in "Kiss the Blood off My Hands," upcoming 

Lancaster vehicle . . . Walter Wanger 

ticketed Richard Basehart for one of the toplines 

in "The Bastile," which will be Wanger's 

initialer for Eagle Lion release . . . 

Another 

EL casting found Turhan Bey set to star in 

"Blood on the Snow," crime drama . . . June 

Havoc draws a supporting spot in "Burlesque," 

the Betty Grable-Dan Dailey vehicle, at 20th 

Century -Fox . . . Cast additions to RKO 

Radio's "Blood on the Moon" include Walter 

EVERYBODY'S DOING IT — Reading 

BOXOFFICE, that is. An avid peruser of 

the industry's most widely-circulated 

trade journal is Josephine, 31-year-old 

animal star of Jerry Fairbanks' "Speaking 

of Animals" short subjects series, released 

by Paramount. Here she is, relaxing 

in her dressing room, and catching 

up on the latest in film news. 

De Rochemont to 

MGM 

As 'Roving Producer' 

Louis De Rochemont, the man generally 

credited with launching the current cycle 

of semidocumentaries with realistic stories 

and locales, has been ticketed to a "roving 

producer" assignment by MGM and 

has been handed supervisory chores on 

the company's recently announced program 

of factual celluloid fare. Formerly 

at 20th Century-Fox, where he turned out 

"House on 92nd Street," "13 Rue Madeleine" 

and "Boomerang," De Rochemont is 

now in the east seeking story material 

and locales for the first of the subjects 

he will make for the Culver City studio. 

Brennan, George Cooper and Richard Powers 

(formerly known as Tom Keene) . . . The 

same lot handed Gloria Grahame a co-starring 

role with Melvyn Douglas and Maureen 

O'Hara in "The Long Denial" . . . Top spots 

in Warners' "One Last Fling" go to Alexis 

Smith, Zachary Scott and Alan Hale . 

Claire Trevor will portray the Bambino's wife 

in "The Babe Ruth Story," being readied by 

Producer-Director Roy Del Ruth for Monogram-Allied 

Artists . . . Columbia handed the 

comedy lead in "I Surrender, Dear," to Don 

McGuire. 

Three More Independents 

Appear During the Week 

Three new independent production outfits 

bobbed up during the period, making it more 

obvious than ever that there is to be no shortage 

of such film-making units in 1948. 

Release through 20th Century-Fox was secured 

by Carthay Productions, headed by 

Gregson Bautzer, attorney; Agent Joe Rivkin 

and Scenarist Leonard Hoffman, for its initial 

film, an untitled musical biography of 

Helen Morgan. Set for the topline is Dorothy 

Lamour and Hoffman is writing the script 

Fate," an original magazine story 

by John S. Yuhasz. will be the first of three 

pictures set for filming in 1948, for an unannounced 

release, by Major Productions, incorporated 

by Yuhasz and I. L. and Ira 

Nickerson. The outfit is headquartering at 

Nassour studios . . . Plans for production in 

Mexico City of "The Underdog." by Mariano 

Azuela, Mexican noveliest, were disclosed by 

Norman Foster, who will produce and direct 

the subject in both English and Spanish 

versions. Poster treks south when he has finished 

the piloting assignment on Universal- 

International's "Kiss the Blood Off My T 

Hands." 

James Nasser Forms Unit 

To Make Films for UA 

Adding his name to the many-irons-in-thefire 

department was James Nasser, head of 

the family group which recently acquired 

General Service studio. Now he has plunged 

into the independent field with the formation 

of James Nasser Productions, Inc., and the 

signing of a distribution deal with United 

Artists. For his kickoff picture, Nasser 

ticketed Fred MacMurray as the star and 

borrowed Lloyd Bacon from 20th Century- 

Fox to direct. Titled "Innocent Affair," it is 

an original by Lou Breslow and Joseph Hoffman. 

:•• 

28 BOXOFFICE February 14, 1948 

I

ê of Y^^^, 

"^^'Offia 

big show 

Ô'sei*^, 

'»«^... 

for everybody. 

Tremendous power 

and suspense! 

Should make a lot 

of money! " 

— W.R. Wilkerson, 

Hollywood Reporter 

"'»9ei 

another 

winner that 

promises even bigg 

box-office than the 

studio's previous 

highly successful 

'true' 

pictures!" 

—Daily Variety 

than 

'House on 92nd 

Street/ Superb entertain 

ment to enthrall 

all audiences. 

Top boxoffice!" 

— showmen's 

Trade Review ^^ 

pi 

al Betty Garde • Kasia Orzazewski • Joanne de Bergh 

Hward Smith • Moroni Olsen -John Mel ntire • Paul Harvey 

mm HAiHAWAy otto lang 

• 

(wplay by Jerome Cady and Jay Dratler • Adaptation by Leonard Hoffman 

Directed by 

Produced by 

id Quentin Reynolds • Based on Articles by James P. McGuire 

„,-OON TO MATCH THE BOX-OFFICE HISTORY OF "THE HOUSE ON 92nd STREET' 

and "BOOMERANG!" in NEW YORK, CHICAGO, SEATTLE and PORTLAND! 

CENTURY-FOX

'Wî^î«t^t

Vogue, v.uiv

A SMALL TOWN EXHIBITOR OFFERS HIS ADVICE: 

Don't Cry 'Bad Product' to 

Public, 

Concentrate on Top Films Instead 

the January 31 issue of BOX- 

E. K. Menagh, owner of the Star 

Theatre in Fort Lupton, Col., after 

reading the editorial, "Let's Get Going," 

in 

OFFICE sat down and wrote the following 

advice to exhibitors. He calls it 

"What Are Exhibitors Doing About 

Rumors of Poor Pictures Coming Out 

of Hollytuood?" and in it he gives a 

dose of pungent advice to showmen 

about the job of running their theatres. 

His comments follow: 

T HAVE been an exhibitor for over 30 years 

and I believe that one of our favorite pastimes 

is putting the blame for most of the 

industry's faults on the producers. However, 

I consider we exhibitors more at fault for 

the present unfavorable public criticism than 

the producers. 

In the past couple of months, many of my 

friends and customers have made the remark 

cently. 

Hence, I substantiated my conviction that 

this noise about poor pictures was only an 

unfounded rumor that was gaining momentum 

to an extent that it could definitely 

retard the motion picture business. I got 

busy and advertised the top pictures I had 

coming that I knew had a large measiu-e of 

entertainment value. I mentioned Betty 

Grable in "Mother Wore Tights" and stated 

that I thought it was as good as any picture 

she had star-red in to date; I suggested that 

they see Danny Kaye in "The Secret Life of 

Walter Mitty" which I thought was better 

than any of Danny Kaye's previous pictures; 

I listed "Green Dolphin Street" which I consider 

one of the greatest action shows ever 

made. I mentioned many other pictures of 

top quality including "Killer McCoy," "The 

Road to Rio," "The Red Stallion," "My Wild 

Irish Rose," "Body and Soul," "Captain From 

Castile." and "Wistful Widow of Wagon Gap." 

tractions on a short run or as a second on a 

double bill with very little advertising to 

prevent the public from getting the impression 

that they were big attractions. Why 

oversell the public on pictures of questionable 

entertainment value just because they 

were sold in a high bracket price? I recently 

took a jungle picture and grossed more 

money on it and received more comments 

had been fooled. 

Another practice that is creating an antagonistic 

public reaction is the presentation 

of the pictm'e in many theatres. I have 

walked into several shows recently where a 

good picture was practically ruined by poor 

projection or by boisterous conduct by a small 

group of hoodlimis. 

Are you guilty of practicing false economy 

by paying youi- projectionist a low wage and 

trying to get by with worn or outmoded projection 

machines and sound system? Purchasing 

a good projection and sound apparatus 

is a good investment that wiU pay 

that current pictures are not as good as they 

had previously been. After inquiring how 

these people arrived at this conclusion, I was 

not surprised that they were merly repeating 

big dividends in almost every locality; hiring 

an alert projectionist and paying him a salai-y 

a rumor that they had heard. Very few persons 

that is worthy of demanding near per- 

a fection with your projected picture is requirement 

could name many pictures they con- 

to good boxoffice grosses. While 

sidered inferior and several could not even 

name one poor attraction they had seen re- 

the average employe is still not as efficient 

and cooperative as the prewar employe, 

there are plenty of good men who wiU work 

for the exhibitor who is willing to pay for 

that efficiency. 

TT is an admitted fact that the youth of today 

are more restless and unruly than in the 

period before the war. Likewise, the ushers 

do not seem to respond to the manager's 

wishes as readily as in prewar days. The 

manager has a real headache trying to keep 

his theatre orderly and quiet under these 

circumstances. However, he must realize 

that quietness is essential to the enjoyment 

of any motion picture and he must tackle 

this situation with greater vigor and determination 

than ever before. He should call 

regular meetings of his staff and stress the 

seriousness of allowing a few hoodlums to 

distract attention from the screen. He must 

try to replace any employe who will not cooperate 

in helping make the patrons relax 

in a comfortable, quiet atmosphere. Ninetyfive 

per SPENT cent of your 

several hours 

customers 

pondering over my 

come to see 

J the show and do not care to be disturbed 

bookings for the next three to four months 

by any small group 

and 

who has no interest in 

decided to cancel many pictures that 

the picture or respect for your theatre. 

were sold to me 

Employes 

must be made to realize that 

at top bracket prices although 

they should have 

customers 

been in a lower price bracket. 

Many rowdy are 

who insist on being noisy or 

of these 

unwelcome. 

inferior pictures were sold 

to me in a high bracket and misrepresented 

as special attractions. I realized that I must YHUS, you, Mr. Exhibitor, can stop these 

not follow my previous policy of advertising rumors of poor cuiTent releases by being 

a program picture as a special, thus, fooling more careful in your selection of pictures; 

the public so that I might get my exorbitant by not over-advertising pictm-es of questionable 

entertainment value just because 

film rental back or put these expensive at- 

you may have paid exorbitant prices for 

them; by getting good entertainment—especially 

projection and sound; by dismissing 

inefficient employes and paying good salaries 

to good employes; by making every effort 

to make your theatre a place where a person 

is assm-ed of an evening of quiet relaxation 

and comfort while he is enjoying the best 

pictures you are capable of securing for him. 

Film Classics Views 

Rise With Bernhard 

NEW YORK—Film Classics, which came 

into existence as a distributor of reissues, this 

month celebrates its first birthday under 

Joseph Bernhard as president—and is taking 

the occasion to call attention to some salient 

points in its growth during the last 12 months. 

than a picture starring one of America's top 

stars and costing me exactly six times as 

much rental. Today, more than ever before, 

ORGANIZATION STRENGTHENED 

the exhibitor must pick the good shows by 

In its official release, the 

other methods than price allocation; he must 

company points 

cut that when Bernhard took over it "was 

be alert in choosing productions of real entertainment 

value and invest extra advertis- 

floundering in a slough 

of mediocrity," 

ing dollars on them; he must refrain from 

and 

misleading the public that a poor or mediocre 

then lists achievements 

of the year. The 

feature is a "top-notoher" just because he 

new president had, for 

years, been a top Warner 

Bros, executive, ^f^- ^- 

When he stepped into 

the Film Classics position, 

he began 

strengthening the organization 

and in a 

few months was buy- 

^^^ 

ing up exchanges in HVJ 

key cities. Today, the 

company owns 26 ex- Joseph Bernhard 

changes outright. 

Bernhard also set up International Film 

Classics and Film Classics of the Americas, 

to create an international market for the 

company. Midway through the year, feeling 

that the company had reached a point in its 

development to undertake its own production, 

the new president sent the company's first 

picture before the cameras. In October, tlie 

picture, "Spirit of West Point," was released. 

It was then that the distribution system developed 

under Bernhard paid off. The negative 

costs were brought in in two months, and 

to date the film has had more than 9,000 

playdates. 

A few months ago, Cinecolor Corp. absorbed 

Film Classics, which, however, will continue 

to operate as a separate entity. The company 

also has acquired its own studio in Holly wui id 

and this space is to be made available to pruducers 

who release through Film Classics 

Fred Steele is the production director, with 

Marie Quigley production assistant to the 

president. 

FILMS ON SCHEDULE 

With the West Point picture in release, 

the company is scheduled to distribute 14 

pictures in 1948, more than half in Cinecolor. 

Headed for early release are "For You I Die," 

"Money Madness," "The Argyle Secrets" and 

"Sofia." An Italian-made picture, "Furia," 

is now being distributed. 

The company shortly is to move into larger 

quarters in the Paramount building in New 

York, where the Cinecolor Corp. offices also 

will be located. 

Executives who have joined the company 

since Bernhard assmned the helm are B. G. 

Kranze, vice-president in charge of distribution; 

Max Mendel, foreign manager who 

currently is touring South America to set up 

relations with exhibitors; and Al Zinibalist, 

who heads up the worldwide program of publicity, 

advertising and exploitation. 

Aster Sets Release Dates 

NEW YORK—Astor Pictures has set release 

dates for the first two western features In a 

series of six to be produced by Yucca Pictiu'es. 

The films star' Sunset Carson. "Fighting 

Mustang," will be released March 1. 

"Deadline" will be released April 15. 


A THOUGHT OR TWO FROM HYGIENIC CORNER 

ADITORIAL No. 6 of a Series 

iÂ 

i 

* (i5n^>^ hygiene bldg 

^S^VY^ WILMINGTON, OHIO. USA. 

lygienic's employees display 

me as shows Pin-drop quietn 

same enthusiasm as they lo "on the job " Meetings st 

are on schedule 

exactly on the minute—sa 

prevails—same as in theatt 

is rigidly adhered to—exits 

LOVEBIRDS!— Instead of bitter jealoub) 

battlo furiously for top bonuses but if; 

So friendly, in fact, last year's top lect 

married on New Year's day. Hygien 

Pictured above, they're Betty Clough. o 

Halstead. of Flint. Mich. 

HELPFUL!— Bossman J S Jossey makes a helpful suggestic 

to unit personnel supervisor Charles B Meade More tha 

is 100.000 miles tra/eled annually by Meade while Mr 

is Meade and children prove Fort Worth. Texas, the Meade 

CHIN-CHATTERS!— Hygieni 

(left 

man Kroger Babb, L. A. office 

agent Dick Currier get together foi 

All work as a 

team—each helps the other! 

We opened a letter the other morning from an exhibitor out in Iowa and it 

I started "I've just played 'Mom and Dad.' broke my house record 

off like this: 

and I understand that. 

highly praised—and I 

I have never had a picture on my screen that was so 

understand that. I've had all kinds of troupes—cowboys, 

girl shows, magic shows, spook shows, radio shows, etc., in my theatre but I have 

never in my life seen such enthusiasm lo do a perfect job and to help the theatre 

take in every dollar possible, as your unit folks displayed. I don't understand that," 

He went on to tell us about his personnel troubles. We could appreciate 

them. There have been roadshows— all kinds—before .They all had their faults. 

Most of 'em, too many faults! That's why experienced theatre men and moviemakers 

warned us in 1944 this fantastic system of ours wouldn't click. But for 

some reason Hygienic's plan does work. It works so well, in fact, no company 

in all history has ever had so many road units en tour simultaneously and successfully. 

Hygienic's personnel is chosen carefully. Jack and myself divide duties and 

keep actively on-top of the entire operation. We have some expert supervisors. 

The "slaves" call 'em "Hellraisers," but actually they don't have to raise their 

voices often. We have one in charge of the offices, one in charge of the agents, 

one in charge of the unit personnel. Jack Crouthers. Everett Adams, Charlie Meade, 

respectively, by name. 

Hygienic's advance agents—or salesmen—are outstanding in the industry. 

Each is, besides a salesman, a highly trained and qualified publicity-advertisingexploitation 

man. Each is responsible for booking a unit's route. But best, he's 

responsible for advancing his own dates and suffering with any booking "sins" 

he might have committed. He makes his owm bed—then lies in it! When he 

wakes up—it's bonus-time. 

Hygienic's unit personnel is carefully chosen. Lecturers are picked with 

razor-edge sharpness. 

tinually improved. Unit 

They're schooled, trained, checked, supervised, and con- 

girls—or nurses—must come up to definite standards, 

like airline hostesses. 

Since each pcn-ticipates financially in the others' achievements, they work 

together—like a team! Each helps the other! Each suffers from the other's mistakes. 

Victory, extra business, extra profits, bonuses— all depend upon the whole 

organization's performance. 

Hygienic's system eliminates all the "red tape." In fact, it's so simple it 

eliminates all the tape—period! A unit's entire week's business, expenses, etc., 

if. reported on one side of one 8V2XII sheet. It's a complete report to the smallest 

detail—proving 29 daily and 31 weekly reports are hardly necessary. Point is 

the folks who have to fill it out love its simplicity. That's why they do the job 

with enthusiasm, pep and spirit. 

Employees are bonded, but we've never had that first one steal. They don't 

need to—for one thing. Disloyalty or laziness can bring them "the Hygienic 

curse"—which is reported by those few who have suffered it to be worse than 

scarlet fever. What firm in show business wants them, if they can't make the 

grade with Hygienic? 

All of which sums up to AU-American performance . . . alertness . . . enthusiasm 

. . . know-how . . . loyalty . . . hard work . . . success. Hygienic's 

"slaves" live by, on. with and for "Mom and Dad"! 

iitfî 

Florida- 

flying:- 

bound are Jan LaBudda, news letter editor of Hygienic Productions 

and "Mom and Dad" southern unit manager, handsome 

Tommy Bochert. All of Hygienic's lecturers appear 

publicly under the registered stage name of Elliot Forbes. 

Bochert, clean-cut, handsome, intelligent, representath 

BOXOFTICE : : February 14, 1948 

LTf

I 

I 

' 

I 

southwest. 

There were few who saw a depression coming 

in 1929, but they say Dent did. He sold 

all of his theatres to Paramoimt and took a 

ing plant, then sold all his gravel holdings 

and went back into show business in the 

west. 

A Word to the Wise 

You can increase your screen profits with Alexander short length 

screen ads. Shrewd showmen have been doing it for many 

vears. A few seconds of your screen time brings you dollars of 

PLUS PROFITS. 

Clip and mail the coupon below. Without obligation, we would 

like to show you how Alexander's Theatre Partner Plan will benefit 

you. Mail it today. 

I 

Alexander Film Co. 

Alexander Film Bldg. 

Colorado Springs, Colo. 

I'd like to know more about Alexander short length screen ads and the 

Theatre Partner Plan. 

Colorado Springs, Colo. 


P 

CHESTER FRIEDMAN 

EDITOR 

HUGH E. FRAZE 

Associate Editor 

DOXOfPIC 

SECTION 

PRACTICAL IDEAS FOR SELLING SEATS BY PRACTICAL SHOWMEN 

G.F. SQUIBB'S PHONE AWARD 

TOPS JANUARY BONUS IDEAS 

From Wisconsin to Texas and New York to 

California, and in Canada and England, ten 

theatremen will receive the January BOX- 

OFFICE Bonus for meritorious ideas and promotions 

submitted to the Showmandiser section 

during the first month in 1948. Each will 

be sent a check for $10 and a Letter of Commendation. 

The outstanding idea of the month was submitted 

by G. Farris Squibb, Dixie Theatre, 

Coleman, Tex. Since publication of the promotion 

in BOXOFFICE, Squibb has received 

scores of letters from theatremen asking for 

the complete details of the plan. 

David Dallas, TEI Theatres, Manhattan, 

Kas., was cited for an annual Stork Derby he 

introduced with great success in the realm of 

public relations. Frank Pratt, manager of the 

Paramount, Portland, Ore., also was nominated 

to receive a Bonus for his excellent 

public relations device, through which patrons 

make contributions in a lobby wishing well, 

the proceeds going to a different welfare organization 

each month. 

A full page co-op ad promoted by D. V. 

Keeley, manager of the Orpheum, Sault Ste. 

Marie. Ont., in connection with "Wings of 

the Morning," earned a $10 Bonus. For a 

spectacular campaign on "The Beginning or 

the End," the ballyhoo Bonus went to R. D. 

Bowden, manager of the Regal, Bridlington, 

England. 

An assistant manager, Ernest Alcanter, of 

the Mission, Sacramento, joined the ranks of 

Bonus recipients for an excellent lobby display. 

Ervin Clumb, ad director and manager 

of the Towne in Milwaukee, annexed $10 for 

several arresting theatre fronts he devised. 

Watson Davis Len Utecht Frank Pratt G. Farris Squibb 

Ronald Failes 

From New York, Ronald Failes of the Laurel 

Long Beach, was honored for a general tieup 

in his community for a car giveaway. For 

originality in newspaper advertisements, a 

Bonus V..1- .r.\.iu;iHi id W.it ny D,!\! ;ii i;,- 

ager of 'In l.'i' \\< ' v ^1. 

I 

ii ', 

Ervin Clumb 

^

Sidewalk Selling 

Above and below are two seat-selling theatre fronts. Above indicates the method 

Ervin Clumb, manager of the Towne in Milwaukee, used to sell "Monsieur Verdoux," 

Below, at the Paramount, Jackson. Term., Manager Harold Thomas provides an effective 

black-and-white front, ploying up "My Wild Irish Rose" as a Jubilee of Joy. 

Comedy Angles Plus 

Radio Tieups Sell 

'Bishop's Wife' 

Using the same successful selling 

approach 

as has been employed in other cities to eet 

teen-age youngsters interested in "The 

Bishop's Wife." Al Margolian. publicity manager 

for the Astor in Boston, stressed comedy 

angles and tieups with radio programs. 

Passes were awarded to winners of a contest 

on the audience participation WEEI 

show. Breakfast in Boston. 'Verne 'WiUiams, 

disk jockey heard on 'WNAC. played a mystery 

record and awarded passes to the first 

ten listeners who submitted the name of the 

song writer. 

The recording of the Mitchell boy choir, 

heard in the film production, was used on 

station 'WBMS. 

A dual promotion was set with 'WMEX 

and the Record-American in which the 

paper's carriers were invited to a screening, 

after which they discussed the picture on 

their own radio show. The paper published 

a picture of the newsboys viewing the picture. 

On Bob Elliott's Back Bay matinee over 

WHDH, young persons in the audience were 

invited to be guest disk jockeys, and the one 

turning in the best performance was given 

a pass. Students who had already seen the 

film were interviewed by Elliott, and Margolian 

also was interviewed. The playdates 

received frequent mention. 

Additional free time was promoted on the 

Ray Dorey program heard over 'WBZ and on 

the Crown Cola's show over WCOP on two 

successive Sundays. 

A 540-line ad was promoted to run in the 

Sunday Herald with a local hat shop as 

sponsor. The ad illustrated the stars and 

theatre credits. 

Oft tk& ^pâde 

(Continued from preceding page) 

Hugh Borland, manager of the Louis in Chicago, provokes interest in "Untamed 

Fury" by inviting passersby to guess whether the alligator depicted above is dead 

or alive. Scene stills convey the picture's action theme to potential customers. 

Dance Pupils Perform 

On Stage of Oswego 

The January activities of Jim O'Shea, manager 

of the Oswego in Oswego, N. Y., included 

a tieup with a dance school for a recital on 

the stage of the theatre. O'Shea used a 40x60 

in the lobby made up of color photographs of 

the performers. This provoked conversation 

among patrons, many of whom recognized the 

youngsters or were related to them. 

For "Good News," O'Shea promoted a full 

page co-op ad with 11 merchants under the 

heading, "Here's 'Good News' in suggesting 

where to shop for the values you desire." In 

addition, a department store ran a large ad 

picturing June AUyson, tied in with the Max 

Factor cosmetics, with full theatre credits. 

Three music stores displayed sheet music 

and accessories on the tunes from the film 

and the music was plugged over the theatre's 

public address system before show time each 

day. 

And Arnold Gould, manager of the 

Capitol in Jefferson City, Mo.: "We get 

many good ideas from the Showmcrn 

diser section. Keep up the good work." 

From Augusta. Ga.. our good friend 

P. E. McCoy: "If my judgment is right, 

it looks as if you have put ole BOX- 

OFFICE on every showman's desk. I 

cannot but help recognize a swell job." 

There there is the story of Norman 

Lofthus, which appears further along in 

this issue, as final documentary proof. 

Lofthus showed a copy of the Showmandiser 

to city officials in Santa Barbara 

as an example of the excellent theatrecity 

cooperation in another community, 

and gained local cooperation for the 

same promotion in Santa Barbara. 

The Shov/mandiser staff, both here 

and in Kansas City, is proud of the 

large number of managers who are 

evincing renewed interest in the art of 

exploitation. We are also proud of the 

increasing number who are taking advantage 

of the Showmandiser as a 

clearing house of ideas and suggestions. 

Obviously the BOXOFFICE Bonus is 

a great incentive, helping theatremen 

to build boxoffice. 

GUaiiei ^liecUnan 

36 —378— BOXOFFICE Showmandiser :: Feb. 14, 1948

'I) 

Baltimore Programs 

Produce 16 Tieups 

For 'Good News' 

A record number of 16 different radio 

programs were tied up by Jack Sidney, publicity 

manager of the Century Theatre in 

Baltimore, with plugs for the theatre's date 

of "Good News." 

Sidney cracked station WITH with contests, 

audience participation shows, quizzes 

and record programs in a variety of tieups. 

On WCAO, the Leo the Lion program. Musical 

Clock. Under the Marquee. Nocturne 

and Variety's program came up with from 

one to five plugs each during the week prior 

to opening. 

Sid's Coffee shop, Teen Topics and Hollywood 

News programs came through on station 

'WSID. Spot plugs and guest tickets for 

answers to questions netted three plugs on 

the Jubilee at Thj-ee program, and spot 

plugs on the one-hour show. Bill and Mary, 

were aired over station BMD. 

Disk jockeys on all local stations featured 

records from the "Good News" album on one 

or more occasions during the week before 

the picture opened. 

Sidney also tied up with the Baltimore 

News-Post offering a Savings Bond, albums 

of records and theatre tickets for letters submitted 

on "The Best 'Good News' I Ever Received." 

For ballyhoo, a small folded thi-owaway 

was distributed announcing "Good News for 

1948" on the cover. When it was opened, a 

portfolio ad on "Good News" was in the 

center. 

Twenty-five cutout standees were placed 

in stores, restaurants and record shops. Window 

streamers were distributed to all music 

and department stores in the city, and all 14 

trucks of a local beverage concern were bannered 

with signs announcing the picture 

playdates. 

Newspapers were generous with publicity 

readers and art, and a large display set up 

in the theatre lobby a week in advance helped 

to focus extra attention on the picture. 

-v.^ 

'Shoe-Shine' Photo Layout 

In Atlanta Sunday Sheet 

To exploit the opening of "Shoe-Shine" at 

the Peachtree Art Theatre in Atlanta, Manager 

Mell Brown arranged with the drama 

critics of the Sunday Journal magazine section 

to run a pictorial layout giving a synopsis 

of the story. The editorial writer of the Atlanta 

Constitution wrote an enthusiastic 

editorial acclaiming the picture as one of the 

best films of the year.

I 

Showmandiser 'Smoke Eaters Story 

Induces Warm Support of Officials 

"Thanks to a very fine article in the January 

10 issue of the BOXOFFICE Showmandiser," 

writes Norman Loftus, manager of the 

CaUfornia Theatre in Santa Barbara. "1 was 

able to promote similar activity for the engagement 

of the short subject, 'Smoke 

Eaters." " 

"The article helped me to graphically 

illustrate to Santa Barbara officials what had 

been accomplished in another city. 1 sold 

the city fire marshal and fire chief on the 

fire prevention value of this subject and they 

in turn went to bat for me with the city 

commissioners. 

"To my knowledge this is the first time fire 

and police equipment has been secured to 

exploit a motion picture in Santa Barbara. 

Both departments gave 100 per cent cooperation 

in selling 'Smoke Eaters' to the pubUc. 

Transcriptions Exploit 

'Senator Was Indiscreet' 

A newspaper-radio promotioti for "The 

Senator Was Indiscreet" produced fine results 

for John Goodno, manager of the Palace, 

Huntington, W. Va. Goodno blanketed the 

four local radio stations with a special fiveminute 

transcription featuring William 

Powell as the bombastic senator of the film 

production. 

On the day of the broadcast, large newspaper 

advertisements appeared proclaiming: 

"For the first time in Huntington radio 

history, on all stations tonight. Senator Ashton 

etc., etc." 

The above, combined with teaser spot announcements 

on all local stations, gave the 

picture wide publicity. 

Basket Night Popular 

"Fire and police trucks paraded the main 

business streets each day for three consecutive 

days. In the evening the hook and ladder 

truck was parked in front of the theatre with 

two firemen in attendance to answer questions 

of interested citizens. The fire department 

also broadcast announcements each 

day over its interstation system. 

"Copy on all city equipment announced: 

'Fire Prevention Week Is Past, But Fire 

Hazards Are Ever Present. Make Every Week 

Fire Prevention Week.' The theatre announcement 

followed. 

"We also mailed post cards to every member 

of the fire department apprising the recipients 

of the playdates at the California. 

"Newspapers were generous with stories 

and art." 

Teaser Painted on Minors 

A teaser gag was used by Gerry Pratt, assistant 

at the Grove in Freeport, N. Y., to 

instil interest in the engagement of "The 

Unsuspected" and "That Hagen Girl," All 

the mirrors in the lobby carried playdate 

signs for this program without, however, the 

titles. Instead, question marks were painted 

in water color around the dates 

Boosts 'Million Business 

Lithograph cutouts from "One Million B.C." 

were effectively displayed by E. H. Morrow 

to ballyhoo the current showing at the Rialto 

in Columbus, Ga. The heads of two large 

dinosaurs were set up at either side of the 

boxoffice to meet over the ticket window. 

Morrow's campaign resulted in more than 

twice the usual average business. 

Makes Record Tieup 

A combination radio-phonograph, borrowed 

from a music dealer, was used to promote 

"Road to Rio" by Joe Borenstein, manager 

of the Strand, New Britain, Conn. Boren- 

Basket night has proved popular with patrons 

111. 

of the Rialto in Bushnell, D. M. 

Dlllenbeck, manager, made a tieup for ten 

baskets of groceries. A capacity audience 

turned up for the giveaway which was exploited 

stein built a display around the machine in 

the lobby and had records played, featuring 

through the distribution of 1,000 

heralds, special lobby displays and banners. the music heard in the film production. 

Philco Tieup Sells 

Hornbeck Showing 

Oi 'Road to Rio' 

National tiein material was used to good 

purpose by Elmer Adams jr., manager of the 

Hornbeck Theatre, Shawnee, Okla., to promote 

"Road to Rio." This led to a window 

display in the local Philco radio store, with 

stills and this copy: "A great new Philco 

star. A great team. Bing, Bob and Dotty. 

On the 'Road to Rio' at etc., etc." 

An attractive music store display was tied 

in with the sheet music of tunes from the film 

and Andrews Sisters recordings. The songs 

were also plugged on several radio programs, 

and jukeboxes carrying Andrews Sisters 

records were tabbed with picture and playdate 

copy. This was done in cafes, dance 

palaces and leading drug stores. 

Tieup with the Vogue dress shop, in the 

main section of town, resulted in a window 

display with glamorous stills of Dorothy 

Lamour and special copy tying in the picture 

with the store's merchandise. It also featured 

a blowup of Crosby and Hope in a comic 

pose, with prominent picture and playdate. 

On "The Unfaithful." Adams tied up with 

the Tipton jewelry shop for some rewarding 

results. Cards were placed on city buses, 

bearing a large cut of Ann Sheridan wearing 

a Gruen watch, with picture and date mention. 

This was all for free, the merchant 

paying the cost of the cards and bus space. 

A 20x30-inch display in the jeweler's window 

exhibited a striking head of Ann Sheridan 

wearing several pieces of jewelry with 

theatre copy in prominence. The display was 

lighted by a baby spot with a color wheel, 

making it quite an eye-catcher. 

A radio program sponsored by Tipton's 

plugged the picture several times each broadcast 

with the announcement: "See the Gruen 

watch just like Ann Sheridan wears in etc.. 

etc." This was used several days in advance 

and every day of the picture's run. 

Rounding out the campaign, newspaper 

stories were planted, 25 window cards with 

frames were spotted in the downtown section 

of the city, specially designed 40x60s were 

used in advance and dui'ing the showing. 

Offers Frankensteins 

Passes to Horror Bill 

To promote his horror program of "Son of 

Frankenstein" and "Bride of Frankenstein." 

Sid Baker, manager of the Town in Flushing, 

N. Y., used a 40.x60 in the lobby offering 

passes to any person who could prove his 

name was Frankenstein, "to meet the rest of 

the family." The offer was repeated in a special 

trailer, and three persons were eventually 

found filling the requirements. The marquee 

was utilized for the "Can You Take It?" approach 

— "Horrific, Terrorizing, etc., etc." 

Imprints Napkins for 'Life' 

To promote "Where There's Life" at the 

California in Santa Barbara, Manager Norman 

Lofthus had paper napkins imprited 

with the following copy: "Laugh Hanky. 

You'll laugh until tears come to your eyes 

when you see Bob Hope in etc., etc." These 

were distributed in restaurants, tea rooms, 

cocktail lounges and on busy street corners. 

-380— BOXOFFICE Showmandiser :: Feb. 14, 1948

If 

. . Starting 

I 

It!"!?' 

Life 

fat 

imp' 

1 Hi 

jour 

D 

,0 

Newspaper Sponsors 

Kiddy Show Tying in 

Comic Strip Folk 

A children's show promotion which has 

good possibilities for exhibitors everywhere 

was successfully concluded at the Roosevelt 

in Flushing, N. Y„ after Manager Mildred 

FitzGibbons had tied up with the New York 

Journal-American for a Comic carnival. 

Miss FitzGibbon's idea was to link the 

famous characters who appear in the comic 

weekly with those who are depicted on the 

screen at a Saturday junior matinee. One 

of the big attractions of the tieup was a color 

comic contest in which the newspaper provided 

112 prizes for children submitting the 

best colorings of a Blondie cartoon. 

The screen program was composed of ten 

color cartoons, two Blondie features, a 

novelty preview, comic weekly man and the 

Little King. The cartoons included five 

Popeye subjects in Technicolor and five 

Donald Duck cartoons. 

As promotion aids, the Journal-American 

distributed 250 window cards at all newsstands 

in the community. Two hundred and 

fifty cards were supplied to the theatre for 

additional placement. Tlie newspaper also 

provided a 40x60 sign, 1,500 comic toy gifts 

to be distributed to each child who attended 

and 112 contest prizes. In addition, the paper 

supplied 4,000 heralds and contest entry 

blanks for distribution at schools where officials 

encouraged pupils to enter the contest. 

The children at Public School 30 heard announcements 

from the principal over the 

public address system, and all 13 public schools 

and four parochial schools were personally 

contacted by Miss FitzGibbons. All entries 

in the coloring contest were exhibited in the 

theatre lobby and drew an interested audience 

of parents as well as children. 

Journal-American photographers took pictures 

of the arrival of the children on the 

morning of the Comic carnival, and the newspaper 

gave the promotion steady coverage 

over a period of several weeks. 

'McCoy' Prize Fight Angle 

Limited to Sports Arena 

Charles Pincus, manager of the Utah in 

Salt Lake City, did not come out with the 

prize fight angle of "Killer McCoy" in his 

radio and newspaper advertising, but concentrated 

on the general entertainment values. 

Instead, he capitalized on the prize fight 

appeal by arranging a direct contact with 

the local sports crowd. 

Pincus obtained mats of a fight sequence 

offered in the press book and made up a 

set of throwaways along with news that the 

picture would open at the Utah, plus names 

of the cast. The throwaways were distributed 

at the local sports arena. 

School Benefit Matinee 

Yearly on Marion Stage 

A goodwill promotion which has reaped 

large benefits for Gilbert E. Rathman, manager 

of the Marion Theatre, Marion, Iowa, 

is the annual Quill benefit show staged by 

members of the senior class of the local high 

school on the theatre stage. 

Every year a full hour of entertainment is 

provided at the special afternoon show. The 

students put on their own programs and 

Rathman supplies them with his regular 

feature. 

The students sell tickets for the show, and 

public spirited merchants run large newspaper 

advertisements on the program. 

BOXOFHCE Showmandisor :: Feb. 14, 1948 

William Singer, manager of the Brandeis in 

Omaha, recently started a series ol midnight 

shows with "The Walking Dead." He dug up 

the "eager-beaver" shown above, preserved 

him under glass in a satin-lined coffin, then 

stood back to await the lively jingle of the 

boxoffice register. 

Safety Message on 'Tycoon' 

Scores in Cleveland 

"Tycoon" was advertised during its engagement 

at the RKO Allen, Cleveland, 

a safety message devised by Shirley 

thi-ough 

Fishman, publicity director for local RKO 

Theatres. 

The pictm-e was screened for officials of 

large industrial organizations and the 

Cleveland Safety council, all of whom were 

impressed by the safety prevention angles 

which the film miderlines. 

Heralds keyed to "Safety First Is the 

Message of 'Tycoon' " were distributed in 

factories and plants, and all groups and 

companies listed by the safety council were 

circularized with similar copy at no expense 

to the theatre. 

Teaser ads on the financial pages of the 

daily newspapers announced, "Tycoon? A 

Holiday Treat Is in Store for You at the 

RKO Allen . Wednesday." 

City Honors Grid Star 

On Stage of Stanley 

Dan Dandrea. manager of the Stanley in 

Bridgeton, N. J., was instrumental in getting 

the Exchange club to honor one of the star 

players of the Penn football squad. Bob Deuber, 

a home town boy, at special ceremonies 

on the Stanley stage. 

Aside from the extensive publicity breaks 

obtained from the local press. Exchange club 

members sponsored a full-page ad with more 

than half the space devoted to announcing 

the Stanley presentation. Regular admission 

was charged and a capacity audience turned 

out to welcome the gridiron star. 

IMO Enter Contest 

A letter-writting contest on "What Makes 

a Marriage Happy,," staged by Alex Sayles, 

manager of the Palace in Albany, N. Y., in 

connection with "Cass Timberlane," is reported 

to have drawn more than 1,000 entries. 

The contest was sponsored by the Times- 

Union with an all-expense trip to Niagara 

Falls offered to the winning couple. 

—381— 

National Tieups Used 

Artfully to Exploit 

'Sleep, My Love' 

The manner in which "Sleep, My Love" 

was sold in Boston was a brilliant demonstration 

of cooperation between theatre and distributor 

personnel, and illustrates how national 

tieups can be patterned into the local 

campaign to give it broader scope and greater 

effect. 

With the picture scheduled to play dayand-date 

at the Orpheum and State, Joe Di- 

Pe.sa, Jim Tibbetts, Jim Shannahan and Jack 

Mercer of Loew's Theatres, met with Phil 

Engels, United Artists representative, and 

formulated a master plan which elicited full 

support of local advertisers in national tieups 

and incorporated all useful selling angles 

to exploit the film. 

A women's coat tieup with Scott Furriers 

netted a co-op newspaper ad which ran in 

four Sunday and two Monday papers. Illustration 

in the ad featured Claudette Colbert, 

star of the picture, with theatre credits 

and playdates. This gave the picture 2,800 

free lines of advertising. 

14 ADS BY ROYAL CROWN 

Contacting the Royal Crown distributor 

garnered a 14-inch newspaper co-op along the 

same lines as the coat tieup, in addition 

to banners on a fleet of 30 trucks which cover 

the metropolitan area of Boston. 

The exploiteers then arranged for the national 

Lux ad to break during the pictm-e's 

run and spotted a "Now Playing at Loew's" 

slug below the announcement. 

The Woodbury cosmetics tieup was invoked 

with 12 stores that handle the line through 

placement of standees containing a still of 

Hazel Brooks, cast title 

and dates. 

Filene's department store used a full page 

of advertising in local newspapers built 

around accessories and women's nightwear 

under the head, "Sleep, My Love." This store 

also used the Delta pearl tieup with a cut 

of Hazel Brooks appearing in a large newspaper 

ad with theatre mention. Additionally, 

a counter display was set up around the 

pearls with the theatre and picture getting 

credit. 

PAGE AD ON SLEEP FURNITURE 

The R. H. White department store came 

thi-ough with a page of advertising highlighting 

built household furnishings around 

Beauty parlors 

the "Sleep, My Love" theme. 

and florists were promoted for co-op ads and 

window displays to good advantage. 

Newspaper publicity was augmented through 

special fashion layouts which appeared on 

the women's pages. Bookmarks were distributed 

through the public library branches. 

Luggage and men's shops were contacted 

for merchandise tieups. Envelopes were distributed, 

with an imprint tying in the title, 

which contained "dream capsules." 

Disk jockeys helped to publicize the attraction 

through frequent use of the records. 

"My Buddy" and "Sleep, My Love," giving 

playdates in all instances. 

Promotes Full Page Ad 

For Reissue Showing 

"Wings of the Morning," a reissue, was 

the subject of a full page cooperative newspaper 

advertisement, promoted by D. V. 

Keeley, manager of the Orpheum Theatre in 

Sault Ste. Marie. Keeley got seven local 

merchants to sponsor the ad, reserving almost 

a quarter page of space for the theatre announcement 

of the picture with a banner 

head running across the top of the page.

) 

Banners measuring 70x15 ieef dressed up the Aldiue 

Theatre in Philadelphia to exploit "Unconquered." 

The signs have fluorescent cloth lettering which 

lacilitates reading at night. R. Bobbins is manager 

of the Aldine. 

ABOUT IT 

Right: Winter did come to Providence. Joe 

Samartano, manager of the State, lost no time 

letting local citizens find out that "If Winter 

Comes" had arrived. Snowbirds planted atop 

snow piles throughout the downtown area provided 

coincidental verification. 

*V-^ . ^' .-... *A ' 

Left: Window displays 

helped exploit 

"My Wild Irish Rose" 

at the Paramount in 

Kansas City for Manager 

M. D. Cohn. The 

background of still 

blowups in color were 

featured for the Dennis 

Day album of recordings 

by the Jenkins 

music shop. Most 

of the material originally 

was displayed 

in the lobby, then 

taken apart to augment 

the current campaign. 

40 —382— 

At left, an eye catching 

flash front, designed 

by Art Stanisch, 

manager of the 

Wisconsin in Milwaukee, 

f r 

o "Captain 

From Castile." Insets 

were set 

with copy 

against dramatic 

scene blowups from 

film. 

background 

colorful 

with 

the A 

large cutout title letters 

was used for the 

overhead banner. 

Andre Paleologue, manager of the Rialto 

in Alexandria, Egypt, used this 15-fool cutout 

of Joe Louis to exploit the recent championship 

fight films. 

BOXOFFICE Shovraiandiser :: Feb. 14, 1948

I 

Patrons, Sponsors, Utter Approval 

Of Dairy Maid Milking Contest 

A surefire promotion for theatres located 

in rural areas is the Queen of the Dairy 

Maids cow-milking contest such as was recently 

put on by Harold DeGraw, manager 

of the Oneonta in Oneonta, N. Y. DeGraw 

made a three-way tieup with the Sears, Roebuck 

farm store, the Meridale Farms and the 

Oneonta dairy, which succeeded in arousing 

people all over the county, with appropriate 

response at the boxoffice. 

The contest involved two eliminations and 

a grand final to select the queen, with cash 

and consolation prizes promoted from Sears 

for the winners and runnersup. Cooperating 

dairies provided five cows for the contest 

on the theatre stage. 

A modern touch was added to each of the 

eliminations by placing a Sears milking machine 

into competition with the contestants 

to provide a human hand vs. machine angle. 

The master of ceremonies and a hillbilly trio 

entertained each night. Officials of the dairy 

concerns, who are well known throughout 

the era, acted as judges. Contestants were 

allowed two minutes milking time and the 

results were appraised by the weight of the 

milk. 

Applications lor entry in the contest were 

made through the participating dairies and 

built up through theatre advertising and 

newspaper advertising paid for by the dairies. 

DeGraw got excellent newspaper coverage, 

not only locally but in towns located as far 

as 60 miles from Oneonta. Announcements 

of the contest were sent to 2.500 rural boxholders 

on the theatre's regular mailing list, 

and 75 window cards were spotted in strategic 

locations throughout two counties. 

A trailer and 25 three-sheet boards were 

utilized, and heralds distributed by the participating 

dairies to their consumers built up 

further interest. A total of 183 inches of free 

newspaper cooperative space plugged the 

event, all paid for by the sponsors. DeGraw 

contacted the Grange and 4-H clubs, made 

- Concert and Opera 

i; Habitues Reached 

^ 

The personal appearance of Frances Langford, 

Jon Hall, Robert Ryan and Gloria Grahame, 

distinguished the west coast premiere 

of "Night Song" at the RKO Golden Gate in 

San Francisco. 

The opening was sponsored by the San 

Francisco Call Bulletin and was presaged by 

ten days of advance pubhcity and art. 

As part of the buildup. Helen Wabbe, publicist 

for the Golden Gate, secured the cooperation 

of the opera and concert groups, 

using their endorsements and mailing lists 

to reach thousands of their members. 

An advance screening was arranged for 

music teachers of the city school system with 

stress placed on the appearance of Arthur 

Rubenstein of the New "STork Philharmonic 

orchestra. 

Decca record distributors set up more than 

100 windows featuring 22x28 cards tying in 

the recordings of Hoagy Carmichael with his 

appearance in the film production and theatre 

playdates. 

Gets Jingle in Papers 

Manager Matt L. Saunders of Loew's Poll 

in Bridgeport, Conn., planted a jingle contest 

in the Sunday Post in connection with "Sleep, 

My Love." It is the first time the paper has 

used a contest of this nature in years. 

Fill Mechanized 

ronight I've Been Chosen 

To Be Milked 

!!>• Senrs FARMERETTE MILKER 

JOIN THE FUN - ITS 2 FOR 1 

FROM THE FILES OF 

^^ Uleard ^^^qo^ 

T ON CHANEY says getting a laugh takes 

twice the time required to make an audience 

cry. According to his figures, every 

laugh he has gotten on the screen has taken 

twice the time in preparation and rehearsal 

that his best pathetic scenes have been given. 

Actors salaries are the biggest item of 

cost 

in the production of pictures, according to 

the Film Year Book for 1928. With the production 

dollar divided, actors receive 29 cents 

of it for salaries. The next largest item is 

for studio overhead, with a cost of 19 '^ cents. 

New sets cost 16 cents of the dollar: directors 

and cameramen, 13 cents; scenarios and 

stories, 11 cents; locations, 5 cents: new film, 

5 cents: costumes, l^j cents. 

In distribution branches, 40 cents of every 

dollar goes for negatives, 30 cents for distribution 

of film in America and foreign 

countries, 10 cents for positives, 5 cents for 

administration and taxes, and 15 cents for 

profits. 

Joe Brown, well-known Broadway stage 

comedian, is making his motion picture debut 

at the FBO Film Booking Office studios in 

Hollywood, playing the comedy relief in 

"Crooks Can't Win," a melodrama, glorify- 

Producers are making 

screen tests of New York girls in an effort 

to find another Joan Crawford, who reached 

popularity through the stage. Metro selected 

25 girls, took tests on 16 and selected three. 

Other studios are following the example. 

CLEflflinG HOUSE 

(Continued, from inside back cover) 

THEATRE SEATING (Cent.) 

1,200 theatre clialrs. % in., wood veneer witb 

leather Insert baclis. Good condition, $1.50 ea., 

f.o.b. Cleveland. Available February 1. For information 

call L. Kendis, 300 Film Bldg. Phone 

PRospect 0784. Oeveland. Ohio. 

Before buying artificial leather contact 

prices and samples. John P. Morgan Co., 

260 N. 13th St.. Philadelphia 7. Pa. 

Theatre seal 

8mm film. I,one Stm 

Dallas. Tex. 

Chairs reupholstered at your theatre without 

interrupting your program. All types and color 

material available. Factory trained workmen with 

twenty-five years experience guarantees all contracts. 

Albany Heatre Supply Co., 1046 Broadway. 

Albany. N. Y. 

Artificial leatherette, 50 in. wide, large color 

riuige, $1.25 per yd. Jack McGrath, 1046 Broadway. 

Albany. N. Y. 

Special. 500 chairs, full upholstered backs and 

spring cushion bottoms. Complete with chair 

covers, center and end standards. Excellent eondition. 

Just removed from Loew's Ohio Theatre 

in Cleveland. All or part, $4.25 ea. for quick sale. 

Worth much more. Immediate delivery. Also. 

2,000 chairs, % in. veneer backs with leatherette 

panel inserts and spring cushion bottoms, complete 

with center and end standards taken from 

Loew's Theatre. Canton. Ohio. These chairs are 

in first class condition. $4.50 ea., all or part. 

Also. 500 spring cushion bottoms only. Good 

condition. $1.25 ea. All prices F.O.B. Cleveland. 

Call or urite Universal Theatre Equipment Co., 

1878 E. 18th St. Phones: Superior 3912 or 

FAirmount 4958. Cleveland. Ohio. 

...has that rich 

golden color that 

makes 'em buy! 

For those states where colored oil 

is not sold — vse Simko brand. 

By the m-tkers of POPSIT PIUS! 

HEARING IS 

BELIEVING! 

tiS 

Simonin of Philadelphia 

Attractively Printed 

POPCORN BOXES 

10c size $ 6.50M 

25c size $15.75M 

• 

Immediate Delivery 

Fabian Kontney 

609 N. Ashland Green Bay, Wis. 

(LsTlWdfeKî^ 

THEATRE SPEAKER 

SYSTEM 

Here's the theatre loudspeaker system -gpu 

have been vâiting for. New for 1948 

compact, powerful, with brilliant reproduction 

of voice and music. Designed to mee 

the exacting requirements demanded fo 

sound on film reproduction in your theatre 

and especially designed to fit your presen 

sound equipment regardless of make 

Immediate delivery can be had on these 

new low cost two-way loudspeaker systems. 

Literature sent upon request. Inquiries 

from Dealers and Sound Men 

invited. 

COLORTONE CO. 

SOUTH BEND INDIANA

Windsor in Baltimore 

Sues for $600,000 

WASHINGTON—Six major distributing 

companies and two Baltimore theatres were 

handed an antitrust suit F*riday (13 1 asking 

$600,000 in damages by tlie Windsor Tlieatre 

Co.. Baltimore, which charges conspiracy to 

restrain and injure its trade. The suit was 

filed in the district court for the District 

of Columbia. 

The document accuses the Walbrook and 

Hilton theatre companies and their president, 

Thomas D. Goldberg. Baltimore, of 

blocking the Windsor's membership in the 

Theatre Owners Ass'n, an act which prevented 

the Windsor from obtaining daily 

publicity in the Baltimore News-Post. 

In the action the complaint alleges the 

theatres had the cooperation of Loew's, Inc.. 

Paramount Pictures. Inc., 20th Century-Fox, 

United Artists, Universal Film Exchanges 

and Warner Bros. Pictures. In 1941 when 

the Windsor was under construction, the 

complaint continues, Goldberg converted a 

garage next to the Windsor into a theatre, 

named it the Hilton and with the cooperation 

of the other defendants obtained control 

of "practically all the first-class motion 

picture feature productions" for the 

purpose of "fighting" the new theatre. 

The 24-page bill of complaint lists other 

"unfair trade practices" including the recently 

instituted competitive bidding, which 

it says has worked to the Windsor's disadvantage. 

The document asks that the Windsor be 

allowed to get films on the same basis as 

the other theatres and that for the next 

four years it shall receive "no less than 

one-half" the total feature productions released 

by the eight major distributors in 

the 

area. The attorneys are Harold I. Schilz, 

Washington, and Bernard I. Rosen, Baltimore. 

Kusell Makes 5 Changes 

In SRO Sales Personnel 

NEW YORK—Milton S. Kusell, SRO vicepresident 

in charge of domestic and Canadian 

sales, has made five changes in the company's 

sales personnel throughout the country. 

Herbert A. Kaufman has been named district 

manager for all western division sales 

offices. Fred Gulbransen has replaced H. H. 

Hunsaker as sales representative in the San 

Francisco branch. Max A. Hadfield has replaced 

James L. Walsh jr. as sales representative 

in the Seattle branch. Irving Mills 

has replaced Casper Chouinard as Minneapolis 

sales representative. John N. Mc- 

Keehan has replaced Floyd J. Henninger as 

booker in Seattle. 

Jersey City Booth Fire 

JERSEY CITY. N. J.—Nearly 500 children 

attending an afternoon show at the Plaza 

Showhouse in Secaucus were led to safety 

in good order when fire broke out in the 

projection room. The blaze was brought 

quickly under control. Patrolman August 

Woeckner of the police department, who was 

attending the show, helped Manager Angelo 

Bauinco and patrolmen who arrived on the 

scene later to evacuate the place. All of the 

children were given rain checks. 

William Heineman Holds 

EL Two-Day Sales Meet 

NEW YORK—William J. Heineman, recently 

appointed vice-president in charge of 

distribution for Eagle Lion, presided at his 

first sales meeting since taking the position, 

starting Saturday (14 1 at the Hotel Warwick. 

The meeting continued through February 

15. 

In addition to Heineman, Arthur B. Krim, 

president; Bryan Foy, vice-president in 

charge of production, and Max E. Youngstein, 

director of advertising, publicity and 

exploitation, addressed the meeting. They 

discussed sales policies, outlined current and 

forthcoming releases and revealed plans for 

an increase in promotion budgets in line 

with the company's point-of-sale promotion 

pohcy. 

Others who attended the two-day meeting, 

Al Suchman. eastern sales manager: 

Herman Beiersdorf. western sales manager; 

Jerry Pickman, assistant to Youngstein; 

Frank Soule, in charge of branch operations; 

Manny Goodman, manager, playdate department; 

Joe Sugar, manager, contract department; 

Del Goodman, west coast division 

manager; Al Herman, Tom Donaldson, 

Grover Parsons, Edward Heiber, Beverly 

Miller, Clair Hilgers, Joe Minsky, Seymour 

Schussel, William Peld. Sam Milner and 

William Shartin, district managers; Hal 

Danson, advertising manager; Leo Brody, 

publicity manager; Arthur Jeffrey, exploitation 

manager; Patrice Snyder, radio manager, 

and Lige Brien, assistant to Jeffrey. 

Leon Bamberger Is Named 

To MP Associates Group 

NEW YORK—Leon J. Bamberger, RKO 

sales promotion manager, has been named 

chairman of the new public relations committee 

of the Motion Picture Associates, 

the purpose of which is to acquaint the industry 

with the purposes and current projects 

of the organization. 

William Omstein of MGM and Myron 

Siegel of Century circuit will serve on the 

committee with Bamberger. 

Take Toplines 

Toplines in Warners' "One Last Fling" have 

been given Alexis Smith. Zachary Scott and 

Alan Hale. Peter Godfrey will direct. 

111 

Taxes, Bingo, 16mm 

Worry N.J. Allied 

NEW YORK—Taxes, bingo and 16mm competition 

will receive the special attention of 

committees now being organized by the Allied 

Theatre Owners of New Jersey. Plans 

to protect exhibitor interests affected by 

taxes, bingo and 16rrun competition were discussed 

at the last meeting of the New Jersey 

unit held in Trenton February 9. 

The immediate tax threats come from 

two sources—the first, a proposal made by 

Governor Driscoll asking the legLslature to 

impose a 1V4 per cent statewide tax on gross 

sales receipts; and the second, a proposal 

made by the Newark tax board to impose a 

sliding scale admissions tax on theatres. 

As for 16mm competition, a local 

committee 

is being organized in Trenton to fig'ht 

the threat posed by screenings held in one 

of the 12 stores operated by Russell's Self- 

Service Markets. These shows are held Thursdays 

5-8 p. m.. Fridays 6-9 p. m., and Saturdays 

9 a. m. to 4 p m. They are free. The 

programs consist of shorts. Sound equipment 

and films are supplied by a local dealer. 

The committee will try to find out whether 

this type of operation violates any local ordinances 

covering fire hazards, public performances, 

health, housing, etc. 

Legalized bingo for churches, veterans organizations, 

charity groups and educational 

societies has been proposed for Jersey City. 

This will also be fought on a local basis by 

the Allied unit. 

Newark's Laffmovie 

Has Good Patronage 

NEWARK — The Laffmovie, whose opening 

on Christmas day was heralded In extensive 

advertising, has been enjoying excellent 

patronage. Mac Herbert, manager, attributes 

the success to the showmanship of 

Moe Goldman, co-owner, who expended more 

than a thousand dollars the first week In 

advertising. 

Clowns paraded the streets here, 

billboards were used, display ads were carried 

in 12 suburban papers and spots were 

sent out on the radio stations five times 

daily.

. . The 

Along New York's Film Row 

By WALTER WALDMAN 

SERVICE, Inc., 

M^fARKUS-BIRMAN which 

had been the leading employment agency 

in this city for theatre help for 18 years, is 

out of business. Gilbert Josephson, owner of 

the New Europe Theatre on First avenue and 

79th street, who operated the agency during 

the past year, decided to call it quits after 

Loft Candy Corp. bought the building, 251 

West 42nd St., housing the agency, for its 

own use . . . The shortage of office space 

being what it is Josephson did not want to 

bother looking for new quarters Carrie 

. . . 

Heins. who had been with Markus-Birman 

for most of its 18 years, is now with the 

Times Square Agency where she will continue 

to handle theatre help. 

Abe Leff of the Five Boro Theatre circuit 

recently became a father-in-law when his 

daughter Pearl married Irwin Levinson at 

the Hotel Pierre . . . Len Gruenberg, RKO 

district manager, is nursing a broken ankle. 

He broke it skiing at Fred Schwartz's Lake 

Placid home last weekend . . . While Len is 

in a cast, Phil Hodes, branch manager, will 

be taking over his duties ... Ed Carroll, 

former RKO slesman, visited the exchange 

during the week ... Ed is said to be busy 

with stockmarket transactions. 

George Reisner of the York Theatre, Manhattan, 

is in the Jewish Memorial hospital 

with a bad case of sciatica . . . Miami Beach 

tans will be displayed by the following exhibitors: 

Jack Fine of the Palace, Jersey 

City; Mrs. Fay Save of the Rivoli, Hoboken; 

Stuart Kaye of the Ritz, Bronx; Jack Ginsberg 

of the American, Brooklyn; Tom Alfierl 

of the Community, Milbrook, N. Y.; 

Irving Sherman of the Central, Pearl River, 

and Sidney Cohen of the Rhinehook Theatres 

. . . New customers of the Liggett- 

Stieffel Booking Agency include: Moe Goldman 

who operates the Studio, New Delancey, 

and Metropolitan, New York, and the Laff- 

Movie, Newark . . . Also, Leonard Finkelstein 

of the Grande Theatre, New York. 

Ed Lachman, president of the Allied Theatre 

Owners of New Jersey, has been showing 

the town to Ben Banowitz, Illinois exhibitor 

and member of the state Allied unit. 

Lachman. who has been quite concerned with 

16mm competition, legalized bingo and new 

tax proposals is now shaking his head over 

the large-screen television equipment being 

advertised by a New York department store 

He regards It as serious boxofflce competition 

because it will permit large numbers 

of potential filmgoers to get their evening's 

entertainment outside the theatre. 

Experienced Builders of Aufo 

OUTDOOR THEATRES 

• Can Be Ready lor Season Ahead • 

MOSE SMITH 

Union Trust BIdg. Pittsburgh 22, Pa. 

THE IDEAL THEATRE CHAIRS 

JOE HORNSTEiN has them 

Bernard Brooks, formerly manager of 

Brandt's Gotham Theatre, has been appointed 

manager of the foreign-language Elysee 

Theatre, which opened February 12 with 

"Fanny." The theatre is being operated by 

Siritzky International Pictures Corp . . 

Two 

. 

theatres were forced to close because of the 

oil shortage. They were the Hudson Playhouse 

operated by Morris Kraven and the 

Venice Theatre operated by Tony Lee. Both 

houses are located on the lower east side of 

Manhattan Venice was closed for 

. 

several days and was able to reopen after 

a gas connection was set up, providing a new 

source of heat . . . Theatres elsewhere in 

New York were able to get along on existing 

fuel supplies. 

Visitors: 

Charles Smakwitz, Warner representative 

in Albany, dropped in at the New 

York exchange . . . 'William Gleicher of 

MGM sales staff has left for Hollywood . . . 

Max Weinberg of the MGM short subjects 

department spent a day in Washington . . . 

Walter Reade jr. is scheduled to leave soon 

for his annual California vacation . . . Lou 

Cohen, manager of Loew's Poll, Hartford, 

visiting his New York fellow workers . . . 

Bert Sanford of Altec sales department, back 

from a quick trip to Cleveland. 

Ten New York First Runs 

Show French Pictures 

NEW YORK—Ten theatres in New York 

with a total seating capacity of over 7,000 

are showing first run French films, according 

to Leon Siritzky, president of Siritzky 

International Pictures. 

Siritzky International owns and operates 

the Ambassador, the Elysee, wliloh opened 

with "Fanny" February 12, and the Golden. 

The others are the Art, the Rialto, the Sutton, 

the 55th Street, the Fifth Avenue and 

the Stanley, all in Manhattan, and the Majestic 

in Brooklyn. 

UN Officials, Press See 

To Ends of the Earth' 

NEW YORK—Officials of the UN delegates 

and members of the U.S. and international 

press attended a .screening of "To the Ends 

of the Earth" fCol) in the council chamber 

at Lake Success, Tuesday (February 10>. The 

screening was sponsored by Secretary General 

Trygve Lie and the economic and social 

councils of the UN. 

The picture deals with the capture of .a 

narcotics smuggling ring and ties in with 

the international antinarcotics code adopted 

by the UN. The picture has been endorsed 

by the U.S. TreEisury department. 

Irving Shlffrin Resigns 

NEW YORK—Irving Shiffrin, RKO eastern 

publicity department general and fan magazine 

contact representative, has resigned to 

undertake a new venture in the industry 

which will be announced shortly. 

Shiffrin joined RKO publicity department 

1.5 years ago, as assistant to Sam Warshawsky, 

the general press representative, and later assumed 

the same post under Rutgers Neilson. 

UA's 'Miracle' Tops 

Broadway Lineup 

NEW YORK—Light snow foUowed by 

freezing temperatures for most of the week 

made a dent in the grosses at many of the 

Broadway first run spots. The star-studded 

"A Miracle Can Happen" had a strong opening 

week at the Warner while "Treasure of 

Sierra Madre," in its third week at the 

Strand, and "Puria," in its third week at the 

Rialto, also held up remarkably well. 

"Gentleman's Agreement," in its 

13bh week 

at the Mayfair, "The Bishop's Wife," in its 

ninth week at the Astor, and "The Paradine 

Case," in its fifth week at the Radio City 

Music Hall, were slightly above average, but 

several of the others, including "If Winter 

Comes," "The Fugitive" and "Captain From 

Castile," slumped badly as they approached 

the end of their runs. New pictures that 

opened during the week were: "To the Endi 

of the Earth" at the Rivoli, "Three Daring 

Daughters" at the Capitol and "Killer Mc- 

Coy," one of the rare first runs at Loew's 

State. 

(Average is 100) 

Astor—The Bishop's Wife (RKO), 9th wk 105 

Capitol— II Winter Comes (MGM), plus stage 

sliow, 3rd wk -- 75 

Criterion—T-Men (EL), 3rd wk 100 

Globe^Body and Soul (UA), 14th wk 92 

Mayfair—Gentlemon's Agreement (20th-Fox), 

Palace—Night Song (RK6)7 2nd wi: . ,. 80 

Paramount— I Walk Alone (Para), plus stage 

show, 3rd wk 8b 

Park Avenue—Holiday Camp (U-I), 3rd wk.. BO 

Radio City Music Hal!—The Paradine Case 

(SRO), plus stage show, 5th wk 05 

Rialtc^Furia (FC), 3rd wk 125 

Rivoli—Captain From Castile (20th-rox), 7th 70 wk 

Roxy—You Were Meant for Me (20th-Fox), 

plus stage show, 2nd wk 95 

of Strand-Treasure Sierra Madre (WB), plus 

stage show, 3rd wk H3 

Fugitive Victoria—The (RKO), 55 

wk 7th 

Warner—A Miracle Can Happen (UA) 120 

Winter Garden—A Woman's Vengeance (U-I), 

2nd wk '5 

Near-Blizzard Blues Holds 

Philadelphia Figures Down 

PHILADELPHIA — Returns this week 

showed the results of a number of holdovers 

and another bout of near-blizzard blues. 

"Cass Timberlane" led the parade, with newcomers 

"Relentless" and "Prince of Thieves" 

causing little excitement. 

Earle—I Walk Alone (Para), 4th w 

Erlanger—Cass Timberlane (MGM), 

2nd 

set 

-You Were Meant lor Me (20th-fo 

Goldman—Tycoon (RKO), 3rd wk sp 

Karlton—Prince of Thieves (Col) 75 

Keith—Always Together (WB) 95 

Mastbaum—Treasure ol Sierra Madre (WB), 

3rḏ 

The Outlaw (UA), 2nd run 

.110 

Stanley—Relenllers (Col) 

Stanton—Out of the Past (RKO) 

Cold Freezes Buffalo Turnstiles; 

'Intrigue' and 'Fugitive' Are Best 

BUFFALO—Business leveled off here in 

the prolonged cold wave. Temperatures have 

been below normal since early January and 

fuel shortages are pronounced. "Intrigue" 

was good at the Buffalo and "The Fugitive" f 

was tops at the Century. 

Together (WB) 

Hippodrome— I Walk Alone (F-. ^ Fabulous 

Joe (UA), 2nd d t a k 

Lafayette—To the Ends oi the Earth (Coli 

Glamour Girl (Co ) ''i.J wk 

Teck—Treasure of Sierra Madre (WB) 

2nd d. t. wk. .. 

20th Century—The Fugitive (RKO) Louisiana 

(Mono) 


she keeps the romance running smoothly 

THE spell of this picture's song and 

story might suddenly be broken . . . but 

for film row's "first lady," the exchange 

inspectress. 

With unrelenting vigilance, she has 

inspected every inch of film before each 

booking . . . checked it for worn perforations, 

torn splices, and other signs of 

wear and tear that might hinder smooth 

projection and mar the enchantment of 

the show. By this painstaking care of 

film and unceasing eflfort to keep each 

reel running smoothly, the inspectress 

has earned a place of importance 

behind the scenes of motion picture 

distribution. 

And her work is all the more easily 

done for the quality and reliability she 

finds in the release prints made on 

Eastman film. 

EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY 

ROCHESTER 4, N. Y. 

J. E. BRULATOUR, INC., DISTRIBUTORS 

FORT LEE . CHICAGO • HOLLYWOOD 

BOXOFnCE : 

: February 14, 1948 45

Nearly Half of Theatres in Albany 

Are Situated in Small Towns 

ALBANY—Nearly half, or 106, of the 232 

theatres in the Albany exchange area are located 

in 105 towTi with a population of 2,500 

and under. According to the MPAA theatre 

survey, these 106 theatres have an average 

seating capacity of 332. This director}' is the 

26th in the series of 31 issued by the MPAA. 

Number 

Seating 

Ccfpacity 

The four largest cities in the area—Albany, 

Utica, Schenectady and Troy—contain 45 

theatres with a total seating capacity of 

51,830. In Albany and Utica the average 

number of seats per theatre is 1,254. In 

Schenectady and Troy the average is 1,045. 

The summary: 

Number 

Totals _ 242 

Seating capacity ol theatres now in operation, according to population groupings*; 

Population 

Towns with 

Theatres 

250,000-100,001 - 2 (Albany, Utica) 

100,000- 50,001 2 (Schenectady, Troy) 

50.000- 25,001 3 

25,000- 10,001 „ 14 

10,000- 5,001 10 

5,000- 2.501 26 

2,500 and under 105 

theatr( 

Albany Variety to Raise 

Funds for Hospital Wing 

ALBANY—The Variety 

Club has named a 

committee to solicit contributions for the 

Sisters of Mercy, who are seeking to raise 

$1,000,000 for the erection of a 150-bed wing 

on St. Peter's hospital. Variety undertook 

the venture at the request of Edward N. 

Scheiberling, an honorary member of the 

club, who is chairman for the citywide campaign. 

The Variety committee consists of 

Charles A. Smakwitz, chairman, and C. J. 

Latta, Saul J. Ullman, Dan Houlihan and 

Arthur Newman. No specific goal was fixed 

for the industry. According to Smakwitz, 

Albany is short 600 hospital beds and the 

Variety Club is glad to assist. Construction 

of the hospital wing is scheduled to start 

May 1. 

Albany Service Employes 

Abandon lATSE Union 

ALBANY—The second attempt in recent 

years to unionize service employes of Albany 

moving picture theatres has ended in failure. 

A union formed last spring to operate 

on a charter obtained through the projectionists 

lATSE local has been dissolved and 

Gulislan Wilton Theatre Carpet 

JOE HORNSTEIN has it! 

No. of Theatre 

Operating 

23 

Number of 

Seats 

28,E39 

22,991 

11,846 

25,983 

10,118 

17,494 

Seating 

Capacity 

116 103,576 

126 53,046 

money paid in dues, minus expenses, has been 

returned to individual members. Dues had 

been paid for six months by about 100 cashiers, 

doormen, ushers, matrons and cleaning 

women. Leaders gave two reasons for 

abandonment: alleged "failure of the boothmen 

to back us up" and "apathy of mem- 

The union had four conferences with 

bers." 

circuit officials but "got nowhere," it was 

Leaders spoke of reorganizing later under 

said. 

the banner of the 

CIO. 

Hellman Houses Intervene 

In Albany Clearance Suit 

ALBANY—Notices of intervention were 

filed by four theatre companies in the arbitration 

case in w-hich the Capital City Amusement 

Co., acting for the Eagle Theatre here, 

seeks relief from alleged unreasonable clearance. 

The suit was filed against Paramount 

Pictures and involves clearance granted to 

the Delaware Theatre, operated by Warner 

Bros., and the Colonial, operated by Freedman 

& Orson. 

Papers were recorded with Gordon Stedman, 

clerk of the American Arbitration Ass'n 

and regional manager, by the Stanley-Mark- 

Strand Theatre Corp., acting for the Delaware; 

Colonial Enterprises, Inc., acting for 

the Colonial; the Albany Royal Theatre 

Corp., acting for the Royal, and the Patroon 

Theatre Corp., acting for the Paramount. 

The latter two filed because their properties 

might be affected by the AAA decision. 

The Royal and Paramount, operated Jry 

the Hellman interests, and the Eagle are 

all last run houses. Leonard L. Rosenthal 

is attorney for the Eagle. 

12 to Take New York Exam 

For Motion Picture Post 

ALBANY—Twelve persons will take the 

civil service examination, probably in April, 

for the job of director of the motion picture 

division, state education department. The director 

is, in effect, the state censor. All applicants 

are state employes. 

Fight Looms on Tax 

Planned by Newark 

NEWARK—The city commissioners are 

considering a sliding scale admissions tax 

and exhibitor groups are preparing to challenge 

the proposal on the grounds that it 

has not been sanctioned by the state legislature. 

Ordinarily, admission and sales taxes are 

imposed only after the lîslature specifically 

grants local permission to pass suoh taxes, 

and then only after a referendum. 

No such permission has been granted Newark. 

Atlantic City, however, and other fourth 

class coastal cities received such permission 

last year. But only Atlantic City has used 

that power. 

The Newark tax board hopes to impose 

an admission tax by city ordinance. The 

TOA of New Jersey and the Federation of 

New Jersey Theatre owners have held membership 

meetings to discuss the proposal and 

have appointed committees to confer with 

city officials. 

The ordinance, approved by Mayor Murphy, 

will open the way for extensive revision of 

all license fees on local amusement places, 

which have remained unchanged since the 

license biu-eau was established over 25 years 

ago. Under the proposed revision theatres 

would become the largest contributoj-s to a 

new revenue-producing fund, which would 

net Newark $1,500,000 annually. 

A six-month study is contemplated to determine 

the method of levying the fees. In 

a survey being conducted by the tax board 

it is estimated that the city's motion picture 

houses seat approximately 68,000 persons. The 

board is trying to find out how many persons 

attend daily. 

Three methods for fixing additional charges 

on amusement tickets are under way: Percentage 

of gross receipts; an additional 

charge on each ticket, and a graded fee depending 

on the amount of the ticket. 

The tax would range from two cents on 

admissions of 25 cents or less to ten cents 

on admissions over $1. 

PHILADELPHIA 

Qperators of theatres, night clubs, and other 

places of amusement were warned Monday 

by Brig. Gen. Brenton G. Wallace, state 

fuel coordinator, that they either must cut 

down on the use of fuel oil or face a government 

crackdown because of a serious fuel 

shortage. He said the government action 

might be necessary in order to save fuel to 

heat homes, hospitals and industrial establishments. 

Lee Fulirman, former BOXOFFICE correspondent 

in Atlanta, who was associated 

for some time here with Adelphia Associates, 

has left Adelphia to return to the southern 

city . . . Safety patrol boys and girls from 

up-county public and parochial schools were 

guests last week at theatre parties held at 

the Tower, Upper Darby, and Stanley in 

Chester. More than 1,000 youngsters attended 

each party. 

Tlie Norristown city council passed their 

amusement tax measure on the third and 

final reading last week. The 10 per cent tax 

on all forms of amusement will become effective 

March 5. It is expected to raise $40,000 

in revenue during the remainder of 1948. 

BOXOFTICE :: February 14, 1948

. . . John 

. . Frank 

. . David 

. . 

Harris Group Alter 

Film Center Bldg. 

NEW YORK—Joseph Harris, chaii-man of 

the board of Realai-t Pictures and treasurer 

of U. S. PUm Export Corp. and Magnus 

panies since December 1928, and now includes 

among its tenants Loew's, RKO, UA, 

Universal, NSS, Columbia, Republic. Monogram 

and Joe Hornstein. 

Floyd Fitzsimmons Talks 

To Amsterdam Kiwanians 

AMSTERDAM, N. Y.—Floyd Fitzsimmons, 

Metro exploiteer for the Albany and Buffalo 

territories, spoke Thursday before the Amsterdam 

Kiwanis club on "Movies Are More 

Than Hollywood." Bob Baranoff, manager 

of the Rialto, arranged Fitzsimmon's appearance. 

The Metro representative stressed the 

"vitally significant but little-publicized phase 

of the motion picture industry, exhibition." 

More than two billion of a two and threequarter 

billion dollar film investment is represented 

by theatres, Fitzsimmons said. He 

cited figures to show that 65 cents of every 

dollar received at the boxoffice goes right 

back into local channels. Ninety-three per 

cent of motion picture advertising, Fitzsimmons 

said, is in newspapers; much of it in 

small towns. 

He also underlined the employment given 

directly and indirectly by motion picture 

houses and called attention to the entertainment 

and cultural contributions of motion 

pictures. 

Court Reserves Decision 

On Brandt-Para. Motion 

NEW YORK—The New York supreme court 

has reserved decision on the motion by 

Harry Brandt and other defendants in Paramount's 

percentage fraud action to have various 

improperly alleged statements stricken 

out of the complaint. In a hearing before 

Justice Samuel Null February 9, Louis Nizer. 

representing Paramount, denied all statements 

in Brandt's recent affidavit that there 

was any ulterior motive in the making of 

these allegations. 

Nizer claimed that the charges against 

Brandt were based strictly on "statements 

of fact" and that his sole motive was to 

properly plead Paramount's cause of action 

against the defendants. In answer to a complaint 

by Milton C. Weisman, counsel for 

Brandt, about the background of the dispute, 

Judge Null commented that the court "is not 

interested in the background of the dispute, 

as there is a charge of fraud and the complaint 

is to be judged as it stands." 

BOXOFHCE : : February 14, 1948 

BROA D W A Y 

J^rthur G. Krim, president of Eagle Lion, is 

in New York for conferences with William 

J. Heineman, newly-appointed vice-president 

in charge of distribution, and Max E. Youngstein, 

director of advertising, publicity and 

exploitation. Biyan Foy, vice-president in 

charge of production, will arrive next week 

to join the conferences . 

C. Hensler. 

field assistant to John J. Maloney, MGM central 

sales manager, has an-ived from Detroit 

to spend a month at the home office. Herman 

Ripps, field assistant to Jolin P. Byrne, 

MGM eastern sales manager, has returned 

to Albany after spending several weeks at 

Films, is head of a syndicate negotiating- for 

the purchase of the Film Center Bldg. on 

Ninth avenue and 44th street. 

The Harris group wants the building both 

for investment pui-poses and as a headquarters 

for its film enterprises. These also include 

the recently-organized Hollywood International 

Production Corp. which is headed 

by Jacques Grinieff. Realart, U. S. Film and 

Magnus FUm are now located at 2 Park the home office. 

avenue, Hollywood International is at 729 

Seventh avenue. 

• Archer Winsten, first-string reviewer for 

The Film Center Bldg. has been housing the New York Post, has left for a six-week 

distribution, exchange and equipment com- 

cruise to Venzuela to gather material for a 

series of four industrial dociunentai-y films. 

Richard Watts jr., the Post di-ama critic; 

John Briggs, the music critic, and Vernon 

Rice, drama editor, will fill in for Winsten 

during his leave-of-absence 

Kopfstein. executive vice-president of Astor 

Pictures Corp. is on a southern trip which 

will take him to Atlanta. Dallas, Memphis. 

New Orleans and Houston. Before returning 

to New York in March, he will join Mrs. 

Kopfstein in Miami where they will celebrate 

their 30th wedding anniversary. 

Bert Sanford, Altec Lansing theatrical sales 

manager, has returned to New York from 

Cleveland, where he acted as toastmaster at 

the annual Shea Theatrical Enterprises managers' 

meeting. 

William F. Rodgers, MGM vice-president 

and general sales manager, has returned to 

the home office from a vacation in Miami 

W. Whitaker, RKO vice-president; 

Paul Hollister, national publicity director; S. 

Barret McCormick, national advertising director, 

and Ten-y Turner, national exploitation 

director, were aU Hollywood-bound from 

the home office this week . O. Selznick 

and Ernest L. Scanlon. executive vicepresident 

and treasurer of Vanguard Films, 

Inc.. and member of the board of the Selznick 

Releasing Oiganization, arrived in New 

York for a series of conferences with SRO 

executives. 

Roy Haines, Warner Bros, western division 

sales manager, will return to the 

home office February 16 following a trip to 

Chicago. Kansas City and Denver . . . Harry 

Rosenquest, Warner Bros, home office theatre 

department executive, also returned 

from a trip to Chicago and Milwaukee . 

Charles Smakwitz, Warner Bros, theatre ad 

and publicity man in the Albany zone, was 

in New York dm-ing the week conferring 

with home office executives . . . Herb Cope- 

Ian, in charge of Warner Bros. South American 

theatres, is in New York from Havana 

while Joseph S. Hummel, Warners' continental 

European manager, has arrived from 

Paris for a three-week stay. 

Edwin L. Knopf, MGM producer, and 

George Cukor, director, have arrived from 

Hollywood and will sail on the Queen Mary 

February 19 for London with plans to return 

here March 10 . . . Mitchell Rawson 

of MGM's publicity department and William 

Schneider of Donahue & Coe, have returned 

from the coast where they conferred with 

studio executives . . . Fred Zinneman, director 

of MGM's "The Search," has planed 

in from the coast and will remain here until 

after the film's premiere in March. 

William Wyler. Paramount producer-director, 

and his a.ssistant, Lester Koenig, have 

left for Hollywood after a three-week visit 

to see the Broadway 

RKO Theatres' 

shows . . . Louis Joffe, 

and his 

legal department, 

Foldes of the RKO wife, Peggy Theatres' 

publicity department, have left for Los Angeles 

and will visit LaQuinta before return- 

ing east . . Alan E. Freedman, president 

of De Luxe Laboratories, has Inc., been 

elected commodore of the Knickerbocker 

Yacht club of Port Washington, L. I. 

Jack Levien, news editor of Warner Pathe 

News, will be one of three judges to select 

the best newspaper picture of the year at 

the annual Pi-ess Photographers Ass'n contest 

which will be held at the Hotel Astor 

February 29 . . . E. K. O'Shea III, son of 

E. K. O'Shea II and the first grandson of 

E. K. "Ted" O'Shea, sales executive of Paramount, 

was born February 6. 

Italian Theatre Issues 

Program-Magazine 

NEW YORK—The Italian-language 

theatre. 

Cinema Dante, has come out with a 

monthly magazine which will function as a 

program guide for the theatre and as a promotion 

piece for Italian films and Italy. The 

title is Dante Theatre Magazine. 

The February issue—the first—includes an 

editorial asking for closer ties between the 

U.S. and Italy. It also contains synopses 

of cui-rent and coming attractions. In addition 

there is a summary of Italian economic 

affairs and international trade, plus reviews 

of Italian books. 

Sigmund Gottlober, executive secretary of 

the foreign language press film critics circle, 

is the publisher, and Henry Fischback is the 

editor. 

Sponsored Shows Assure 

'Great Expectations' Profit 

ALBANY—The Schine circuit is obtaining 

excellent results with the English picture, 

"Great Expectations," by booking it in situations 

where some chm-ch, school or other 

organization will sponsor the rim. The organization 

works on ticket sales, in return 

for a percentage. The deal is a cushion for 

the theatre. It has been working well in 

northern New York towns. 

In Role in 'The Moon' 

Walter Brennan has been cast in a supporting 

role in RKO's "Blood on the Moon." 

"Voice of Theatre Speakers" 

JOE HORNSTEIN has them! 

|ST 

CLASS DISTRIBUTION FOB 

THE ENTIRE SOUTH — thru 

J (JOHN) Q T5

. . Arlene 

. . Manager 

. . New 

. . Thea 

WASHINGTON 

•Phe Variety Club will observe Brotherhood 

week February 25 at the Statler hotel. 

Drew Pearson will be guest of honor and 

Louis Novins, assistant to Barney Balaban, 

win be the speaker. 

Charles Hurley, RKO salesman, is up and 

around again after his recent operation. He 

is not well enough to go on the road as yet, 

but well enough to greet his exhibitor friends 

George Nathan is the 

in the 

new manager at National Screen Service, 

being promoted from salesman when Arthur 

Jacobson resigned Sympathy to the 

family of James T. Powell, Chincoteague, Va., 

who died February 3. 

Mr. and Mrs. Jack Fnichtman went to 

New York to attend the wedding of their 

niece, Irene Fruchtman . 

Jack 

Safer went to Charlottesville, Roanoke and 

Charlotte. 

Executives of Local F13 are making arrangements 

for two mobile units to visit 

Filmrow in March to take chest X-rays. 

Anyone interested should contact his office 

manager . . . Sam Mellits, Denton, Md., 

exhibitor, returned from his Florida vacation 

. . . The Star, South Hill, Va., will open 

February 16, says owner Chris Geohegan. 

fifth time, has gone to California to visit 

daughter Helen, who expects a visit from 

the stork soon . . . Uncle Leonard Gordon 

came in to buy and book for his Palace, 

Wythe and Stuart theatres. 

At Paramount, shipper James Burns suffered 

a broken toe when a film case fell 

on his foot . . . Lillian Lee is thrilled with 

her new apartment in the Lindberg, just 

two blocks from the office . . . Hazel Strawderman 

became Mrs. Jerry Jarosik and is 

honeymooning in St. Louis. Chief accountant 

Ida Green represented Paramount at 

the wedding . Mancini is the 

mother of a baby daughter . salesman 

George Kelly had his car wrecked when 

a school bus ran into it. Fortunately, no 

one was hurt. 

Glenn Norris, 20th-Fox district manager. 

NEW MIRROPHONIC SOUND 

JOE HORNSTEIN, Inc. 

G30 Ninth Av New York Cily 

visited his Philadelphia office Tuesday . . . 

Sjonpathy to Mr. and Mrs. Sam Epstem, 

Screen Guild, in the death of Mr. Epstein's 

mother last Sunday . . . Mike Leventhal is 

readying himself for the Allied meeting to 

be held next week at the Statler . . . 

The 

severe cold weather we are having is hurting 

Mrs. Margaret Holz, wife of Emil Holz, 

Loew's Columbia projectionist, died in her 

sleep Sunday night. Death was due to a 

cerebral hemorrhage ... Joe Breeheen. RKO 

manager, went to Gloversville. N. Y., last 

week to confer with Schine circuit executives 

. . . Reminder to Variety Club ladies: 

Every Wednesday wUl be ladies' day at the, 

club, with the first Wednesday of the month 

resei-ved for bingo and the remaining Wednesdays 

to cards. Ltmcheon will be served at 

12:30. Reservations can be made thi-ough 

Mary Nathan or Ann Bord. 

Al Benson and Glenn Norris were in charge 

of arrangements for the Valentine day party 

held in the clubrooms Satui'day to an overflowing 

crowd. John Broumas was in charge 

of the entertainment. The party replaced the 

annual Valentine day luncheon, which had 

been held since the inception of Variety. 

Many valuable door prizes were distributed 

and guests enjoyed dancing to the tune of 

Morgan Baer's music. 

News of the Warner club bowling league: 

The Sheridan team took one from the Savoy, 

but the Savoy bounced back in the second. 

The Ambassador divided a pair with the 

Pemi. The Metropolitan split with the Calvert. 

The Kennedy joined the Ambassador 

and Metropolitan in vying for second place 

by twice whipping the Tivoli. In a crucial 

battle for both teams, the York broke even 

with the Avenue Grand. The Takoma, by 

walking over the Beverly twice, started back 

up in the pin parade. Earl Yates checked 

back afer a month's absence from the Local 

Office team and guided the team to a double 

win over the Silver. Still short two men,"T>he 

Warner managed to take one from the Central. 

Winslow had two 106 games for the Seco 

and Dronenburg had a 106 for the Apollo- 

Home. Each team took one. The Colony split 

with Uptown. 

Max Stepkin, formerly with Kay Film Co., 

is now connected with Theatre Consultants, 

Inc., and the McCarthy Decorating Co. . . . 

Paramount tradescreened four features this 

week, "Caged Pui-j'" and "Mr. Reckless" 

Thm'sday and "Speed to Spare" and "The 

Big Clock" Pi-iday. 

More Warner items: A. Julian Brylawski 

of Realty has a new secretary, Annette 

Umansky . Suit resigned to await an 

infant, expected in March . . . Sid Zins of 

Columbia has been in working on "The 

Swordsman" . . . Excitement reigned in the 

lobby of the Warner Theatre when two turtledoves, 

used in a "Voice of the Turtle" 

display, displayed the tm'tledove equivalent 

of planned parenthood by the production of 

an egg. Although the first was broken in the 

excitement ithe new parents were caught 

with their nest down), the usherettes are 

confidently awaiting the aiTival of another 

ornithological blessed event. 

Louis A. Blundon, 84-year-old tavern keeper, 

saw his first motion pictvu-e the other evening. 

After enjoying "My Wild Irish Rose," 

Blundon is quoted as saying he'd like to go 

again some time. 

20th-Fox Seeks Permit 

For Video Station 

WASHINGTON—Twentieth Century-Fox 

has applied to the FCC for a construction 

permit for a new television station in Boston. 

The company is expected to file additional 

applications. If the FCC grants the application, 

20th-Fox will be the second major film 

company to operate a television station. 

Paramount was the first. 

Paramount also has applied for a Boston 

Bill Crockett, Virginia Beach, Va., spent 

station through its subsidiary. New England 

several days in town attending the supreme Valentine's day birthday greetings to Irvm Theatres. To date three out of five television 

channels set aside by the FCC for 

court hearings . . . Mr. and Mrs. W. Stradley 

were in to buy and book for the new 

Hackerman, Joseph Fisher and Hariy Brown 

. Chief Barker Frank Boucher sent out a Boston have been assigned. The 20th-Fox 

theatre they are opening in Cecilton, Md.. complete letter outlining arrangements for 

application for a construction permit makes 

February 20. House seats 300 and was formerly 

a school building . . . Ray Gingell, in Miami Beach April 12-17. 

maining two channels in that city. 

the national convention which will be held 

a total of nine applicants vying for the re- 

Hiser Theatre, Bethesda, Md., recently underwent 

surgery for the removal of a 

Warner Theatres Items: Charles Mac- Whether Paramount will be permitted to 

cyst 

on his eyelid . . . Gus Eyssell, managing Gowan, head of the contract department, bid for a construction permit in Boston will 

returned from Florida. Neal Coogan, who be determined by the FCC after March 1. 

director Radio City Music Hall, was reported 

to have been seen in Washington 

held down the desk while MacGowan was On that day the FCC will hold hearings in 

sunning and surfing, returns to the New Washington on Paramounfs right to apply 

Sunday. 

York office . . . Max Miller of Eagle Lion for the Boston station and for an additional 

The Julian Gordons, Newport News. Va., 

has been working with the advertising and station to be built in Dallas by Interstate 

publicity department on "T-Men" . . . Cecilia circuit. 

are the parents of a son, Richard Scott, 

toorn January 28 . . . Carlyn Gordon 

Brown joined the advertising and publicity 

Wasserman 

is the mother of a daughter, Marcla . . . 

An FCC ruling limits the number of stations 

that may be owned by one company 

staff . . . Frank La Falce, chief of the adpub 

department, was at home with a severe 

Mrs. Bertha Gordon, grandmother for the 

to five. Paramount operates a Los Angeles 

cold. 

station through its wholly-owned subsidiary, 

Television Productions, and a Chicago station 

through Balaban & Katz. Allen B. Du 

Mont Laboratories, a Paramount affiliate, 

operates three stations in New York, Pittsburgh 

and Washington. 

Twentieth-Fox originally applied for a construction 

permit in Boston in 1945, but withdrew 

its application when the FCC turned 

down the CBS appeal for setting aside channels 

for color television. 

Bill Would Prohibit Sale 

Of Unwrapped Candy 

ALBANY—A bill prohibiting the sale of 

loose confections or candy bars, at prices 

from five to ten cents, unless they are 

wrapped in paper or cellophane has been 

introduced by Assemblyman Richard H. 

Knauf, Binghamton Republican. The measure 

exempts maple syrup and maple sugar 

products. 

Rooney in 'Monkey on Stick' 

The next Mickey Rooney starrer, "Monkey 

on a Stick," will be produced by Al Lichtman 

for Metro. 


lii-' 

' giveaway 

. . 

Variety Club io Have 

Permanent Charity 

WASHINGTON—The Washington Variety 

Club is planning to set up a $10,000 fund for 

support of a permanent charity, A. E. Lichtman, 

1947 welfare committee chairman, disclosed 

in his annual report. 

In addition to setting aside $10,000 for 

this purpose in the coming year, the club 

will pay $10,400 as its final installment on a 

$31,200 pledge to the Children's hospital, 

Lichtman said, and will supply Garfield hospital 

with two resuscitators for its maternity 

ward. 

Vincent Dougherty, former chief barker, 

heads a new women's committee in charge 

of special activities. This group, of which 

Mrs. George Nathan and Mrs. Ned Bord are 

co-chairmen, helped in the March of Dimes 

campaign and will lend its support to various 

other welfare efforts. Members are Mmes. 

Al Benson, J. B. Brecheen, J. C. Brown, Jack 

Bryson, E. A. Cafritz, Harry Cohen, Clark 

Davis, George Dorsey, Cabot Feldman, Jack 

Foxe, Howard de Franceaux. Jack Fruchtman, 

Morton Gerber. Nathan Golden. William 

Hoyle, Arthur Jacobson, Joseph Kronman. 

Ben Lust, Gus Lynch. William Michalson, 

Herman Paris. Philip Peyser, Harry Racoosin, 

Fred Rohrs. Sam Roth. Herb Sachs. James 

Sandford, Allen Satui-n, Milford Schwartz, 

Maurice Solomon, Fi-ank Boucher. Charles 

Stofberg, Hirsh de La Viez and Sara S. Young. 

Largest item in last year's welfare disbursements, 

Lichtman's report showed, was 

$10,400 to the Children's hospital building 

fund. For the dedication of 15 rooms at Children's 

hospital as memorials to deceased 

barkers the club paid $5,040. Other contributions 

included $5,000 for screenings for shutins 

at hospitals and other institutions: $2,500 

for the glaucoma clinic; $2,000 for the Junior 

Police and Citizens corps: $1,800 fof which 

$250 was later returnedi for the veterans 

housing center: $2,484.44 for the aid of needy 

members and funeral expenses: $1,200 for the 

Community Chest: $1,000 for the Ladies of 

Charity milk fund: $500 for the eye and dental 

RKO Uses 'Old Sod' Stunt 

For 'Wild Irish Rose' 

NEW YORK—RKO Theatres publicity 

department 

highlighted a "Bit of Old Sod" 

in its campaign for "My Wild Irish 

JS 

bS I 

Rose" at all theatres in the metropolitan 

ii area and Westchester. The idea wâs to fly 

100 pounds of real sod from Ireland to AmeruS; 

ica so that each RKO theatre could distribute 

a "bit of old sod" to the first 500 

patrons coming to see the picture on opening 

day. 

Pan-American World Airways, which flies 

the route from Shannon, Ireland, to New 

York, agreed to transport, free of charge, the 

U.S. 75% Tax Stand Aids All Industry, 

Johnston Explains to Radio Audience 

NEW YORK—In refusing to accept the 

75 per cent British film tax, the motion pictui-e 

industry is fighting the possibility of 

similar taxation for all American industries, 

Eric Johnston, MPAA president, told radio 

listeners Wednesday (11 1. Johnston discussed 

the British levy and other industry problems 

on the Martha Deane program over 

Station WOR. 

It was the first time a top MPAA executive 

has frankly discussed these matters 

over the air. The Martha Deane program 

is popular with housewives. 

He declared that the British ad valorem 

tax "completely nullifies" reciprocal trade 

agreements reached at the Geneva Trade 

Conference and at the current Havana conference. 

You can't talk about lower tariffs 

and enforce a completely new form of taxation 

that never has been tried before, Johnston 

asserted. He explained that it would 

cost an average major company releasing 

35-40 pictures annually in Britain between 

$15,000,000 and $18,000,000 paid in advance 

to have the pictures shown in Britain under 

the 75 per cent levy. 

is 

Johnston said that the U.S. film industry 

"completely sympathetic" with the British 

dollar saving program and is ready to sit 

down and work out a program to help the 

country. 

The MPAA president also discussed the 

recent 50 per cent salary cuts for top executives 

at Samuel Goldwj-n Pi-oductions. He 

declared the salary slash came indirectly as 

a result of the British tax, which has spotlighted 

a needed reduction of production 

costs. 

Concerning message films, Johnston made 

it clear that U.S. films carry the ideals of 

100 pounds of sod taken from the banks of 

clinic at the Home of Incurables: $500 for 

the Merrick Boys camp: $500 for the Damon the River Shannon. A delegation of public 

Runyon Memorial cancer fund: $343.40 for officials of Irish extraction, civic leaders and 

hospital and doctor bills of John Variety; representatives of Irish societies went down 

to LaGuardia airport and photographers, reporters 

$289.77 for the Red Cross room at Walter 

Reed hospital: $200 for the National Conference 

and Warner-Pathe newsreel camera- 

of Christians and Jews: $175 for the man were also on hand to greet the incoming 

Red Cross: $150 for the Gallinger hospital 

plane. After being properly sterilized by 

the Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quar- 

children's party: $145.82 for streptomycin 

for a young lady at Will Rogers Memorial 

hospital, and $75 for transportation for a boy 

to Father Flanagan's Boys Town. 

antine, the sod was divided among all the 

RKO theatres where it was put in souvenir 

envelopes caiTying the following message: 

"Keep This for Good Luck ... A Bit of the 

Old Sod from the Banks of the River Shannon 

Where Grows 'My Wild Irish Rose' . 

FlowTi Directly to You by Pan-American 

Airways, Compliments of RKO Theatres." 

A souvenir envelope was also sent to motion 

picture editors and columnists and to 

radio commentators who gave the stimt airwaves 

"breaks." Other angles in the "Rose" 

campaign, under the direction of Harry Mandel, 

national director of advertising and publicity, 

were: a special singing trailer, singing 

contests at most theatre, a song contest 

asking 

readers of the Home News and BrookljTi 

Eagle to send in lists of songs with the word 

"Rose" in the title and a different Irish name 

listed in theatre lobbies each day with persons 

of the same name admitted free of 

charge, if supplying proof. 

American freedom overseas. He predicted 

more realistic films will come out of Hollywood. 

On television, Johnston said it will "stimulate 

the motion picture industry." He also 

reviewed the MPAA "Nebraska Plan" tor 

teaching school teachers how to use visual 

aids. He predicted all well-nin schools will 

be using visual aids in 20 years. 

Johnston also explained the value of selfregulation 

over arbitrary censorship. He said 

the un-American activities committee investigation 

will not stop producers from making 

films with controversial themes. 

Allport Off to England; 

No Tax Settlement Seen 

NEW YORK—Fayette W. AUport, MPAA 

representative in London, left for England 

on the Queen Elizabeth Wednesday ill) after 

several weeks of conferences here with film 

industry executives and state department officials. 

Allport's visit here is not expected to alter 

the present impasse on the 75 per cent British 

film tax. 

In London, Sir Stafford Cripps, chancellor 

of the exchequer, reported that U.S. film 

remittances from Britain during 1947 totaled 

$52,000,000. compared to $68,000,000 during 

1946. 

Frank McCarthy, MPAA representative in 

France, who arrived here with Allport, will 

return to his post in a few days. 

LONDON—The general council of Cinematograph 

Exhibitors Ass'n is "earnestly entreating" 

the labor government to end the 75 

per cent tax impasse as the American film 

supply nears exhaustion. 

Officers Named by Schine 

Radio Station in Albany 

ALBANY — Oi-ganlzatlon by the Sohine 

theatre interests of the Patroon Broadcasting 

CoiTD. was completed here with the election 

of officers. The corporation will operate 

WPTR, a 10.000-watt station, with studios in 

the mezzanine of the Schine-owned Ten Eyck. 

The new owners hope to be in operation by 

spring. Officers are J. Myer Schine, president: 

Harold W. Blodgett. Schenectady lawyer 

and official of WBCA in that city, vicepresident: 

Louis W. Schine. secretaiy; Willard 

S. McKay, general counsel for the Schine 

companies, treasurer, and John May. treasurer 

of the Schine circuit and affUiates, 

member of the board of directors. Leonard 

W. Asche, manager of WBCA, is general 

manager. WPTR will not have a network 

connection, according to present indications. 

Variety Seeks $40,000 

BALTIMORE—In cooperation with radio 

station WCBN. the Baltimore Variety Club 

is sponsoring a contest styled after the recent 

Miss Hush contest with the hope of raising 

$40,000 to keep the Police Boys clubs operating 

during the coming summer. 


49

. . Ray 

. 

. 

. . "The 

jj; 

AT ALBANY DINNER-The Albany Variety Club gave a dinner for Neil Hellman, 

retiring chief barker, recently. At the head table sho. above =-;• ^" t^^"^^^''^^^. ^^^^• 

Charles A. Smak«itz. Mrs. C. J. Latta and her husband,

I Realart 

. . . Morris 

. . George 

. . New 

. . Jack 

. . Warren 

. . New 

. . "Leo 

. . 

. . . Sam 

. . Mr. 

f 

' 

Jack Schlaifer Goes B A L T I M O R E 

To New EL Position 

NEW YORK— Jack Schlaifer. veteran distribution 

executive, has been named to the 

newly created post of 

assistant to William J. 

^K \ dent in chai-ge of dis- 

JT. Heineman. vice-presi- 

^Ê^ I tribution for Eagle 

^^Hb^ 49 Lion. Schlaifer will 

*~ 

^^^^^ work with Heineman 

^^|»^|^_\^ 

in the over-all opera- 

^^^P^K^*J^| tion of the distribu- 

^^^H|^^^^H 

organization. 

^^^^^V^^H 

^^^^^^^^J^H 

Schlaifer entered the 

film business when he 

B^HIHMB joined Warners' Minneapolis 

exchange in 

Jack Schlaifer 1912. in 1915 he became 

Seattle exchange manager for Universal, 

later resigning to manage the Unicorn 

exchange in Chicago. In 1919 Schlaifer rejoined 

Universal as Seattle exchange manager, 

subsequently becoming, in turn, western 

division manager, western sales manager 

and general manager of theatre operations. 

From 1928 until 1932 he was assistant 

general sales manager of United Artists, and 

from 1932 to 1934 he was general sales manager 

for Universal. In 1934 he rejoined United 

Artists as western sales manager, being promoted 

to the rank of vice-president in 1941. 

In 1941 Schlaifer resigned from United 

Artists to become vice-president of Edward 

Small Productions, from which position he 

resigned in 1943 to join 20th-Fox as central 

sales manager. He resigned from 20th-Fox 

in 1945 to join AUied Artists-Monogram, 

where he served for two years as director of 

sales. 

Expand Cinecolor Board 

From 7 to 9 Members 

HOLLYWOOD — Expansion of Cinecolor's 

board of directors from seven to nine members 

was voted by stockholders at the color 

firm's annual meeting, over which A. Pam 

Blumenthal. board chainnan, presided. Directors 

reelected to serve imtil the next annual 

meeting were Blumenthal, WiUiam T. 

Crespinel, Alan M. Gundelfinger, Graham L. 

Sterling jr., C. Kenneth Baxter, Joseph J. 

Rathert and John D. Kerr. Chosen to fill 

the two newly created vacancies on the board 

were Joseph Bemhard, president of Film 

Classics, and Karl Herzog, treasurer of FC 

and Cinecolor. 

Stockholders voiced approval of Cinecolor's 

management and progress dtu'ing the year 

and okayed contracts for the sale and issuance 

of 40.000 shares of common stock, with 

Blumenthal to piu-chase 15,000 shares: Crespinal, 

10,000: Gundelfinger. 10.000. and Herzog, 

5.000. 

Film Classics Reissues 

U Westerns, Serials 

NEW YORK—Film Classics, Inc.. has acquired 

24 westerns and four serials from 

for reissue. The westerns are: Ten 

Johnny Mack Brown pictures, eight Ken 

Maynard films and six Bob Baker pictures, 

all originally released by Universal. The 

serials are "Riders of Death 'Valley." "Gang 

Busters," "Junior G-Men" and "Oregon Trail," 

also released by Universal. 

^Jilton Berle made a personal appearance 

before the greate.st turnout in Advertising 

club history when he came here to emcee 

the club's banquet . O'Hara, manager 

of the Alvin Theatre in New York, in 

town to catch "Mr. Roberts," Henry Fonda's 

new show, prior to its opening in his theatre 

in New York. It was a complete sellout here 

and has a reported advance sale of $200,000 

for New York. 

Joe linger, general sales manager of United 

Artists, spent some time here with Mark 

Silver, district manager, and Jerry Price, 

branch manager , Bryan is the new 

Paramount representative for the Baltimore 

territory, transferred here from "Virginia . , . 

Tom Baldridge, MGM exploiteer, was in town 

and working on one of the first test dates 

for "Three Daring Daughters" at Loew's Century. 

Joe Young, new UA representative for the 

eastern shore and western Maryland, transferred 

from Philadelphia, replacing Clayton 

Bond, who goes to Philadelphia, with Mike 

Siegel going to the Clinch valley territory in 

Virginia . Nabhanson is the new 

manager at National Screen . . . Izzy Rappaport 

of the Rappaport Theatres left for a 

Florida vacation. He expects to be gone about 

a month. 

. 

. 

Mrs. Sam SoUz is getting ready for a trip 

Oletsky and family were in Philadelphia 

for the weekend student 

assistant at Loew's Parkway is Mrs. Jean 

Decker relief cashier at the Century 

is Hannah M. Terry. 

The Stanley held a contest in conjunction 

with the Baltimore News-Post, offering a twoweek 

vacation in New York to the couple who 

wrote the most interesting letter about how 

they met on a blind date and got married, 

exploitation for "'Voice of the Turtle" . 

Morris Mechanic. New Theatre, entertained 

Bert Lahr and cast of the .show "Biu-lesque" 

at the Belvedere hotel. 

Kay Reinholdt, 'Valencia Theatre cashier, 

slipped on the ice coming to work and was 

incapacitated for four days . Lyon," 

weekly column being written for "Playboy," 

is the nom de plume of Bill Saxton, Loew 

city manager . . . Joe Katz, National Screen, 

was in from New York to inspect the territory. 

Barry Goldman is leaving for a few days 

for Philadelphia ... Joe Waldman is booking 

for the Edgemere Theatre . . . Bill MichaeLson, 

20th-Fox, was in town working on 

"Gentleman's Agreement" at the New Theatre 

. . . Seen at the Joe Louis-Leo Matricciani 

exhibition fight: Bill Saxton with Joe 

Weinstein and Merle Fox of the Fox Advertising 

Agency: Julius Goodman. Ideal: Cy 

Waldman, New Albert; Morris Oletsky and 

Barry Goldman, and Nick Weems with Rodger 

Pippen, sports editor of Baltimore News-Post 

, . . Irvin Grant of the Dunbar and Rio has 

gone to Florida. 

Variety Club notes: The club has installed 

a new hot food bar, serving hot sandwiches 

Saturday and. Tuesday nights, catered by 

Earl . and Mrs. Fred Sapperstein, 

entertaining Mr. and Mrs. Will Esinger. He's 

the creator of the comic strip "The Spirit" 

Tabor, Jake Flax and Monte Hale, 

Republic western star, having a good time, 

with Monte entertaining the members by 

playing his "gitar" and singing . 

, . It's estimated 

that, quoting Monte, "We played to 

about 25,000 kids today," and Sam Tabor 

looked it. 

Bert Clastcr brought up the Hippodrome 

stage show and it was excellent . . . Mr. and 

Mrs. Jack Sidney were called out, just as 

things were going well, by a fire that occurred 

in their apartment. The last time it 

was a flood ... 'Vic Rubin and his Mrs. 

having a gay time, with Vic demonstrating 

how well he could get along without his cane. 

EL Sets Releasing Deal 

With Mexican Circuit 

NEW YORK—Eagle Lion has closed a 

Mexican distribution-exhibition deal with 

Manuel J. Peon, head of Espectaculos de 

Yucatan, which owns and operates a circuit 

of 119 theatres in the states of Yucatan, Campeche 

and Tabasco and the territory of 

Quintana Roo, according to Sam L. Seidelman. 

EL foreign chief. 

Tlie deal assures EL preferred playing time 

for its own Hollywood product and the J. 

Ar-thur Rank productions released by EL 

in Latin America. The Mexican company 

will also act as sub-distributor for both the 

Hollywood product and the Rank 

HANDY SUBSCRIPTION ORDER FORM 

BOXOFTICE: 

Please enter my subscription to BOXOFTICE. 52 issues per year (13 of which contain 

The MODERN THEATRE Section), including the NEW BOXOFFICE PICTURE 

GUIDE. DATE & RECORD BOOK. 

D S2.00 FOR 1 YEAR D 53.50 FOR 2 YEARS D $5.00 FOR 3 TERRS 

n Remittance Enclosed Send Invoice 

STREET ADDRESS 

TOWN 

STATE.. 

BOXOFHCE : : Februajy 14, 1948 

50-A

'' 

I 

' 

' 

N. y. Realty Values Upped 

To $17,684,240^21 

NEW YORK—The assessed valuation of 

New York City real estate has been increased 

to $17,684,240,921. or a rise of $745,775,468 over 

1947, This 1948-49 estimated valuation is the 

highest placed on local property since 1933, 

when real estate was listed in the tax books 

at $18,457,005,258. 

Theatre owners, holders of film industry 

property along with the rest of New York 

realty holders will have $25,000,000 added to 

their tax bills beginning July 1. if these valuations 

are upheld by the tax commission. 

Deadline for filing complaints is March 15. 

The 4'L' per cent increase in assessments 

for the five boroughs represents "accrued 

value" of current holdings rather than an 

increase due to new building, according to 

the report submitted by Harry B. Chambers, 

president of the tax commission, to Mayor 

O'Dwyer. 

There have been, however, several significant 

additions, including the new Universal 

Pictures building on Park avenue and 57th 

street. This building has been assessed at 

$9,000,000, the same valuation given to the 

new Esso building in Rockefeller center. 

All other buildings in Rockefeller center 

have been assessed at $100,000,000, an increase 

of $2,000,000 over 1947. 

The most valuable single piece of property 

in the city is still the Empire State building, 

which has been assessed at $34,500,000. or 

$1,500,000 more than in 1947. 

Religious Heads Protest 

'Iron Curtain' Release 

NEW YORK—Continuing his campaign to 

have 20th-Fox withdraw "The Iron Curtain" 

from release. Rev, William Howard Melish, 

chairman of the National Council of American-Soviet 

Friendship, has sent Spyros P. 

Skouras, 20th-Fox president, a statement listing 

more than 100 prominent Americans who 

have denounced the film as "war propaganda." 

The statement pointed out that "fear, suspicion 

and hatred are the tools with which 

Hitler and Goebels famied the flame of 

World War II. 'The Iron Curtain' can only 

increase the atmosphere of hysteria leading 

us down the road to war." 

Three Protestant bishops, the Right Rev. 

W. Moulton of the Protestant Episcopal 

church, Salt Lake City; the Right Rev. 

Edward L. Parsons, retired bishop of the 

Protestant Episcopal church, San Francisco, 

and the Right Rev. John Moore Walker, Protestant 

Episcopal bishop of Atlanta, were 

among the 30 religious leaders who signed the 

statement. Other signers were; Elmer A. 

Benson, former governor of Minnesota; Dr. 

Frank Aydelotte of the Institute for Advanced 

Study. Princeton university; Kenneth 

Leslie, editor of The Protestant; Hon. James 

E. Wolfe, justice of the supreme court of 

Utah; Prof. Clyde R. Miller of Teachers college. 

Columbia university; Rockwell Kent, 

Earl Robinson and Michael J. Quill, president. 

Transport Workers Union of America. 

"The Iron Curtain," starring Dana Andrews 

and Gene Tierney, is still tentatively scheduled 

for May release, according to 20th-Pox 

executives. 

Assessed Valuations of 

New York First Runs 

Asto 

1 1 

Capitol 

1 

Globe 

LoeA s Stat' t I L M Lj 

''5 

Ma, fair 1 GbU 

Palac- 1 350 000 

Paramount U 100 000 

Radio City 1/ i d as 

cart cf er it) 100 000 000 

Rialt 

000 POO 

1 Riv 47S noo 

Rov, 

1S7SPI0 

c,,a' 

on onr 

Vict 

"°5 

r J noo 

V/inter Garden ^ 210 000 

Important theatrical holdings outside of 

Manhattan: 

The Bronx 

Loew's Paradise $1 ,550,000 

Brooklyn 

Fox $3,450,000 

Loew's Metropolitan 1,050,000 

Paramount 3,780,000 

RKO Albee 1,900,000 

""°^ 

Merrick 

$1,085,000 

Loew Valencia 1,175,000 

Stolen Island 

(Fabian Theatres) 

Paramount $340,000 

Rite 207,000 

St George .i - 585.000 

Literary Figures Judge 

Film for Review Board 

NEW YORK—The committee on exceptional 

capital films of the National Board of 

Review invited outstanding figures in the literai-y 

and stage field to aid the board in its 

discussions for a rating of the French film, 

"The Raven." 

Among those invited to help the judges 

were: Henry R. and Mrs. Luce. Joseph 

Bai-nes. John Hersey. Dorothy Thompson. 

John Gunther, William L. Shirer. Marcia 

Davenport, Lillian Hellman, Elia Kazan, 

Clifton Padiman, John Garfield, Madeleine 

Carroll, Robert Flaherty, Anne O'Hare Mc- 

Cormick, Katharine Cornell and Ted and 

Mrs. Thackery. 

"The Raven." which is being distributed 

in the U.S. by Westport International, will 

open at the Avenue Playhouse early in March. 

Nu-Screen Corp. Marks 

Its First Anniversary 

NEW YORK—Nu-Screen Corp., which cglebrates 

its first anniversary in February .Tiow 

has installations in both circuit and independent 

theatres which have projection 

angles from five to 28 degrees, according to 

Herman Gluckman, president, Nu-Screen installed 

its first screen in the Park Avenue in 

February 1947, followed by installations in 

the Winter Garden and Astor, on Broadway, 

and the Fabian St, George and Lane. 

Si Fabian, president of Fabian Theatres, 

has ordered ten more Nu-Screens which, he 

says, eliminate distortion and "will improve 

our projection and also give us a selling point 

as the latest and newest improvement in film 

projection." 

BUFFALO 

•The Outlaw" has gone into t'ne Erlanger 

here at popular prices . . . Dewey Michaels 

put two Frankenstein pictures In his 

dowaitown Mercury . , . "Bambi" is playing 

again at the 20th Century. 

A 810,000 damage action against the Lafayette 

Theatre was tossed out of supreme court, 

Angeline Antolina, 888 Pi-ospect Ave., failed 

to show that the theatre was responsible for 

injuries she suffered in a fall on stairs in 

the balcony during September 1944. 

Buffalo is one of 100 American cities in 

which counterparts of the "Dream House," 

which appears in the forthcoming Selznick 

film. "Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream 

House," will be constructed. The house will 

be built here by the Genrich Construction 

Co. It will be completed by early spring. 

J. N. Adam & Co. will furnish it. SRO selected 

the contractors and stores which will 

build and furnish the house. 

Theatres 'Out of Bounds' 

During Lenten Season 

ALBANY—Motion pictures and other forms 

of entertainment were placed "out of bounds" 

for Lent in Bishop Edmund F. Gibbon's letter 

on regulations for Lent read Sunday in 

Albany Catholic churches. Bishop Gibbon 

wrote: "There should be no parish entertainments. 

Such diversions as suppers, card parties, 

dances and theatres are contrary to the 

spirit of the penitential season and will be 

shunned by all devout Catholics." 

The Rev. John J. Gaffigan. pastor of 

Sacred Heart church, told his parishoners, 

"Such things as movies and theatres are 

not to be attended by Catholics during Lent." 

'T-Men' High in Baltimore T 

As Weather Stays Cold 

BALTIMORE—Three of six first nms were 

above average in a cold week here. They were 

"Cass Timberlane" at the Century in its 

second week. "T-Men" plus stage show at the 

Hippodrome in its first week, and "The Voice 

of the Turtle" in its first period at the 

Stanley. Snow fliu'ries and near-zero temperatures 

kept the less hardy at home. 

(Average Is 100) 

Century—Cass Timberlane (MGM), 2nd wk 115 

Hippodrome—T-Men (EL), plus stage show 120 

Keith's—A Woman's Vengeance (U-I) 75 

Mayfair—Pittsburgh (Realart), reissue 70 

New—You Were Meant for Me (20th-Fox) 90 

Stanley—The Voice of the Turtle (WB) 110 

Town—Night Song (RKO), 2Tid wk 85 

National Review Board 

Honors Two Pictures 

NEW YORK—"Call Northside 777" (20th- 

Foxi and "The Naked City" lU-H have been 

given starred selected features rating, the top f" 

honor of the National Board of Review, in the ) 

weekly guide to selected pictures. 

Selected features rating has been awarded 

to "If You Kiiew Susie" (RKOi, "My Girl 

Tisa" iWB), "The Pearl" iRKO), "Three Daring 

Daughters" iMGMi, "Saigon" (Parai and 

"The 'Voice of the Turtle" (WBi. 

Short subjects given special mention are: 

"Ain't Nature Grand" (Para) and "Operation 

White Tower" and "Racing Days" (RKO). 

SO-B BOXOFFICE :: February 14, 1948

: February 

W. A. Scully Heads 

Fellerman and Leo Greenfield. New York; 

George E. Schwartz. Joseph Leon, William 

J. Doyle, John J. Scully jr. and Maurice 

Gold, Philadelphia; F. J. Guehl, Maurice 

Silverberg, Carl Reardon, Milton Ripp and 

P. C. Quiter. Pittsburgh; H. J. Martin. W. 

Vincent Dougherty. Walter E. Davis and 

Barney Frank, Washington, and A. W. Perrv 

and M. Isman, Canada. 

Schedule 28 Opening Runs 

For The Bishop's Wife' 

NEW YORK—RKO has set 28 first run 

dates for "The Bishop's Wife," Samuel Goldwyn 

production. The pictui'e has opened at 

the Fulton Tlieatre, Pittsburgh; Karlton, 

Philadelphia, and Riverside. Milwaukee. 

Other dates include the Century, Buffalo. 

February 19; Allen. Cleveland. February 18; 

Pan. Minneapolis. February 19: Keith's. Wasliington. 

February 25: Town, Baltimore. February 

25; Orpheum. Kansas City. February 

25; Orpheum. St. Paul. February 26: Orpheum. 

New Orleans, Albee, Providence, 

Brandeis, Omaha, State. New Brunswick, Lincoln, 

Ti-enton, March 3: Albee, Cincinnati, 

Keith's, Dayton, OiiJheum. Des Moines, 

Palace, Rochester. Keith's, Syracu.se, March 4; 

Virginia, Champaign, March 10: Palace. Columbus, 

Iowa. Cedar Rapids. Oi-pheum, Davenport. 

Orpheum. Waterloo, Orpheum, Sioux 

City, March 11; Keith's, Lowell, March 24, 

and Orpheum, Denver, April 14. 

Audience Survey Ready 

For Industry Heads 

NEW YORK— Eliott 

Odell of Fawcett Publications, 

Harold Dawson of Dell Publications 

and Herb Drake of Macfadden Publications 

have left for Hollywood to present industry 

leaders with the results of a two-year survey 

just completed by the newly formed Association 

of Screen Magazine Publishers, Inc. 

The survey, which is titled Boffo, reveals 

facts and figures concerning moviegoing and 

theatre-reading habits in the United States, 

according to the association. In addition to 

the three publication companies mentioned. 

the association also represents Hillman Publications, 

Hunter Screen Unit and Ideal Publications. 

Hears Films Talk 

And That's Enough 

St. Johnsbury, 'Vt. — Hem-y Placey, 

UI Regional Meet 

NEW YORK—William A. Scully, vice- 

70-year-old woodchopper from the 

sparsely settled North Danville president and general sales manager of Universal-International, 

section, 

first picture. 

recently saw his talking 

is presiding at the last 

"My neighbors told me the pictures 

of the company's four regional sales meetings, 

open the 

which scheduled to at talked nowadays," he told Manager Andrew 

is 

Waldorf-Astoria hotel Sunday (15 1. The 

Tegu as he entered the Star The- 

atre. "I 

meeting will run through February just want 18. 

to see for myself." 

Fifteen minutes later 

The home office executives and 

Tegu saw Placey 

district 

leaving the theatre and asked if anything 

managers, branch managers and salesmen 

was wrong with the theatre's offering 

from eastern and Canadian branches attending 

a thriller entitled "Blonde Savage." 

the four-day will see screen- 

meet advance "Nope." said Placey. "I just wanted to 

ings of "All My Sons." "The Naked City," "A hear the pictures talk, and I did." 

Double Life," "Black Bart." "Casbah" and 

"Up in Central Park." 

The branch managers and salesmen attending 

the meeting: Eugene Vogel and E. E. 

Lowe, Albany; John J. Scully. E. M. Feltman. 

Fred Shohet, Kenneth Mayer and Judson 

Dave 

interested in the "order" which has been 

Parker, Boston; Miller, Joseph Gina, 

Arthur A. Rose and J. J. Spandau. Buffalo; 

issued from the Comerford circuit's home office 

in Scranton, and which apparently is 

P. T. Dana. Lester Zucker. Leo Gottlober 

and Alex Schimel. Cleveland: Arthur Greenfield 

and Greoge Reif. New Haven: David 

being obeyed in Carlisle and Lebanon houses 

of the chain. The order bans cooperative ads, 

window tieups and any type promotion which 

A. Levy. Nat Goldberg. Phil Winnick. Harry 

includes cooperation between the theatre and 

BOXOmCE : 

Tiein Deals Are Reported 

Banned by Comerford 

HARRISBURG — Local theatremen were 

merchants and which might incur an obligation 

on the part of the film houses. 

The report of exploiteers who have gone 

into the Comerford areas recently was confirmed 

by one of the managers in the area. 

No longer will the individual exhibitors solicit 

cooperative promotion from businessmen 

where there is any possible chance of 

obligation, such as providing passes for contestants, 

or where one merchant might be 

offended because the tieup was offered his 

competitor instead of him. The report indicates 

there have been some such occurrences, 

especially in the small towns. 

However, the individual Comerford managers 

have no power to stop the film companies 

and their exploitation men from setting 

up co-op ventures such as store window 

displays and newspaper ads. 

Prepare 4-Page Pressbook 

For Brotherhood Week 

NEW YORK—The National Conference of 

Christians and Jews has prepared a special 

four-page pressbook for exhibitors on American 

Brotherhood Week. The pressbook was 

designed by Si Seadler, national publicity and 

advertising chairman for the conference. It 

includes suggestions for theatre participation 

in the American Brotherhood Week celebration, 

to be held February 22-29. 

The pressbook outlines a plan lor the exhibitor 

to sponsor memorial services for the 

war dead of all religions at his theatre, with 

a Protestant clergyman. Catholic priest and 

Jewish rabbi officiating. The conference also 

has prepared free one-sheets for lobby display 

honoring three representative Americans 

in the community who died in World War II. 

Columbia, General Foods, 

Bantam Tieup on 'Ram' 

NEW YORK—Columbia has arranged a 

magazine and radio tieup on "The Sign of the 

Ram" with the Post Cereals division of General 

Foods and Bantam Books. The cereal 

company will offer a special Bantam Book 

edition of the novel, "The Sign of the Ram," 

as the first premium in a new Box Top Book 

Club. Buyers of Post's bran flakes will be 

notified of the giveaway for three weeks in 

March on Portia Faces Life, radio program. 

Buffalo Variety Club 

Names Committees 

BUFFALO— William. Dip.son, chief barker 

of the Variety Club of Buffalo, has named 

conimittees for 1948. 

Dave Miller is chairman of the Heart committee, 

which is composed of Andrew Gibson, 

George MacKenna, Ben Kulick, Charles 

Kosco, Elmer Lux, Rabbi Joseph Fink, Dr. 

C. D. Broughton. the Rev. Joseph Mahoney. 

the Rev. John Pallas and Stanley Kozanowski 

as honorary member. 

Harry Sohiffrin is chairman of the house 

committee, which is composed of Marvin 

Atlas. Joseph Gins, Sam Geffen, Arnold 

Pebrey, Si Risman and James Macris. 

Phil Fox is chairman of the finance committee. 

Other members are R. T. Kemper, 

Dave Miller, John G. Chinell, C. J. "Gus" 

Basil. Harry Berkson and Dewey Michaels. 

R. T. Kemper is chairman of the entertainment 

committee, which is composed of 

Myron Gross. Arthur Bailey. Daniel Gill. 

Howard McPherson, Sig Smith, Jack Grood, 

Meyer Fox, Dr. Alfred Pried, Phil Panoff 

and Sam Grossman. 

Myron Gross heads the membership committee, 

composed of Spencer Balser. Jack 

Mundstuk and Peter Grafiades. Billy Keaton 

is chaii-man of the publicity committee, with 

Ralph Hinkson and R. T. Kemper as his aides. 

lATSE-Exchange Employes 

Dispense With Mediation 

NEW YORK—L. A. Stone, federal mediation 

and conciliation commissioner, has withdrawn 

from bargaining sessions now continuing 

between the lATSE and representatives 

of ten distribution companies on wage 

increases for more than 6,000 workers in the 

32 exchange centers. Commissioner Stone, 

who attended meetings at Warners' home 

office February 5 and Pebruaiy 10, stepped 

out of the conferences at the request of both 

parties who expressed the feeling that an 

agreement satisfactory to both sides could 

be reached without the aid of federal mediation. 

The lATSE national exchange contracts, 

which run until November 1948, were reopenable 

as of this past December 1 for adjustment 

of wages and hours. Negotiations 

began November 17. following a poll in wihich 

the lATSE exchange locals voted to have the 

bargaining conducted by the general office. 

Church Documentary Film 

Has New York Showing 

NEW YORK—"The Church and the Atomic 

Age," a documentary fUm tracing the events 

leading up to the use of the atomic bomb as 

a weapon of war, was shown at Town Hall 

February 3 before an audience of 2,000 nersons 

prominent in community and religious 

life. This is the first in a series of religious 

pictures to be known as "In the Eyes of the 

Chm-ch." 

The series is the work of Dean Charles 

E. McAUister of the Cathedral of St. John 

the Evangelist, Spokane. Wash., who acted 

14, 1948 50-C 

as moderator during a discussion period 

which followed the showing in Town Hall. 

Dean McAllister plans to make the series 

available to churches of all denominations 

as well as to nonchurch groups. Distribution 

will be on a local and regional basis with 

headquarters at Film Forum Foundation, 

Spokane, which will be operated on a nonprofit 

basis.

I 

EL 

. . Those 

U.S. Filming Sought 

By Foreign Nations 

NEW YORK—The movement toward international 

production will continue as each 

foreign country tries to its create own film 

industry and force Hollywood to make pictures 

there, according to David Coplan, managing 

director for United Artists in Great 

Britain. In addition to pictures being made 

by UA and Warner Bros, in England for U.S. 

release. David O. Selznick has announced 

he will make a feature in Sweden. Edward 

Small and several other American producers 

are making pictures in Rome and even India 

is trying to interest independent American 

film men to make a picture there using Indian 

studio facilities. 

COMPLETES TWO BRITISH FILMS 

Coplan. who arrived here February 9 on 

his first visit in ten months, has completed 

two British features made for United Artists 

release in conjunction with Alf Shipman of 

the Shipman & King theatre circuit, who 

owns the Alliance Studios near London. "Just 

William's Luck," a typical British comedy, 

has been released in England and may not 

be shown in America, but "The Brass Monkey," 

starring Carole Landis, will be released 

in England in May or June and in America 

later in 1948. Coplan announced. Coplan 

sold his rights to make a second William picture, 

to be titled "William Comes to Town," 

to an indeoendent British producer. One 

condition of the sale is that United Artists 

will release the picture in England. 

Arthur W. Kelly, UA executive vice-president, 

and Gradwell L. Sears. UA president, 

are now in Hollywood meeting with other 

company executives to discuss the production 

of pictures in England with a greater infusion 

of American selling ingredients, Coplan said. 

Present plans call for six pictures a year 

for a seven-year period. 

UA STARTS ON BACKLOG 

In addition to the three pictures made in 

England, United Artists is just starting to 

play off its backlog of seven American-made 

pictures sent over before the 75 per cent ad 

valorem tax went into effect. In addition, 

UA has the Howard Hughes production of 

"Mad Wednesday," which mav be held up 

for retakes or added scenes. These pictures 

take care of United Artists British releases 

for the balance of 1948. Coplan .said. 

The shortage of new American product in 

England is already being felt by several of the 

first-run theatres in London's West End, 

according to Coplan. Several of the smaUer 

houses have closed or will close shortly and 

company staffs in England will be reduced, 

Coplan stated. 

Coplan, who plans to stay in North America 

for eight weeks, left during the week for 

Ottawa for a health checkup. 

Grainger, Titus on Tour 

NEW YORK—James R. Grainger. Republic 

executive vice-president, and Walter L. Titus 

southern division manager, are on a sales 

tour of the Atlanta, New Orleans and Dallas 

branches. Following his visit in Dallas, 

"^•vaineer will leave for the coa.st, with stopovers 

at Los Angeles and San Francisco. He 

will visit Denver and St. Louis before returning 

to the home office about March 1. Titus 

will make stopovers in Oklahoma City and 

Memphis en route back to New York. 

Plot MPEA '48 Operations 

During Special Session 

NEW YORK—Plans for MPEA operations 

during the current year and ways to combat 

problems confronting the association overseas 

were discussed at a special meetmg of m- 

ternational heads of member companies at 

association headquarters. 

Irving Maas, vice-president and general 

manager, presided at the three-hour session. 

He reviewed the association accomplishments 

during its first full year of operation and 

gave the foreign heads a further review of 

his recent trip abroad. 

Those present at the meeting included 

Norton V. Ritchey, vice-president of Allied 

Artists; Jack Segal and Arnold Picker, vicepresidents 

of Columbia International; Arthur 

M. Loew, president of Loew's International; 

George Weltner. president, and J. William 

Piper, assistant secretary. Paramount Inter- 

Reisman, vice-president in 

national: 

charge of 

Phil 

foreign distribution for RKO; 

Emanuel Silverstone. vice-president of 20th- 

Fox International; Walter Gould, manager 

of foreign distribution for UA; Joseph H. 

Seidelman, president of Universal International 

Films; Wolfe Cohen, vice-president, 

and John J, Glynn, vice-president and treasurer 

of Warners International. 

Arnold C. Childhouse, Joseph C. Goltz and 

Herbert J. Erlanger represented the MPEA. 

Foundation Discusses 

Its Plan of Operation 

NEW YORK—The program and scope committee 

of the Motion Picture Foundation discussed 

plans for a comprehensive survey of 

the industry welfare needs at a meeting February 

7. The survey will form the basis 

upon which policy will be determined in 

regard to the foundation's program and 

areas of activity, according to Ned Depinet, 

chairman of the committee, and Ted Gamble, 

vice-chairman. 

Subcommittees were appointed to explore 

and determine the best means of conducting 

such a survey, the committee executives said. 

Those who attended the weekend meeting, 

in addition to Depinet and Gamble, were: 

Max Cohen, Leopold Friedman, Leon J. Bamberger, 

Charles Lewis, Louis A. Novins, Robert 

W. Chambers and William Jenkins. 

'Casanova' After 'Body' 

NEW YORK — "Adventuies of Casanova" 

I 

will open at the Globe Theatre following 

the run of "Body and Soul" (UAK "Out 

of the Blue" previously was set to follow 

"Body." "Adventures of Casanova" features 

Arturo de Cordova, Lucille Bremer and Turhan 

Bey. 

Greenthal's Mother Dies,- 

NEW YORK—Funeral services for Mrs. 

Pauline Greenthal, who died February 8, 

were held at the West End February 10. 

Burial was in the Temple Israel section of Mt. 

Hope cemetery. Mrs. Greenthal is survived 

by her son, Monroe W., head of Monroe W. 

Greenthal Co., a sister and a brother. 

Gentel Heads French Ass'n 

PARIS—Marcel Gentel, RKO general manager 

in France, has been unanimously elected 

president of the Franco-American Distributors 

Ass'n. It is the largest distributor organization 

in France. 

Dubbed French Films 

For Video: linger 

NEW YORK—French pictures which have 

been dubbed in English may be ideal for television 

showings following their general theatre 

release, according to Oliver A. Unger, Tola 

Productions executive, who co-produced "The 

Roosevelt Story" with Martin Levine. Unger, 

who recently returned from a three-week trip 

to England, France and Holland, bought the 

American rights to "Torrent," a French film 

produced by Consertium du Films, and had 

it dubbed at the St. Meurice Studio in Paris 

using a cast composed of American ex-GIs 

and Jane Morgan, a nightclub singer appearing 

in Paris. 

Foreign featui-es, which require a comparatively 

small investment for dubbing, may 

open up a new field for films on television. 

Unger said. Television advertisers, who pay 

S500 to $1,000 for any old American film, 

.should be willing to pay more for recent English-dubbed 

films, he believes. Unger, who is 

also vice-president of Distinguished Films, is 

now discussing a deal with NBC and may 

buy other foreign films which can be dubbed 

in English at 

foreign studios. 

In England. Unger closed a deal for "The 

Roosevelt Story" to open at Loew's Empire 

Theatre April 12, the same day as a statue to 

Franklin D. Roosevelt is unveiled in Grosvenor 

Square. The receipts from the opening 

oerformance will go to the British Infantile 

Paralysis Fund and Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt 

will leave the U.S. March 27 to attend the 

showing. The picture will also open in 120 

theatres of the ABC Circuit in England May 

17 and will play the chain's other 280 theatres 

shortly after, Unger said. 

In France, "The Roosevelt Story" is being 

dubbed with a slant toward the French market 

and should be completed for a June showing 

there. Unger has also set the first showing 

in Washington, D, C. at the Dupont 

Theatre March 4, the 15th anniversary of 

Roosevelt's inauguration, Unger said. 

"Torrent," which may be distributed by 

United Artists, is tentatively set to open at 

the Globe Theatre on Broadway this summer, 

according to Unger. 

Goldwyn Asks Executives 

To Take 50% Salary Cut 

HOLLYWOOD— Samuel Goldwyn. who seldom 

does things by halves, did exactly that 

when, to implement a program of drastic 

slashing of production costs, it was disclosed 

he has requested executives of his company 

to accept a 50 per cent cut in salary. Just 

returned from a three-week vacation in 

Hawaii, Goldwyn explained his action in 

a lengthy statement keynoted by the declaration: 

"I believe in practicing what I preach." 

The producer said his employes "realize, 

with me, that it is necessaa-y to put our 

house in order . . . these men. all with longterm 

contracts, have put the interest of our 

company and om- industry ahead of personal 

considerations." 

He emphasized, however, that he does not 

intend to cut wages of those in the "lower 

brackets stars and creators who 

. 

have the foresight to cooperate in making 

fine pictures on a sound economic basis will 

find their future in this industry most secure." 

he predicted. 

i 

50-D 


UOMYWODP 

NEWS AND VIEWS OF THE PRODUCTION CENTER 

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

Studio, Union Leaders 

Called for Hearing 

HOLLYWOOD—Moves on two fronts 

gave 

optimistic observers of the film colony's labor 

strife new hopes that some satisfactory solution 

ultimately may be reached whereby 

the studio jurisdictional strike, now in its 

16th month, will come to an end. 

From Washington it was disclosed AFL 

leaders and top film executives have been 

summoned to attend a three-day hearing of 

a house labor subcommittee, under the chairmanship 

of Rep. Carroll D. Kearns, opening 

February 17. Scheduled to appear are 

Eric Johnston, William Hutcheson of the 

carpenters brotherhood, Herbert K. Sorrell 

of the striking Conference of Studio Unions, 

D. T. Wayne of the machinists, and studio 

toppers including Samuel Goldwyn, Barney 

Balaban, Harry Warner, Spyros Skouras. 

Nicholas Schenck, Jack Cohn, Nate Blumberg, 

Herbert J. Yates and N. Peter Rathvon. 

INITIATED SEVERAL OTHERS 

Kearns initiated several earlier attempts 

to bring peace to the industry, each of which 

resulted in failiu-e. 

Locally, two warring unions buried the 

hatchet when the lATSE and the brotherhood 

of electrical workers signed peace terms 

hailed by the lA's Roy Brewer and the 

electricians' George Mulkey as "one of the 

most important jurisdictional agreements in 

the history of the motion picture industry." 

Under the pact the lA will have control of 

handling and maintenance of sound recording 

equipment, while the installation, manufacturing 

and power supply units will be 

handled by the electricians group. 

The problem of jurisdiction had been one 

of the causes of the 1933 studio strike and 

had been the soiu-ce of continuous disagreement 

ever since. Pi-oducers also indicated 

their gratification at the solution to the 

dispute, With Charles Boren, MPAA vicepresident 

in charge of industrial relations, 

hailing the action as "important because if 

industrial peace is to be obtained between 

unions quarreling over jurisdiction, the better 

way for this to be accomplished is within 

the house of labor itself." 

SAG BLASTS TAFT LAW 

The Screen Actors Guild made its 

position 

regarding the Taft-Hartley law completely 

clear when the guild's executive committee 

made public a lengthy memorandum to its 

members, branding the legislation as an effort 

to "weaken the American free trade 

union movement." It could, the committee 

added, "result in making a mockery of guild 

shop and doing away with all the benefits 

actors have won through guild shop." It 

TOM AND JERRY HONORED—Fred 

C. Quimby (left), producer of MGM's 

Tom and Jerry cartoons, presents the 

grand prize award, won at the Brussels 

Film Festival, to his pen and ink stars as 

co-directoi-s, William Hanna and Joseph 

Barbera, look on. Award for the best cartoon 

of the year went to Tom and Jerry 

in "The Cat Concerto." 

charges the act is intended to favor the emnloyer 

against the union and attacks as 

"cumbersome" many other provisions. 

Approval of its constitution and bylaws 

highlighted the weekly meeting of the Hollywood 

AFL Film council, which is composed 

of 23 AFL unions and guilds with studio 

locals. 

Hugh Beaumont Will Tour 

With 'Money Madness' 

HOLLYWOOD~For the assistance of 

civic 

groups fighting juvenile delinquency in 22 

U.S. cities. Film Classics is arranging special 

showings of the Sig Neufeld production, 

"Money Madness," starting March 12. Hugh 

Beaumont, who stars, will make personal appearances 

with the screenings in such cities 

as San Francisco, Los Angeles, Portland. 

Seattle, Chicago, Salt Lake City, Kansas City, 

Philadelphia, Cleveland and Boston. 

Engineers Study Trucolor 

HOLLYWOOD—An exhaustive study ot 

Republic's Trucolor process highlighted a 

meeting of the Society of Motion Picture Engineers' 

Pacific Coast section, held at Republic 

studio. S. P. Solow presided. A Trucolor 

feature. "Along the Old Spanish Trail," 

was projected, and various phases of the 

process were described by Sam Cohen, color 

cordinator for Consolidated Film Industries; 

Jack Marta, Republic cinematographer; Dan 

Bloomberg, Republic sound director, and 

other technicians. 

Verdict for Teleiilm 

Set Aside by Court 

HOLLYWOOD—A $300,000 judgment rendered 

Telefilm, Inc., last December against 

Han-y M. Warner, president of Warner Bros., 

and 15 others as the result of a "business 

theft" suit filed in superior court was set 

aside when Superior Judge Charles S. Burnell 

ordered a rehearing on the grounds there 

were errors in the trial and an insufficiency 

of evidence. 

Telefilm charged Warner, John F. MacKenzie, 

general manager of the Hollywood Tm-f 

club, and other defendants with conspiring 

to steal its system of phot(^raphing horse 

races on 16nmi film to preclude disputes over 

winners. The defense contended Telefilm 

held no secret formula or process. 

Actress Maria Montez, who recently arrived 

at an out-of-court settlement in a suit against 

Universal-International and the Fairbanks 

Co. concerning her billing in "The Exile," 

took another legal whirl by filing a $400,000 

action against Producer Charles R. Rogers, 

charging breach of contract. She maintains 

Rogers hired her to star in "Queen of Hearts" 

in July 1946, but that the role never materialized. 

Miss Montez seeks $100,000 in salary, 

$100,000 for publicity she never received, 

$100,000 for an "interruption to her career," 

and $100,000 for 10 per cent of the proposed 

film gross, which she claims was promised 

her. 

James S. Burkett Augments 

Setup by Adding 12 Films 

HOLLYWOOD—James S. Burkett. Monogram 

and Allied Artists producer, has augmented 

his independent setup through the 

organization of James S. Burkett Corp., with 

a program of 12 pictures for 1948. Two 

will be for AA release, four for Monogram 

and the remainder to be distributed through 

other channels. 

Burkett has lined up six properties by 

Alfred Noyes as the nucleus of his program, 

including "The Highwayman," "Midnight 

Express." "The Walking SSiadows," 

"Beyond the Desert," "River of Stars" and 

"The Last 'Voyage." 

More Harry Popkin Product 

HOLLYWOOD — Harry Popkin. exhibitor 

and independent producer has reactivated 

Cardinal Pictures, his film-making unit, with 

the establishment of headquarters at Motion 

Picture Center. Associated with him are 

Leo C. Popkin. Joe Nadel and Maury Suess, 

with Irving Rubine in charge of publicity. 

A four-picture schedule, for an unselected release, 

is in preparation. 

BOXOFFICE :: February 14, 1948 

51

ITH a gesture unavoidably reminiscent 

of Don Quixote, Eric Johnston, 

president of the Motion Picture 

Ass'n of America, leveled a militant 

lance at Rev. William Howard Melish, chairman, 

International Council of American- 

Soviet Friendship, Inc. In a letter addressed 

to the Reverend Mr. Melish, and widely 

broadcast by Arch Reeve of the studio publicity 

directors' committee—perfectly cast to 

play Sancho Panza to Johnston's Quixote— 

the MPAA chieftain unrelentingly jousted 

over an issue of would-be censorship. 

It seems that Melish had made public a 

letter protesting the release of the upcoming 

20th Century-Fox feature, "The Iron Curtain," 

basing his beef on the claim that the 

picture would impair relationships between 

the U.S. and Russia. 

His lance honed to razor-shai-pness. Johnston 

informed the advocate of American 

Soviet friendship: 

"The screen is free in America. I intend 

to do everything within my power to keep it 

free. I am resisting and will continue to 

resist to any attempts dictate what appears 

or does not appear on the screen." 

The MPAA executive went on to recapitulate 

that seven years ago producers had been 

accused of war-mongering because they made 

some anti-Nazi subjects, and i-ecalled that 

in open hearings before a senate committee 

they were upheld in their insistence that 

they had the right to turn out celluloid on 

any subject, "free from dictation." Emphasizing 

that peace and friendship between 

Russia and the U.S. are greatly to be desired, 

Johnston nevertheless raised the question 

as to what, if anything, the organization 

of which Melish is chairman may be 

doing in the Soviet to promote such amicable 

relationships, and expressed doubt that any 

such action had been taken. 

After considerable more discussion along 

these lines, Johnston's missive to Melish concluded: 

"Just as I reject yoiu- protest, I must question 

the motives of the International Council 

of American-Soviet Friendship." 

One and all will heartily subscribe to and 

enthusiastically praise Johnston's declared 

determination continuously to resist "any attempt 

to dictate what appears or does not 

appear on the screen." 

But some may wonder why his "doing 

everything in his power" to keep the screen 

free is unfurled like a brave battle banner 

against so insignificant and so thoroughly 

discredited an adversary. It's open season on 

the Soviets, Communists and all of their 

fellow-traveler organizations in this country. 

To so vehemently reject an attempted 

from Melish seems rather 

censorship protest 

an obvious thing to do—and certainly one 

that will step on no influential toes. It might 

be considered more safe than courageous. 

Some may find it in their hearts to wish 

that Johnston, rather than leveling his 

Quixote-ish lance at Melish's minor windmills, 

could be comparably militant and outspoken 

when censorship comes from quarters 

infinitely more formidable and, perhaps, hazardous. 

And they are plentiful. 

For example, there's the recent case of the 

Catholic Legion of Decency and another 20th 

Century-Fox picture, "Forever Amber." Not 

only that picture was condemned by the 

CLOD, but certain eastern churchmen thi-eatened 

a long-term boycott against any theatre 

which played the film. And such action 

went virtually unchallenged, respite the fact 

that "Amber" bore the seal of approval oi 

the production code authority, an adjunct nf 

the MPAA. It was only after 20th Century- 

Fox had made changes in the film that it 

was elevated one notch, to "objectionable in 

part" in CLOD ratings. 

And comparable censorship situations 

could be listed ad infinitum and ad nauseum. 

If and when Johnston dons his shining 

armor and charges into the fray against 

that type of foe of freedom of the screenfoes 

with tender toes and no small amount of 

influence—then Sancho Reeve will have 

something of newsworthy importance with 

which to pelt the press. 

While on the subject of "objectionable in 

part" ratings by the aforementioned Catholic 

Legion of Decency, one cannot help but 

conjecture what the hatchetmen of that organization 

wlU do about MGM's Three 

Daring Daughters." That masterful Joe Pasternak 

production not only rates paeans of 

praise for its over-all productional and, entertainment 

values, but it is outstandingly 

wholesome. Its story in many facets is typical 

of countless delightfully salubrious American 

homes. 

It does, however, "accept divorce," and 

that's the heinous crime for which 20th Century-Fox's 

"Gentleman's Agreement" was 

relegated to CLOD's "Objectionable in Part 

limbo. "Agreement" so far has scored a tenstrike 

as concerns the year's best-picture 

kudos (the New York Critics' Award, Look 

Magazine's annual Achievement Award, etc.) 

and is an odds-on favorite to be comparably 

honored by the Academy of Motion Picture 

Arts and Sciences. 

Considering CLOD's dogmatic past performances, 

"Daughters" undoubtedly will be 

similarly censored. 

But that too-long-lived mentoring of some 

of Hollywood's best efforts are permitted to 

go unchallenged while the lances of the 

Quixotes gather rust in a safe, plush-lined 

industry armory. 

With "Blood on the Moon" (RKOi, "Blood 

on the Snow" (Eagle Lioni and "Kiss the 

Blood Off My Hands" lU-Ii listed an;îg 

upcoming features, Hollywood seems to have 

gone plasma-happy. At least it should still 

the voices of industry critics who constantly 

preach the need for new blood in production 

circles. 

Praise Pundit Perry Lieber informs that 

"RKO Radio is unlimbering some big guns 

in an extensive ad campaign for 'The Miracle 

of the Bells,' Jesse Lasky-Walter Mac- 

Ewen production." 

Bernic Kamins, the bashful boy blurber, is 

bringing up the rear with his air rifle. 

Order of Purple Heart 

To Celebrate Feb. 22 

HOLLYWOOD—Elaborate ceremonies in 

air command, as guest of honor and principal 

speaker. Vice-Admlral Calvin Duxgin will 

observance of the natal day of George Washington, 

founder of the Military Order of the 

Purple Heart, are being worked out by that 

order's motion picture chapter, under the 

supervision of John Ford, commander of the 

unit. Scores of film colony holders of the 

Purple Heart will attend a dinner meeting 

February 22 at the Masquers club, with Gen. 

George C. Kenny, chief of the U.S. strategic 

also be on hand, as will some 30 paraplegics, 

including chapter members who are still undergoing 

treatment at Birmingham veterans' 

hospital. 

Ford will be master of ceremonies and 

Pat O'Brien will serve as toastmaster. Other 

invited guests include Audie Murphy. Clark 

Gable, Tyrone Power, James Stewart, George 

Stevens, Cesar Romero, William Wyler and 

Brig. Gen. David L. Hill, of China's Plying 

Tigers. 

Frank Capra will be awarded the Order of 

the British Empire, highest honor given by 

England to a non-British subject, at ceremonies 

to be staged February 20 by the British 

United Services club. The award is in 

recognition of Capra's "conspicuous services 

during the war for the British government," 

when the producer-dii-ector served as assistant 

chief of the army pictorial service, the 

military unit in charge of all army photography 

and films. 

With high-ranking military figures on 

hand. Victory and American Defense medals 

were presented to 110 Paramount players and 

employes who served in World War II. Conducting 

the event was Maj. Gen. W. Melville 

Robertson, deputy commander of the Sixth 

Army, who presented a special citation to 

Marlene Dietrich "in grateful recognition 

for distinguished service in entertaining 

members of the armed forces overseas." 

Among award recipients were Frank Capra, 

Sam Briskin, George Stevens. Anatole Litvak, 

Eugene Zukor. Audie Muii>hy, Paul Lees, 

William Holden, Richard Webb, Mel Epstem 

and Jesse Lasky jr. 

Michael Curtiz to Hire 

'Dr. Christian' Scripter 

HOLLYWOOD — Winning contestant in 

this year's "Dr. Chi-istian" radio script contest 

will be given a three-month tryout as a 

screen writer by Michael Curtiz Pi-oductions 

in addition to a grand prize of $2,000 cash, 

the latter offered by the Chesebrough Co., 

sponsor of the airshow starring Jean Hersholt. 

Curtiz will also take an option on the 

prize-winning script for possible film production. 

The contest closes February 29. 

Hoot Gibson to Ride Again 

HOLLYWOOD — Hoot Gibson, veteran 

screen cowboy, will emerge from retirement to 

portray "The Deacon" in a new series of 

sagebrushers planned for production by Betty 

Sinclair, who for the last eight years has 

been an executive assistant to Sam Katzman, 

independent film maker releasing through 

Columbia. Shooting on the first of six subjects 

is slated to get under way next month 

for an as-yet unannounced release. 

52 


she keeps the romance running smoothly 

THE spell of this picture's song and 

story might suddenly be broken . . . but 

the show. By this painstaking care of 

film and unceasing effort to keep each 

for film row's "first lady," the exchange reel running smoothly, the inspectress 

inspectress. 

has earned a place of importance 

With unrelenting vigilance, she has behind the scenes of motion picture 

inspected every inch of film before each distribution. 

booking . . . checked it for worn perforations, 

And her work is all the more easily 

torn splices, and other signs of done for the quality and reliability she 

wear and tear that might hinder smooth finds in the release prints made on 

projection and mar the enchantment of Eastman film. 

EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY 

ROCHESTER 4, N. Y. 

J. E. BRULATOUR, INC., DISTRIBUTORS 

FORT LEE • CHICAGO • HOLLYWOOD 


" 

from 

STUDIO PERSONNEUTIES 

Barnstormers 

Columbia 

CHARLES STARRETT, GEORGE LLOYD and RUS- 

SELL MEEKER airlined to LouisviUe to start a personal 

appearance tour through the south, playing 

:h the showing 

Briefies 


ducmg. 

The supporTing cast includes 'Florence Lake, Dot 

Farley and Jack Rice 

Cleffers 

Republic 

AARON COPLAND was commissioned by 

Charles K. Feldman group write the score for 

to 

filmizalion of John Steinbeck's novel, "The F 

Pony 

Loanouts 


ved from Metro by 

featured role in 

Peabody and the Mermaid," which stars 

William Powell and Ann Blyth. 

Harold Hecht and Burt Lancaster's Norma Productions 

set a deal with Rccmpart Productions to 

borrow JOAN FONTAINE to star with Lancaster in 

the film version of the Gerald Butler novel, "Kiss 

thn Blood Off My Hands " 

Meggers 

Columbia 

WILL lASON was signed for the directorial stint 

on 'Rusty Take a Walk," next in the series of stories 

about a boy and his dog, featuring Ted Donaldson. 

Robert Cohn is the producer. 

Film Classics 

An adventure story tentalively titled "Jungle Fury" 

will be SIG NEUFELD's next production. To be 

filmed in Cineoolor, the picture will be directed by 

PETER STEWART. 

Metro 

deals with the life of the famed jockey. To 

Monogram 

WILLIAM BEAUDINE w 

bet." upcoming Charlie Chan film to s 

Winters, 


MICHEL KRAIKE 

"The Invisib' 

' 

Options 

Columbia 

Murder by Alpha 

The comedy lead in "I Surrender, Dear," which 

toplines David Street and Gloria lean, was assigned 

to DON MoGUlRE. Arthur Dreifuss will direct Sam 

Katzman's production. 

Replacing Maury Dexter in the serialization of 

"Superman" is TOMMY BOND. He joins a cast 

headed by Kirk Alyn, Noel Neil cmd Carol Forman. 

Sam Katzman is the producer. 

Eagle Lion 

Producer Walter Wanger signed RICHARD BASE- 

HART for one of the storting roles in "The Bastile, 

story of intrigue during the French Revolution, 

initial which will be Wanger's production at the 

studio. Anthony Mann will direct from a screenplay 

by Robert Kent. 

Film Classics 

will be made at the Churubusco studios in Mexico 

City. 

Metro 

Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon, with Jack Conway 

directing and Everett Riskin proaucing. 

Monogram 

DEANIE BEST gets the feminine lead in the upcoming 

Charlie Chan mystery, "Murder by Alphabet." 

lOHN ALVIN is slated for the romantic lead 

m this newest in the Charlie Chan series which 

stars Roland Winters. William Beaudine will direct 

ior Producer James S. Burkelt. VICTOR SEN YOUNG 

and MANTAN MORELAND step into their customary 

featured roles. 

ROD CAMERON was pacted to a new long-term 

contract by Allied Artists and is slated to star in 

" 

"Stampede, a novel by E. B. Mann. 

KANE RICHMOND was signed for the male lead 

in "Stage Struck," which Jeffrey Bernerd will produce. 

Additional castings for 'I Wouldn't Be in Your 

Shoes" include DONALD KERR, JOHN SHAY, STAN- 

LEY BLYSTONE, LAURA TREADWELL, PAUL BRYAR, 

WALLY WALKER, EDWIN PARKER, JOHN SHEEHAN 

and JOE BERNARD. 

CLAIRE TREVOR was signed by Producer-Director 

Roy Del Ruth to co-star with William Bendix in 

"The Babe Ruth Story," which will be released by 

Allied Artists. Miss Trevor will portrcfy Mrs. Ruth 

in the picture. 

Paramount 

RICHARD WEBB will play a featured role in "Isn't 

It Romantic," Daniel Dare's production which Norman 

Z. McLeod will direct, Veronica Lake, Mono 

Freeman and Billy De Wolfe are starred. 

Into the "Sorry, Wrong Numbei 

PEREZ, The Hal Wallis suspe: 

goes PEPITO 

Barbara Stanwyck, Burt Lancaster and Ann Richards. 

GEORGE STERN WENDELL COREY, KRISTINE 

MILLER and WILLIAM CONRAD joined the cast. 

A featured role in ""A Foreign Affair," starring 

Jean Arthur, Marlene Dietrich and John Lund, went 

to BERT MOREHOUSE. Billy Wilder is directing 

and Charles Brackett is the producer. 

RKO 

Joining Robert Mitchum and Barbara Bel Geddes 

in "Blood on the Moon" is GEORGE COOPER, 

Robert Wise is directing for Producer Theron Worth, 

Newest addition to the cast is RICHARD POWERS 

who will play the second roma"ntic lead. He was 

formerly known as Tom Keene. WALTER BRENNAN 

joined the cast m a supporting role 

GLORIA GRAHAME drew a top role with Maureen 

O'Hara and Melvyn Douglas in the romantic drama. 

FILM DIRECTOR HONORED—George 

Stevens (left), a lieutenant-colonel during 

World War 11, was among 110 members 

of the Paramount payroll to be 

awarded Victory and American defense 

medals in recognition of their services. 

Stevens is being presented the Victory 

medal by Major General W. Melville Robertson, 

deputy commander of the Si.\th 

army, as Marlene Dietrich looks on. She 

was given a special citation for her work 

in entertainment of troops overseas durthe 

war. 

Republic 

EDDY WALLER was handed the top comic spot in 

"Carson City Raiders," vnth Allan ""Rocky" Lone 

in the starring role, Yakima Canutt will direct for 

Producer Gordon Kay. The lemme lead was awarded 

to BEVERLY JONS. 

20th-Fox 

JUNE HAVOC wins a top spot in ""Burlesque," 

which will co-stoi Betty Grable and Dan Dailey, 

with Walter Lang directing for Producer George 

Russian character actor KONSTANTIN SHAYNE 

joins the cast of ""The Chair for Marin Rome." Robert 

Siodmak directs for Producer Sol Siegel, with 

Victor Mature co-starring with Conte. HOWARD 

FREEMAN was also added to the cast in a supporting 

part. 


DAN DURYEA was set for the heavy role in the 

film version of Henry Edward Helseths novel, ""The 

first Last Count." Picture will be the for Producer 

Jules Schermer under his recently signed contract. 

Into the "One Touch of Venus" cast went TOM 

CONWAY. 

for Castings "The Judge's Wife" included ROY 

TEAL, DAVID LEONARD, EDWARD EARLE and 

BEATRICE ROBERTS, Fredric March and Florence 

Eldridge have the starring roles. 

Comedian JOE BESSER was signed for "The Wonderful 

Race at Rimrock," which stars Donald 

O'Connor and Marjone Main, Leonard Goldstein 

IS the producer and George Sherman directs. 

SAM LEVENE checks in for a toplme role in 

is "The Saxon Charm." Claude Binyon directing 

the iilmizotion of Frederick Wakeman's novel for 

Producer Joseph Sistrom. 

Warners 

and JOAN WINFIELD joined the cast. 

Scrlpters 

ALEXIS SMITH, 

Columbia 

EDWARD HUEBACH will develop his own original, 

"Black Eagle, the Story of a Horse," as a forthcoming 

production on Robert Cohn's slate. 

The screenplay on the upcoming Rusty series film, 

"Rusty Takes a Walk, " will be written by ARTHUR 

ROSS. Robert Cohn is the producer. 

EARL SNELL checked in to develop his own original, 

"Crossroads of the West," as a forthcoming 

Durongo Kid western to be produced by Colbert 

Clark, 

EDWARD DEIN was signed to develop his own 

original, "The Lone Walt and His Lady," as the 

next in the Lone Wolf adventure series. Robert 

Cohn will produce. 

Republic 

The screenplay assignment on '"Federal Agents 

vs. Underworld, Inc.," one of four serial productions 

on the 1947-48 calendar, was handed to ROYLE 

COLE, BASIL DICKEY and SOL SHOR. Franklin 

Adreon is the associate producer, 

Universal-Intemaional 

BERNARD SCHOENFELD was signed to do a 

Polish and dialog job on the Henry Edward Helseth 

novel, "The Last Count," which Jules Schermer will 

Warners 

I. A. L. DIAMOND is developing an original screenplay 

to co-star Dennis Morgan and Jack Carson. 

Slated for Technicolor filming, the untitled yarn 

will be on Alex Gottlieb's production agenda. 

Story Buys 

Eagle Lion 

Hope of the Earth," the Margaret Lee Runbeck 

novel, was acquired for production by Lester 

Cutler. 

Film Classics 

Independent 

Marshall Grant secured the screen rights to "The 

Trimming of Goosie," an original by James Edward 

Signet Productions, headed by Irving Cummings, 

has purchased "The Pasadena Story" from Michael 

Curtiz Productions, Curtiz decided to relinquish the 

Leo Rosten original because he still has five properties 

to go before the cameras. 

Metro 


1... 

William Wright's produ slate. The story deals 

Paramount 

One of this season's top Broadway hits, "The 

Heiress," was purchased as a starring vehicle for 

Olivia de Havilland and the first directing-producing 

assignment for William Wyler. Written by Ruth 

Goodman and Augustus Goetz, the play's central 

character is a shy young heiress who is the object 

of contempt and pity by her cultured and intelliger.t 

father. 

Republic 

Sonya Morton's original, "Red Menace," which 

deals with factual material based on the operation 

of Communist-iront organizations, has been purchased. 


"Illegal Entry," a semidocumentary story which 

deals with the exploits of the Bureau of Immigration 

and its fight agomst illegal entry into the 

United States, was handed to Jules Schermer to 

develop and produce, with Art Cohn drawing the 

screenplay assignment. Howard Duff is slated to 

star in the yarn, which was written by Ben Bengal, 

Don Moore and Herbert Kline. 

Technically 

Columbia 

Technical crew assignments for "I Surrender, 

Dear" went to VINCENT FARRAR. cameraman; SAM 

NELSON, assistant director, and PAUL PALMENTOLA, 

art director. 

Jerome Thorns was named film editor on "Wild 

Fury." 

Monogram 

The production crew assembled for "Murder by 

Alphabet" includes WESLEY BARRY, assistatit; WIL- 

LIAM SICKNER, camera, and ACE HERMAN, cutter. 

Paramount 

RKO 

RUBY ROSENBERG was set as unit manager for 

"The Boy With Green Hair," with JIMMY LANE as 

first assistant director. Dialogue director will be 

DAN ULLMAN. The technical staff includes RUBY 

ROSENBERG, unit manager; JAMES LANE, first assistant, 

RALPH BERGER, art director; FRANK DOYLE, 

iilm editor; EARL WOLCOTT, sound engineer; and 

DAN ULLMAN, dialogue director. 

Republic 

WILLIAM BRADFORD draws the cameraman post 

-n "Carson City Raiders." JOHNNY GRUBBS was 

named assistant director and FRED RITTER art di- 

Universal-Intemational 

DR. GERALD BLANKFORT, brother of Michael 

Blankfort. who wrote the screenplay for "The Judge's 

.Vile," will serve as technical advisor on the pic- 

GILBERT KURLAND was handed a post as assistant 

to Production Manager James Pratt. 

First cameraman for Normct Productions' "Kiss 

the Blood Off Mv Hands" will be GREGG TOLAND. 

NATHAN JURAN has been engaged bv Producer 

to sets. set 

Richard Vernon desian the The key 

will be a portion of the London wharf area. 

Title Changes 

Republic 

United Artists 

Picture to Portray Career 

Of Founder of Red Cross 

HOLLYWOOD—"The Life of Henri Dunant," 

film biography of the founder of the 

Red Cross, has been set for production on an 

independent basis, for an unannounced release, 

by Edward Finney, with Stephen Marcus 

as his associate, John F. Link will direct, 

with camera work scheduled for next summer. 

In 1946 there were 11 nationwide film distributing 

companies in the U.S. 

HEADED FOR CUBA—Benedict Bogeaus, 

producer for United Artists, 

accompanied by his wife Delores Moran, 

is shown as they departed from Miami 

by Pan American clipper for a vacation 

in Havana, Cuba. 

Nasser Will Expend 

$500,000 on Studio 

HOLLYWOOD—Improvements and new 

installations costing nearly $500,000 are in 

the planning stage for General Service studio, 

rental lot owned and operated by James 

Nasser. The expansion and modernization 

program is slated to get under way shortly. 

Blueprints call for addition of new sound 

stages which will incorporate innovations in 

soundproofing of an experimental unit which 

will be devoted exclusively to the development 

of new ideas in methods to save time 

and money in production. 

Stockholders to Get Report 

In Motion Picture Form 

HOLLYWOOD—IWotion pictures are being 

put to new use through the disclosure that 

Wilding Pictm-es. producers of industrial subjects 

have been ticketed by the Union Oil Co. 

to turn out a film story of the firm's annual 

report to stockholders, employes and dealers. 

The 15-minute subject, combining live action 

and animation, will have Reese Taylor, 

Union Oil president, and the executive board 

in tfhe cast. 

Lew Landers, veteran director, has been set 

by Jerry Fairbanks Productions to pilot a 

series of television films, his initial assignment 

being to guide new issues in Fairbanks' 

"Public Prosecutor" series. At the same time 

Fairbanks, recently returned from New York, 

signed D. H. Johnson as a staff scenarist. 

Fairbanks spent nearly three weeks in IVTanhattan 

conferring with NBC executives concerning 

details of the recently signed pact 

whereby Fairbanks will produce video films 

for the network for the next five years. 

Columbia Gets 'Pasadena' 

HOLLYWOOD—A Columbia release has 

been secured by Signet Productions, headed 

by Irving Ciunniings. for "The Pasadena 

Story," a comedy by Leo Rosten. It is being 

scripted by Mel Shavelson. The Cummings 

unit recently completed "The Sign of the 

Ram" for Columbia distribution. 

Protestants Lay Plans 

For Studio Liaison 

HOLLYWOOD— Plans for a branch Office 

here to a-ssist studios in the correct interpretation 

of Protestantism on the screen were 

discussed with studio executives and religious 

leaders by Dr. Rome Betts, president of the 

Protestant Film commission. He planed in 

from New York to arrange details. 

Y. Frank Freeman, chairman of the board 

of the Ass'n of Motion Picture Producers, 

and Cecil B. DeMille wei'e among industry 

figures to participate in the luncheon meeting, 

which was attended also by Dr. Kennetlh 

Mann, Episocal minister; Dr. Louis H. Evans, 

pastor of Hollywood's First Presbyterian 

Church Federation of Los Angeles. 

Organized nearly two years ago, the PPC 

has a three-point program designed to present 

united Protestantism on a solid front. 

With the establishment of an office here, it 

hopes to: 

1. Be of service in counseling and cooperating 

with film studios in connection with 

pictures in which Protestantism is a theme. 

2. Establish a "recommendation and information" 

committee to review films and 

inform Protestant periodicals throughout the 

world of the type of product suitable for consumption 

by audiences of "high moral standards." 

3. Participate in the production of films 

for use in churches, possibly utilizing major 

studio equipment and players. 

Sears Asks for Teamwork 

Among Independent Units 

HOLLYWOOD—An appeal for unity of 

action by independent filmmakers to combat 

serious losses in foreign revenue and to 

study distribution patterns in the domestic 

market was voiced by Gradwell Sears, United 

Artists president, at a meeting of the Society 

of Independent Motion Picture Producers. 

At the session an eastern distribution 

committee was appointed to work in 

coordination with the SIMPP's executive 

committee on distribution and tax problems. 

Named to this group were Sears, James 

Mulvey, William B. Levy, Budd Rogers and 

Milton Kramer. 

The foreign situation came up for exhaustive 

discussion, as did the position of 

the independents in relation to the Jackson 

Park case in Chicago. 

In addition to SIMPP members, the meeting 

was attended by a number of producers 

affiliated with UA, who held a separate 

session following adjournment of the SIMPP 

conclave. At the latter huddle Sears reiterated 

UA is in a better position as to 

product now than at any time in recent 

months and indicated he probably would sel 

two or three more distribution deals with 

independent units before his return to New 

York. 

Jean Negulesco to 20th-Fox 

HOLLYWOOD—Jean Negulesco has signed 

a one-picture commitment with 20th-Fox to 

)3ilot "Roadhouse," upcoming Edward Chodorov 

production which will star Ida Lupino. 

The picture is slated to roll next month. 

Negulesco thus becomes the second director to 

leave Warners in recent weeks. Frederick 

de Cordova secured his release from the Burbank 

film plant recently and moved over to 

Universal-International. 

BOXOFFICE : : February 14, 1948 W 55

although 

^

East: George L. Bagnall, vice-president of 

United Artists, to Ottawa for conferences 

with C. D. Howe, minister of reconstruction, 

and Canadian industrialists. Bagnall will 

huddle with them on that coimtry's desire 

to interest Hollywood producers in utilizing 

Canadian locales in filming feature subjects, 

and will also discuss the possibility of Canada 

being given more newsreel coverage on 

American screens. The UA executive left 

shortly after the arrival in Hollywood of 

Gradwell Sears, company president, and Arthur 

Kelly, executive vice-president, for huddles 

with member-owTiers Mary Pickford and 

Charles Chaplin and conferences with various 

UA producers. On the Sears-Kelly agenda 

was attendance at a midweek meeting of the 

Society of Independent Motion Picture Producers. 

West: Herbert J. Yates. Republic president, 

and WilUam Saal, his executive aide, from 

New York, where they spent three w-eeks attending 

home office conferences. 

East: Pihppo Del Guidice, head of England's 

Pilgrim Pictm-es, to Manhattan, en 

route back to London, after a short business 

trip here. He is expected to return in April 

to round up American acting and technical 

talent for film comimitments abroad. 

East: Robert Goldstein, of the Universal- 

International home office, back to New York 

after a visit to the studio. 

East: David O. Selznick, accompanied by 

Ernest L. Scanlon, vice-president and treasurer 

of Vanguard Films, to New York for a 

series of huddles with SRO executives concerning 

releasing arrangements on two new 

Selznick 

productions. 

East: Bryan Foy. production chief of Eagle 

Lion, to Gothem for distribution conferences 

with President Arthur Krim and William 

Heinemann, newly appointed vice-president 

in charge of sales. 

East: Earl R. Beaman, assistant treasurer 

of Vanguard, the David O. Selznick company, 

and Maurie Janov. special assistant to 

E. L. Scanlon. SRO treasurer, to Manhattan 

for eastern business huddles. 

West: Si Seadler. Metro advertising manager, 

and Ernest Emerling, publicity-advertising 

director for Loew's theatres, in from 

New York for a look at upcoming Metro releases. 

Dorothy Lamour Toplined 

In Helen Morgan Story 

HOLLYWOOD—Carthay Productions has 

been organized as a new independent suit by 

Gregson Bautzer, attorney, in partnership 

with agent Joe Rivkin and scenarist Leonard 

Hoffman. The company's initial film, for 

which a 20th Century-Fox release has been 

.secured, will be a musical biography of Helen 

Morgan. Dorothy Lamour has title role. 

Dick Goldsworthy Transferred 

WENATCHEE. WASH.—Dick Goldsworthy 

has been transferred here from Everett by 

Evergreen Theatres to be assistant to Manager 

Morrie Nimmer at the Liberty. 


Six Films Are Nominated 

For Documentary Awards 

HOLLYWOOD—Three features and three 

shorts have been nominated for special documentary 

awards in the 20th annual Oscars 

sweepstakes to be staged March 20 by the 

Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. 

Selected by a special documentary committee 

comprising George Bilson, Leon Ames, 

Art Ar-thur, Saul Elkins, F. Hugh Herbert, 

WilUam Hornberg, Grant Leenhouts, William 

Cameron Menzies, Harriet Parsons and Sid 

Solow, the nominees are: 

Feature-length—"Journey Into Medicine," 

submitted by the office of information and 

educational exchange of the U.S. Department 

of State; "Design for Death," produced for 

RKO by Theron Warth and Richard O. 

Fleischer, and "The World Is Rich," entered 

by the British information service. 

Shorts—"First Steps," being made for tJie 

social affairs department of the United Nations, 

emphasizing social welfare work among 

handicapped children; "Passport to Nowhere," 

from RKO's This Is America series, 

outlining the plight of displaced persons in 

Europe; "The School in the Mailbox," entered 

by the Australian news and information 

bureau, showing how correspondence courses 

are conducted via radio and mail in remote 

parts of that continent. 

Republic Completes Eight 

Of 12 Top-Budget Films 

HOLLYWOOD—Eight of Republic's announced 

12 top-budget 1947-48 releases have 

been completed with the windup of camera 

work on "Moonrise," the- Charles K. Feldman- 

Mar.shaU Grant production. This backlog, 

studio spokesmen averred, gives the company 

its strongest lineup of unreleased properties 

in its 13-year history. 

Others awaiting release are "The Red 

Pony," "Macbeth," "I, Jane Doe," "Old Los 

Angeles," "The Inside Story," "The Gallant 

Legion" and "Bill and Coo." 

Installs New Screen 

DAYTON, WASH.—New projection 

lamps 

and a new screen are being installed in the 

Liberty Theatre, Manager W. G. Hughes reported. 

A REAL IRISH FEED—Corned beef 

and. cabbage was the specialty of the evening 

when Producer Barney Gerard 

hosted the press at the recent previev* 

in Hollywood of Monogram's "Jiggs and 

Maggie in Society," based on the George 

McManus comic strip. In this shot the 

strip's creator (left) chats with Gerard, 

Renie "Maggie" Riano and Joe "Jiggs" 

Yule. 

'Arch' Dual Opening 

Slated in Florida 

HOLLYWOOD— Although it is still kicking 

around plans for a star-studded opening 

in Paris, Enterprise has decided the 

world premiere of "Arch of Triumph," being 

released by United Artists, is to be staged 

in the U.S. The Ingrid Bergman-Charles 

Boyer co-starrer will have a dual opening 

February 17 at the Colony in Miami Beach 

and the Paramount in Palm Beach, and will 

be attended by dignitaries from political, 

social, business and theatrical circles. The 

date coincides with the 100th anniversary 

of the completion and rededication of the Arc 

de Triomphe in Paris. Following its premiere 

engagements, "Arch" will be booked 

in 12 other Florida cities. 

RKO's "If You Knew Susie," starring Eddie 

Cantor and Joan Davi.s, will be given its 

west coast premiere February 18 at the 

Golden Gate Theatre in San Francisco, with 

Cantor trekking north for a personal appearance. 

Apex to Film Six-Reeler 

For DuPont in 16mm 

HOLLYWOOD—Apex Pictures, 

commercial 

production unit headed by Jack Chertok, producer 

formerly associated with Hunt Stromberg, 

will launch production shortly on a sixreel 

industrial subject for E. L. du Pont de 

Nemom-s & Co., and designed for showings to 

du Pont's 80,000 employes throughout the 

U.S. The picture, Intended to improve management-labor 

relations, traces the company's 

history and development since it was launched 

in 1802. 

Chertok, with William Dutton and William 

Thiele as his associates, plans to film it both 

in Hollywood and the east, using established 

players in the required parts. Chertok also 

is active in entertainment film production 

and is readying a costume drama, "Hill of the 

Hawk," for early camera work. 

Martin Murray Productions, manufacturers 

of narrow-gauge celluloid for industrial 

and television use, has incorporated a subsidiary. 

Interstate Film Distributors, to handle 

release of a new series of video subjects 

which will go into work late this month at 

Nassour studios. The group, comprising eight 

films, wiU vary in running time from five to 

10 minutes and will be directed by Orville 

Stewai't. 

Film Luminaries Donate 

Art Work to Charity 

HOLLYWOOD—Film luminaries who have 

developed skill with the paint brush and 

drawing pencil are donating their oils, water 

colors, pastels, ceramics and other art forms 

to the first laj-ge-scale exhibit of its type. A 

week's showing of the work wUl begin February 

19, with proceeds from sales to be turned 

over to the United Nations Appeal for Children. 

Among those whose work will be displayed 

at the Hall of Art are Ruth Hussey, Lew 

Ayres. Jeanne Crain. Richard Conte, John 

Garfield. Lilli Palmer, Delmar Daves, Richai-d 

Whorf, Hurd Hatfield, EUa Raines, WiUiam 

Eythe. Nelson Eddy. Fred MacMurray, Jean 

Negulesco. Linda Darnell. Lionel Barrymore. 

Cornel Wilde. Ginger Rogers. Susan Peters. 

Edgar Bei-gen. Jane Wyman. Lynn Bari and 

Merle Oberon.

, Gate—Nighl 

Linda 

I 

Community Celebration for 

For Crest's First Birthday 

LONG BEACH, CALIF.—Fox West Coast 

made a community affair out of it when the 

Crest Theatre, the circuit's first prefabricated 

showcase, observed its first birthday. 

Manager Wally Smith supplied a three-layer 

cake to serve 1,500 patrons who attended the 

birthday matinee, with each customer also receiving 

a carnation. 

One of the honored guests was Mrs. Elva 

Green, who a year ago won a S500 prize for 

the best name for the theatre, submitted 

among 7,000 entries in a name contest. Mayor 

Chance of Long Beach was also a guest. 

Fox Intermountain Buys 

Theatre Site in Sidney 

SIDNEY, NEB.—Fox Intermountain Theatres 

has purchased a site fronting 53 feet on 

Illinois street for erection of a new theatre 

here. No immediate building plans were announced. 

Robert Selig, assistant to the president 

of Fox Intermountain, and Ray Davis, 

district manager, were here on several occasions 

looking over a possible new theatre 

site. Elmer Haines is the circuit's city manager. 

Ernest Clark. Amos Roberts 

Open Quonset in Molalla 

MOLALLA. ORE.—Ernest Clark and Amos 

Roberts have opened the 500-seat MolaUa 

Theatre. It is a quonset construction. Program 

changes are being made on Friday, Sunday 

and Tuesday and shows are continuous 

on Sunday. The price scale is 50 cents for 

adults and 20 cents for children. 

GUARANTEED POPCORN 

AND SUPPLIES 

Western Division Manager 

HE 7528 Los Angeles 7. Colil. 

FOR SPECIAL 

LOS ANGELES 

pzra Stern, Filmrow attorney, pulled out for 

New York and Washington. In the nation's 

capital he planned to attend supreme 

court hearing on the government's antitrust 

action against the major companies . . . Ben 

Ash, branch manager for National Screen 

Service, will be among those attending a 

western division meeting of the outfit in 

Dallas February 26-27. The session was 

called by George Dembow, NSS sales chief, 

and Bernie Wolf, coast district manager. 

On leave of absence as Paramount's Denver 

branch manager, Chet Bell is seriously ill in 

St. Joseph's hospital, Burbank. He was 

branch chief locally from 1943 to 1945. He 

was given leave four months ago because of 

illness . . . Fox West Coast's Guild in Hollywood 

tied in with National Boy Scout week 

when Manager Dick Pritdhard had Irwin 

Bruni. scoutmaster of Troop 111, Hollywood, 

appear on the stage along with Joe Kirkwood, 

star of Monogram's "Fighting Mad." 

Funeral services were to be held February 

14 in Milwaukee for Mrs. Bert Pirosh, wife of 

the West Coast film booker. She died here 

at Cedars of Lebanon hospital after a short 

illness . . . Beginning February 19 and continuing 

through the local visit of the Freedom 

train, scheduled to arrive February 23 for 

a three-day stay, local theatres will screen 

a documentary, "Our American Heritage," 

narrated by Gregory Peck. Charles Skouras 

and Bob Poole are co-chairmen of the exhibitors 

committee in charge of the event. 

Variety Presents Projector 

To Institute for Boys 

LOS ANGELES—Variety Club Tent 25 

donated 

a motion picture projection machine 

and .sound equipment to the Vocational Institute 

for Boys in Lancaster. Calif. The 

equipment, which will be installed without 

charge by RCA, was given to Tent 25 by Fox 

We.st Coa.st and the Metzger-Srere Theatres. 

SHOWS TRY 

sPECini 

TRHILERS 

r V ^ 

We Make 'em Better ond Quicker! | 

Los Angeles Office Now Open 

1574 W. WASHINGTON BLVD. 

'Walk Alone' Proves 

Holdover in Denver 

DENVER—"I Walk Alone" was good enougth 

at the Denham to be held over. 


Aladdm—Sleep, My Love (UA); Stork Biles Man 

t. (UA), 3rd d. wk 

Denham— I Walk Alone (Para) _ 

110 

150 

Denver and Esquire—You Were Meant lor Me 

(20th-Fox): Slippy McGee (Hep) 130 

Orpheum—The Secret Liio ol Walter Mitty (RKO): 

Green lor Danger (EL), Znd wk 90 

Paramount and Webber— Relentless :C:\'- Campus 

Honeymoon (Rep) 130 

Riallo—Treasure ol Sierra Madre V. r : 

Good (EL), 4th d. 

Tabor City ol Missing Girl: 

(SR), 

Be 

Sell My Life 

Only Three New Offerings 

In Los Angeles; Trade Show 

LOS ANGELES—Only three new bills made 

their appearance in local firstrun situations 

and the predominance of holdovers contributed 

to slow business generally. Topper of 

the week was "A Double Life," carding 140 

per cent in five houses. "Gentleman's Agreement," 

"The Bishop's Wife" and "Mourning 

Becomes Electra" were still pulling well 

after seven weeks at advanced prices. 

Belmont. El Hey, Orpheum, Vogue—The Smugglers 

(E-L); Untamed Fury (E-L) 125 

Beverly, Fox Palace Gentleman's Agreement 

(20th-Fox), roadshov^, 7th wk 100 

Carthay—The Bishop's Wile (RKO), roadshow 

7th wk 90 

Chinese, Loyola, State, Uptown-^Relentless 

(Col); Politics Smart (Mono). 2nd wk 100 

Guild, Ritz, Studio City, United Artists— 

Iris, 

A Double Lile (U-I), 7th wk - 140 

Downtown, Hollywood Poramounts-1 Walk 

Alone (Para), 2nd wk; Blonde Savage (EL) 110 

Egyptian, Los Angeles, Wilshire—Coss Timberlane 

..._ 

(MGM), 3rd wk. _ 100 

four Star—Mourning Becomes Electra (RKO), 

roadshow, 7th wk 90 

Four Music Halls—Sleep, 90 

My Love (UA), 2nd wk. 

Pantages, Hillstreel—To the Ends ol the Earth 

Col), Blondie in the Dough (Col), 2nd wk 100 

Warnprs Downtown, Hollywood, Wiltern— 

My Girl Tisa (WB) 125 

"Madre' and 'Sleep' Open Strong 

But "Agreement' Still Leads 

SAN FRANCISCO—Big opening weeks were 

enjoyed by "Treasure of Sierra Madre" at the 

Paramount and "Sleep, My Love" at the 

United Artists, but the big attraction among 

the downtown cinema palaces last week was 

still "Gentleman's Agreement." In its second 

week at advanced prices it did 300 per 

cent of average business. 

Squire—Elephant Boy (FC); Jungle Slave Girl 

(FC), reissues - IIC 

-Cass Timberlane (MGM), 2nd wk 120 

Golde 

Song (RKO), plus stage show. 

2nd 

Orpheum— A Woman's Vengeance (U Mary Lou 

(Col) 

Panrao nv Treasure ol Sierra Madr. 

St Frc;, Road lo Rio - ;- 

- 

; ; 

State— 1 Walk Alone . : ; Vacati 

(Mo 

130 

s—Sleep, My Love lUA) 

United Nations Gentleman's Agreement 

(20th-Fox), 2nd wk., advanced prices 300 

Warlield-The Secret Lile ol Walter Mitty (RKO); 

Perilous Waters (Mono) 100 

"Timberlane' Scores 180 

For Top Seattle Rating 

SEATTLE — "Cass Timberlane" moved into 

town to hit an excellent 180 at the Music 

Hall. "Ti-easure of Sierra Madre" lived up 

to raves by local critics and turned in a neat 

150 at the Orpheimr. 

Blue Mouse—Road lo Rio (Para), 5th d. t. wk 120 

Fiith Avenue—You Were Meant for Me (20th-Fox) 

Roses Are Red (20th. Fox) 

Liberty—Relentless (Col) .. 

Music Box—Sleep, My Love iJA Big Town Aitei 

Dark (Para), 2nd d j v. k 

Music Hall Cass Timberlane ,M>iM 

GrFheum-^-Treasure ol Sierra Madre (WB) 

Pnloma;- Killer McCoy (MGM) Smart Politics 


. 

the 

I 

quent 

\ More 

! run 

. Operators 

Sign Pact, 

Get 20 Cent Raise 

LOS ANGELES — Culminating negotiations 

launched nearly a year ago, Moving 

Picture Machine Operators Local 150 approved 

a new contract with the major local 

theatre circuit-s calling for a 20-cent hourly 

wage increase and providing- for arbitration 

of all disputes. The pact is retroactive to 

July 1, 1947. 

The new firstrun scale is $2.55 houi'ly, with 

firstrun week set at 36 hours. Subserun 

houses will have a 42-hour week. 

than 100 theatres are involved in the 

arrangement, including Fox West Coast, 

Warners, the four Music Halls, the two first 

Paramounts, the Hillstreet and Pantages. 

Negotiations had been deadlocked for several 

months before Richard Walsh. lATSE 

president, worked out a new series of meetings 

with representatives of the circuits involved. 

County Planners Probed 

Over Rebuff to T&D Jr. 

SANTA CLARA, CALIF.—The board of 

supervisors has started a probe of the county 

plannir^ commission to ascertain why the 

group refused to issue a permit to T&D Jr. 

Enterprises for a million dollar drive-in development 

near here. A drive-in theatre was 

to be part of the development and T&D has 

received a traffic control pei-mit from the 

state, Raymond Callaghan, attorney for the 

circuit, told the board of supervisors. He demanded 

to know why E. O. Wool, chairman 

of the planning board, had asked the district 

attorney to check the company's holdings 

with the Department of Justice antitrust division. 

The board of supervisors said it could 

see no objection to the development and 

started looking into the planning board's 

action. 

Story of Associated Press 

To Be Made by Columbia 

HOLLYWOOD—The history of 

the Associated 

Press will be brought to the screen for 

Columbia release by Tony Owen, former Chicago 

newspaperman. A share of the film's 

profits will be turned over to AP for its employes 

pension fund. 

New in preparation, the script will be based 

in part on "Barriers Down," by Kent Cooper, 

AP general manager; "AP, the Story of the 

News," by Oliver Gramling, and on research 

material provided from AP's own sources. 

To Build Quonset Theatre 

SAN FRANCISCO—Alexander A. Cantin 

and A. Mackenzie Cantin. San Fi-ancisco theatre 

architects, have completed plans for a 

500-seat quonset-type house to be built in 

Saratoga, Cahf., by Nason Shaw. The theatre 

will include stores and an apartment and 

is estimated to cost $50,000. 

Remodel Hatch Drive-In 

HATCH, N. M.—The drive-in theatre here 

is being remodeled in preparation for an 

April opening. Wilson Butler, manager of 

the Mission, said the showplace would be 

equipped with in-car speakers and ramps for 

cars, the walls would be built up and the 

screen refinished. 

Cuba Has 484 Theatres Operating 

With Total of 308Al 2 Seats 

NEW YORK—Cuba has 484 theatres with 

an aggregate seating capacity of 308,412 currently 

in operation, according to an MPAA 

theatre directory compiled from data furnished 

by member companies operating in 

that country. 

The city of Havana has 90 theatres with a 

total seating capacity of 92,862. Approximately 

95 per cent of Cuban theatres show 

United States product on a part-time or fulltime 

schedule. Over three-fourths of the 

The 

theatres operate under a double feature 

policy. 

The directoi-y is accompanied by two summaries, 

one an over-all compilation and the 

other broken down into details for each of 

the nation's six provinces. In addition to 

Havana, the provinces are: Camaguey, Las 

Matanzas, Oriente and Pinar del Rio, 

Villas, 

There are 15 circuits, seven of them in 

Havana.

Mormon), 

. . . Mike 

. . Pauline 

. . Arthur 

. . Milt 

., . 

i 

Ward Houses in Salt Lake District 

Have Substantial Film Patronage 

SALT LAKE CITY—The recent Motion 

Picture Ass'n of America directory of theatres 

in this exchange area does not give a 

true picture of the situation in Utah and 

Idaho, Tracy Barham, vice-president and 

general manager of Intermountain Theatres, 

Inc., pointed out, in that it does not list the 

niunber of ward houses showing pictures in 

the area. 

By actual figures of the Church of Jesus 

Christ of Latter Day Saints there 

are 13 ward houses in Salt Lake City alone 

with 35mm equipment. Barham said. He 

pointed out that these ward house shows, 

generally operated once or twice a week, are 

in direct competition to theatres in the city 

and region. While they do not get pictures 

first run, their clearance time, in some cases, 

is ahead of the neighborhoods. 

The church shows are run for ward maintenance 

and equipping of basketball teams 

and to defray expenses of dramatic productions. 

Barham emphasized that relations 

between commercial houses and the ward 

theatres have always been of the best. 

There are approximately 31 ward houses 

Theatre Near Completion 

In Oregon Village of 185 

ADRIAN. ORE.—This community has a 

population of only 185 people but it will have 

a motion picture theatre of its own beginning 

March 1. Raymond H. Holly, who is now 

putting the finishing touches on his $30,000 

Holly Theatre, is banking on support from 

the 2,500 people who live within a radius of 

five miles of town. 

It will be as fine a theatre as is boasted 

by many a larger city. The building is 

36x90 feet, built of cinder block. It will have 

Mueller heating and air conditioning. The 

auditorium walls are covered with acoustipulp 

plaster and the ceiling with tile. There is a 

spacious lobby. 

The house has been outfitted by Service 

Theatre Supply of Salt Lake City with Simplex 

projectors and Motiograph sound. 

Westside Theatres to Open 

Gustine House March 1 

SAN FRANCISCO — West.side Theatres, 

Inc., which recently purchased the interest of 

Al Lam-ice in the Park and Menlo theatres 

in Menlo Park and the California in Palo 

Alto, is remodeling and redecorating the old 

Victoria Theatre in Gustine and will reopen 

it March 1 as the Valley. 

The circtiit also is remodeling the Menlo 

and will reopen it on a foreign run policy. 

Hal Honore, recently with Golden State 

Theatres, has been named manager of the 

theatres. 

Empire Theatr'ual Consultants 

Exclusive distributors for Pobloclci & Sons Pre- 

(Jesioncd TliMlrcs, Fronts. Boxoffices. Poster 

C.nses. etc. 323 to 689 seat houses. Immediate 

925 21st St. TAbor 4962 Denver. Colo. 

in the state of Utah including the 13 in Salt 

Lake City, with 35mm equipment. In many 

communities the meeting houses are the only 

places for showing pictures for miles around. 

Barham said he believes 500 each would be a 

conservative estimate on the seating capacity 

of the 31 chapels. In addition, there are several 

meeting houses in Idaho, where 35mm 

is film shown. The ward motion picture supervisors 

purchase their- film for Utah and 

Idaho showings from exchanges in Salt Lake. 

In addition to the 35mm. many other wards 

have 16mm equipment. The church sells 

much of the film for this equipment through 

its own outlet. 

Barham believes that figuring 500 for each 

of the ward houses in Utah showing 35mm 

film would increase the state's seating capacity 

by at least 15,000 beyond the 193,037 

carried as the area's seating capacity in the 

MPAA directory. He said the number of 

chapels in which 16mm films are shown would 

increase even this figure, giving an over-all 

total of close to 245,000. 

Barham pointed out that this situation is 

unique in the United States. 

Agitate for New Theatre 

PORTERVILLE, CALIF.—The Chamber of 

Commerce here is attempting to get a new 

theatre for the town. M. L. Grimsley, secretary-manager 

of the chamber, has written 

to Principal Theatres of Los Angeles, operators 

of the present theatres here, asking them 

if they are planning a new house soon. If 

not, Grimsley said, the chamber will try to 

get someone else to build. Principal Theatres 

has talked of a new theatre here for a year, 

but so far has taken no steps to get one 

built, 

the chamber complains. 

Remodeling Midway 

BURLINGTON, COLO —Extensive renovation 

of the Midway Theatre here is tmder 

way, according to Neal Beezley, manager. 

Gradual improvements have been made over 

the last few months, and workmen this month 

are remodeling the lobby, installing a new 

boxoffice, display boards, neon lighting fixtures 

and a snack bar. In the spring, the 

auditorium will be gone over completely. 

Odle House Spruced Up 

NORWOOD, COLO.—Extensive improvements 

are being made by James O. Odle at 

Buys Cortland Theatre 

SAN FRANCISCO — Robert Gingerich, 

operator of the Sunset Theatre, has purchased 

the local Cortland from Herbert Harris. 

The change in ownership took place 

January 1. J. Leslie Jacobs was the broker. 

Jacobs also handled the sale recently af the 

Shastona Theatre in Mount Shasta to Walter 

Pi-eddy and Richard Nasser. 

DENVER 

êwly elected officers of the Rocky Mountain 

Screen club are: Robert C. Hill, 

president: Pat McGee and William Agreni 

vice-presidents; Kenneth Mackaig, secretary, 

and William Dollison, treasm-er. Directors 

include Robert W. Selig, Ralpii J. 

Batschelet, A. P. Archer, Joe H. Dekker, Robert 

J. Garland, Mayer Monsky, William Hastings 

and Joe Stone. Committees will be announced 

next week. 

Mr. and Mrs. Harry Huffman, after spending 

a couple of weeks in Florida, went to 

California for a further vacation . . . Jack 

Copeland, manager of the Rialto, was elected 

president of the Denver Pilots club . . 

Ray Milland and Gary Cooper, after finding 

no snow at Sun Valley, came to Aspen, Colo., 

to get in some skiing . . , Sam Rosenthal, 

owner of the Bison, Buffalo, Wyo., was in 

on his way to Chicago on a business trip. 

John Wolfberg, president of Rocky Moimtain 

Allied, went to Washington to attend 

Allied board meetings . . . Charles Walker,: 

20th-Fox district manager, was in duringi 

the week ... It is reported that L. L. Dent, 

owner of Westland Theatres, is improving 

in Phoenix, where for some time he was very 

ill. He has left the hospital and taken an 

apartment. 

Ted Knox of Service Theatre Supply has 

returned i 

from Lordsbiu-g where he installed 

599 seats in the new Coronado, just opened 

by Mrs. S. E. AUen . Overman, Eagle 

Lion publicity man, was in on publicity for 

"T-Men" at the Denver and Webber . . . Affiliated 

Enterprises, the original bank night 

company, is being dissolved. 

; 

Frank Westbrooke, Paramount salesman in 

the Omaha territory, has been transferred to 

this area and will handle the northern route 

... In a letter to the Paramount exchange 

Orin J. Sears of the Apache, Elida, N. M., ; 

gave the inspection and shipping department ; 

a pat on the back with: "It's always a pleas- , 

ure to run a Paramount film—it's always in 

such fine shape" . J. Fountain isi 

reopening the Fountain at Mesilla, N. M 

': 

While he was in the armed forces he left 

the house closed. He uses mainly Spanish 

( 

' 

and Mexican product. , 

. 

. 

Chet Bell, Paramount manager on leave of 

absence, is back in the hospital in California 

Hall, Paramount secretary, 

stayed home for a week with the flu . 

Don 

at 

and Sally Smith have adopted twinj 

girls, Cynthia and Sandra. He is city man-'! . 

ager for Fox Intermountain at Longmont : 

i 

Zalesny, city manager at Las Vegas 

for Fox Intermountain, was operated on at 

St. Anthony's hospital here. 

Hearing that the Christian Science societyl 

the Mesa Theatre. Top corners of the false 

front have been cut away and windows on 

the west side boarded up. A 

was without a properly heated meeting place/] 

compogjtion 

siding will be put on the building- and 

Henry Westerfield, city manager at 

a"ârquee 

will be added in front. Odle also has 

Cruces, N. M., offered them the use of the| 

plans for remodeling and redecorating the Rio Grande Theatre Sunday mornings 

interior. Two old buildings next to the theatre 

Exhibitors seen on Filmrow: Kemiey Powell I 

aje to be razed. 

Wray; Neal Beezley. Burlington: Leon Coul-| 

Loveland: Sam Rosenthal, Buffalo, Wyo 

ter, 

and Archie Goldstein, 

I^^ 

ZT 

Strassburg. 

W Brenkert P 

I 

USAIRCo. 

|^_B.^ 

I WESTERN SEF SERVICE & SUPPLY, INC. 

I 2120 Broadway . 

Jke e041 

Denver 2. ColoJB "'

:: the 

, machine. 

, 

decorating 

, 

PLAINS, 

, . . Nat 

. , . Also 

. . Earl 

. . "Handsome" 

. . Penny 

. . Betty 

. . John 

. . Randy 

. . . The 

. . . The 

. . James 

. . The 

. . Florence 

SAN FRANCISCO 

psmond Parker, president of the Consolidated 

Amusement. Co.. was scheduled to return 

to his home in Honolulu the middle of this 

month after several months here on business 

Blumenfeld of the Blumenfeld circuit 

shot a hole-in-one last week at Lake 

Merced. 

Paul David, district manager for Blumenfeld 

in Sacramento, was in town last week 

coming in for home office conferences 

was Eddie Coffey, district manager in 

Napa . 

Long, managing director of 

the Paramount Theatre, is taking the increase 

in the price of a haircut to heart. He had 

his hair cut short. It brought out the bald 

spot and his nine-year-old son Richard now 

insists on blowing on the spot. 

"Treasure of Sierra Madre" doubled average 

in its opening week at the P>aramount, 

giving that theatre one of its biggest weeks 

of the season . postcards were sent 

by the Telenews Theatre to all advertising 

agencies in town uiîng them to see bhe 

March of Time release, "Public Relations— 

" 

This Means You." 

Ij")! Mary Yerman, ledger clerk at Paramoimt 

>' exchange. v;as married February 8 . . . Andy 

Larson, head shipping clerk at Columbia, is 

the daddy of a baby girl Williams 

left Columbia to return college, Marie 

to 

Brainerd is taking over his work 

7 is stenographer at Columbia Venita Fussell, 

^ formerly of Monterey . Thege replaced 

Grace Bowman at the bookkeeping 

Grace is now assistant cashier, 

"" 

replacing Helen Kerr, who left Columbia to 

work with her husband. 

Mel Klein is back at his desk at Columbia 

after a short bout with the flu . . . Phil Weinstein. 

Columbia salesman, is resting easier 

these days. His little boy who was hit by a 

car is on the road to recovery Randolph 

was in from his Orinda Theatre to do 

. 

some booking so he can get away on a short 

vacation Niffen was along 

. 

Row saying hello. Niffen. w"ho formerly 

t i was on the Row was down from Seattle for 

Mi ! 

the U-I conference. 

A Chronicle colninnist comes up with the 

"'' i 

information that Irving M. Levin, who op- 

crates the Artvogue, is no relation to Irving 

] 

'^l 

*'' M. Levin who owns a company that makes 

Joseph Blumenfeld and 

Artvogue shirts . . 

Robert L. Lippert, local circuit operators, and 

Louis Kaliski. Oakland businessman, have 

purchased the old El Cerrito dog track and 

'/ reports are that the 30-acre tract will be developed 

for a drive-in theatre and shopping 

center. The area would have to be rezoned 

«!& before the development takes place. 

Manager Russell Wheeler is preparing a 

direct-mail campaign throughout the Marina 

district informing the public of the Metro's 

acquisition of new seats. Wheeler's copy 

line: "Your most comfortable evening's entertainment 

is coming." He's putting in 400 

rocking-chair style 

the lobby. 

seats in the loges and re- 

J New Heating in Plains, Mont. 

MONT.— Carl Richard.son has installed 

a new heating plant in his Liberty 

Theatre here. 

il 

Australians Expect 

Rank Investment 

The Sydney Morning Herald says: "We 

seem to detect a note of desperation in the 

action of a city picture theatre which suspected 

that people weren't taking enough 

notice of its advertising hoardings. For the 

new show, some of the posters have been 

pasted upside down, and the management is 

anxiously checking the number of people who 

ring up to report the 'mistake.' " 

David Hersh Drops His 

Partnership With Rogell 

HOLLYWOOD—David Hersh resigned as 

president of Gibraltar Productions, independent 

unit he formed recently in partnership 

with Albert S. Rogell. He ascribed his 

departure to "the pressure of outside business." 

Rogell assumes the presidential post 

and will continue with the company's announced 

slate of six features. 

Three-Way Job on 'Love' 

For Robert Montgomery 

HOLLYWOOD—Following completion of his 

starring role in "The Saxon Charm." Robert 

Montgomery will produce, direct and star in 

"Come Be My Love." to be turned out by 

Montgomery's Neptune Productions for U-I 

release. The comedy is based on a story by 

Robert Carson. 

UA to Release 'Affair' 

HOLLYWOOD—Release through United 

Artists has been secured for "Innocent Affair." 

first picture to be turned out by the 

newly-organized James Nasser Productions. 

Nasser has signed Fred MacMurray to star 

and borrowed Lloyd Bacon from 20th-Fox to 

direct. The yarn is an original by Lou Breslow 

and Joseph Hoffman. Nasser headquarters 

at General Service studio, recently purchased 

by him and a group of brothers. 

SEATTLE 

. . . University 

. 

geles . . . 

Joe Lanier of U-Is publicity department is 

By WILLIAM BEECHAM 

renewing old friend.ships in town 

of Washington's Film club has 

Australian Bureau. Boxoffice 

PERTH. W. A.Ît is officially reported that 

launched a nine-unit series of old comedies 

for weekly showings on the campus. Included 

Maj. Reginald Baker, a senior executive of 

Rank are Charlie Chaplin's "The Tramp" and 

the J. Arthur organization in London, other Admission the complete 

oldies. 

on the way to Australia, bringing plans for 

investment pounds 

group 

is $1.50 for 

O'Connell of the State, 

is 

the 

Spokane, lined up seven jewelry stores for 

of millions of of 

British capital in the Australian film industry. 

tieups on "Her Husband's Affairs." 

Indeed, it is freely stated that the 

Rank organization plans to spend more than 

Seven Evergreen executives are back from 

$1,562,500 in Australia during the current 

the National Theatres convention in Los An- 

year. Most of this expenditiu-e. it is thought, 

Dan Redden, manager of the Paramount, 

will be on the extension of the Pagewood 

(Sydney) studios, with the possible erection 

of even further studios in the Sydney area. obtained a loving cup from Robert 

Mitchum and used it on a local radio swing 

However, a production schedule of four pictures 

contest to get a lot of publicity on "Out of 

a year, costing a total of $4,677,500. the Past " British release, "The Great 

also 

is mentioned by persons who should be in Handel" has finished a fair engagement on 

the know. 

Metropolitan the screen. 

. . Dick 

. . Passing 

. . 

. . Joe 

. . 

At U-I WESTERN MEETING—William A. ScuUy (center), Universal-International 

vice-president and general sales manager, presides at the western division sales 

meeting in San Francisco. In the picture are, left to right, Barney Rose, district manager: 

John .Foseph, national director of advertising and publicity; C. J. Feldiman, 

western division manager; Scully; E. T. Gomersall, his assistant; Foster Blake, Los 

Angeles district manager, and Ray Coyle of the contract department of the New York 

office. 

LOS ANGELES 

r* E. Parker, northern division head for 

Alexander Film Co., arrived by plane from 

the home office in Colorado Springs to confer 

with Colin Dexter, California general 

district manager. Parker will host a testimonial 

dinner for Ray Winters. Boice Canon 

and Kermit Graybill, comprising Baxter's 

southern California sales force. 

Mrs. Inez Johnson, 82, mother of Earl 

Johnson of Co-operative Theatres, died January 

30 ... J. E. Moore of the Pal in Midland 

was in for confabs with Harry Rackin 

of Exhibitors Service . . . Monogram's exploitation 

chief, Jim Schiller, planed to Dallas, 

where he will handle the world premiere 

of "Panhandle." 

On the sick list was Harold Michaelson, 

Filmack Trailer artist . . . Robert Lippert, 

vice-president of Screen Guild, was in from 

San Francisco for home office huddles. 

Lippert announced that he has disposed of 

his Centre Theatre in San Francisco to 

Herbert Rosener under a long-lease deal. 

Rosener, who operates four foreign picture 

houses here, will institute a .similar policy 

in his new Bay City showcase. 

Murray Becker, assistant manager of Eastland's 

Brooklyn, ran away with top honors 

in the recent March of Dimes collection contest 

. . . Arthur Ungar of Popper's Supply 

was down from San Francisco for meetings 

with Harry Taylor, Popper representative 

here . Lammucci and his son Roy, 

Granada, Bakersfield, were on the Row for 

some booking and buying. 

. 

Paramount's salesman Bob Clark is home 

from his Arizona sales trip out 

cigars for the usual reasons was Charles 

Harris of the Union Theatre. It was a boy, 

born February 4 . . . Doris Deen is the new 

contract clerk at Film Classics . . . Al Blumberg, 

National Screen salesman, was prepping 

for an Arizona sales junket. 

Jay Berger of the Valley in Camarillo was 

booking at the Monogram exchange . 

Hugh Bruen of the 'Whittier, 'Whittier, left 

for Seattle, where he has other theatre in- 

P 

, fo, Quick Aclionl 

TH EATRE 

THEATRE EXCHANGE CO. 

201 Fine Arts BIdg. Portland 5, Orejon 

i^ 

. England, Whittier manager, 

terests 

was on the Row booking and buying . 

Film Classics' manager from San Francisco, 

Fred Abelson, was on the Row . . . Lewis 

Wutke of the Penco Supply Co. reports 

that DeVry projector equipment has been 

installed in the Orthopedic hospital and the 

Blessed Sacrament church here recently. 

Thomas R. Lancaster, office manager for 

the Filmack Trailer Co., was married February 

6 tj Helen Ruth Witwer in Hollywood. 

SCTOA Appoints Group 

To Probe 16mm Activities 

LOS ANGELES—To combat the growing 

problem of 16mm competition, the Southern 

California Theatre Owners Ass'n has appointed 

a special committee to investigate 

the situation. Chairman of the group is E. S. 

Calvi, with Burton Jones, James Loomos, 

Mort Goldberg and Sid Kurstin as committee 

members. 

In a special bulletin to SCTOA members, 

Paul Williams, general counsel, requested exhibitors 

to notify the committee of any 16mm 

competition in their areas, including details 

as to the picture, the producer, the operator 

or sponsor of the showing. 

Charles F. Stahl Opens 

Rainbow in Carmichael 

CARMICHAEL. CALIF. — The Rainbow, 

first motion pictiu-e house in this area, was 

with Stahl and his wife doing much of 

opened Febniary 2 by Charles F. StaJil. It 

is a fireproof building, seating 350, and was 

erected at a cost of about $35,000. The building 

has been more than a year in construction, 

the work themselves. 

Plan Palmdale Theatre 

PALMDALE, CALIF. — Plans have been 

drawn by S. Charles Lee, Los Angeles theatre 

architect, for a $150,000 theatre to be 

built here by Frank Smith for operatimi by 

the C&W Theatres, Inc. Consf ruction work 

is expected to start within the next few 

weeks. The house will seat between 450 and 

500. C&W Theatres now operates the Palmdale 

School Theatre. 

San Jose State Reseated 

SAN JOSE. CALIF.—The S ate Theatre 

here has been reseated with pushback chairs 

and It will be redecorated and air conditioned 

by spring, according to F. W. Curtice, 

manager. The theatre recently re-equipped 

its projection room. The entire renovation 

program will cost about $75,000, Curtice said. 

Samuel Levin, Pacific Coast 

Veteran, Enters Hotel Field 

PALM SPRINGS—Samuel H. Levin, for 40 

years identified with the construction and 

operation of San Francisco theatres has gone 

into the hotel business. The veteran showman 

will open the sumptuous Palm Springs 

Biltmore February 10 at the height of the 

desert winter season. Dick ScoUin, wellknown 

San Franciscan formerly at the Clift, 

1 

will be manager. 

The 50-unit resort, built at a cost of more 

than $1,500,000 is described as "the last word 

in informal elegance." Of desert-style designing, 

the low, rambling cottages are widely 

spaced for personal comfort and privacy. A 

large administration building will lead into 

the air-cooled dining room area. Provided are 

a 35x75 ft. swimming pool, tennis courts, putting 

green, croquet court, sun decks and social 

rooms. The hotel will operate on the American 

plan. 

Want Theatre Builder 

SACRAMENTO—Jack McMahon and Paul 

Ford, developers of the new Fruitridge shopping 

center, are trying to interest someone 

in putting a 1,000-seat theatre into their 

project. They have set aside a site for the 

house, they announced, and are making contact 

with several prospective theatre operators. 

Roy Theatre Chartered 

SALT LAKE CITY—Articles of incoi-poration 

have been filed by the Roy Theatre 

Co. of Roy, Utah. Claude Hawks of Salt I 

Lake City is listed as president and treasurer, 

L. C. Denton of Cliente, Nev., as vice president, 

and Hal F. Hawks. Salt Lake City, as 

secretai7. 

New Sound for Shovelin 

BATTLE MOUNTAIN, NEV.—A complete 

Motiograph Mirrophonic sound system has 

been in stalled in the Shovelin Theatre here 

by D. F. Shovelin. J. Bugger of Service Theatre 

Corp., Salt Lake City, was here to make 

the installation. 

Fire Damages Vogue 

VERNAL, UTAH—Fire coming from the 

coal bin raged for three hours in the Vogue 

Theatre here last week before being brought 

under control. Damage was estimated at 

$4,000. No one was in the theatre at the time.; 

Home Town Film of 1921 

Uncovered in Weiser 

Weiser, Ida.—A can of film that has 

been lying around the Star Theatre for 

26 years gathering dust was uncovered 

recently by a member of the theatre 

staff. It turned out to be a picture made 

here with local talpnt and first screened 

at the theatre May 5, 1921. 

The seven-minute subject, "Romance 

is of Weiser," complete with heroine, 

hero, neglected girl and villain, and most 

of those who played in the picture are still 

living in this area. 

R. G. W. Frisbey, manager, ran the picture 

for his audience January 20 and 

planned a series of special showings at a 

later date to give everyone here a chance 

, 

to see what the town and some of its 

people looked like in 1921. Frisbey said 

the film was in good condition but that it 

might, because of its age, break after 1^ *! 

several 

showings. 

i 

58-D 

BOXOFHCE :: February 14, 

\194»| > 

m

Jack Kirsch Goes on Tour of New U-l Chicago Exchange 

A photographer accompanied Jack Kirsch, president of national 

Allied as well as of Allied Theatres of Illinois, on a tour of 

Universal-International's new exchange building in Chicago. The 

shots show, left to right, top panel, Idelle Richie, receptionist, directing 

a caller to the proper department; Kirsch seated in the 

spacious lobby waiting to meet M. M. Gottlieb, district manager; a 

look into the main office, which is soundproof and has indirect 

lighting; a view down the long hall indicating the interlocking 

executive office system. 

Lower panel: A conference in the office of 

J. Brannan, Chicago manager, showing Ray Coyle of New York, 

Brannan, assistant manager Teddy Reisch, Gottlieb, salesmen Robert 

Funk and Ted Myers and J. L. McGinley, sales chief for Prestige 

pictures; a view of the booking cubicles, and last we see Eddie 

Kubley taking film out of the vault and making it ready for 

shipment. 

CHICAGO—Universal-International opened 

its sleek, new exchange building at. 1232-34 

South Michigan Ave. here Tuesday with ceremonies 

set off by Mayor Martin Kennelly, 

who snipped a 12-foot piece of film sliced 

from U-I's "A Double Life." 

City officials, stage, screen and radio people 

and exhibitors joined company officials 

at the opening. Top U-I men here for the 

event were William A. Scully, vice-president 

and general sales manager; F. T. Murray, 

manager of branch operations, and M. M. 

Gottlieb, district manager. 

The building is said to be one of the most 

fireproof in existence. Not a single stick of 

wood was used in construction of the shipping 

and inspection rooms. Even furniture 

in these departments is entirely devoid of 

wood. Tables, chairs, clothes closets and walls 

are made of steel and fireproofed tile. A 

sprinkler system and automatic fire doors are 

other safety features. 

The two floors of the building cover an 

area of 9.000 square feet. The lobby is marble 

and leads to a screening room which seats 50. 

Universal newsreels now will be processed 

here for midwest consumption. This will 

speed up newsreel delivery nearly two days, 

the company said. Previously all negatives 

were sent to New York to be processed. 

Jamestown, Ind., Is Proud 

Of New Jewell Theatre 

JAMESTOWN, IND.—The 600 residents of 

this city are proud of their first theatre, the 

Jewell, formally opened January 16 by Reuben 

Chambers and Gene R. Miller. Preceding 

the opening program the Lions club 

presented the owners a check for their enterprise 

in bringing a theatre to town and 

there were other cash gifts, too. 

The theatre lobby was filled with floral 

pieces from friends here and out of town at 

the opening, and telegrams of congratulations 

from various Hollywood stars were 

posted. An inspector for the state fire marshal's 

office said the Jewell "is the nicest 

theatre in a small town it has been my 

privilege to inspect." 

Chambers and Miller spent $30,000 on the 

theatre, which is built of cinder block. It 

has a white stucco front and the doors and 

boxoffice are in Chinese red. The house is 

equipped with Ideal chairs, Ballantyne sound 

and Motiograph projectors. It seats 300. 

Stanley Cooper to Open 

In Brazil This Month 

BRAZIL, IND.—The Cooper Theatre, replacing 

the old Sourwine, which was destroyed 

by fire, is scheduled to open late in February. 

Stanley Cooper is owner and operator 

of 

the new 800-seat house. 

Arthur Herzog to Launch 

House in Walcott March 1 

WALCOTT, IND.—Arthur Herzog will 

open his new 440-seat Walcott Theatre here 

March 1. 

Marshall Grant Pictures 

Nears End on First Film 

CHICAGO After a delay of several 

months, occasioned by casting setbacks, Marshall 

Grant Pictures of Hollywood, which is 

backed by Chicago businessmen, is rapidly 

nearing completion of its first film, "Moonrise." 

Budgeted at $1,000,000, "Moonrise" will 

be one of that studio's top three releases for 

1948. The others are Orson Welles' "Macbeth" 

and Lewis Milestone's "The Red Pony." 

Finances are not the only Chicago contribution 

to the new producing firm. Marshall 

Grant, president, is an ex-Chicagoan. Charles 

Hass, vice-president, who penned the screenplay, 

was also reared here. William D. Saktiel, 

chairman of the board, is a practicing Chicago 

lawyer. And by coincidence, Gail Aussell, 

who plays the feminine lead, is also a 

native of the Windy city. 


59

. . Gene 

. . Ralph 

. . Bob 

. . Jimmy 

. . John 

Road 

CHICAGO 

•The Englewood Theatre, after 20 years, is Joe CalvelU, formerly of 20th-Fox in Milwaukee, 

has taken over his new assignment 

now playing vaudeville again. Five acts on 

the stage, two shows nightly, and doing terrific. 

Many years ago the Englewood was change, succeeding William Graham, 

as office manager of the local 20th-Fox ex- 

who 

operated by the Radio-Keith-Orpheiun circuit 

as a tryout house for vaudeville acts and 

many of the present day stars made their 

bow there. The house is now operated by 

Basil Charuhas. 

The Nita Theatre, formerly owned and 

operated by Irving Davis, has been sold to 

Van A. Nomikos and associates . . . 

Bartelstein 

Theatres and Management Corp. has 

moved offices from 1325 So. Wabash Ave. to 

larger quarters on the second and third floors 

at 1229 So. Wabash Ave . . . Edna Adams, 

recently of Essaness publicity department, 

who left that organization after eight years 

to join Booth & Lubliner Theatre Enterprises, 

was given a farewell party at Essaness offices 

last weekend. She received a set of 

matched luggage from her pals. 

. 

Sam Levinsohn, head of Chicago Used 

Chair Mart, is motoring to California on 

business . . . Dick Sachsel. in from Miami 

for a visit on the Row, also played a game 

or two of gin rummy with pals at the Variety 

Club. He says theatre business is okay down 

Miami way but night clubbers are singing 

"Moan Over Miami" Atkinson, 

business manager of 110, MPMO, who 

Local 

was attending the AFL confab in Miami, 

came in for the meeting and election of officers 

of Local 110. Gene was elected again, 

this time for 

a five-year term. 

THEATRE OPERATORS 

3u^ e

. . The 

ST. LOUIS 

pifty acres bounded by the Halls Ferry and 

St. Cyr roads and Highway 99 have been 

acqui2-ed by Fi-ed Wehrenberg, head of the 

Wehienberg circuit, from Adrian and Nellie 

Lamb for an indicated consideration of $80,- 

500. Wehrenberg has not announced any 

plans for the property, which is strategically 

placed as a site for either a drive-in or conventional 

type theatre with commercial facilities. 

Funeral services for Ray J. Curran, who 

for some 14 years was associated with United 

Artists as booker and office manager prior 

to going to Risco, Mo., about three years ago 

to run the Algerian Theatre, were held at 

the Lupton chapel last Monday C2i. Cm-ran, 

who for two years had been a wholesale liquor 

salesman, was killed by smoke and fire at 

the home of his brother January 30 after he 

had fallen asleep with a lighted cigaret in 

his hand. He is sm-vived by his son Tommy, 

his father Thomas J., 

a brother and two sisters. 

Walter E. Branson, division sales manager 

for RKO, and Sid Kramer, assistant short 

subjects sales manager, were in February 2, 

3 to confer with Tommy Williamson, local 

manager, his sales force and District Manager 

Ray Nolan concerning the 1948 Ned 

Depinet drive. Accompanied by Nolan, Branson 

and Kramer were in Kansas City February 

4, in Des Moines February 5 and Omaha 

February 6. They left that city for Chicago 

to spend this weekend. 

Norman Probstein, who soon will open his 

Crest Theatre on Gravois road in the Affton 

section, plans a 1,000-seat theatre for a site 

on Warson road in the central part of St. 

Louis county. Pi-obstein is a nephew of the 

late Harry Koplar, pioneer local motion picture 

theatre owner ... A new theatre for 

Webster Groves, Mo., to cater to the Negro 

trade is being designed by Edward Lantz. 

local architect, for one of his clients. Details 

of the proposed house are not yet available. 

(AdverlisemenI) 

ALL-IN-ONE DRINK DISPENSER 

SOLVES PROBLEM 

SOFT DRINKS IN 

Theatre operators have long lamented the 

fact that soft drinks were impractical for 

movie houses because of the bottle menace. 

This problem is no longer an obstacle. This 

new unit makes soft drink sales not only possible 

but practical for theatres. Expensive 

installation costs are eliminated as a result 

of its construction. It is installed in the same 

manner and as simply as a water fountain. 

The carbonator is within the unit. 

OF SERVING 

MOVIE HOUSES 

Surveys indicate that as high as 65% of 

theatre audiences would purchase soft drinks 

if they were available at the theatre. With a 

revolutionary dispensing unit such as the tiew 

AU-In-One device, theatre operators can 

boost profits easily at a pinimum of expense. 

The new AU-In-One dispenser unit is available 

thru the Proctor Sales Company of St. 

Louis. 

Ray Colvin, president of the Theatre Equipment 

Dealers Protective Ass'n, and co-owner 

of Theatrical Scenic Studios here, and Mrs. 

Colvin are enjoying the sunshine of the Rio 

Grande valley in Texas . . . Paul Musser has 

installed new chairs and drapes and has redecorated 

the interior of his 250-seat Old 

Trails Theatre in Greenup, 111. 

Theatrical Scenic Studios has installed new 

stage draperies for the theatre in the Veterans 

hospital at Danville, 111. . . . Ruby 

S'Renco, owner of the Art Theatre and the 

S'Renco screening room, was fighting an 

attack of flu but refused to be bedded down. 

Mrs. S'Renco recently returned from the 

Jewish hospital . . . Barney Rosenthal, manager 

for Monogram and Allied, continues to 

make splendid progress at the Jewish hospital. 

Easy 

. 

Dick Brill, publicity manager for Eagle 

Lion, was in Des Moines in connection with 

"Out of the Blue" St. Louis Ambassador 

Theatre, Inc., and Eden Theatre 

Co.. included among the defendants in the 

antitrust damage suit of Mossotti vs. Fanchon 

& Marco, Inc., et al., have asked Judge Rubey 

M. Hulen to dismiss the petition, as far as 

they are concerned . . . Jimmy Frisina, fea- 

(Continued on next page)

. . Walter 

. . Tlie store room 

I' 

. . 

. . 

. . 

, 

RUGGED 

RECKLESS 

I 

DAVE 

(1**1 

OBRKN 

BUZZY 

HENRY 

>^ 

'Heat' on Theatre Builder 

Forces Him to Withdraw 

MILWAUKEE—David V. Jennings, chief 

examiner for the Milwaukee county civil 

service commission, resigned January 27 as 

a result of publicity given his use of political 

and other support for an application 

to build a motion picture theatre in the 

Wauwatosa subdivision. 

Jennings said he had wired Washington 

asking that the application be refused, but 

it already had been turned down by Tighe 

Woods, housing expediter. Arthur I. Marcus, 

Greendale, member of the American Legion's 

national housing committee, had opposed the 

theatre project, complaining to the OHE 

that a theatre job would divert materials 

and manpower from the critical residential 

construction field. 

Jennings was planning a 735-seat quonsettype 

theatre, to be operated by theatre interests 

he did not specify. He said none of 

the materials he planned to use were critical. 

He planned to build at North 76th street 

and Blue Mound road, a fast-growing area. 

It would be two and a half miles from the 

nearest 

theatre. 

Application for Drive-In 

Rejected by Plan Board 

GREENFIELD, IND.—Tlie Hancock county 

planning board, organized subsequent to the 

filing of application by the Indiana Outdoor 

Theatre Corp. for permission to build a drivein 

theatre here, has rejected the bid of the 

Louisville concern. The company planned to 

put up the drive-in on highway 40, east of 

Cumberland, and has already started to clear 

the site. The builders will appeal to the 

county appeal board. Their application was 

opposed by representatives of the Hancock 

Ministerial Ass'n and a number of Cumberland 

residents. 

New Owners Take Over 

New Miller in Gary, Ind. 

GARY, IND.—The Miller Theatre, Gary's 

newest, has been leased by Stewart G. Loehr 

and Olof G. Hellman, from Emil J. Ruberti 

and Albeno Candiano. Ruberti and Candiano 

built the Miller, an 800-seater, at a cost of 

about $250,000 and opened it on Jmie 6 last 

year. Ruberti said he was planning to enter 

exhibition elsewhere and Candiano will devote 

himself to other interests here. Loehr 

and Hellman are newcomers to exhibition 

They are partners in floor covering shops 

here and in Hammond and own a local furniture 

store. 

Tom McCleaster Marks 

20 Years in Film Trade 

INDIANAPOLIS — To mm ie 

McCleaster, 

sales manager at 20th-Fox, will compete 

20 years in the motion picture industry this 

month. He began his career with Educational 

Pictures, Inc., in 1928 as assistant shipper, 

and started with 20th-Fox in July 1933. He is 

a World War II veteran. He spent 42 months 

in the air corps and on several occasions 

was cited for outstanding service. 

Morgan in "Don Juan' 

Han-y Hays Morgan, former U.S. vice-consul 

in wartime unoccupied France, has been 

added to the cast of the Errol Flynn starrer, 

Warners' "Adventures of Don Juan." 

ST. 

LOUIS 

(Continued from preceding pagej 

ture buyer for the Frisina Amusement Co., 

Springfield, and Mrs. Fi-isina will leave shortly 

for a Florida vacation. 

Harry Kahan, head of the pioneer film 

service bearing his name who was rushed 

to Jewish hospital January 30, is doing nicely. 

He probably will undergo an operation before 

returning to his desk . 

at 3206 Olive St. is being fitted for film exchange 

facilities for Albert Dezel Productions. 

Johnny Walsh, recently with Screen Guild 

here, will be manager and Nick O'Brien, former 

booker for Screen Guild, will be booker. 

The Oscar Turners sr. and their granddaughter 

from Harrisburg, 111., are enjoying 

a vacation in Florida . Friendich 

of the RKO staff recently bowled a 245 and 

came back with 259 in the Scratch league 

competition at Columbia, 111. His league average 

is 176 .. . The snow and ice of the past 

week had film salesmen doing tricks on the 

highways of eastern Missouri and southern 

Illinois. Exhibitors of the smaller towns did 

not attempt their usual trips to Filmrow this 

week. It was too hazardous. 

Nat Steinberg, Republic manager, attended 

a sales meeting recently in Chicago . 

The Browns and Cardinals baseball clubs 

have revealed that prices of all tickets at 

Sportsmen's park will be inci-eased to take 

care of the 2 per cent tax on admissions . 

A new coaxial cable to provide facilities for 

long-distance telephone, radio and television 

has been placed in service between St. Louis, 

Terre Haute, Ind., and Chicago at a cost of 

$6,500,000. Arrangements for two-way television 

transmission are included. 

Hall Walsh, district manager for Warners, 

and Lester Bona, local manager, visited 

Springfield to confer with officials of the 

Frisina circuit. Bona also called on the 

Edwards-Harris circuit in Farmington . 

Don Walker, Warner publicity man, was in 

from Kansas City . . . Fred Johanningsmeyer, 

assistant manager at Loew's Orpheum, has 

been promoted to assistant at Loew's in Dayton. 

He has been succeeded here by Robert 

Morris, who had been chief of staff for 

Loew's State. 

Smoke Routs Patrons 

HOPE, IND.—Smoke from an apartment in 

the same building drove patrons out of the 

Hope Theatre one night recently. Damage 

amounted to several hundred dollars, according 

to the owner. William Sutton. Apparently 

the belt on the furnace blower system slipped 

off the fan and allowed the furnace to 

overheat. 

Floor joists around the heat pipe leading 

to the upstairs were ignited and flames 

traveled up the wall to the ceiling. A fire 

wall between the apartment and the theatre 

prevented the fire from reaching the auditorium. 

William R. Norton to Open 

In Red Key, Ind.. March 1 

RED KEY, IND.—William R. Norton has 

set a March 1 opening date for his 360-seat 

Key Theatre here. 

62 BOXOFFICE ;; February 14, 1948

. . Lou 

. . Pearl 

. . Sam 

. . Herman 

Howe, 

. . 

. . . Jack 

Courtesy Campaign 

At Fox Wisconsin 

MILWAUKEE—A two-week courtesy campaign 

ending February 18 is being conducted 

by Fox Wisconsin Amusement Corp. in all 

theatres. 

its 

The campaign was opened at a series of 

regional meetings at which model employes 

went through the act of buying a ticket, 

presenting it to the doorman, buying from 

the vending counter, and taking a seat. The 

"do" and "don't" of employe procedure was 

pointed out along the way. 

All theatres and personnel are being 

checked weekly by district managers in Milwaukee 

and those in the remaining territory 

are being checked once. They will grade 

theatres on forms provided by the home office 

and will select the five outstanding theatres 

from the standpoint of courtesy. These 

five will be rechecked by managers appointed 

by Harold J. Fitzgerald, president, and winners 

will be awarded prizes at the spring convention 

here. Trophies are to be given the 

four outstanding theatres, and also to the 

outstanding doorman, usher, cashier and 

vending girl. 

Employes will be checked on 20 points: 

Uniform complete, hair, hands and nails, 

shoes, cleanliness or makeup, eating candy 

or gum, pleasant attitude, remain at post 

efficiency-correct, correct phraseology, gossiping 

with patrons or employes, knowledge 

of schedule, knowledge of price and policy, 

answer phone correctly, correct posture, post 

clean, correct heat reports, knowledge of current 

program, knowledge of coming attractions, 

knowledge of location of safety kit and 

fire extinguisher. 

Three Houses in Madison 

Hike Adult Prices 5 Cents 

MADISON—A five-cent increase in admission 

prices for adults has been put into effect 

by the Orpheum, Capitol, Parkway and 

Madison theatres here. The admission price, 

tax included, now is 55 cents before 6 p. m. 

and 70 cents thereafter. Children are admitted 

at the same prices as before: 14 cents 

before 6 p. m. and 20 cents after 

that hour. 

Increased costs of operation were cited as 

the reason for the advance. Managers of the 

Strand, Majestic and Eastwood said they anticipated 

no price raise at this time. 

Warners Manager Confer 

With Kvool in Milwaukee 

MILWAUKEE—Alfred D. Kvool, assistant 

divisional manager for Warners Theatres, 

and Harry Mintz, district manager, conducted 

a meeting here last week for house managers 

in the city and state. Attending from 

out of town were Stan Gross, Rio, Appleton; 

Fred Reeth, Capitol, Madison: Stan Gere, 

Rialto, Racine, and Leo Schuessler, Rex, and 

Jack Ebersberger. Sheboygan, Sheboygan. 

loe Hould in Calumet 

CALUMET, MICH.—Joseph Hould has returned 

to this city as manager of the Calumet. 

He formerly was advertising manager 

of the Evening News-Journal here. Since 

leaving that position, he has managed theatres 

in Laurium and Iron Mountain, Mich., 

and Beaver Dam, Wis., for Fox Wisconsin. 

He succeeds Donald Quick, who was transferred 

to Iron Mountain. 

MILWAUKEE 

Tâ.\ Wiesner of the Alamo and Mozart is 

gaining in health since his recent operation 

and will soon have an artificial voice 

box. Wiesner is forced to talk with pad and 

pencil these days . . . Oliver Ti-ampe, Monogram 

booker, is anxiously awaiting a chance 

for a few rounds of preseason golf in Florida 

in March. 

. 

Jules Gerelick, Paramount salesman, has a 

new Ford . Reinke, MGM "hello gal, 

Have you noticed the 

is nursing a 

resemblance 

cold . . 

between Walter Blaney, RKO 

office manager, and Wallace Ford, actor appearing 

in "T-Men"? . Beiersdorf, 

Eagle Lion western sales manager, was in 

from New York for conferences with Joe 

Imhof, branch manager. 

Hugo Vogel of the equipment sales firm 

made six trips through the territory in one 

week . Elman, RKO manager, will 

celebrate a birthday February 14. He isn't 

telling his age . . . The Row hopes for speedy 

recovery of Hilda Schlimmer's husband, who 

had two operations. Hilda is with MGM's 

inspection department . . . Ray Smith, equipment 

salesman, is keeping his weight down 

by bowling weekly with the lATSE league. 

Larry Seidelman, Film Classics salesman, 

resigned and Bill Griffiths, booker, took over 

his work . Fish, Hollywood, Goldwyn 

official and brother of Producer Samuel Goldwyn, 

was in for a huddle with Lou Elman, 

" 

RKO manager . . . M. D. 'Doc managing 

the "Mourning Becomes Electra" show 

at the Pabst, recalled Milwaukee's showing 

of "The Miracle," at the Auditorium years 

back. Howe reported Olivia De Havilland and 

Mickey Rooney, film stars, were in that stage 

show. 

Walter Bennett, who now sells air conditioning, 

met Elmer Hall, MGM engineer, at 

the exchange and they recalled the time 

Hall tossed Bennett out of the Princess for 

gate crashing ... Ed Heiber, Eagle Lion 

district manager, was in for conferences with 

Joe Imhof. branch maiiager. 

Booking on the Row: Larry Husten. East 

Troy: Mr. and Mrs. W. Kuehn, Oshkosh: H. 

H. Otto. Clinton: Larry Kelley. Cudahy: 

George Compston, Peshtigo; Joe Malits. 

Eighth Street: Barney Sherman, Racine; Sid 

Margoles, Regal: Nick Berg, Sheboygan; Nick 

Johnson, Manitowoc; Erv Koenigsreiter, 

Greendale; Billy Pierce, Savoy, and Ed Johnson, 

Milwaukee. 

Wally Heim, Chicago, RKO exploiteer, 

pounded his drums around towii . . Walter 

. 

Baier. Fort Atkinson, is vacationing in Florida. 

Ruth Whitney, former Warner Theatres 

hello gal, and Roland Krause, Warner associate 

manager, married a while back, are 

busy furnishing their abode . . Orville 

. 

Langheinrich of the Buileigh distributed 

cigars advertising a baby boy. 

Harry Mintz, Warner Theatres district 

manager, toured key state situations and 

Mrs. Dorothy 

huddled with managers . . . 

Mead is back pounding the typewTiter at 

Republic after an extended honeymoon . 

Jimmie Shufflebotham, Warner Theatres 

sign m.an, jumped into the orange blossoms 

a while back . . . Allen Ledward, projectionist, 

underwent a gall bladder operation. 

Esther Glowacki, receptionist at RKO, resigned 

to accept a position with Paramount 

Lorentz, 20th-Fox central divisional 

manager, was in, huddling with Joe 

Woodward, branch manager . . . Clem Kramer 

distributes cards at the Mars asking 

patrons what oldies they want to see. To 

date the Rudolph Valentino films have been 

most requested. Ki-amer will show "The 

Eagle," a Valentino feature the early 

of 

1920s, starting February 12 Esther Williams, 

MGM star, was slated for an ap- 

. . . 

pearance at the Riverside. However, picture 

commitments prevented her from filling the 

engagement, Roy Pierce, Riverside manager, 

reports . . . Marion Fiss, secretary to Nat 

Marcus, Warners branch manager, is back 

at her desk following her marriage. 

Cooperating with Milwaukee museum, the 

Sentinel is underwriting a $5,000 visual education 

program that will increase the Museum's 

stock of 16mm films on American 

history for use in private, parochial and public 

schools here. It is estimated that 50 

16mm films covering important events in 

American history will be added to the Museum's 

film loan service. 

Kentucky Film Deliveries 

Started by Arlie Anderson 

LOUISVILLE— Arlie Anderson of Hartford, 

Ky., has begun operation of the KATO Film 

Transit Co., operating out of the Indianapolis 

film exchanges and serving Kentucky theatres. 

At present two trucks are in operation, 

with the possibility additional trucks and 

further outlets wUl be added in the near 

futm-e. 

Estelle Steinbach Speaks 

BEAVER DAM. WIS.—Estelle Steinbach. 

public relations director for Fox Wisconsin, 

was scheduled as the main speaker at a joint 

meeting of local Parent Teacher associations 

February 19. Her subject was to be "The 

Power of the Movies," in their entertainment, 

educational, social and ethical values. 

Cancel 'Outlaw' Booking 

FORT WAYNE—"The Outlaw," 

booked by 

the Jefferson Theatre for a local showing, 

will not be shown as scheduled. Alliance 

Theatres of Chicago, which operates the Jefferson, 

agreed to cancel the showing when 

objection was raised. 

USE 

OUR 

FREE 

COPY- 

WRITING 

SERVICE 

SPECIAL 

fhat 

^ 

I 

BETTER 

and Quicker! 

FILNACK TRAILERS 

1327 S. Wobosh, Chicogo 5 


Chicago Mayor Asks 

Lower Curfew Age 

CHICAGO—Mayor Kennelly indicated last 

week to the city council that police would ask 

amendment of the city's curfew ordinance, 

which bans persons under 18 from appearing 

on the streets between 10 p. m. and 6 a. m. 

unless employed or accompanied by an adult. 

There hasn't been a strict enforcement of 

this ordinance," the mayor said. "I believe 

the police department officials feel the 18 

year limit is too high. I hope the committee 

will call police officials in for a meeting soon." 

It was reported that an age limit of 16 was 

being considered. 

A stoi-m of protests arose here from both 

parents and children against Police Commissioner's 

Prendergast's order to enforce the 

curfew ordinance requiring the children under 

18 to 

be out of motion picture theatres, 

dance halls and other public amusement 

places, and off the streets and home by 

10 p. m. Prendergast said he had received 

many letters both for and against the order. 

Most children protested the ordinance was too 

severe and they should be allowed to attend 

a picture show. 

Evanston, a Chicago suburb, began curfew 

enforcement February 2, it was disclosed by 

Police Chief Carl Ekman. He said Evanston's 

curfew differs from the one in Chicago in 

that the city ordinance there bans children 

under the age of 16 from the streets and from 

amusement places after 10 p. m. He said that 

boys and girls returning home from a theatre, 

dance or other legitimate function will not 

be taken into custody. '5foung people will not 

be permitted to loiter. Managers in the Loop 

and outlying theatres report that youngsters 

are not attending the late shows, but attendance 

has picked up at late afternoon and 

early evening shows. 

•^^^ 

Posters in Theatres Back 

Cancer Detection Center 

FORT -WAYNE—The recent drive of the 

Port Wayne Gasoline Retailers Ass'n for 

fimds to construct a cancer detection center 

here received the wholehearted support of 

local exhibitors. Quimby Theatres, which has 

three downtown first run houses as well as 

the Quimby auditorium, placed posters calling 

attention to the drive in the lobby of 

each house.

. . . Gayle 

. . Genevieve 

. . Milton 

. . Jack 

. . Tom 

. . Mary 

. . 

. . Joseph 

Seek Sunday Shows 

For Theatre in Zion 

ZION. ILL.—After years of resistance, this 

church-founded city succiunbed recei>tly to 

the advance of modern hving and permitted 

the establishment of its first motion picture 

theatre. Now the operators are seeking permission 

to show pictures on Sunday. 

In a plea to the city council, the five owners 

of the Zion Theatre charged the council 

with "aiding and abetting" theatres outside 

the city by keeping their house closed on 

Sunday. They asked that the city ordinance 

be changed. They said they "can't make a 

go" of the theatre without Sunday shows. 

Councilmen told them they didn't think the 

people of Zion wanted Sunday shows but that 

they would welcome a referendum on the 

if question the theatre owners would get up 

petitions signed by 25 per cent of the voters. 

The theatre was opened New Year's eve 

by a company composed of Onnie Bridges, 

Prank Davis, E. G. Peterson, Martin Ruesch 

and Herbert Ruesch. 

Young Violators Forced 

To See Traffic Short 

CHICAGO—The second motion picture 

showing for teen-aged traffic violators, ordered 

by Judge John J. Griffin of traffic 

court, was held last week. "Traffic With the 

Devil" was shown to approximately 50 young 

violators and their parents in the screening 

room at police headquarters. The MGM short 

deals with the dangers and the horrors of 

reckless driving. Judge Griffin inaugurated 

this novel form of dealing with young speedsters 

January 28 when an RKO film, "Highway 

Mania," was shown. Since then Judge 

Griffin has received many letters of approbation 

from parents and teachers. 

Wayne Goodwin Is Down 

With Undulant Fever 

BUTLER, IND.—Wayne Goodwin, operator 

of the Butler, is confined at home by undulant 

fever. The malady is now prevalent 

in the city of Butler and the northern section 

cf the state adjoining the city. 

Eight Tagged for Adults 

CHICAGO—The police motion picture censor 

board looked at 497,000 feet of film, representing 

102 releases last month, and made 

63 cuts, rejected none and classified for adult 

showing eight pictures including: EL's 

"The Smugglers," UA's "Man of Evil," RKO's 

"Mourning Becomes Electra," Wein-German 

film. "The Clown," and Clasa's Mexican films, 

"Table Turned." "Angel or Demon," "Grand 

Casino," and Franklin's French film, "Les 

Miserables." 

New Mounds Roxy Pilot 

MOUNDS, ILL.—C. M. Swabb, veteran theatreman, 

is the new manager of the Roxy, 

owned by Hirschel Eichhorn. Swabb succeeds 

Billy Henderson. He came to Mounds 

from Fort Gibson, Okla., where for the last 

six years he was manager of the Port and 

secretary of the Fort Gibson Chamber of 

Commerce. 

BOXOFnCE : : February 14, 1948 

INDIANAPOLIS 

Tim Keefe, 20th-Fox exploiteer In Cincinnati, 

spent three days here on business . 

James Plummer succeeds Don Wright, who 

resigned as manager of the Rodeo Theatre, 

downtown action house . Romano 

has been added to the billing department at 

RKO . Ai-dington, secretary to 

Edwin Brauer, Republic manager, is on the 

sick list. 

George Kalafat, Cleveland circuit operator, 

is visiting his brother, Alex Kalafat, at Garrett, 

Ind, The two operate the Lans Theatre 

in Lansing, Mich. . . . Russell Bleeke, office 

manager at Republic, is a bachelor at present. 

Mrs. Bleeke has gone to Florida for 

an extended vacation, or until the weather 

becomes livable here. Several of Russ' old 

cronies have accepted invitations to steak 

dinners and pronounce him an excellent cook. 

Hobart Hart, who operates the Smart and 

Court theatres in Auburn, has completed the 

remodeling of the Smart and now is going 

to remodel the Court . Dillon, assistant 

booker at Columbia, was sick . . . Harry 

Bernstein, exploiteer, was in the city working 

on "Relentless," which opened at Loew's 

February 11. 

Phyllis Finney, biller at Eagle Lion, and 

John Gibson were married January 30 at a 

twilight wedding service in the Irvington 

Christian church . Archer is the new 

counter man at Ger-Bar Equipment Co. . . . 

Leon Brandt and J. Eddinson, Eagle Lion 

exploiteers, were here on special assignments 

Black, Warner Bros, salesman, is 

on the sick list . . . Jack Dowd, city salesman 

for Warner Bros., has been at home 

several days suffering with a severe cold. 

Al Chew, booker at United Artists, is recuperating 

after an attack of influenza . . . 

Charles Rich, Warner district manager, 

Cleveland, spent Monday and Tuesday here 

in conference with Claude McKean, branch 

manager . Ettinger, U-I office manager 

and head booker, was absent with a 

severe 

cold. 

Robert C. Meyer, Affiliated Theatres office 

manager and head booker, reports the 

birth of a baby boy January 28 in Methodist 

hospital. He has been named Jeffrey Alan 

Meyers. 

David Niven, Bride See 

'Bishop's Wife' in Chicago 

CHICAGO—The bishop of "The Bishop's 

Wife," David Niven. and his bride of a few 

weeks were guests of Woods Theatre manager 

Jack Belasco recently at a showing of 

the Goldwyn production. Niven said it was 

his first opportunity to see the picture since 

he went to England immediately upon its 

completion. 

This was also his first opportunity to see 

a Chicago motion picture house in operation. 

He mentioned he preferred single to double 

features and was surprised to learn that 

Chicago first run houses single featured. 

The actor and his Swedish bride appreciated 

a gift from Belasco, a box of chocolate 

cherries, almost impossible to get in 

England. Mr. and Mrs. Niven were en route 

to Hollywood. 

Chicago MPMO Elect 

Atkinson for Five Years 

CHICAGO—Eugene J. Atkinson, business 

manager of Local 110, Chicago Moving Picture 

Operators union, and the entire slate 

of incumbent union officers were re-elected 

without opposition when 500 members of the 

local met last week. Atkinson, first elected 

in a purge of former union officials who allegedly 

had racketeer connections, was reelected 

for a five-year term. Police guards 

supervised the 1946 election. The officers are 

James Gorman, president: Frank Galluzzo, 

vice-president: Clarence Jalas, secretarytreasurer; 

Sam Klugman, Charles McNeil, 

Charles Funk and Arthur Tuchman, executive 

board members: George Karg, Claude 

Holmes and Edward Schulze, trustees, and 

Julius Dickstein, sergeant at arms. All for 

two-year terms. 

From the BOXOFFICE Files 

(Twent-y Years Ago) 

JULIAN KING, formerly with Film Booking 

Offices, is now on the Universal sales staff 

. . . Elmer E. Vosberg has 

in St. Louis 

opened his People's Theatre in Cape Girardeau 

and expects to open houses at other 

points in southeast Missouri . H. 

Saferty. salesman for Universal, was exonerated 

by a coroner's jury in the death 

of Joseph A. Cooper, formerly of Vandalia, 

111., who was struck by Saferty's car. 

Effingham, 111., voted 2 to 1 for Sunday 

shows after being without shows for 20 years 

. . . Visitors on Filmrow: Tom Reed of Duquoin. 

111.; W. A. Boyd, Louisiana, Mo.; Leon 

Jarodsky of Paris, 111.; Bob Cluster, Johnston 

City, 111. 

An issue of $4,550,000 in sinking fund 

bonds is being marketed in St. Louis to 

help finance the 5.000-seat theatre being 

erected by the Fox interests on Grand and 

Washington boulevards . . . Hurley B. Gould 

and George H. Bauer have transferred the 

Phoenix in Lawrenceville, 111., to P. V., 

George H. and George W. Burlison . . . 

Thomas Curley has purchased the Robin, St. 

Louis, from Frank Calhoun. 

Al Jolson will appear in person at Loew's 

State in St. Louis next week for a reported 

$25,000 for the engagement . . . The work of 

converting the Best hardware store in Palmyra, 

Mo., into a motion picture theatre is in 

progress. 

recently 

C. C. Lewellen, owner of the Savoy, 

purchased the building. 

lis 

»"-?"J;v?r.--i;^

: February 

Just a simple idea 

hut see what it does I 

From Showmandiser section 

of BOXOFFICE of Jan. 17 issue. 

Business can be boosted by better showmanship . 

. . 

Scores of practical 

ideas are presented to help YOU earn 

more profits from your investment. 

Read BOXOFFICE- Your Business- Builder Friend 

BOXOFFICE 

: 

14,

Antibidding Lineup 

Splits in Twin City 

MINNEAPOLIS—A break in the ranks of 

Twin City independent exliibitors has resulted 

from a move by some of the members 

to start competitive bidding for runs and 

change clearance. The large majority oppose 

bidding and seem content to let present 

clearance remain undistui'bed. They 

fear that upsetting the applecart will cause 

liigher film costs all along the line. 

Ben Friedman, circuit owner, was the first 

M announce he wanted earlier clearance for 

hi.s Edina, a suburban house. Now the W. R. 

Frank circuit in a letter- to the exchanges 

is demanding the right to bid for pictures 

for its leading Minneapolis neighborhood 

and St. Paul suburban theatres 21 days after 

dovnitown first runs. This would be in place 

of the present 56-day availability. 

The Frank circuit states tha* the earlier 

clearance is essential to the profitable operation 

of the theatres involved and intimates 

that, if necessary, recourse will he had to 

the courts. Friedman asserts business at the 

Edina has been seriously damaged because 

nearby competing theatres have earlier clearance. 

Branch managers here are referring the 

Frank circuit letter to their home offices 

for instructions. At least one district manager, 

M. A. Levy of 20th-Fox, is known to 

favor a change in Twin City clearance, with 

the establishment of zones according to the 

amount of film rentals. 

Outside of the Twin Cities, in competitive 

situations, there has been bidding for pictures 

and the plan is reported as "popular." 

Chris Schmidt Launches 

Home Theatre in Tripp 

TRIPP, S. D.—This town of 1,000 got its 

second theatre when Chris Schmidt opened 

the 375-seat Home January 21. The theatre, 

entirely new, was built at a cost of about 

$15,000. It is constructed of brick and tile, 

measures 105x33 feet, and has a perrrianent 

canopy, above which is a neon-lighted name 

sign. It is equipped with Wenzel and Simplex 

projectors, Ballantyne sound, and is oil 

heated. 

Glen A. Cooper Will Build 

Drive-In at Garden City 

GARDEN CITY, KAS.—Glen A. Cooper 

will build and operate a 300-car drive-in east 

of here on highway 50. Cooper also owns the 

300-car ozoner opened late last summer in 

Dodge City. 

The new outdoor theatre will have a 30x40- 

foot screen and will be equipped with Simplex 

sound and projection equipment, fui'nished 

by National Theatre Supply, Kansas City. 

Jim Ricketts to Paramount 

DES MOINES—Jim Ricketts jr., has been 

named assistant booker at Paramount, replacing 

Hillis 

Carelton. resigned. Ricketts 

began his work on the Row as a shipper two 

years ago. He has been booker at Republic 

for the past year. 

Start Holstein Project 

HOLSTEIN, IOWA—Work has begun on 

the new State Theatre here. E. W. Kugel. 

proprietor, says the structure will be completed 

by spring. 


Unusual Treatment Makes 'Carnegie 

A Big Grosser in Omatia Territory 

Colosseum in Kansas City 

Names E. R. Golden Chief 

KANSAS CITY—E. R. "Eddie" Golden, city 

salesman here for MGM, was elected president 

of the local Colosseum of Motion Picture 

Salesmen at the organization's first full 

meeting February 7. Andy Anderson of Paramount 

was elected vice-president and Joe 

Manfre of Warner Bros, and Morton Ti-uog 

of United Aj-tists were named secretary and 

MGM. 

The committee will meet again Monday 

treasurer respectively. 

Plans were prepared for a Movie ball to 

be held some time in April or May. Committee 

on arrangements for this affair consists 

of John Graham of UA; John Flynn, 

Columbia; Charles Knickerbocker, 20th-Fox; 

Bill Flynn, UA; Ralph Morgan, Monogram; 

Ralph Morrow, Universal, and Woody Sherrill, 

Debut of 'Scudda Hoo!' 

Arranged in Sedalia 

SEDALIA, MO.—"Scudda Hoo! Scudda 

Hay!" will have Its world premiere at the Fox 

and Liberty theatres here March 10. The 

debut will be followed the next day by mass 

openings throughout the Kansas City, Omaha, 

Des Moines and St. Louis areas. 

Here from New York this week to arrange 

for the premiere was Rodney Bush, exploitation 

manager for 20th-Fox. Working with 

him were Sy Freedman. area publicist for 

20th-Fox, and Senn Lawler, public relations 

official for Fox Midwest. Present plans for 

the celebration call for the appearance of 

several 20th-Fox stars, a parade, a mule show 

at the Colosseum and wide newspaper, magazine 

and radio coverage. The- Technicolor 

film stars June Haver and Lon McCallister. 

"Walls of lericho" Premiere 

To Be Held at Wichita 

WICHITA—Howard E. Jameyson, district 

manager for Fox Midwest, returned from a 

conference of National Theatres executives In 

Los Angeles, and announced that "Walls of 

Jericho" will be given Its world premiere 

here next summer by 20th Century-Fox. 

Wichita was selected because Paul I. Wellman, 

author of "Walls of Jericho," is a former 

Wichita newspaperman. The book from 

which the film was adapted has its locale 

in Kansas. Jameyson said that 20th-Fox 

rates "Walls of Jericho" as one of its 

biggest 

pictures of the year. 

Jameyson also said that "Sudda Hoo! Scudda 

Hay!" another 20th-Fox production, will 

have its premiere in this section following 

the world premiere in Sedalia, Mo., March 10. 

Takes Cedar Falls Post 

CEDAR PALLS. IOWA—M. E. Blair has 

been named assistant manager of the Regent 

here by the Cedar Amusement Co. Blair took 

over the position following his graduation 

from the State university. Manager of the 

theatre is M. A. Blair. 

MW 

OMAHA—Early showings of "Carnegie 

Hall" in this territory have given exhibitors 

something to mull over. With proper treatment, 

it has been demonstrated that the 

picture can be turned into a top grosser. 

In Lexington, Neb., Ralph Falkinburg was 

somewhat afraid of the picture, so he booked 

it for two matinees. This turned out to be 

a wise move. No sooner had the first performance 

finished than the theatre phone 

started ringing. Almost everyone in town, 

it seemed, wanted to know why the picture 

wasn't being shown at a more convenient 

time, when it could be seen by all. Now 

Falkinburg is bringing it back for a regular 

run and is assured of a presold audience. 

CITE CONDEMNATIONS 

In Omaha, Tri-States Theatres opened 

"Carnegie" in the Omaha Theatre. It didn't 

do well the first few days and officials went 

to the World-Herald and explained, "Look, 

we are condemned for bringing in pictures 

like 'The Outlaw' and 'Forever Amber," yet 

the public really supports them. Then we 

try something like 'Carnegie Hall' and the 

public stays away in equal numbers." 

Next day the World-Herald came out with 

an editorial that started things humming. It 

"Some time ago the manager of an eastern 

radio station was startled by the avalanche 

of letters asking that he schedule a certain 

symphony program. He did, and then had 

an Idea. While the program was in progress 

he has a crew of girls telephone the letterwriters 

asking them what they were listening 

to on the radio. Most of them weren't listening 

at all. 

MUSICAL STARS LISTED 

"The management of the Omaha Theatre 

seems to be having somewhat the same experience 

with 'Carnegie Hall.' This is the 

movie that has attracted a great deal of attention 

because it presents a great deal of 

classical but melodious music—not fragments, 

but substantial amounts of it. Its stars are 

.such first-raters in the musical world as 

Leopold Stokowski, Bruno Walter, Artur 

Rodzinski, Fritz Reiner, Ezio Pinza, Lily Pons 

and Jascha Heifetz. It has a story as well, 

to tie the music together, and a popular orchestra 

for good measure. Just the sort of 

movie, in short, that a lot of people say the 

movies should be making. 

"The performances are so brilliant that 

people in the audience at the Omaha sometimes 

break into applause. But so far there 

haven't been any vast crowds at the theatre. 

"The moral seems to be that if people want 

really good movies they ought to go to see 

them when they come. Tlie moviemakers 

have not yet reached the stage where they 

can stay in business for their health." 

This editorial brought a sudden reaction 

at the Omaha Theatre. The music lovers 

started parading to the theatre. The picture 

will be held over. 

Bruce Jones Sells Bee 

BEEMER, NEB.—Edward S. Hanzel, formerly 

of Wagner, S. D., has purchased the 

Bee Theatre here from Bruce W. Jones. This 

is Hanzel's first venture in the business. 

67

. , . How 

. . What 

Kansas City Area Has 666 Theatres 

With Total of 347,084 Seats 

NEW YORK—The Kansas City exchange 

area contains 666 theatres with a 

total seating 

capacity of 347.084, according to the 

MPAA theatre directorj-. This is the 24th in 

the series of 31. 

The three largest cities of the region—Kan- 

The summary: 

Number 

Sealing 

Capacity 

Theatres in operation* _ 666 347,084 

Closed theatres 28 13,753 

Totals. 360,i 

sas City. Mo.; Kansas City, Kas„ and Wichita 

—have 87 of these theatres with 81,195 seats. 

Nearly 50 per cent, or 329 theatres, are 

located in 322 towns with a population of 

2,500 and under. Total seating capacity is 

102,539, or an average of 312 per theatre. 

Seating capacity oi theatres now in operation, according to population groupings* 

Towns with No. of Theatres Number of 

Population Theatres Operating Seats 

500,000-250,001- I 55 54,324 

250,000-100,001. 2 32 26,871 

3 31 23,696 

100.000- 50,001.. .. 

50.000-25,001- .2 10 9,074 

.. 25,000- 10,001. 24 73 53, 39 

10,000- 5,001 27 61 35,405 

5,000- 2,501 54 75 42.036 

2,500 and under -...322 329 102,539 

• Excluding two drive-in theatres, total capacity 1,450 automobiles. 

•• A circuit is defined as "four or more" theatres operated by the same management 

Central States Remodeling 

Palace in Burlington 

BURLINGTON, IOWA—A complete remodeling 

program has begun at the Palace 

Theatre here under the direction of Jerome 

Greenebaiun, Central States Theatre Corp. 

district manager. The theatre will be made 

into a semistadium type house with only 

three of the present walls and part of the 

roof being retained. 

Greenebaum said presentation of films will 

continue through most of the construction 

period, but that the house wUl close for a 

short time as the work nears completition. 

Seating capacity will be increased to 900, new 

seats of wider design will be installed and 

the air conditioning system will be improved. 

A new projection booth and equipment will 

be added as well as a new screen. 

Offices of both the district manager and 

the theatre manager will be housed in the 

basement. Greenebaum said the work will 

be completed during the summer. 

Final 'Ecstasy' Ban 

KANSAS CITY—A petition to set aside 

the decision of the city censor and the censorship 

appeal board on the showing of 

"Ecstasy" in this city was denied Tuesday 

by the circuit court. The petition for an 

alternative writ of mandamus was filed by 

Samuel Cummins of New York, distributor of 

the film. 

TELL US YOUR IDEA! 

WE'LL WRITE THE COPY 

| 

FREE FOR YOUR 

Capacity 

198,079 

162,758 

Wichita 'Turtle' Screening 

WICHITA—A hand-picked audience witnessed 

a screening of "Voice of the Turtle" 

at the Fox Miller. On hand as hosts were 

Howard Busey, Fox Orpheum manager: Eddie 

Hogle, assistant manager, and Don Clark, 

Warner salesman. Following the screening, 

cards were handed out to members of the 

audience to be filled out with individual 

opinions of the picture. Then the spectators 

were interviewed for a transcription by KFBI. 

Comments were enthusiastic. The transcription 

will be used as a 20-minute radio plug 

when the picture opens at the Orpheum February 

19. 

To Form Film Council 

WICHITA—A local chapter of the Film 

Council of America will be organized here 

March 4 by representatives of all civic organizations. 

Films will be run during the 

meeting of the panel and questions asked on 

the following subjects: Why a film council? 

can we quickly find great numbers 

of good 16rrun sound titles for any kind of a 

program topic? , . , How can in-service educational 

training be had for business and 

civic personnel? , . . What film depositories 

does Wichita have? . additional depositories 

should it have, if any? A temporary 

executive committee has been formed. 

Team Is Theatre's Guest 

NEVADA, IOWA—W, P, Prossman, oêr 

and manager of the Circle Theatre, was host 

last week to members of the Nevada basketball 

squad and their coach. The group of 

24 saw a picture with a basketball theme. "The 

Big Fox." 

Theatre Materials on Hand 

YANKTON. S. D.— As soon as weather permits, 

work will be resumed on the theatre 

being built here by Charles Gurney, he annoimced. 

The theatre will be next to his 

hotel. Materials and equipment for the house 

are already on hand. 

'You for Me' Merits 

Kansas City Hold 

KANSAS CITY—A musical and a topdrawer 

western held the local spotlight this 

week as continued cold weather kept most 

Kansas Citians from going needlessly out of 

doors. The musical was "You Were Meant 

for Me," which played to business 30 per cent 

over average and earned a second week's billing 

at the Tower-Uptown-Fairway combination. 

"Relentless" was the western. Together 

with "Woman From Tangier" the film scored 

120 at the Midland. 


Esquire—Springtime in the Rockies (20th-Fox); 

Coney Island (20th-Fox), reissues 100 

Midland—Relentless (Col); Woman From Tangier 

(Col) 120 

Orpheum—Night Song (RKO) 90 

Paramount—Escape Me Never (WF . . iO 

Roxy—Wildfire (SG), reissue; Buffalo Bill Rides 

Agoin (SG) 90 

Tower, Uptown, Fairway—You Were Meant for 

Me (20th-Fox) 130 

'Senator' Blows Hot 

In Cold Minneapolis 

MINNEAPOLIS—Twenty below zero temperatures 

over the weekend were boxoffice 

handicaps, but, nevertheless, among the few 

newcomers, "The Senator Was Indiscreet" 

came through exceptionally well, "Frieda" 

was another picture that commanded some 

attention and picked up after only a fair 

start. Holdovers were "I Walk Alone," "Captain 

From Castile" and "Treasure of Sierra 

Madre," the first-named in its third week 

and the other two in their second. 

Aster-Wild Horse Mesa (RKO); Blockheads 

Century—Intermezzo (SRO), reissue 95 

Gopher—Dangerous Years (20th-Fox) E5 

Lyceum—Road to Hollywood (Astor); Second 

2nd wk 

RKO-Orpheum—The Senator Was In 

(U-I) 

RKO-Pan—Treasure of Sierra Madn 

2nd d. t. wk 

State—Intrigue (UA) 

World—Frieda (U-I) 

Two Omaha Bills Exceed 

Average Percentage 

OMAHA—Two theatres were able to pull 

their business out of the mediocre class. 

One was the RKO Brandeis featuring "The 

Fugitive" and "The Crime Doctor's Gamble." 

The Omaha Theatre slipped in a couple of 

oldies, "Texas" and "Arizona," and did right 

nicely. 

Weather was a bit warmer, but still not 

favorable to theatre business. Three capacity-crowd 

hockey games and a St, Louis- 

Creighton basketball game, all in row, didn't 

help, 

Omaha'—Texas (Col); Arizona (Col), reissues !S 120 

Orpheum—Big Town After Dark (Para); plus 

Gil Lamb recue on st.aae 

PO 

Paramount—The Senator Was Indiscreet (U I) 

RKO-Brandeis—The Fugitive (RKO), Crime 

Doctor's Gamble (Co!) 

State—Killer McCoy (MGM) 

Town—That Haoen Girl (WB), 2nd run; The 

Fighting Frontiersman (Col); split with Wild 

Mustang (WIB); Palmy Days (UA), reissues. 

School Buys Projectors 

OMAHA—Tliree new film projectors, costing 

more than $3,000, have been purchased 

for use at South High school. The interesting 

part is that dime noonday pictures shown 

in the school's auditorium the past five years 

made possible the purchase. The new machines 

will be used in the science and home 

economics classes. 

BOXOFHCE : : February 14, 1948

. . Roy 

. . The 

. . 

. . The 

. . Jack 

KANSAS CITY 

lyjrs. Audrey Flynn, wife of Bill Flynn, 

United Artists salesman, is slated to manage 

the drive-in C. B. Haas will build this 

spring in Great Bend. Mrs. Flynn is Haas's 

daughter and formerly operated the Paramount 

in La Crosse, Kas. . . . Julian H. King, 

president of King Enterprises of Des Moines 

and Kansas City, was in the local exchange, 

which is under the direction of Marie 

Bud Riley, Eagle Lion salesman who fell 

two weeks ago and injured his back, is out 

of Ti'inity Lutheran hospital and on the way 

back to normal. According to Beverly Miller, 

district manager, no su:-gery will be required 

as had been thought previously . . . Miller 

left for New York at the end of the week to 

attend a sales meeting and a testimonial dinner 

Friday night for A. W. Schwalberg, recently 

resigned sales manager for EL. 

George Hayob, owner of the Mary Lou in 

Marshall, was on a rare visit to Filmi-ow. 

Accompanied by his nephew Leo, who operates 

the house for him, Hayob looked well 

and hearty . . . Glen Klock of the Klock 

in Neodesiha, Kas., also was in town. Some 

Rowites report it a safe bet to wager the 

Golden Gloves tournament had more influence 

on his being here than did theatre 

chores. 

Frank Norris, office manager at Eagle Lion, 

has moved into his new home . . . Mary 

Helen Seybert is the new assistant cashier 

at Republic, replacing Prances Wansch, who 

moved to California. New switchboard girl 

at GR-2390 is Juanita Gilmore, who replaced 

Rene Hall. Incidentally, the new secretary 

at RCA Service Co. and replier to HA-6930 is 

Juanita, too. This one is Mi's. Watson . 

A. A. Hughes of Salt Lake City is the new 

field engineer in the RCA office. He worked 

here several years ago ... Ed Branch of that 

office was on a vacation jaunt through the 

territory last week. 

Charles Crawford, 20th-Fox salesman, is a 

father. His first child. Charles Joseph, was 

born last Sunday . Fox Midwest executives 

who attended the National Theatres 

convention on the coast last week have returned 

. Cato, manager for Fox at 

the Fairway Theatre, hopes to be back at 

POP CORN BOXES 

10c Size 

ATTRACTIVE DESIGN 

IMMEDIATE SHIPMENT 

work next week. Roy broke his ankle some 

time ago . PMW office reports Uiat 

subsequent run business in the city has fallen 

off about 50 per cent since the holidays. 

Tom McConuick, salesman for Selected 

Pictures here, has resigned to return to exhibition. 

Tom joined the distributor for 

Astor and Realart product in Denver following 

his release from service. Before the 

war he was manager of a Fox West Coast 

house in Pasadena . . . Lawrence Breuninger, 

FMW city manager in Topeka, has retiu-ned 

from a vacation in Arizona . Hastings, 

manager of the Liberty in Marysville, Kas., 

was in the home office last week. 

The directors of the Kansas-Missomi Theatres 

Ass'n will hold their monthly directors 

meeting at Hotel Phillips Tuesday (17; 

instead of the usual Thursday since most 

of the men will be in town for the dinner for 

O. K. Mason, Ward Scott and Ray Copeland 

to be given Monday (16) . . . Mrs. Helen 

Calaihan has replaced Zella Faulkner as seci-etai-y 

to A. F. Baker Enterprises. 

Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd M. Jenkins jr., owners 

of the State in Norwich, Kas., are experimenting 

with seven-nig-ht-a-week showings. 

So far, they say, it has proven very satisfactory 

and "the people here are himgi-y for 

entertainment" . . . Nellie Snyder of Warner 

Bros, married Boyd Anderson of Commonwealth 

January 31 . . . Hall Walsh, WB district 

chief, was in the local exchange. Manager 

Russ Borg was home with the flu. Other 

flu victims at the exchange were Charles 

Oliver and Catherine Dyer. 

Other Filmrow visitors included Earl Kerr 

of the Rigney in Albany and the Roxy and 

Noll in Betliany. He was accompanied by 

P. F. Chenoweth, who manages his houses. 

R. V. Davidson of the Binney in Pattonsburg 

also was in as were Vernon Austin of the 

Ozark, Lowi-y City; Tom Edwards, Eldon and 

Farmington; Larry Larsen, Webb City; Bill 

Bradfield, Carthage; Vii'gil Harbison, Tarkio; 

Geoi-ge Nesher, Valley Falls; Jack Campbell, 

Osawatomie, and John Johnson, former Eagle 

Lion salesman who now is in the real estate 

business in Springfield. 

Durwood Theatres' spring drive has been 

slated to begin March 7 and will continue 

till May 15. This will be one of three drives 

proposed to occur before Christmas. The 

next will be for six weeks during the summer 

and the third will be for a ten-week period 

before the holiday. Tlie annual Christmas 

bonus will be tied in with the overall picture 

after the drives have ended . . . "Doc" 

Hartley, film editor of the Star, has returned 

to his desk following an illness. 

TALKING TRAILERS, LOBBY PAPER 

AND MATS 

Write, Wire or Phone 

PENNINGTON POSTER SERVICE 

130 West 18th Phone: GRand 8626 

Kansas City 8, Mo. 

Satisfaction — Always 

Missouri Theatre Supply Co. 

L. I. KIMBRIEL. Manage 

Phone GRand 2864 

City 8. Mo. ^ 

rintonjUonSl 

THEATRE INSURANCE SpttiaWn 

special ANNOUNCEMENT 

TRAILERS 

IGmm — Motion Pictures — 35mm 

Sound Recording — Talkies 

HAL PARKER STUDIOS 

1719 Wyandotte — Suite 208 

Telephone GR. 53G5 Kansas City, Mo. 

STEBBINS THEATRE Equipment C< 

^ f 

W-W ' 

SELL YOUR THEATRE PRIVATELY 

Your Deal Handled Personally 

| 

27 years experience 

We cover the U. S. Market 

Arthur Leak 

Theatre Sales Exclusively 

3422 Kinmore Dallas 10, Texas] 

Phono T3-2026 

IDEAL 

Slide 'Back 

Theatre Chairs 

Your best buy. 

Post-war design . . . pre-war quality ii 

various 

models. 

Paper Supply Co. 

505 Delaware Street 

KANSAS CITY 6, MO. 

CD[iiT \amm 

STAG E EQUIPMENT COMPANY 

IIH.IMIIW1IHIII. 

POPCORN BOXES 

New Design — Very Attractive 

HYBRID POPCORN 

Best Quality — All You Want 

Immediate Delivery 

Write for Prices and Samples 

\/ 

THEATRE SUPPLY 

^^nreue • company • 

217 W. IStii HA. 7849 K. C, Mo. 

STEBBINS THEATRE EQUIPMENT cT" 

1804 Wyandotte St.. Kansas City 8. Mo. 

Clyde Badger, Manager 

Read and Use 

BOXOFFICE 

Classified Ads 


. . Horky 

. . The 

. . Edna 

. . . MGM 

. . Earl 

: February 

ijjj 

D E S 

MOINES 

this after recent illness . . . Russ 

. . Ruth 

exchange . Helvig, MGM shipper, returned 

to his duties . . . D. C. "Jack" Kennedy 

has returned from his vacation in California 

office employes had a party at the 

Detty Caldwell, currently in "A Miracle Can sound equipment . Los Angeles Times airport shelter house last week . . . Ralph 

Happen," is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. featured Macdonald Carey, native of Sioux Maw, district manager, and Gerry McGlynn, 

Leon Coggins of Mason City. Betty, who says City, in a story last week. Carey is a nephew 

"of the late John W. Carey, former man- 

exchange, as was Norman Pyle, MGM ex- 

Omaha branch manager, were visitors at the 

she likes Hollywood "next to Mason City, my 

favorite town," was graduated from the Mason aging editor of Sioux City Journal-Tribime ploiteer. 

publications. He is a son of the late Charles 

City High school and was active in dancing 

and plays at the Mason City Little Theatre. 

Mr. and Mrs. G. Ralph Branton are on a 

Carey of Sioux City and Mrs. Carey, who 

S. 

now lives in Hollywood. He attended Iowa combination business and pleasiu-e trip to 

A registered nurse on duty 3 to 11 p. m. gets university. 

Texas and then on to the west coast . . . 

credit for having the feature played ahead of 

Madge Clark, Branton's secretary at Trithe 

short subjects each afternoon at the Fern Bitting, Warner inspector, has a hand States, w-as expected back for half-day duties 

week her Paramount. Cedar Rapids. She phoned infection which necessitates her being away 

Francis Gillon, manager, to explain that 

Salesman Stanley Soderberg 

Fraser, Tri-States advertising man, was a 

from her duties . . . 

has been transferred here from the victim of the flu last week. 

shift have no enter- 

nurses on the evening 

tainment opportunity but motion pictures and Columbia exchange in Minneapolis . 

couldn't see 

Evidon unless the feature started at 1 p. m. they Cook, former secretary for Mel at 

it. Gillon got the idea and put Columbia, "helped out" for a few days last First Runs in Des Moines 

the feature ahead of the shorts. He said he week. Ruth is enjoying her duties as a fulltime 

housewife, but admits that she misses Score Average Figures 

felt sure the other theatres would do the 

same thing except that it is difficult to shift the office a little . . . Universal is putting in DES MOINES — Theatre business was 

the schedule when a theatre has a double feaure 

new radiators throughout the office—so the 

about normal last week with the two Trieals 

can work without their overcoats on 

policy. 

States houses reporting just 100 per cent. 

subzero days! 

"Captain From Castile" was at the Des 

Moines and "Killer McCoy" and "High Tide" 

New chairs costing $10,000 have been installed 

at the Rialto, Fort Dodge, Manager 

H. N. Schrodt annoimced. The old seats were 

sold to other theatres and some went to 

churches for use in their auditoriums . . . 

The Pier Theatre, Pierson, is now using three 

changes a week. Under the new setup there 

is a Saturday only feature, a new picture for 

Sunday and Monday, with the midweek attraction 

running Wednesday and Thursday. 

The Pier also is featuring two ca.sh nights a 

week. 

John J. Peterson of Marshalltown, who is 

putting on shows in Baxter two nights a 

week, has purchased a new projector and 

Milt Feinberg entertained his office staff 

at a screening last Sunday night at the Fox 

screening room . is putting in a new 

dance floor in his restaurant . Cloonen, 

RKO contract clerk, resigned to stay 

home and take care of her baby . . . Roberta 

Baker, Eagle Lion, spent last weekend in 

Lamens, Iowa . . . Doris Hall. Republic, was 

on the sick list last week, as was Helen Mc- 

Gregor, office manager's secretary at MGM. 

Alice Weaver, 20th-Fox booker, is back at 

her desk after an illness . . . Betty Wynn, 

20th-Fox biller, married Tom Stanfield January 

24. She is continuing her work at the 

made up the double bill at the Paramount. 

"A Night at the Follies" has completed its 

eighth consecutive week at the Casino, breaking 

all records for a consecutive nin of a 

pictm-e here. The picture was the subject 

of a police investigation the fii'st week of 

its nm, but was given a clean bill of health. 

However, the probe since has led to consideration 

by the city council of setting up a city 

motion picture censor board. 


Des Moines—Captain From CasHle (2Cith-Fox), 

2nd 

.100 

Don't Wait Till Your Projection Equipment Breal(s Down 

. . . £e^ 

9t ia 6un, Modern, Well Ccûlpfied 

•All Repair Work GUARANTEED on Complete Jobs* 

' 

EXTRA GOOD NEWS 

Over 1.500 Square Yards 

New Theatre Carpet. 

• 

If your Theatre needs 

carpet, see our stock 

We Sell 

Popcorn Supplies 

• Corn • Bags • Boxes • Salt 

• Liquid and Solid Cocoanut Seasoning 

• Popcorn Kettle Cleaner. 

DES MOINES THEATRE SUPPLY CO 

1121 High Street Phone 3-6520 Des Moines, lo'wa 

BOXOFFICE 

: 

14, 1948 i 

t

. . Joplin 

. . H. 

. . 

. . . Elmer 

. . The 

Sioux Center Verdict 

Delayed Till April 

SIOUX CENTER, IOWA—The theatre battle 

here will not be settled until the town 

elections next month. The council took no 

action last week on the theatre lease held by 

the American Legion on the town hall. The 

Legion has been showing pictures six nig-hts 

a week in the town hall. The lease expires in 

April. 

Foes of the theatre won a hotly contested 

special town election in January. The result 

was only for the guidance of the council, 

however, and was not binding. A council 

member said no action one way or the other 

is expected now until the lease expires. 

Meanwhile. Iowa newspapers still were 

commenting on their editorial pages about 

the decision of Sioux Center residents in condemning 

motion pictures. 

The Northwood, Iowa Anchor had this to 

say last week: -Somehow, we felt sorry for 

the businessmen of Siotix Center. A good 

theatre in a town attracts business for all the 

merchants and is a definite community asset. 

"To om- knowledge, no one has ever been 

compelled to see a movie against the dictates 

of his chui-ch or conscience. It's still a free 

country and Sioux Center's action smacks 

of being another unsuccessful attempt to legislate 

morality." 

from the 

BOXOFFICE FILES 

(Twenty Years Ago) 

TTNIVERSAL has closed its Wichita exchange. 

Future shipments will be made 

from Kansas City . . . The New Isis opened 

for business in Alton, Mo. . is to 

have a new 1,600-seat theatre, according to 

United Studios of Chicago . H. Daniels 

purchased the Reel in Oswego, Kas., from 

N. W. Huston of Columbus. 

Floyd G. Ward, assistant manager of the 

Best and Orpheum in Parsons, Kas., has been 

made manager to take the place of C. S. 

Malone, who resigned . . . The Royal, Carrollton, 

Mo., has been sold to Mr. and Mrs. H. F. 

Tevis of Holden, Mo. . . . Construction is 

under way on the Missouri in Colimibia, Mo. 

.. . S. D. Hyter bought a projector from Williaf 

Pfaff in Hazelton, Kas., and moved it to 

Kiowa, where he will use it in the Kansas 

Theatre . . . Martin Nelson opened a picture 

show in the former Electric Theatre Bldg. 

John J. Franconi, formerly with Film Booking 

Offices in Memphis, has joined the sales 

force of the Kansas City Fox branch . 

J. C. Jossey, vice-president of Enterprise 

Film Corp., visited in Kansas City last week 

. . . Kenneth Goodnight of Warrensburg, Mo., 

has taken over the City Hall Theatre in Warrensbiu-g. 

OMAHA 

Uerbert J. Feldman, theatre manager in Mrs. Jacobs plamied to leave during the week 

Sioux Center, Iowa, who has been in the for a vacation in the south . . . 

Universal 

middle of a much-publicized squabble, reveals 

that he has a building permit and is son were in Chicago during the week for 

salesmen and Branch Manager Harold John- 

ready to build a new house if the community sales sessions . . . Ai-nold Johnson, Onawa, 

refuses to allow future use of a city building Iowa, exhibitor, who has been ill for some 

to the Legion-sponsored theatre. 

Mr. and Mrs. John Brandt of Oregon, Mo., 

were in town. He recently sold his theatre 

there and is lookirig for a new spot . . . Mr. 

and Mrs. Raymond Brown are spending most 

of February in Florida. He owns the theatres 

at Harlan, Iowa. 

Personnel in all exchanges are being asked 

to contribute to American Brotherhood week 

. . . The flu epidemic again has struck in 

the MGM exchange. Head booker Fred 

Fejfar and Lucille Sorenson, secretary to the 

manager, are among those who missed considerable 

work . Republic exchange 

has a new phone number—AT 7474 instead 

of AT 1906 . . . Marie Hassett, head inspector 

at Paramount, was injured in an auto accident 

over the weekend. She is confined to 

the 

hospital. 

Otto Hansen, RKO Brandeis projectionist, 

fell on the ice and is in St. Joseph's hospital, 

where he will remain another two 

weeks. Frank Pavilic, another projectionist 

at the same theatre, has been out due to 

illness . . . Mr. and Mrs. Phil March are 

leaving for a vacation in Mexico. He headquarters 

at Wayne, Neb., and is a partner in 

the March Bros, circuit. 

Robert Livingston, dean of Nebraska theatremen 

and legislative expert, met with independent 

central Nebraska exhibitors in 

Grand Island . . . Walter Janke, Lincohi theatreman, 

was in town following a trip to 

Oklahoma City where he helped to open a 

new house. 

Mr. and Mrs. Walter Green (he is the 

Fepco owner) are in Coral Gables, Fla., visiting 

the Edward Schwartzmans. They report 

Sophie Tucker is the town's top attraction 

Wulf, exhibitor in Kingsley, Iowa, 

is paying frequent visits to Sioux City, Iowa, 

where his wife has been in the hospital for 

several 

weeks. 

Joe Jacobs, Columbia branch manager, and 

time, is now in Doctor's hospital here. 

Nate Galbreath, RKO salesman, is resigning 

. . . William Miskell, Tri-States Theatres 

district manager, who devotes his spare hours 

to traffic safety, is pictured in the local 

press at a ceremony in which white crosses 

are placed on the courthouse lawn for the 

two 1948 fataUties so far. It is quite Ukely 

a similar pictm-e will appear in Life magazine 

as one of a series taken on Omaha's 

new safety program. 

Visitors along Filmrow, despite the zero 

weather, included: George March, Vermillion, 

S. D., just back from a west coast trip; Mr. 

and Mrs. C. A. Craig, Plainview; Mr. and 

Mrs. Edward S. Hanzel, new exhibitors in 

Beemer; Jim Burrus, Crete; Paul Tramp, 

Oxford; Mr. and Mrs. Clem Tramp, Crofton; 

Earl Barclay, Stromsburg; Mrs. Laura Moorehead, 

Stromsburg; Ai-nold Miererdierks, Pender; 

Ben Juracek, Cedar Rapids, Neb., and 

Phil Lannon, West Point. 

Most downtown theatres were planning 

Friday the 13th Jinx night shows. The Brandeis 

was the exception, delaying its midnight 

feature until February 14, Valentine's day . . . 

Golden Gloves boxing, hockey, high school 

basketball and concert attractions are combining 

with the weather to clip theatre receipts. 

Bob Ballantyne is 

going ahead with plans 

for a new -building following his victory in 

district court on the question of an auditorium 

site. The present streamlined Ballantyne 

Co. plant was only recently completed 

and plans for the addition will have some 

beautiful surprises. 

Manager Stan Blackburn of the Omaha 

Theatre received local plaudits for his efforts 

on behalf of "Carnegie Hall." He had an 

entire crew of expert technicians go over 

every of theatre's inch the sound equipment 

to make certain that important music played 

in the picture was not marred by imperfections. 

USE BOXOFFICE ADS FOR RESULTS 

COMPLETELY NEW

. . Al 

. . Ben 

. . Volk 

. . Fay 

. . Eph 

' 

^ 

Tri-States Sponsoring 

Safety Drive Again 

DES MOINES—Tri-States Theatre Corp. 

and the Iowa State Junior Chamber of Commerce 

are sponsors of a second statewide 

safety campaign. The purpose of the drive is 

to save lives and educate the people of the 

state to the importance of each individual's 

cooperation in making it a safer place for all 

to live. 

The drive is to start on March 13 and run 

through November 14. Tri-States has again 

offered a prize of $1,000 for the best campaign 

put forth in any city in Iowa. 

G. Ralph Branton. general manager of Tri- 

States, has assured the cooperation of all Tri- 

States theatres in the use of trailers, 

posters, 

short subjects dealing with safety, special 

children's sJiows, etc. 

The 1947 campaign was won by the Boone 

Junior Chamber, which received a $1,000 

check for use in furthering safety in that city. 

Fred Brisson to Film Life 

Of Father. Carl Brisson 

MINNEAPOLIS—Hollywood producers have 

singled out another performer, Carl Brisson, 

to perpetuate in the films. The life story 

of the star of movies and stage, now appearing 

at the Hotel Radisson Flame room here, 

be made by the company headed by his 

will 

son, Fred Brisson. Brisson was connected 

with the Danish anti-Nazi imderground during 

the war and his activities will be incorporated 

into the picture. Present plans call 

for the picture to be staged in Denmark and 

to be made both in English and Danish. 

Shooting probably will start late this year. 

Brisson has appeared in a number of Danish 

and American pictiu-es and also on the New 

York musical comedy stage as well as in 

supper clubs. 

Chicago Plans Huge 

Television Center 

from Central Edition 

CHICAGO—A gigantic convention project 

to be known as Television City, designed to 

rival Radio City in New York, has been proposed 

for the lake front at the mouth of 

the Chicago river. Walter Butler Co., sponsors, 

said it would cost "less than $50,000,000." 

Plans for the project, under consideration for 

three years, were announced last week. 

f^g^^stgm^ SHOWMANSHIP 

* i/>//^y SERVICE 'TOP QUALITY * 

IDDTIOnPICm SERVICE [q 

125 HYDE ST. San Francitco l2) Calif. 

CIRAIB L. RARtKI Q,mrtl muKiac 

MINNEAPOLIS 

. 

T eRoy J. Miller, U-I manager, and his sales 

staff were Chicago visitors this week 

for a sales conference . brothers, circuit 

owners, have bought the site for a new 

theatre in suburban Robbinsdale. They now 

. . Republic's 

operate one house there 

"Driftwood" is going great guns out-of-town. 

The branch office reports it held over at the 

Granada, Duluth, and Beacon, Superior. 

Herman Goldberg, in charge of building 

maintenance for Warner Bros., was a visitor 

. . . Charlie Rubenstein, circuit owner, is 

vacationing in Florida . Markus, formerly 

with National Screen Service, has become 

secretar>' to Lowell Kaplan. Independent 

Theatres manager . Rosen, MGM 

Twin City salesman, was in Milwaukee on 

business . 

Feinberg, U. S. Air Conditioning 

president, returned from New York. 

Bill Donald, Theatre Associates booker, became 

the father of a baby boy . . . Harry 

Greene jr., circuit owner and attorney, was 

in Washington attending the consent decree 

court hearing . Spiwak, theatre capitalist, 

stopped over en route to Washington 

to help fight the consent decree . . . Howard 

Dale, circuit owner, is extending his California 

vacation. 

The RKO Orpheum here staged a midnight 

jinx and horror show Friday tihe 13bh . . . 

Ev Seibel, Minnesota Amusement Co. advertising 

manager, is vacationing in Arizona and 

California . . . 

. 

The George Miner circuit 

opened its 13th theatre this week. It's the 

600-seat Miner in Ladysmith, Wis. . . Fânk 

Woskie, independent exhibitor, recuperating 

at home following a successful major operation 

. . . Safecrackers got away with $60 

from National Theatre Supply . . . Harry 

Buck is new manager for Harry Saveriede 

Theatre Brokers. 

Seeks Damages of $1,500 

For Tumble in Theatre 

BURLINGTON, IOWA—A Palace patron 

has filed suit in district court here asking 

$1,500 damages, allegedly incurred May 21, 

1947, when a theatre seat collapsed. Mrs. 

C. Lawrence Paule charged the Central States 

Theatre Co. with negligence. Alleged damages 

listed by the plaintiff were "physical and 

mental suffering, inconvenience, humiliation 

and embarrassment, mental anxiety and suffering, 

disturbance of the nervous system, recun-ence 

of a bad heart condition, medical, 

drug and prescription expense, loss of time 

from her household duties and inability to 

participate in 

family activities." 

Hold Minneapolis Hearings 

On New Theatre Permits^ 

MINNEAPOLIS— The city council license 

committee was to hold public hearings this 

week on the application of H. G. Griffith and 

Roy Secrest for licenses to operate new neighborhood 

theatres. Secrest is trying to get a 

license transferred from a theatre on which 

he has lost his lease to a new one to be 

built for him. Griffith has been trying 

unsuccessfully for 12 years to get a license. 

S. D. Kane, North Central Allied executive 

manager, planned to oppose both permits. 

Directs Dialog 

Dan Ullman will direct the dialog on RKO's 

"The Boy With Green Hair." 

Exhibitors Oppose 

Work-Limit Move 

From New England Edition 

BOSTON—Members of the New England 

exhibitors coordinating committee and representatives 

of 

the M&P and RKO Theatres 

circuits opposed a bill limiting weekly work 

days at a hearing before the labor and industry 

committee in the Statehouse. 

The measure, asked by Forest E. Parker 

jr. and the projectionists lATSE Local 182, 

would prohibit any employer from requiring 

any employe to contract to work more than 

six days each week, and would fine violators 

$50 for each offense. 

Frank Lydon is chairman of the coordinaing 

committee with Joe Brennan of Allied 

Theatres and Ray E. Feeley, business manager 

of Independent Exhibitors, Inc., as members. 

The bill would affect motion picture operators, 

stagehands, baseball players, railroad 

employes, real estate brokers and other 

workers. 

Wide Exploitation Heralds 

'Timberlane' in Minnesota 

MINNEAPOLIS — Authored by a Minnesotan, 

Sinclair Lewis, and laid in this state, 

"Cass Timberlane" wUl open March 3 in the 

Radio City Theatre here and will immediately 

go into 30 other houses around the 

state. Exploiteer Louis Orlove has laid out 

an especially elaborate exploitation and advertising 

campaign and the book publishers 

also will have a publicity man here to assist 

him. "Timberlane" goes into the Paramount, 

St. Paul, and Norshor, Duluth, the week 

following its opening here. 

Cresbard House Renamed 

In Memory of Benefactor 

CRESBARD, S. D—The theatre operated t 

here by the American Legion post has been ( 

renamed the Velke Theatre. It was fonnerly ij 

known as the Legion Midway Theatre. The I 

change was made to honor Eli Velke, a mem- ( 

ber of the post who died several years ago ( 

and willed all of his property to the organ- 

| 

ization. It was through his generosity that I, 

the post was able to purchase the building y| 

and remodel it into a theatre and meeting D 

hall. 

Fox Intermountain Buys 

Theatre Site in Sidney 

SIDNEY, NEB.—Fox Intermountain Theatres 

has purchased a site fronting 53 feet 

on Illinois street for erection of a new theatre 

here. No immediate building plans were 

announced. Robert Selig, assistant to the 

president of Pox Intermoimtain, and Ray 

Davis, district manager, were here on several 

occasions looking over a possible new 

theatre site. Elmer Haines is the circiut's 

city manager. 

Shower for Mrs. Kemptgen 

OMAHA—About 35 attended a shower for 

Mrs. Hazel Anderson Kemptgen, MGM office 

manager, who resigned to join her husband, 

who is MGM branch manager in Milwaukee, 

probably in April. There was a dinner 

at the Athletic club and a gift shower 

for Mrs. Kemptgen. 

^ 

' 

I 

72 


New Twin City Firm 

Names Bill Sears 

MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota Amusement 

Enterprises has chosen Bill Sears, veteran 

showman, as general manager of the drive-in 

tJieatres which it will build and operate in 

this area this year. H. D. Field, president 

of the group of prominent local exhibitors 

who organized the concern with a $1,000,000 

capitalization to engage in all branches of the 

entertainment industry. 

Sears for many years was manager of the 

Orpheum here and was considered one of the 

right-hand men of the late Mort H. Singer 

who owned the showhouse. Prior to becoming 

associated with Singer, Sears owned his 

ovm circuit of theatres in Iowa. He is now 

touring the west coast and south in quest 

of all the most modern drive-in theatre features 

to be incorporated into the MAE establishments. 

One of the main purposes for the organization 

of MAE was to keep away outside drive-in 

theatre interests by building and operating 

locally owned airers. MAE recently obtained 

the licenes to build a drive-in theatre in 

Rose township, midway between Minneapolis 

and St. Paul, where Dave Flexer of Memphis, 

who built and opened the territory's first 

drive-in in a Mimieapolis suburb last year. 

also sought the permit. 

Construction of the Rose theatre will start 

within the next few years. It will represent 

a, $150,000 investment and accommodate 800 

cars, according to Field. Negotiations now 

are in progress for additional sites. 

Eou Claire Exhibitor Sues 

Over Lease on Theatre 

MINNEAPOLIS— S. P. Halpern, Minneapolis 

lawyer, is bringing suit for Sheldon Grengs, 

Eau Claire, Wis., exhibitor, against his landlord. 

Prank Bluhm. for the latter's alleged 

failure to carry out a contract agreement to 

lease him the Hollywood Theatre, which he 

now operates. The complaint alleges Bluhm 

agreed to build the Hollywood for Grengs and 

lease it to him for ten years, with an option 

for five more years. Grengs chai-ged that 

Bluhm now is demanding that he pay an 

exorbitant rental or buy the property. 

Sponsor Amateur Shows 

At Theatre in Moravia 

MORAVIA, IOWA—The first in a series of 

four amateur contests was held last week at 

the Moravia Theatre. The shows are sponsored 

by Mr. and Mrs. Art Van Dom, theatre 

owners, and Paul Turner of the Turner Radio 

and Recording Service, Centerville. The 

first contest was open to the adult group. 

The second will be for those 10 to 16, and the 

third for those under 10. The fourth and 

final contest will include winners of the 

three earlier amateur nights. Contests are 

being held each Wednesday night. 

Crowther in Sioux City 

SIOUX CITY. IOWA — Bosley Crowther, 

film critic and motion picture editor of the 

New York Times, spoke on "What You Don't 

Know About the Movies" before a general 

meeting of the Sioux City Women's club here 

last week. 

Senator Would Force 

Facilities for Parking 

From Eastern Tdilion 

ALBANY, N. Y.—Owners of commercial 

buildings in all cities in the state would be 

lequired to provide off-street parking places 

if a bill introduced by Senator Thomas C. 

Desmond of Newbiu-gh were passed by the 

legislature. 

The measure requires that "places of public 

assembly" furnish a space of 200 square 

feet for each 10 persons of their total capacity. 

Apartment houses would provide one car 

space per apartment: office buildings and 

department stores, one space per 400 square 

feet of floor area; hotels, one space per each 

four rooms; factories, one space for every 

two employes. 

The measure, one of six dealing with offstreet 

parking and truck unloading introduced 

by Desmond, provides that unless the local 

council of a city specifically excepts it, the 

above requirement shall be compulsory in all 

cities. The State Conference of Mayors may 

object to the state forcing city action, according 

to a report at the capitol. 

One of Senator Desmond's bills authorizes 

the Port of New York Authority to construct 

and maintain or lease parking garages in 

New York City. This would include a 2,000- 

car garage proposed as part of the new 

Madison Square Garden. 

Adolph Rozanek to Start 

Theatre in David City 

DAVID CITY, NEB.—Adolph Rozanek, 

owner of the Times Theatre in Crete, Neb., 

has purchased the Opera House Block here. 

He plans to convert the buildings into a 

theatre. Tenants have received 30 days' notice 

and construction is scheduled to begin 

soon. 

J. P. Harrison, Denton, Uses 

Show Business on Crows 

DENTON, TEX J P. Harrison, manager 

of the Tcx.i.s and P.ilace theatres, and president 

of the Chamber 

of Commerce, won 

general praise for his 

plan for ridding Denton 

county of its 

crows. The birds were 

damaging 

severely 

-•*' ^* crops of the area. 

Harrison applied 

" ' 

^^^ 

^^^t^T^^^^ ^how business to his 

idea and the crows left 

^^^B^^^^H 

^^^H^^^^H 

^^^^BJ^Î^^H 

for 

told farmers they could 

trap the crows by 

J. P. Harrison using a certain type 

box. Now every farmer is tending his traps 

as he rides by on his tractor and the week's 

catch is brought in for its reward and a 

chance at the jackpot prize. State agricultural 

programs told what Harrison had done. 

Harrison is a dean among Texas theatre 

managers, having been in show business for 

many years. He was city manager at Waco 

for the L. L. Dent circuit and remained there 

until that circuit was taken over by Texas 

Consolidated Theatres, a branch of the Interstate 

circuit. He was transferred here 

shortly before the war. 

To Build New Drive-In Screen 

ERIE, PA.—Materials are on the job and 

construction will be started soon at the Skyway 

Drive-In Theatre on a steel screen structure. 

The outdoor screen built of wood was 

destroyed by a wind.storm late last season. 

Showman-Artist Glamorizes Lobby 

By Drawing Sketches of 

From Southeast Edition 

MIAMI—At the Strand Theatre, one 

of the Wometco chain, the manager, 

Bernard Schaft. is capitalizing on what 

used to be his trade and is now his 

hobby. Every night, from 6 to 9, he 

sets up his easel in the lobby and begins 

to sketch. 

A very handy man with crayon, 

Schaft soon has an interested audience 

and he offers to sketch any patron 

who cares to pose for a few moments. 

Few can resist and those who are 

sketched may either take their portrait 

along with them, or may leave it 

to be hung in the lobby along with 

many others. 

Schaft, of course, makes no charge 

for his work and those who do not 

it is realize that the Strand's manager 

who sketches nightly in the lobby, become 

very curious to know why an 

artist should so cheerfully be givin-^ 

away his handiwork. "They ask som^ 

pretty funny questions," he says, theiv 

bafflement seeming to add to the enjoyment 

that he takes in his self-appointed 

job. 

If you think that Schaft's nightly 

sketching sessions, which "I began just 

as a gag," don't beglamor the theatre's 

lobby and draw patrons like 

Patrons 

Bernard Schaft, manager of the 

Strand in Miami, sketches a bathing 

beauty in the theatre lobby. 

flies, you're very much mistaken. Customers 

love it, the models love it. 

and Schaft himself gets a great kick 

out of the whole idea. 

1 


73

1 

SUPER SALESMAN ! 

The Industry's Market lor Purchase or Sale ol Equipment, Theatres. Servi^ 

GENERAL EQUIPMENT-USED 

-CLfflfilllGHOUSf

Administration Shiit 

By Michigan Allied 

DETROIT—The iiew post of executive secretary 

has been created by the board of 

directors of Allied Theatres of Michigan for 

Inspector Charles W. Snyder, who is retiring 

from the police department at the end 

of February. Snyder will function primarily 

in the public relations field, as previously 

reported. 

Reorganization of the administrative setup 

is in Allied in prospect. President Ray W. 

Branch of Hastings will spend several days 

a week in the Detroit office following the 

departure of Jack Stewart, who leaves 

February 14 to become manager of the Missouri-Kansas 

Allied organization. Branch 

will take charge of the functions formerly 

handled by Stewart as general manager. 

Formal disbanding of the Allied Theatre 

Booking Service was announced by Stewart, 

who headed this affiliated but independent 

oi-ganization. However. Lawrence Shubnell, 

active manager of the booking group, has 

decided to carry on the booking service if 

members approve, and will maintain the office 

here until at least the end of the month, 

pending a final decision. 

F. W. Pflanz Dies of Stroke; 

Was Louisville Exhibitor 

LOUISVILLE—F, William Pflanz, co-owner 

of the Parkland Theatre, Louisville, died 

February 5 in the Jewish hospital. He suffered 

a stroke at his home. He had been in 

the theatre business since 1929. He was the 

son of the late John R. Pflanz, one time 

Jefferson county sheriff and jailer and city 

councilman and alderman. Surviving are a 

brother, A. Stanley Fflanz, and two sisters, 

Mrs. Grace Milligan and Mrs. Artise A. 

Hanley. 

William E. Gilger 

NORWALK, OHIO—William E. Gilger, 84, 

who built the Gilger Theatre in Norwalk in 

1903, died January 30. He sold the theatre 

after World War 1. His wife and two sons 

Isaac W. Griffith 

JOHNSTOWN, PA.—Isaac W. Griffith, 79, 

died in his home here February 4. He was 

the father of Ellis W. Griffith, operator of 

the Griffith film carrier service. 

Charles K. Friedman 

TOLEDO—Charles K. Friedman, 74, former 

assistant city solicitor, died February 1. He 

was a director of the Loew's Valentine Theatre 

Co. 

Peter Burke Sr. 

DETROIT—Peter Burke sr. died here January 

7 at the age of 91. He was the father 

of Peter Burke jr., projectionist at the East 

End Theatre. 

New Sound in Windber 

WINDBER, PA.—Wenard Kough's Opera 

House has installed new RCA sound equipment. 

New Aide for Wermuth 

FAIRMONT, W. VA.—Manager Don Wermuth's 

new assistant at Warner's New Fairmont 

is Frank Grasso, of Point Marion, Pa. 

Applause Greets Television Programs; 

Cleveland Theatre to Use It Weekly 

Old Hands Stay at Helm 

Of Detroit lATSE Local 

DETROIT—Prank Kinsora of the Palms- 

State Theatre was re-elected president and 

Roger M. Kennedy, international vice-president 

of the lATSE, business agent, of Local 

199, lATSE. The local has jurisdiction over 

all projectionists in this area. This makes 

nearly two decades of leadership for this 

well-known team. 

The other newly elected officers are: Vicepresident, 

Gilbert Light; financial secretary, 

Roy Ruben; recording secretary, Thomas 

OToole; treasurer, Joseph Sullivan; member 

of the executive board, Floyd H. Akins; trustees, 

Owen Blough, Walter Craig, and William 

Esperti; delegates to lATSE, Frank 

Kinsora, Gilbert Light, Arthur Potter and 

Roy Ruben; sergeant at arms, Percy Huebner; 

delegates to Detroit and Wayne County 

Federation of Labor, Owen Blough, Fred 

Warendorp and Ray Doyle; delâtes to 

Michigan State Federation of Labor, Prank 

Kinsora and Joseph Sullivan. 

CLEVELAND—First television on a large 

.screen to be exhibited to a regular theatre 

audience here was shown last Friday (6) at 

the Almlra. Although the subject, a game of 

table tennis, was of minor interest, the audience 

approved and via applause, asked for 

further demonstrations. 

The picture was shown on a 7x9-foot screen, 

clearly visible from the back of the theatre. 

The pictures, it is claimed, are adjustable in 

size from 6 to 63 square feet and can be 

projected from 2 to 15 feet. 

Selected Distributors Television Co. has 

been formed by Nate Schultz, Monogram 

franchise owner; Sam Schultz, also of Monogram, 

and William S. Shartin. former Eagle 

Lion district manager, to distribute this 

Vision-Master, perfected by Colonial Television 

Corp., in the Cleveland, Cincinnati, 

Pittsburgh, Detroit and Kansas City exchange 

areas. 

Victor Wolcott of the Almira said local 

available programs are limited and will be 

used once a week as a novelty attraction. 

Ticket Taxes Spread in Two States 

HARRISBURG—Pennsylvania School Directors 

and Secretaries associations, in sessions 

here, passed a resolution condemnins 

the state law giving municipalities almost 

unlimited taxing powers. Sharp attacks on 

the tax-broadening law were put on record 

and charges were made that the legislature 

ducked its responsibility for meeting the financial 

needs of school districts by passing 

the "enabling" act. This tax law hits the 

lower income groups hardest, educators stated, 

"because utilities can't be taxed." 

SEWARD, PA.—Council passed a notice of 

intention to levy a four per cent amusement 

tax which will become effective April 6. Taxed 

under the program will be the borough's 

newly opened theatre and all other places of 

public amusement. The manager of the theatre 

was granted permission to operate Sunday 

movies. 

PITNXSUTAWNEY, PA.—Representative.s 

Warner Theatres and Brotherhood ol 

of 

Trainmen appeared before the city council In 

opposition to the city's proposed 10 per cent 

amusement tax. An ordinance legalizing the 

levy will be passed March 1 unless the council 

reverses its stand. 

WDST "VIEW, PA.—Both the borough and 

the board of education have plans to enact 

an amusement tax. The borough seeks a 10 

per cent tax and the school board plans one 

of 10 to 20 per cent. Only theatre here is 

the Gerard. 

UNIONTOWN. PA.—Under enactment here 

is a 4 per cent admission tax and a mercantile 

tax. also affecting theatres and theatre 

business. Theatres also pay a local license 

fee. 

SPRINGDALE, PA.—A 10 per cent amusement 

tax ordinance was ready this week for 

enactment. Additional new taxes may include 

levies on juke boxes, pool ta/bles, pinball 

machines, etc. 

CLAIRTON, PA.—The city council has 

passed on first reading a 10 per cent admission 

tax. Frank Panoplos, theatre owner, is 

urging consideration of a 5 per cent tax and 

tax-free admissions for children. 

TARENTUM, PA.—A 7 per cent amusement 

tax is planned by the borough council. 

BLAWNOX, PA.—"At least a 5 per cent" 

amusement tax is ready for enactment here. 

MONTPELIER, OHIO—Deciding there was 

not enough revenue to offset costs of collection 

and enforcement, the village council has 

repealed the recently passed amusement tax 

ordinance. The amusement tax affected only 

one theatre. The revenue collected in the 

first 60 days of the ordinance came far short 

of the anticipated rate of $2,000 annually. 

GREENFIELD, OHIO—A 3 per cent tax 

on admissions will become effective here in 

mid-February, following publication of the 

ordinance enacted by city council. The tax 

is to be levied on admission fees to all 

amusements except those of religious, charitable 

or educational Institutions. 

SALEM, OHIO—The city council is planning 

to enact a measure levying a 3 per 

cent amusement tax. 

NEW LEXINGTON—City council at a meeting 

here voted down a proposal for a 3 per 

cent amusement tax. 

BOXOFnCE :: February 14, 1948 ME 75

Horace Shock, Ohio Drive-In Operator, 

Starts Manufacturing Own Speakers 

LIMA, OHIO—Horace Shock, owner and 

operator of a chain of drive-in theatres, has 

formed Lima Speaker, Inc., to manufacture 

an in-car speaker which he developed in association 

with Thomas M. Campbell, former 

RCA sound engineer who now is in charge 

of Lima Speaker production, and J. Stuart 

Cangney, Cleveland theatre manager and 

former independent distributor, in charge of 

sales and advertising. 

The new speaker is made of polished 

aluminum, handle included. The high 

aluminum polish reflects and picks up enough 

light to eliminate automobile parking difficulties, 

but not enough to distract patrons. 

Shock claims the speaker has a wider 

sound range than other speakers now on 

the market. 

"Another important feature," Shock explains, 

"is a patented system whereby speakers 

can be changed in ten seconds without 

taking apart the junction box or disrupting 

the sound of another speaker attached to 

the same post." 

STARTED TO REMOVE -BUGS' 

When Shock started out to improve the 

speakers in use in his drive-ins, he had no 

idea of going into the production of speakers 

on a national scale. 

"I was just looking for means to correct 

the 'bugs' I have found in the speakers I 

had in use," he said. "Working with Campbell, 

we found many ways not only to correct 

evils, but to develop new features. As 

the new speaker took shape, we realized that 

we had something so good that we determined 

to put it on the market. 

"We acquired a factory building on the 

outskirts of Lima, opposite one of our drivein 

theatres and we are now in full production. 

"Manufacture of the Lima speaker Is only 

one of our functions, however. We are setting 

up a department to repair and rebuild 

all types of speakers." 

Shock, a native of Lima, was in the dairy 

business until six years when he built his 

first Lima drive-in. He now owns and operates 

two drive-ins in the Lima area, one in 

Marion, and has another under construction 

in Fort Wayne, Ind. He plans to build 

several more this spring. 

FORMER RCA ENGINEER 

Campbell started his career in the show 

business back in 1919 as a projectionist in 

the Toledo territory. For the last several 

years he was an RCA field engineer, a position 

he left to become affiliated with Lima 

Speakers, Inc. 

Cangney has been active in both distrl- 

Left to right: J. Stuart Cangney, director 

of sales and advertising for Lima 

Speaker, Inc.; Horace Shock, president, 

and Thomas M. Campbell, chief engineer 

in charge of design and manufacture. 

bution and exhibition 28 years. He was born 

in Port Clinton. He has managed theatres 

in Ohio for Warner Bros., Schine, the Associated 

circuit, and for the last seven years 

managed the Broadvue, Cleveland, for Prank 

and Roy Gross. At various times Cangney 

managed a vaudeville theatre in San Antonio, 

and in 1920 was manager of the W. W. 

Hodkinson exchange in Indianapolis. He now 

has an interest in a drive-in at Warren, Ohio. 

Ready to Start Operation 

In New Baltimore, Mich. 

NEW BALTIMORE, MICH.—Vincent Laica 

expected to open his new theatre here thi.s 

month. The house was built by the Johnson 

Construction Co. of Birmingham and equipped 

by National Theatre Supply. 

Arly to Ronald Harwood 

ARLINGTON, KY.—The Arly Theatre has 

reopened under the ownership of Ronald Harwood, 

who purchased the property from the 

Stout interests of Cairo. Harwood. an electrical 

engineer, formerly lived in Evansville, 

COMPLETE EQUIPMEOTfror THEATRES and DRUE-IP 

Ind. 

READY TO SERVE YOU 

Immediate Delivery .. LOWEST PRICES 

Hygienic, Chakeres 

Promote Benefit 

WILMINGTON, OHIO—In an effort to 

raise $25,000 for local civic improvements, 

Kroger Babb and J. S. Jossey of Hygienic 

Productions and Phil Chakeres, head of the 

Chakeres circuit, have launched a series of 

12 monthly charity stage shows at the latter's 

Murphy Theatre here. The first, titled 

"The Best Is Yet to Come," was presented 

the night of February 5 to a capacity house. 

Ai-guing that theatres "over-sell" stars and 

attractions instead of pure entertainment, 

Babb began the series by merely guaranteeing 

an evening of good entertainment. A 

series of four ads preceded advance ticket 

sales. The admission price of 50 cents was 

raised to $1.20. According to Babb, all tickets 

had been sold 11 days before the performance, 

although sales were launched only 15 

days before the show. 

Over $1,000 was raised for the fund. March 

4 will see two more performances and three 

others will be given in April. The events from 

then on will be slated for the first Thursday 

in each month. Name bands, professional 

acts and amateui- performers will be 

combined each month into a two-hour informal 

presentation. 

For the show this month. Buddy Moreno 

and his band was featured. He was surrounded 

by 12 professional acts and six amateur 

combinations. 

Theatrical Credit Union 

Elects A. L. Criswell 

PITTSBURGH—At the annual meeting of 

the Pittsburgh Allied Theatrical Crafts Credit 

Union in the Roosevelt hotel the following 

officers were elected: 

A. L. Criswell, Enright, president; Lou Indo, 

Enright, vice-president; E. J. Jones, Roxian- 

McKees Rocks, treasurer; Jerry Mikloucich, 

Carnegie, assistant treasurer; Angelo Marino, 

w 

U-I, Filmrow collector. Directors include 

holdover members Criswell, Indo, Jones, Mikloucich, 

Bill Thompson and Bill Watterson 

and new members Eugene Welday, Richard 

Caskey and Henry Stanley, the latter named 

to serve through the unexpired term of John 

C. Snyder, resigned. 

Jones, treasurer and director, also is a 

member of the board of directors of the 

Pennsylvania Credit Union league. 

Son Takes Over 

WAYNE, MICH.—Walter D. Shafer. pioneer 

Wayne business man, has turned the 

management of his theatre enterprises over 

to his son, Martin D. Shafer. The theatres 

include the new State and WajTie here and 

the Shafer in Garden City. It was also announced 

here that the capitalization of tihe 

theatre coi-poration was increased from $50,- 

000 to $200,000 simultaneously with the election 

of Martin as president. 

CENTURY PROJECTORS AND SOUND SYSTEMS icluding the Great 

24-HOUH PROIECTION AND SOUND SERVICE 

Write ior Free Literature 

TIIEITRE EQL.IPMEST COMPASIY 

AL BOUDOURIS 

Manager 

A Ballyhooer Gets Sniffles 

PITTSBURGH—Joe Lewis, the fellow who 

strolled the Ti-iangle's streets in pajamas to 

advertise "The Senator Was Indiscreet," was 

so indiscreet himself that he wore nothing 

underneath his pajamas and robe except his 

striped running trunks. He still has the 

sniffles, according to Charles F. Danver, 

Pittsburghesque reporter. 

BOXOrnCE : : February 14, 1948

I (Commando), 

I 

1 

Sweet 

' 

; 

Cold 

. . . Vincent 

'Sierra Madre' Score 

High in Cleveland 

CLEVELAND—Local film fans were loud 

in praise of "Treasiu-e of Sierra Madre." It 

earned a second week at the Hippodrome. 

At the Palace Horace Heidt was the main 

half of the bill with "Prince of Thieves" on 

the screen. Surprismgly good was the Ohio 

double biU, "Borneo" and "Congorilla." "Tlie 

Swordsman" held strong. 

Weather continued cold. 


-A Woman's Vengeance (U-I) 80 

oi 135 

drome—Treasure Sierra Madre (WB) 

—The Swordsman (Col), 2nd d. t. wk.... 135 

Mdli—The Hoosevell Story (UA) - - 100 

Ohio—Borneo (Commando); Gongorilla 

I 

reissues 115 

ol Palace Prince Thieves (Col), plus stage show„115 

State—Cass Timberlane (MGM), 2nd wk 100 

Stillman—Secret Beyond the Door (U-1) 75 

(EL) 95 

Cinema—Torment (Oxford Films), .:.d w,; ICO 

Downtown—Killer McCoy (MG>.;j; Bowery 

Buckaroos (Mono), 3rd wk ICO 

Fox—Secret Beyond the Door (U-Ij, I Love Trouble 

Michigan—Treasure of Sierra Madre (WB); 

Glamour Girl (Col), 2nd wk .-.-. 105 

Palms-State—To the Ends ol the Earth (Col); 

Genevieve (Col) 130 

United Artists—The Swordsman (Col); Perilous 

Waters (Mono) - - 125 

Cincinnati Grosses Climb 

Despite Snow, Sleet, Cold 

CINCINNATI—Two new pictm-es were held 

for second weeks, "Captain Prom Castile" at 

the Palace, and "The Fugitive" at the Grand. 

"Cass Timberlane" remained at the Capitol 

for a fourth week. Grosses showed a big 

improvement, in spite of continued snow, 

sleet and cold weather. 

Albee—I Walk Alone (Para) - 140 

Capitol—Cass Timberlane (MGM), wk 120 

3rd 

Grand—The Fugitive (RKO) - - 130 

Keith's—Love From a Stranger (EL) 60 

Lyric—Corsican Brothers (EL); South of Pago 

I Pago (EL), reissues 80 

Palace-Captain From Castile (20th-Fox) 180 

Shubert—Treasure of Sierra Madre (WB), 

2nd d. t. wk _ - - _ 100 

Zero Weather Deals Blow 

To Grosses in Pittsburgh 

PITTSBURGH — Zero weather knocked 

grosses down to 'way under average. Fom' 

offerings were holdovers. 

Fulton—Captain From Castile (20th-Fox), 3rd wk... 70 

Hams—Black Narcissus (U-I) 55 

Penn—I Walk Alone (Para) _ 90 

Ritz—Sleep, My Love (UA), 2nd 70 

d. t. wk 

Senator—The Swordsman (Col), 2nd d. t. wk 70 

Sta.-,ley—Treasure of Siena Madre (WB) 95 

Warner—Head to Hio (Para), 3rd d. t. wk 70 

Settos Circuits Remodeling 

Lyric Theatre in Lima 

LIMA, OHIO—George Settos, owner of 

Settos Theatres, Indianapolis, is installing 

complete new equipment in the Lyric here. 

The theatre is being remodeled and will be 

reopened before March 1. About $25,000 is 

being spent on the house. Century projection 

and sound equipment, Altec speakers. 

Strong lamps and Kollmorgen lenses are being 

supplied by Theatre Equipment Co., 

Toledo. 

BOXOFnCE : : February 14, 1948 

CINCINNATI 

pumes from a gas-fired hot water heating 

system seeped into the Ambassador in 

Oakley but the show went ou whUe life 

squad members ventilated the building . . 

. 

Ai't Miller, booker for the Miles circuit, Columbus, 

was on Fihm-ow preparing for a 

vacation in Florida. Miller's father suffered 

a stroke recently, which may delay his trip, 

but his condition is improving. 

Wilbur Hetherington, booker at RKO, 

claims the tiny table model radio he won recently 

was the first thing he ever won on a 

ticket . . . Sante Macci of Greenville visited 

the local exchanges. 

William Onie, manager at Monogram, is 

in charge of arrangements for the Variety 

Club's convention, to be held at Miami Beach 

April 12-17 . . . West Virginians in last week 

included Dr. J. C. Newbold and his manager, 

E. L. Keesling; Mannie Shor of War and 

Holden, and Louie Shor of Williamson. 

Jack Frisch is chairman of the Variety 

committee for the Saturday night gin rummy 

tournaments. The women will have one of 

their own. Entrance fee is $2.50. 

The christening of Mary Margaret Wessel, 

third daughter of Bud Wessel, National Film 

Service, was held at the home February 1 

Kramer, city salesman, Paramount, 

is sporting a new Buick . . . Rube 

Shor, secretai-y-treasm-er of the West Virginia 

Theatre Managers Ass'n, and E. R. 

Custer, a director, will attend the national 

Allied meeting in Wa.shington Febi-uai-y 16-18. 

Howard Minsky, division manager for 20th- 

Fox, stopped here before proceeding to 

Springfield . . . Juanita Gardner, biller at 

MGM, became Juanita Dyer January 31 . . . 

Louis Wiethe, president of TOC, and Mrs. 

Wiethe left January 25 for a vacation in 

Miami Beach. 

WUliam Thalheimer, Logan, W. Va., is vacationing 

in Florida. He plans a new drivein 

near Ethel, W. Va. . . . Irene Sagel, secretary 

at 20th-Fox, plans to convalesce in 

Florida for several weeks following an appendectomy. 

Wave Strikes Detroit 

But Grosses Remain Good 

DETROIT—A cold wave hit Detroit last 

week but theatre grosses were relatively good. 

The Chakeres circuit plans to reopen its 

Some 200,000 workers were laid off because 

Shelby Theatre, Shelbyville, Ky., February 

of a scarcity of gas in the area but their loss Mrs. Hymle Banks, wife of Shor's partner 12. The house had been closed several years 

of pay was not all loss to the theatres as the in WillianLson, suffered a broken wTist when after being destroyed by fire. Chairs, carpeting, 

sound, etc., were installed by Midwest 

workers had extra leism-e for showgoing. she fell on an icy street . . . The Paramount 

Detail for week ending February 5: 

office gals took advantage of the free chest Theatre Supply. 

Adams—Green Dolphin Street (MGM), 7th wk 120 examination offered by the antituberculosis 

Broadway Capitol—Intrigue (UA); Blonde Savage league at the YMCA last week. 

William Settos of Springfield is instaUing 

new sound and RCA projection in his Liberty 

Theatre. Midwest is handling the work . . . 

Exhibitors on Fihnrow: Fred Kriman, Dayton; 

Al Sugarman and Lee Hofheimer, Columbus; 

Paul Russell, Somerset, Ohio; A. W. 

Ingle, Seaman and Leesburg, Ohio . . . 

Don 

Reda expects to have his de luxe 900-seat 

theatre in London, Ky., open by February 16. 

It was equipped by Midwest. 

DRIVE-IN and THEATRE 

EQUIPMENT 

Drawings, specifications, blueprints to fit any expenditure 

for the simplest to the most complex theatre. 

(Drive-In Theatre constructioii construction done by the 

1 

ROSDIT CONSTRUCTION CO.. 

liate of SHELDON THEATRE SUPPLIES) 

ail) 

* The NEW "12,000" DeVry Projectors and 

Amplifiers 

* DeVRY "In-A-Car" Speakers 

* ALTEC LANSING Amplifiers and Speakers 

* STRONG Rectifiers * NATIONAL Carbons 

* NEUMADE Accessories * GOLDE Supplies 

* TIFFIN Draperies and Scenery 

* mWIN Seats * STABILARC Generators 

GENERAL Register Machines 

"Before You Buy, See and Hear DeVry" 

Complete Booking Service • Complete Factory Service 

SHELDON THEATRE SUPPLIES 

Office 

Phone: ADams 9G44 

1420 CANFIELD AVE. 

Nights and Sundays: TAylor 7511 

DAYTON. OfflO

. . Donald 

. . Harvey 

. . The 

. . The 

. . The 

: February 

PITTSBURGH 

p 

D. Moore, Warner exchange manager, 

took in performances of "Pagliacci" and 

•Secret of Suzanne" in the Syria Mosque 

last week ... A colorful Miami Beach picture 

post card from M. A. Rosenberg states 

"seeing is believing" and he is impressed on 

his first visit there ... A proposed admission 

tax was turned down in Aliquippa . . . 

Dr. H. 

C. Winslow, Meadville exhibitor, has been 

verj- successful in his new enterprise, WMGW, 

which went on the air 

weeks ago. 

from Meadville some 

Before continuing with amusement tax 

proposals, West Views legal experts are questioning 

whether an amusement license and 

amusement tax is double taxation . . . Israel 

Roth of the Penn, Penn avenue, is twice a 

grandpop, daugihter Ethel having presented 

her husband with twins, a boy and a girl . . . 

Ab.sent from the Allied directors session 

last week were WiUiam R. Wheat III, William 

J. Walker, M. A. Rosenberg, Israel Roth, who 

has been ill, and Joseph Gellman . . . Mi's. 

Lillian Rothman has succeeded Dorothy 

Schmidt at the Warner exchange. Latter departed 

for New Orleans. 

Mrs. Helen Beedle, wife of the Canonsburg 

exhibitor,, is recuperating at home following 

an operation ... A proposed admission tax 

was "talked down" at Nanty-Glo . . . Mrs. 

Amia M. Morgan Dilla, mother-in-law of 

Ken McGuire, died last week. McGuire is 

an NTS mechanic . Conrad, who 

is connected with the St. Cloud Amusement 

Co., has been promoted to manager of the 

Bam Theatre, Frenchtown, N. J., according 

to his father, Lee M. Conrad, Meadville showman. 

Bill O'Brien, Ascap district manager, and 

Ruth Patterson of Ascap headquarters, were 

married February 7 . . . Joe Kosco, Brockway 

exhibitor, and family attended the Mardi 

Gras in New Orleans. 

Bess Fehl, secretai-y to Saal Gottlieb, MGM 

manager, vacationed in Florida. Meercy 

Braff, booker, substituted . . . Martha Shulgold 

is back on duty at the Crown exchange 

following her West Indies cruise . . . Ray 

Sosinski, Rhumba projectionist, slipped on 

an icy street and injured an arm which is 

now in a cast . . . Lou Gilbert, manager of 

the downtown Warner, is in Magee hospital 

after suffering a heart attack. 

Theodore Grance, Everett hotel-theatre 

owner and an officer of Outdoor Theatres, 

is a grandfather . . . Pat Nataro, former Warner 

circuit manager in the area, is the father 

of a son born in Philadelphia. Pat and fam- 

Experienced Builders of Auto 

OUTDOOR THEATRES 

• Can Be Ready ior Season Ahead • 

MOSE SMITH 

Union Trust Bldg. Pittsburgh 22. Pa. 

Weber Syncrofilm Equipment 

Pennsylvonia Distributor 

PITTSBURGH 

Theatrical Sound Service 

TurtU Ci*ek, Fa. 

1203 Lynn Av«. Phono: VAlley 5065 

ily wUl depart soon for Cuba where he will 

assume management of Warners' new de luxe 

theatre, a unit of Radiocentre in Havana 

Film in a projector at the McKee, Arhngton 

avenue, caught fire last Sunday evening, 

destroying equipment and fUm. Superior 

Motion Picture Supply re-equipped the booth 

and the theatre was opened the following 

day. 

Paul Clark has changed the name of the 

Rex, Sutersville, to the Clark . . . George 

Han-ison, Harris Amusement treasurer, was 

off duty with the flu . . . George "Red" Bird's 

Musical Majorettes, official band of the 

Cleveland Browns football team, is playing a 

number of theatrical engagements in the 

territory. 

Bradford theatres and other business 

places shut down temporarily because of the 

fuel shortage Warners' Ritz, Clarksburg, 

W. Va., 

. . . 

presents the Tuesday Paramount 

Hour iRCA-Victor quiz program) from the 

. . stage "Henry V" played a two-day roadshow 

engagement at the Virginia, Wheeling, 

. 

and "Duel in the Sun" has been booked for 

this house. 

Joe Shapiro stopped on Filmrow en route 

from Michigan to his home in Mount Union 

... A stage show being presented in the 

territory is made up of amateur-hour winners 

from the Du Mont television network. 

Doc Lovett, Clarksbm-g, W. Va., DeVry distributor, 

is Castle Films' agent for 8 and 

16mm pictures . . . Penn, Ambridge, has featured 

several "all comedy laff shows" with 

success. The "howl-arious" program includes 

a comedy feature, four comedy shorts and five 

color cartoons . . . Joe Minsky, Eagle Lion 

district manager and former local film man, 

was here on business . Dave Hadbiu-gs, 

Hazelwood, expect to join Mrs. Hadburg's 

parents, the M. N. Shapiros, who are 

vacationing in Florida ... A 1 per cent income 

tax has been imposed at Johnstown. 

James Vazzana of Monongahela city has 

joined the Atlas Theatre Supply as a salesman 

. Rice has replaced Mrs. Al 

Sipple at the Acme Distributing Co. office . . . 

The former June Thomas and her husband 

Al and son "Butch" have moved into their 

new home in Castle Shannon . . . Another 

new Acme employe is Shirley Mitchell who 

formerly worked at the Republic studio in 

North Hollywood. She is the stepdaughter of 

Eddie Rosenberg. 

Mr. and Mrs. WUUam J. Walker, Crafton 

exhibitors, and Mr. and Mrs. James H. Nash, 

West View exhibitors, left February 1 for 

Fort Lauderdale, Fla., for several weeks. Bill 

Walker jr. and Jimmy Nash jr. are looking 

after the theatres . . . George Tice, local 

Columbia salesman, and Mrs. Tice celebrated 

their silver wedding anniversary last weekw 

Dorothy, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel 

Yakish, Coverdale exhibitors, graduated last 

week from the school of psychology. University 

of Pittsburgh . Harris Amusement 

Co. treated the Moimt Lebanon Civic 

club to Nickelodeon night one evening last 

week in the Mellon Jimior high school auditorium, 

presenting two hours of silent pictures 

. . . A. L. Criswell, Enright projectionist 

who suffered a hip fracture in a fall 

about six weeks ago, is recuperating in Columbia 

hospital, Wilkinsburg. 

Herman Lorence and Leo Guerrein jr.. 

Erie exhibitors, flew here in a snowstorm 

to straighten out some bookings and planed 

home . old Opera House on Sheridan 

street, Millvale, abandoned as a theatre many 

years ago, was one of the biggest horse 

rooms and gambling estabUshments in Allegheny 

county imtil last week when coimty 

sleuths used sledge hammers to force their 

way in and put the jolrxt out of business . . . 

J. Stewart McDonald, Warner circuit executive, 

was here from New York. 

The Paul Bronders expect a second visit 

from the stork in April . . . EUwood Ohleger, 

Filmrow shipper, drives a taxi for the South 

Hills Service during off hours . . . Mr. and 

Mrs. George L. Neff jr. were hosts at the 

February 6 family night party in the Variety 

Club. 

Extensively renovated and remodeled, the 

Grandview reopened here February 1. Paul 

Bronder, new proprietor, has repainted the 

auditorium ceiling and walls, added gold leaf 

trim, and new indirect lighting. All seats 

have been rebuilt, a new screen has been 

installed and the lobby has been modernized. 

Later a cry room will be installed. 

Many theatre owners are contacting their 

congressman enlisting supports for H.R. 5014, 

the measiu-e which would amend the copyright 

law under which Ascap operates . . . 

Jim Velde, new SRO manager, is a former 

Paramount representative in Washington and 

Detroit. He replaced Joe Kaliski, who was 

released several months ago. Bob Munn, 

salesman, looked after the Selznick business 

in the interim. 

Loew's Penn in recent weeks has been experimenting 

with extra continuous late shows, 

last feature being presented at 11:30 p. m. 

. . . Dr. Frederick J. Rachiele, son of the 

Sharpsburg exhibitor, will wed Eleanor Rice, 

a nurse, within a week. Dr. Rachiele is practicing 

at Fort Logan, Colo. 

Bill Thomas, Zelienople, and Jack Mapel, 

Point Marion, exhibitor-restaurant operators, 

will attend the Pennsylvania Restaurant Ass'n 

convention here February 23-25. Both are officers 

of the state and the western Pennsylvania 

associations . . . Joe Hiller, as usual, is 

staging the entertainment for the March of 

Dimes ball. 

Seek Salesman Peddling 

Video Sets in Columbus 

COLUMBUS—Officials of the Better Business 

Biu-eau are seeking a television salesman 

who has been telling local night club and 

restam-ant owners they will be able to receive 

television broadcasts by March 1. 

Officials said they contacted J. R. Duncan, 

television dii-ector of WLWT, the Crosley station 

in Cincinnati, and were assured that reception 

from its new station would "be very 

spotty in Colimibus and probably would be 

most imsatisfactory." Duncan said the station 

is designed to cover a radius of about 

50 miles from Cincinnati and that he did not 

believe the station would reach Columbus receivers. 

He said the station would be in operation 

about March 1. Crosley plans to 

erect a video station in Columbus but Duncan 

said this station would not be completed 

before the end of 1948 at the earliest. 

Designs Sets for 'Kiss Blood' 

Producer Richard Vernon has engaged 

Nathan Juran to design the sets for "Kiss the 

Blood Off My Hands," for Universal release. 

A porticn of the London wharf will 

be the key set. 

78 BOXOFFICE 

: 

14, 1948

| 

Delroil Fox Lines Up D E T R O I T 

Big Giveaway Show 

DETROIT—Your Good Neighbor, a radio 

giveaway show, will be aired from the stage 

of the Fox Theatre over CKLW starting 

February 28. The Good Housekeeping Shops, 

appliance dealers, will share sponsorship of 

the show. It wUl be the lai-gest giveaway 

program produced in this territory, with four 

major appliances to be given each week as 

prizes. 

Show will run 11:30 to 1. David M. Idzal, 

managing director of the Pox, has signed 

the program for 13 weeks. The show itself is 

being produced by the Silbert agency, with 

Bill Silbert of the agency and Marion Morgan. 

CKLW's fashion editor, doing the actual 

talent work in the theatre. Appliance prizes 

will be displayed in the lobby of the theatre. 

Pi-ogram will be a series of questions about 

civic, historic and business facts of Detroit 

and Michigan. Four guests wOl be on the 

stage each week. Questions they answer incorrectly 

will be shifted to the floor, and 

picked up by a handmike. A "good neighbor 

of the week" will be honored at each broadcast 

for some civic contribution. 

New Scale Patches Up 

Fireball Circuit Rift 

DETROIT—The threatened breakup of the 

Fireball circuit's reissue program was averted 

after a meeting held by aU of the participating 

exliibitors. An involved sliding scale' 

policy w-as adopted as a result of disagreement 

over the 2i?!-per-cent-ot-gross fee 

which was sought by Paul Broder as a hooking 

fee for the central office. Operation will 

start in other cities, Broder said, now that 

the Detroit situation is settled. 

fUSH 

THEATRE SEATS 

RECOVERED — REPAIRED ANYWHERE 

BEST WORKMANSHIP. POSITIVELY LOWEST PRICE. 

PROMPT SERVICE 

JOHN HEIDT. 1507 W. Kirby. Detroit S, Mich. 

Phone: TYlei- 7-8015 

Magazine Subscriptions 

The Ideal Gift 

For your Iriends, family and yourself. 

Complete periodical service—both trade 

and general magazines. 

I. NAZAR, 1009 Fox Bldg. 

Detroit 1. Mich. RA 1100 

Theatixîgn and Marquee Maintenance 

Our Specialty 

forstman ^Co. 

XJarrison Cronkhite, operator at the Duplex 

Wyandotte Theatre, was back from Chicago 

with great plans . . . Carl Buermele was 

in Marne, Mich., for the opening of Al Herrefan's 

Crown Theatre, which will be booked 

by General Theatre Service . . . Earl J. Hudson 

has set February 18 for the opening of 

the new Woods in Grosse Point. 

Irving Belinsky, independent circuit owner, 

has taken over the Arcadia, formerly leased 

by Lan-y Bruzzese and Bonaldo L. Bonaldi, 

and will operate the house, of which he is 

the real owner, as a part of his circuit . . . 

Peter Bm-ke moved out of the booth at the 

Lakewood when the house dropped one shift, 

and is now at the east end, replacing Walter 

Rosmys. 

Wilfred Mevis of the Dexter was a BOX- 

OFFICE visitor between shifts . . . Manager 

Frank Crowe is completing installation of 

new seating, front and marquee for the 

Empress, downtown house operated by the 

Joseph EUul circuit . . . Ai'chitect Charles 

N. Agree and his son Arnold dined en famille 

at the Detroiter . . . Al Champagne is back 

on the booking desk at 20th-Fox despite the 

remains of a severe cold that settled in his 

windpipe and bedded him for a few days. 

Edward J. Weisfeldt, Associated circuit 

supervisor, is 20 pounds lighter after his 

operation. He still is a victim of undiagnosed 

attacks about once a week, but is generally 

feeling much better . . . William 

"Boots" Scharun, the premium man, is another 

filmite who has lost plenty of weight. 

Bob Dunbar's installation as chief barker 

at Variety was filmed. He's in Arizona for 

his health. Eddie Stuckey of Paramount and 

Joe Busic of UDT are ptnchhitting for him. 

Carl Buermele was chairman of the installation 

party. 

Charlie Garner is getting 16mm color versions 

of two "Detroit" events, the Louis- 

Walcott fight and the Rose Bowl game . . . 

EXHIBITORS — PARK FREE AT 

McARTHURilw:: 

MOTIOORAPH SERVICE 

Phone: CAdHlac 5524 

ERNIE 

FORBES 

214 W. Montcalm 

Detroit 1, Mich. 

Phone CAdillac 1122 

Irving Goldberg, Community Theatres partner, 

is keeping it under cover, tout he became 

the father of his first boy February 4. 

(Continued on next page) 

WANTED! 

Experienced 

Theatre Managers 

DRIVE-IN AND INDOOR 

THEATRES 

Michigan, Ohio and Illinois 

Territories 

BOX 1006, BOXOFFICE 

1009 Fox Theatre Building 

Detroit 1, Michigan 

/Ved Can Now Show You The 

NEW 1948 "£/^C0^£" & "AIRHO" 

HEYWOOO-WAKEFIELD THEATRE CHAIRS 

Call or Write 

14021 Greenview Road 

Detroit 23, Mich. 

Phone: VErmont 7-31G5 

(Your H-W repreBBntative 

for Michigan, Indiana 

and N. W. Ohio) 

LONG SIGN CO. 

MARQUISE SIGNS 

MAINTENANCE SERVICE 

840 W. Baltimore, Detroit — TR 1-S477 

')'''') 

Distxibntors 

for the State of 

Michigan 

RINGOLD THEATRE EQUIPMENT CO. 

106 Michigan St., N. W., Grand Rapids 2. Mich. 

SUPER SIZE 

POP CORN CO. 

Ready Popped Corn i 

307 Boulevard BIdo. Detroit 3, Mich.' 

TRinity 2-3SS0 — 24 hour phone service 

RUDY SCHROEDER 

HERBERT MORGAN 

I BOXOFHCE : : Febniary 14. 1948 79

. . Svend 

. . RKO 

. . Ben 

DETROIT 


Charles Dietz and Frank Downey and Carl 

Buermele and Harold Sandelman were luncheon 

twosomes at the Majestic. Also, Louis 

Burmeister of NTS Plum is estabUshing 

the Theatre Model Co. in the 

. 

David Broderick Tower. 

Nightingale songs: Edgar Douville, president, 

tried out a new costume, one bowling 

shoe and one street shoe. He dressed in the 

dark . . . Matt Haskins rolled a 628 to hit 

first place in the league . . . F. H. Akins is 

drumming up business for the teams to go 

into the APL tournament as well as the stag 

party the club is going to throw. 

Hal Burns, the sign man, is recovering 

from a gall bladder operation . . Alex 

. 

is Schreiber, Associated chief, expected back 

from California about the 18th of February 

. . . Alice Gorham, UDT exploiteer, was 

caught in a one-syllable trance, a version 

of writer's cramp. 

Larsen Joins Hygienic 

WILMINGTON, OHIO— Seth Larsen, 

Hollywood 

film editor and cutter, has joined 

Hygienic's staff as an advance agent for 

"Mom and Dad." He has been assigned to 

southwestern territory. Larsen is the husband 

of Marta Marina Cysternas, Hollywood 

correspondent for many South American and 

European papers. 

YOU'LL 

GET THE BEST 

RESULTS WITH OUR 

SPECIAL 

Let Us Fill Your Next Order ! 

• 

"Jihack 1327 S. Wabash, Chicae 

For Sale or Lease — All or Part 

DRIVE-IN THEATRE 

E. J. PAPINEAU 

Walled Lake, Mich. Phone: Walled Lake 300 

Looking For Film Row Contacts? 

Office or desk space available. 

personal representation. 

Box 1005 

1009 Fox Bldg., Detroit 1, Mich. 

Showmen Given Cups 

For Civic Devotion 

PRINCETON, KY.—The Kiwanis club gold 

successful leadership in a campaign to raise 

approximately $300,000 for a war memorial 

hospital. 

Simmions has been a moving force for community 

good since he came to Princeton ten 

years ago from Arkansas, where he had managed 

theatres in the Malco chain for 12 years. 

He has been president of the Kiwanis club, 

Forum society and the Tobacco Festival 

Corp., chairman of the county salvage committee 

and Red Cross, and a member of the 

war price and rationing board, county war 

bond committee and USO committee, and has 

been prominently identified with practically 

every worthwhile civic endeavor since coming 

here. He joined the Kiwanis club the 

same week he reached town. 

In making the award of the gold cup, R. S. 

Gregory declared that "everyone was in perfect 

agreement this year regarding the recipient 

of the cup." 

Dispatch in Columbus Files 

For Video Station Permit 

COLUMBUS—The Dispatch has been revealed 

as the sole owner of T-V Inc., for 

which a television station application is now 

on file with the federal communications 

commission. The FCC was advised that the 

proposed station will be financed through 

the pm-chase of 750 shares of stock valued 

at $1,000 a share by the Dispatch Pi-inting Co. 

The station would operate a minimum of 

28 hours per week and would have a minimum 

servicing area of 4,000 square miles. It 

is estimated that 580,471 persons within the 

area would enjoy television service provided 

by the new station. The station would operate 

over Channel 6 and telecasts could begin 

within six months if prompt permission is 

granted. 

Good television reception is expected within 

60 days in areas covering Green county 

plus Dayton, Springfield, Xenia and Jamestown 

when Cincinnati's WLWT begins television 

broadcasts. This will be the world's 

most powerful video station with 49,000 watts, 

said J. E. Duncan, acting television director 

for the Crosley Broadcasting Corp. 

Harvey C. Callier Opens 

700-Seater in Belding 

BELDING, MICH.—The Callier Theatre, a 

The theatre 

700-seat house, opened recently. 

has year-round air conditioning. It was built 

by Harvey C. Callier. 

PERYL'S 

COSTUMES 

UNIFORMS for Entire Theatre Stall. 

Special Costumes for All Occasions, Acts and 

Special Shows 

Peryl LoMarr, Prop. 3737 Woodward 

Phone: TEmple 2-3948 Detroit 1, Mich. 

COLUMBUS 

flbram Ruvinsky, 57, musical director for 

WHKC and veteran local theatre pit conductor, 

died of a heart attack as he was on 

his way to the Hartman to conduct the orchestra 

on opening night of Thomas Mitchell's 

play, "An Inspector Calls." He was with the 

pit orchestras at Loew's Oliio, Loew's Broad, 

RKO Palace and the Hartman. He was born 

j 

in Kiev, Russia. Sm'viving are a daughter,! 

Mrs. Paulina Diechter, and two grandchildi-en, 

all of New York City. 

Host and hostess committee of the Variety 

Tent 2 functioned for the first time 

since its organization at the homecoming and 

hillbilly jamboree. Mr. and Mrs. Cecil Sansbury 

are chairmen. Members include: Mr. 

and Mrs. Milton Yassenoff, Mr. and Mrs. 

W. C. Pullin jr., Mr. and Mi's. J. Milt Jacobs, 

Mr. and Mrs. Jack Needham, Mi-, and Mrs. 

Gene Hazelton, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Ferneau, 

Mr. and Mrs. Don Burrows, Mr. and 

Mrs. Al Block and Johnny Jones. The new 

committee will represent Chief Barker Leo 

Haenlein at all social functions, acting 

official 

greeters. 

Barkers and their guests are still talking 

about the jamboree, which had such sights 

as Jimmy Naulty as a checked-suit sideshow 

barker, Milt Yassenoff as a musette player, 

Mr. and Mrs. M. R. Lewis appearing as the 

fanner and the farmer's daughter, Bob Little 

as the half-man, half-woman sideshow 

"freak," Cecil Sansbury barking the merits 

of the masked Mile. Fifi, and Leo Yassenoff 

as the doorman who had fim with guests who 

shied away from the trick tumbling barrels 

at the entrance. The Coiumbus Star devoted 

its center double-page spread to the 

jamboree. 

Al Ruben, longtime manager of Loew's 

State, New York, was in town as stage manager 

of "An Inspector Calls" . . . Ben Cowall, 

of Traveling Show Promotions, is the newest 

resident member of the Variety Club. New 

associate members are Harry Jaye, Robert 

E. Young and Louis Schlezinger . . . Byron 

Stouder is preparing to return to his aircraft 

engineering studies in Hawthorne, Calif. 

He reports that the Lloyd Goads are expecting 

an addition to the family. Goad is a 

trouble shooter for Screen Guild in southern 

California and Arizona. 

Harry Schreiber is happy over the extra 

capacity business done by Vaughn Monroe 

in the face of cold, snow and sleet. Tlie Monroe 

band was the most popular of the year 

and one of the best-liked in all the years of 

Palace stage presentations. Schreiber is giving 

guest tickets to "My Wild Irish Rose" 

for the longest lists of song titles containing 

the word "rose." Aso, he held seven lucky 

days for Irish families by admitting one 

Irish family listed on a lobby board on that 

day. 

Walter Kessler is back on the job at Loew's 

Ohio after a week off due to illness which 

caused several days' hospitalization . . . 

"Road to Rio" at the Ohio proved the boxoffice 

topper of all "Road" pictures to date 

here. 

Deanie Best in Lead 

Deanie Best will take the feminine lead in 

the upcoming Charlie Chan mystery, "Murder 

by Alphabet," a Monogram production. 

BOXOFFICE :: Febrtiaxy 14, 19

. . Nat 

90 Meet in Cleveland 

At Shea Convention 

CLEVELAND—E. C. Grainger, president of 

the Shea circuit, conducted a one-day managers 

meeting at the Carter hotel here February 

3, at which time general industry 

problems as well as individual theatre problems 

were discussed. "We did not form any 

special policies different from our usual policy 

of maintaining the highest possible level 

of entertainment in our theatres," Grainger 

said. 

Asked whether he had specific instructions 

to his managers in anticipation of a possible 

drop in theatre attendance, he said, "We 

plan to go right on as we always have, putting 

added exploitation effort in behalf of 

the big pictures, and using regular shovraianship 

in selling the average programs." 

The Shea houses operate with both single 

and double feature policies. In towns where 

they have more than one theatre, one of them 

is maintained on a single feature basis. Where 

there is only one theatre, it is the policy to 

play single features one-half of the week 

and double feature the other half of the week, 

BERT SANFORD IS EMCEE 

Ninety industry members, including Shea 

home office officials, managers and top local 

film executives attended the banquet which 

wound up the meeting. Bert Sanford of 

Altec in New York introduced the speakers. 

George Goett of the home office and dean 

of the Shea organization: Eddie Aaron, MGM 

assistant general sales manager; Howard 

Gilhula, Jamestown, N. Y.; William Gillam, 

New Philadelphia, Ohio; E. J. Hiehle, Zanesville, 

Ohio; J. W. Hynes, Youngstown, Ohio. 

AMONG THOSE PRESENT 

F. Lahrmer, McKeesport, Pa.; Dale McCoy, 

Geneva, Ohio; J. W. Minton, Erie. Pa.; E. 

Printz, Conneaut, Ohio; R. W. Rhodes, Akron, 

Ohio; R. Russell, Ashtabula, Ohio; J. W. 

Scanlon, Marietta, Ohio; Fenton Scriber, 

Nashua, N. H.; Neil O'Brien, Westfield, Mass.; 

Harold Snyder, Lancaster, Ohio; Dale Tysinger, 

Newark, Ohio; John Walsh, Pittsburgh, 

Pa.; John Woodward, Zanesville, Ohio: 

Robert Cannon, Amherst, Mass.; Bernie 

Hickey, Greenfield, Mass. 

Also, Douglas Mellert, Altec Service Corp.; 

M. G. Thomas, Altec, Cincinnati; Bert Sanford, 

Altec, New York. 

O. B. Asten, Altec, Cleveland; C. G. Bosworth. 

Altec, Cleveland; J. J. Mather and 

Fred Dickley, Altec, Detroit; Thomas G. Whitney, 

RCA district service manager; Thomas 

F. McCleary, RCA Ohio district manager: 

Cliff Burge.ss, Screenad Exchange, Inc.; Art 

Manheim, National Screen Service, Cincinnati; 

Dick Wright, Warner assistant zone 

manager; Harris Dudelson, Screen Guild district 

manager; Robert Snyder and E. J. Stutz, 

Realart Pictures; Harry H. Goldstein, Paramount 

district manager. 

J. J. Maloney, MGM division manager; Jolm 

Fitzgerald, lATSE; John Houlihan, Republic 

Cleveland manager; George Kirby, Republic 

Cincinnati manager; P. T. Dana, Universal- 

International district manager; Edwin R. 

Bergman, Albert Dezel Productions, Cleveland. 

Oscar Ruby, Columbia branch manager; 

Nat Barach, NSS Cleveland manager; Jack 

Sogg, MGM Cleveland manager; Nate Schultz, 

Monogram franchise owner; Arthur Greenblatt. 

Screen Guild Productions, New York; 

Mark Goldman, Eagle Lion Cleveland manager; 

E. W. Aaron, Loew's, Inc., New York. 

Milton Cohen, RKO district manager; William 

S. Shartin, Selected Distributors Television 

Co.; Thomas Alfred, General Implement 

Co., Cleveland; Phillip Loew, Theatre 

Candy Co., Boston; Ray Showe, Theatre 

Candy Co.. Boston; M. H. Pritchie. Oliver 

Tlieatre Supply Co., Cleveland. 

C. H. Wolfe. Columbus, Ohio: Harry Bugie, 

EL Cincinnati branch manager; Lester 

Zucker, U-I Cleveland manager; Jerry 

Wechsler, Warner Cleveland manager. 

Tony Stern, Warner film buyer; Charles 

Rich, Warner district manager; Nat Wolf. 

Warner Ohio zone manager; A. M. Goodman, 

UA city sales manager, Cleveland; Moe 

Dudelson, UA district manager; Harry 

Walders, RKO Cleveland manager; I. J. 

Schmertz, 20th-Fox Cleveland manager; 

Fi-ank Hunt, 20th-Fox Cleveland; Bernie 

Ribin, Imperial Pictui-es, Cleveland, and Leo 

Abrams, NSS, New York. 

From the BOXOFFICE Files 

Minsky, 20th -Fox division manager; John J. 

Maloney, MGM division manager; James V. 

O'Gara, Republic division manager; Bernard 

Kranze, Film Classics general sales manager; 

(Twenty Years Ago) 

Nat Wolf, Warner Ohio zone manager, John 

Fitzgerald, lATSE, and Grainger. 

fJOWARD REIPP of the Scoville, Essick & 

Attending the meetings and the banquet Reiff circuit advertised Victor Hugo's immortal 

romance, but the typesetter omitted a 

were E. C. Grainger, W. E. Barry, George 

Goett, Ray Smith, Frank King, Carroll Lawlor, 

Gerald Shea, William Hyde, Bert Sandsult; 

"Les Miseratoles. Victor Hugo's immoral 

letter in setting up the announcement. Reford. 

M. Callahan and George Raftery, New romance" . . . Saul Resnick has been appointed 

sales manager for United Artists in 

York; F. L. Bowers, Cambridge, Ohio; Vincent 

Choate, Brandford, Pa.; Durwald Duty. Dover. the Cleveland territory. Harry Gold has been 

Ohio; E. J. Fahey, Manchester. N. H.; D. appointed district manager. 

BOXOFHCE : : Pebruaxy 14, 1948 

Altec Remains in Lead 

In Nightingale League 

DETROIT—Altec Sound Service retains the 

lead in the Nightingale club bowling league, 

with National Theatre Supply a close second. 

Team standings are: 

Won Lost 

Altec Sound Service 34 26 

National Theatre Supply 33 27 

McArthur Theatre Equipment 31 29 

National Carbon Co. 

Projectionists Local 199 

Brenkert Projectors 

Forbes Theatre Supply 

Ernie 

Lorenzen's Flower Shop 

Top scores were: Matt Haskins, 214-205- 

209—628; Carl Larsen, 204; John Colwell, 210, 

and Herbert Klein, 214. 

. - 

DETROIT—Monogram Pictures leads the 

Film bowling league with Allied Film Exchange 

and United Artists tied for second. 

Team standings are: 

Won Lost 

Monogram Pictures 16 8 

Exchange 15 9 

Allied Film 

United Artists Corp. 15 9 

Theatrical Advertising 13 II 

Republic Pictures 12 12 

Quality Premiums 

RKO Radio Pictures 

10 

8 

14 

16 

Co-Operative Theatres 7 17 

CLEVELAND 

pjorace Abrams, who has nine indoor and 

and drive-in theatres, is spending a month 

in Florida . . . Ralph Redman, Chicago, will 

manage the Broadvue, a Gross circuit house. 

Several years ago he was manager of the 

Memphis in Cleveland. He succeeds J. Stuart 

Cangney, manager seven years, who resigned 

to become sales manager for Lima Speakers, 

Lima, Ohio. 

Ed Fisher, who we recently reported operating 

a photo developing company in Tucson, 

has sold the business . . . Milton A. Mooney, 

Variety chief barker, announced, via 8x10- 

inch Valentine invitations, that the club is 

holding a Valentine party February 14. The 

occasion will mark the first of what is announced 

as an annual gin rummy tournament 

for the men. There will be keno for 

the ladies and non-gin rummy players, and 

door prizes for everyone. On February 28 

the drawing for the Chrysler sedan, sale of 

tickets for which swelled the club's heart 

fund, is expected to attract a big crowd. 

Don McGregor, former RKO field publicity 

man, now manager of the Yorktown, 

received word of the death of his father 

Norman in Oakland, Calif. . . . Norman Allen, 

formerly with Odeon Theatres in Canada, 

has joined the booking personnel of Cooperative 

Theatres of Ohio, succeeding Mike 

Levin, 

resigned. 

The Abe Kramers of Associated circuit 

have as visitors their son-in-law and daughter, 

Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Browar of Los 

Angeles . Charnas, Toledo circuit 

owner, made his monthly tour of exchanges 

last week . . . Also among the week's visitors 

were Jack Armstrong, general manager of 

the Carl Schwyn circuit. 

Andy Anderson, general manager of the 

Uhriohsville and Dennison theatres, is spending 

all of his spare time in Cleveland with 

his wife, who is convalescing after an operation 

at Lakewood hospital . . . Louise Jade. 

MGM cashier, has changed her mind about 

retiring at this time. The home office asked 

her to postpone her decision to go domestic. 

Nat Wolf, Warner zone manager, and Bert 

Lefkowich of the Cormmmity circuit issued 

an SOS to industry members to attend a 

luncheon at the Statler hotel Tuesday to 

discuss plans to form a local Motion Picture 

Foundation unit. 

It pays to have friends in high places. 

J. Knox Strachan, Warner theatre publicity 

director, demonstrated this recently when he 

entered a popular restaurant where Tom 

Manning, nationally known local sports caster, 

was on the air. Manning, having a 

few moments to spare, invited Strachan to 

take over the mike. So, just like that, Knox 

told the national network listeners some 

facts 

about Warner pictures. 

OLIVER THEATRE 

SUPPLY CO., INC. 

M. H. FBITCHLE 

Manager 

23rd and Payne Avenue 

PRospect r"' 

.: 

CIKVELAND

. . Ray 

SPRINGFIELD 

T ocal theatres helped in the March of Dimes 

drive here with a total of $920 collected. 

Collections in the Liberty netted $356. while 

envelopes given patrons at the Regent, State, 

Majestic, Ohio, Fairbanks and Princess 

brought returns of $554. 

New rooms for the Chakeres-Wamer club 

were opened this week. The basement room 

under the stage of the Fairbanks has been 

remodeled and equipped for use of club members. 

Provided are a lounge, table tennis, 

billiard tables, pinball machines, jukebox and 

concession stand. The club will hold its 

monthly meetings in the new quarters. 

The Com Crib, concession stand operated 

by Chakeres near the Princess Theatre, was 

closed a day and a half by the fuel gas 

emergency, finally reopening when electrical 

heating units were provided. No Springfield 

theatres of Chakeres were affected since they 

are not dependent upon gas for heating. 

Both WWSO and WIZE, Springfield 

radio 

stations, carried broadcasts honoring Phil 

Chakeres on opening of the new $500,000 

Fairborn Theatre at Fairfield. Ohio. WIZE 

made a wire recording on opening night, then 

broadcast the program at 11 p. m. the same 

night. The broadcast included the dedication 

program of speeches. WWSO traced the life 

of Phil Chakeres and his brothers, Louis and 

Harry, in the theatre business, and also Interviewed 

Phil Chakeres in an afternoon 

broadcast. 

For the showing of "The Secret Life of Walter 

Mitty," the Regent made a tieup with the 

Springfield Safety council, putting cards on 

downtown lamp posts and posting them also 

in local factories. The cards advised, "Watch 

the Lights," "Don't Be a Mitty," and "Be 

Careful of Accidents." 

Service league. The Merchants council is 

negotiating for Powers model to be here 

a 

in conjunction with the style show. 

Sixty members of the Chakeres-Warner 

club attended the party and meeting opening 

the club's new rooms under the Pairbanks 

stage the night of February 6. M. H. 

Chakeres, city manager of the Chakeres theatres, 

Is president of the club . . . "Henry V" 

has been booked for the Fairbanks March 

4 and 5 at roadshow prices of $1.80, $1.20 

and 90 cents for adults, and 75 cents for 

children. There will be one show In the 

afternoon and one In the evening each day. 

Wittenberg night was observed February 10 

at the Ford Rush-WWSO Search for Talent 

show on the stage of the Fairbanks. The 

Ford Rush shows, giving local talent a chance 

at prizes and a radio contract, are a weekly 

feature at the Fairbanks. To follow will be 

Catholic Central High school night and then 

nights for each of the rural schools. Springfield 

High school students already have appeared 

on the program. The shows are broadcast 

over WWSO. 

B&E Displays Model 

Of Toledo Project 

TOLEDO—A miniature model of the 2,500- 

seat Paramount Theatre, which Balaban & 

Katz of Chicago will build here to replace 

the present Paramount, Is now on display in 

the theatre lobby. Construction will start 

in the spring. 

The model shows a modernistic two-story 

structure. The building will front 200 feet 

on Superior street and 128 feet on Jackson 

street. Tlie Toledo Parking Co., which sold 

the site to B&K, is retaining frontage of 80 

feet on Superior street and 250 feet on Huron 

street for theatre parking. The company will 

build ramps to permit parking on three 

levels. B&K will spend between $2,000,000 

and $3,000,000 on the new Paramount. Work 

will start in the spring. 

The old Paramount is being taken over by 

the Carl Schwyn circuit of Bowling Green, 

which takes possession July 1. Schwyn said 

his company would spend about $250,000 improving 

the 3,400-seater, including cleaning 

of the exterior, complete redecoration inside, 

installation of new seats and new carpets. 

Until the new theatre is complete, B&K 

will use its moveover house, the Princess, 

which is to be given a new marquee, new 

seats, restrooms and air conditioning. It also 

will be redecorated. The work is to be finished 

by June 30. 

CHARLESTON 

XX/ith ol' man winter still spreading it on 

deep boxoffice receipts were still low, but 

rising slowly. Most operators think business 

will be back to normal in a month or two. 

That is, all except manager M. L. Sevy of 

the Greenbrier. "Theatres here can't expect 

a full house until something is done about 

food prices and the high cost of living," he 

Chakeres Theatres and the Retail Merchants 

said. "People who used to spend $2 or $3 a 

council are planning presentation week on the movies are now using it to help 

foot their grocery of a citywide style show on the stage of the 

bills." 

Regent March 8 and 9. There will be entertainment 

by local talent, and latest spring 

and summer styles for women will be modeled 

by Wittenberg College coeds, high school 

Two local papers, the Gazette and Daily 

Mail, refused to run mats on "The Wages of 

Sin," a roadshow scheduled to play February 

9-12 at the Greenbrier. Both said their read- 

girl students and members of the Junior 

ers disliked this sexy type of ad. The Greenbrier 

will get a soft drink bar in the near 

future. J. C. Shanklin, co-owner of the 

Greenbrier and the Louis in Louisburg. is vacationing 

in Florida. His plans, when he left 

here, were to fly from Miami to the West 

Indies. He is expected back sometime in 

March. 

Also vacationing In Florida was Charles 

Midelburg. owner and manager of the 

A. 

Capitol. He was visiting a sick brother and 

has set no definite return date. The--lheatre 

is in the hands of J. C. Lynch, assistant 

manager. 

Minerva Theatre Reopens 

As Scarlet Fever Abates 

MINERVA, OHIO—Closed three weeks because 

of 24 .scarlet fever cases in the district, 

the Town Theatre here reopened February 9. 

Schools reopened February 3 after a twoweek 

recess, but city and school officials 

kept a ban on athletic contests and all evening 

meetings. 

LOUISVILLE 

goyd Martin, film critic for the Courier 

Journal and director of the University of 

Louisville dramatic activities, was named 

orator for the university's sesquicentennial. 

He presented those who accepted honorary 

degrees at the inaugural ceremonies this 

week . Brown, former owner of the ij j 

Ritz in Burkesville, Ky., was in town renewing 

acquaintances. He recently returned from 

an extensive trip through the west. 

Allen Bradley, executive of the Ritz, is enjoying 

the sunshine and the warm breezes 

on the Florida coast . . . Back in town following 

a short stay in Richmond are Mr. 

and Mrs. Russell Morga. Russell is a member 

of the Shelby Theatre staff . . . R. H. 

Perkins' new theatre, under construction in 

Woodbine, Ky., will be called the Lynn. 

Fred C. Matthews of Motiograph in Chicago 

flew here for a visit at the Falls City 

Theatre Equipment Co., also for a conference 

with Louis A. Arru and Ed Campbell, executives 

of the New Drive-In Theatre circuit. 

From present indications, drive-in construction 

will boom in Kentucky during the coming 

season. In-Car speakers and additional 

amphfication equipment has been ordered 

thi-ough the Falls City company for the Skyway 

Drive-In at Buechel, Ky. 

The finishing touches are being added to 

Chakeres' new Shelby Theatre, under construction 

in Shelbyville. Ky. The projection 

and sound equipment is expected to be installed 

within the next week or so, at which 

time the announcement of a formal opening 

date is expected . . . George Lindsay of 

Brownsville, Ky., was recent visitor. He 

a 

advises his new Brown Theatre is virtually 

complete and he expects to announce his 

opening date in the very near future. Lindsay 

is a member of the state highway patrol 

and is stationed in Brownsville. 

Other visitors were A. N. Miles. Eminence, 

Ky.; Oscar Hopper, Lebanon, Ky.: E. L. Ornstein, 

Ornstein Theatres, Marengo, Ind.; 

Gene Lutes, Chakeres district manager, 

Frankfort, Ky.: Robert Enoch, Elizabethtown, 

Ky.. and C. O. Humston, Lawrenceburg, Ky. 

Holdovers and reissues were virtually nil i 

on the Louisville first run theatre front, j 

with practically all bringing in new product | 

during the week. Heading the array was the j 

National, which brought in a stage show I 

headed by Duke Ellington and his orchestra, : 

plus "Road to the Big House." The Rialto 

played "Captain From Castile" as a singleton, 

the Mary Anderson had "Treasure of 

Sierra Madre" and the Strand "The Fugl- . 

gram was Loew's, with "Relentless" and | 

"Web of Danger." The English-made pic- 1 

ture "I Know Where I'm Going" opened at 1 

the Scoop. "The Senator Was Indiscreet" 

after a week's run at the Rialto, moved to ! 

the Brown. I 

As an added inducement to kiddy attend- .| 

ance at Saturday matinees, the Ritz offers 

a cartoon circus in conjunction with the 

regular feature. 

Given Romantic Leads 

Jane Randolph and Charles Bradstreet have 

been given the romantic leads in the "The 

Brain of Frankenstein," which Robert Arthur 

is producing for Universal. 

» 

82 BOXOFHCE :: February 14, 1948i.

i 

Foundation: 

I 

I 

I 

. advertising 

Boston Heart Award 

To Murray Weiss 

BOSTON—The Variety Club of New England 

conferred the Great Heart award upon 

M. Mun-ay Weiss, past chief barker, February 

10 at a dinner in the main ballroom 

of the Hotel Statler. 

This award, the first of a series of annual 

citations, is in recognition of Weiss's "untiring 

efforts in instituting the Variety Club 

of New England Children's Cancer Research 

for his leadership, patience and 

impelling earnestness in inspiring his club to 

greater achievement." 

Several groups of Weiss's friends joined 

members of the Variety Club In paying him 

this honor. 

Joe Cifre, chief barker, and Bill Koster, 

director, were in charge of arrangements for 

the club's Valentine party on February 14 

in the clubrooms. There was a screening first 

and a buffet supper following. 

Koster reports great interest in the Variety 

international convention to be held this 

year at the Roney-Plaza, Miami Beach, during 

the week of April 12. Reservations already 

are coming in from local members. 

Last year 70 odd members traveled nearly 

3.000 miles to Los Angeles to attend the convention. 

PORTLAND 

. . 

Lawrence J. Cappillo, manager of the Star, 

Westbrook, recently was appointed to the 

standards and publicity committees of the 

Westbrook Kiwanis club . . . Lawrence 

ill . Marshall 

Theriault was several days 

Merrill is 'recovering from an illness. 

Baby Born in Worcester 

As Mother Sees 'Kidd' 

Worcester, Mass. .\ boy was born one 

night last week in the Olympia Theatre 

where the mother had gone to sec "Captain 

Kidd. " Mrs. Evelyn Batcheldcr, 21, 

and the child were reported at City hospital 

as "doing well" following the sudden 

delivery. 

Mrs. Batchelder was attending an early 

show. About 6:30 she notified an usher 

she was ill, and went to a restroom. Dr. 

Julian Dabrowski, police surgeon, was 

called, but the baby was born before he 

arrived. 

Mrs. Batchelder's husband, Lawrence 

Batchelder, 23. is in the same hospital, 

recovering from an arm injury. 

New Pittsfield License Tax 

To Boost Revenue $2,700 

PITTSFIELD, MASS.—As a result of a new 

Sunday license fee schedule, which went into 

effect February 1, Pittsfield's annual income 

will be increased by about $2,700. 

Under the new arrangement, theatres will 

be charged for Sunday permits as follows: 

Capitol and Palace, from $35 to $50; Union 

Square, from $25 to $37.50; Colonial, from 

$15 to $25; Kameo and Strand, $20, and the 

Tyler, from $30 a month to $35. 

Mayor Robert T. Capeless said the fees are 

based on price schedules and seating capacities. 

The city's take from Sunday permits 

this year will exceed $10,000. 

John M. Divney, manager of the Maine The- 

' atre. recently was awarded the Bronze 

medal for "exemplary conduct" in combat Tax Increase Looms 

against the Germans during the Rhineland SPRINGFIELD—A possible $12 increase in 

campaign . . . Lauriaut Dufour, projectionist, Springfield's tax rate has been forecast here 

is back at work after an illness. 

on the basis of budget requests submitted to 

the mayor and finance committee by department 

heads and commissions. A staggering, 

all-time record of $18,000,000 in municipal 

requests has been reached. 

Markoff Clearance 

Hearing on Feb. 25 

NEW HAVEN—Hearing on the arbitration 

complaint of Theodore and Joseph Markoff 

against the major distributors has been set 

for February 25 at the AAA offices in the 

Liberty Bldg. here, according to Oliver W. 

Bishop, executive secretary. The complaint, 

filed last June 18, claims Markoffs Easthampton 

and Moodus theatres suffered hardships 

because of the lateness in booking and 

buying of the Middletown theatres. A ceiling 

of 30 days after first run in Hartford is requested 

for both houses. 

The Markoffs further allege they are forced 

to play pictures 60 to 150 days old and older 

because of the situation. Middletown Enterprises 

has intervened and will be heard 

at the hearing, at which Pi-ofessor A. G. 

Gulliver, former dean of the Yale Law school, 

and now on its teaching staff, will be the 

arbitrator. 

This is the first hearing scheduled for the 

new year, which, according to Bishop, promises 

to be considerably busier than last year. 

Exhibitor John Kamuda, 62, 

Dies From Heart Attack 

INDIAN ORCHARD, MASS.—John Kamuda, 

62, prominent in motion picture circles 

in the Connecticut valley, died recently 

at Springfield hospital following a heart 

attack. 

A native of Poland, Kamuda came to this 

country 42 years ago and resided here for 

36 years. He owned and operated the local 

Grand and also had erected and operated 

theatres in East Hartford, Conn., Springfield, 

West Springfield, Holyoke, Ludlow and 

Warren. 

He is sm-vived by his wife, a son, and 

three daughters. 

Manager Frank Clements of the Capitol 

has started playing special reissue shows four 

days each week, starting Wednesday. He is 

the programs on the newly 

mounted screenoscope, featuring changeable 

ads mounted just over the theatre. This is 

the first advertising of that kind here in 

• 

years. 

Manager Ralph TuUy, State, arranged a 

$50,000 lobby display of star sapphires from 

a local jeweler during the showing of "Road 

to Rio." Local police guarded the display 

... A Mickey Rooney trophy was presented 

to the winner of the local Golden Gloves 

contest as a tiein with the picture "Golden 

Gloves" at 

the State. 

The Empire entertained local Junior 

Leaguers at a prevue of "Shoe-Shine" . . . The 

Empire-Strand hunting room has a new asphalt 

tile floor . . . The Empire has a spectacular 

new marquee, flashing brilhant blue 

and green against a cream background. The 

Strand has new carpets. 

Assignments in 'Abigail' 

Howsley Stevenson, Art Smith and Elvira 

CuTci have been handed assignments in 

"Abigail, Dear Heart," a Paramoimt production. 

MAP D.'VUGHTERS" CAMPAIGN—Managers, assistants, student assistants and 

the art department of four Loew's theatres in Bridgeport, Conn., hold a combined publicity 

meeting to plan the local campaign for MOM'S "Three Daring Daughters." 

Seated, left to right, are the managers of the four houses: Bob Carney, manager of 

Loew's Lyric; Harry Rose, manager of Loew's Majestic; Al Domian, manager of Loew's 

Globe, and Matt Saunders, manager of Loew's Poli. Standing, left to right: Frances 

Connors, assistant. Majestic; John Fogarty, art department. Majestic; Ben Ehrlich, art 

department, Poli; Al Neikind, student assistant. Globe; Alice Fox, secretary-publicity, 

Poli, and John DeBenedetto, assistant manager, Poli. 

BOXOFnCE : : February 14, 1948 NE 83

. . Al 

BOSTON 

Jâxwell "Mickey" Daytz was appointed sales 

manager at Warners February 2, replacing 

his brother Al, who resigned to go 

with Affiliated Theatres Corp. Mickey has 

been city salesman and will continue to hold 

that position as well. The Warner sales staff 

now consists of Jack McCarthy in New Hampshire 

and Vermont; Bill Kremmell in Maine 

and Bill Kumins in Rhode Island and western 

Massachusetts. 

The Motion Picture Salesmen's club has 

set Sunday, April 4, for its annual dinner 

party. It will be at the Latin Quarter. Harry 

Goldstein is again the chairman and tickets 

and reservations may be procured from him 

at RKO . . . Johnny Pekos, 20th-Fox sales- 

Vermont and New Hampshire, con- 

man for 

siders himself a lucky young man. He 

checked out of the Weldon hotel, St. Albans, 

Vt., one morning and that very evening fire 

burned the building to the ground with four 

lives lost. "That," said Johnny, shuddering, 

"was a little too close for comfort." Ken 

Mayer of Universal, Jack McCarthy of Warners 

and Freddie Bragden of Columbia had 

been guests at 

the hotel the week before. 

Ernie Warren, Warren Theatre, Whitman, 

attended the funeral of Mrs. Nellie Shea in 

Eastport, Me. He is an old friend of the 

family . . . John Scully, district manager; 

Meyer Feltman, branch manager, and salesmen 

Ken Mayer, Fred Shohet and Jud Parker 

planned to take in the U-I regional sales 

meetings at the Waldorf Astoria in New York 

the week of February 15. 

James M. Connolly, manager at 20th-Fox, 

appeared on the America Is People forum 

broadcast over WMEX for a discussion of the 

social implications of "Gentleman's Agreement." 

The forum was presided over by Saul 

E. Joftes, educational director of the Antidefamation 

league, as moderator. 

"RUST TULIP' 

• BOX OFHCE BAIT! 

• AUDIENCE ATTRACTION! 

• PROHT PLENTY! 

from 

CAMEO SCREEN ATTRACTIONS, INC. 

50 Melroso St. Boston. MasB. 

Samuel J. Davidson. Pros. 

Douglas MacLeod, Selznick salesman, attended 

the company's regional sales meeting 

in Pittsburgh and was amazed to discover a 

former army buddy was selling for Selznick 

in the Pittsburgh territory. The two friends 

had lost track of each other since their service 

in Manila and neither knew the other was 

in the film business. His pal's name is Jim 

Velde. 

Bill Kremmell reported the temperature 32 

below zero during his visit to Presque Isle, 

Me., where he ran into all sorts of difficulties 

with 'his car . . . Ken Mayer, U-I salesman, 

has signed a lease on a summer cottage for 

his family in York Beach, Me., which he discovered 

while on his routine trip. 

Tom Vetrie, who operated the Crown, 

Lowell, for five years and sold out to John 

Anthony a year ago, is contemplating taking 

it back. Anthony has the Modern, Manchester, 

N. H. . . . Marguerite Gill, secretary to 

Sam Horenstein at Manley's, Is back in the 

office after a siege of virus X. 

Ray E. Feeley, business manager of Independent 

Exhibitors, Inc., spoke at a meeting 

of the 1900 club of Billerica. a women's 

civic organization. His subject was "The 

Moviegoing Public." A forum discussion of 

better motion pictures for young people followed 

. . . Ai-thur Howard, president of Affiliated 

Theatres Corp., has sold his Weston 

home and moved into a new house in Dedham, 

near the Canton line. 

With the promotion of Ralph Pielow, 20th- 

Fox salesman, to the Des Moines exchange, 

where he is now manager, his former territory 

in Rhode Island will be handled by Edward 

Callahan jr., who is transferring from 

western Massachusetts. Norbert Murray, who 

has been doing special office duty for the 

past few months, is replacing Callahan in 

western Massachusetts. The other two salesmen 

are John Peckos, who remains in New 

Hampshire and Vermont, and Jack Carroll, 

who continues to travel Maine. 

Due to a critical oil shortage in Northampton, 

Mass., the mayor ordered all places of 

public amusement closed. The two theatres 

operated by the Western Massachusetts circuit, 

the Calvin and the Plaza, immediately 

converted to coal and thus evaded the edict. 

The Academy, operated by the Rifkin circuit, 

had been using regular household fuel oil and 

was therefore ordered to shut its doors. It 

was hoped that the theatre would be able to 

convert to a different type of oil fop use by 

the weekend when it can reopen at a reduced 

temperature. 

William Cliggott has joined Massachusetts 

Theatre Equipment Co. as manager, starting 

February 2. Well known in the district, he 

was formerly employed by Capitol Theatre 

Supply. 

is now operating the house. Conn formerly 

managed the Kenmore and later joined the 

Lavery circuit as district manager . . . Ethel 

Marie Dobbyn has set May 22 for her marriage 

to Thomas Toomey of Watertown. 

The ceremony will be performed in St. 

Gabriel's monastery, Brighton, with a reception 

following at the Hotel Somerset. Her 

father is Dick Dobbyn, assistant to the general 

manager of the Maine and New Hampshire 

circuit and her brother is Dick jr., 

booker at RKO. 

After moving his circuit office to 420 Boylston 

St. in the. Berkeley Bldg., Max Levenson 

and his wife left for a month's stay in Florida 

. . . Marilyn Gitelman, Levenson's secretary, 

was married recently to Alan S. Freeman 

of Brookline . . . Stanley Redmond, manager 

of Interstate's Strand, Southbridge, has been 

conducting a series of amateur shows once 

a week with cash prizes for the winners. 

At Enfield, N. H., Paul Archimbeault and 

Maurice LeBlanc are selling the Enfield Theatre 

to W. H. Sullivan of Quechee, Vt. The 

deal is expected to be completed in a few 

weeks. The Enfield was built last year and 

opened early in December. Sullivan is a 

newcomer to the industry. 

Parker to Withdraw 

Work-Limiting Bill 

BOSTON—Forest E. Parker jr. has been 

given leave to withdraw his bill in the legislature 

which would prohibit any employer 

from requiring an employe to contract to work 

more than six days a week. 

The bill was supported by projectionists 

Local 182 and opposed by exhibitor spokesmen 

at a hearing last week. 

The New England coordinating committee, 

which represents exhibitors on legislative 

matters, also appeared at a hearing in opposition 

to bill No. 632, which would establish 

a board of censors for the state. The 

committee heard both proponents and opponents 

of the measure and took it under 

advisement. Representing the coordinating 

committee at the session were Prank Lydon, 

chairman; Joe Brennan of Allied Theatres 

of 

New England and Ray Feeley, business 

manager of Independent Exhibitors of 

New England. 

British Pictures Featured 

At Greenwich Playhouse 

NEW HAVEN—Tlie Greenwich Playhouse 

is now operating full time as an art house, 

playing British pictures. Bills are changed 

twice a week. In the past the Playhouse 

has operated only as a summer strawhat 

situation. It is the second theatre in Greenwich, 

the ace house being the Pickwick. 

Both theatres are managed by Bill Brown. 

Buy Theatre in Darien 

DARIEN, CONN.—Berk & Krumgold, New 

Members and officers of Independent Exhibitors, 

Inc., who are planning to take in York theatre realty firm, has sold the Darien i 

the National Allied annual board meeting in Theatre to the Prudential Playhouses ing Co. The theatre was owned by a com- f 

Operat- f 

Washington February 16-18 are Business 

Manager Ray E. Feeley, Nathan Yamins, pany headed by Senator Edward H. Delafield. 

Arthur Howard, Walter Mitchell and Sam 

Resnick 

. Vonck, who operates the 

Beach Theatre, York Beach, Me., has applied 

for membership in Independent Ex- 

STAMFORD—Smoke from a burning mar- 

Stamford Palace Gets Smoking 

hibitors. 

ket next door filled the Palace in an early 

morning fire. There was no damage to the 

Irving Conn has leased the 550-seat Casino. 

New Bedford, from Henry Tobin and aired out before performance 

playhouse and the theatre was thoroughly 

time. 


i

. . Stanley 

. . Ralph 

. . In 

. . Lou 

. . 

. . . WTOR, 

. . 

. . 

Blizzardless Weekend 

Is Welcome in Boston 

BOSTON—A week, of bitter cold weather, 

minus the usual weekend blizzard, helped 

raise boxoffice levels. "Gentleman's Agreement" 

still led the field in its third stanza, 

and held over again. "Treasure of Sierra 

Madre" at the Metropolitan was also good and 

moved to the Paramount and Fenway. At 

the Exeter Street. "Black Narcissus" had a 

good second week and stayed for a third. In 

its sixth week at the Astor, "The Bishop's 

Wife" was a little stronger than the fifth 

week, with no announcement of its replacement 

coming in at this time. 

(Average is 100) 

Astor—The Bishop's Wiie (RKO), BIh wk 95 

Boston—Secret Beyond the Door (U-I), plus 

^^ 

stage 

Ken Shii 6th 

-Gentleman's Agreement 

(20th-Fox), 

3rd wk 150 

Metropolitan—Treasure of Sierra Madre (WB); 

Campus Honeymoon (Rep) 100 

Paramount and Fenway I Walk Alone (Para); 

Heading lor Heaven (EL), 2nd d. t. wk 120 

State and Orpheum—Cass Timberlane (MGM) 

2nd wk 95 

Sloppy and Slippery Streets 

Keep New Haven Trade Down 

NE"W HAVEN—Nothing sensational was 

recorded at downtown boxoffices, largely because 

cold nights and sloppy or icy underfoot 

conditions continued. "Tycoon" at the Roger 

Sherman and "I "Walk Alone" at the Paramount 

did the best business. The latter was 

held. "Fun and Fancy Free" at the Loew- 

Poli appealed mostly to the matinee crowd. 

Detail for the week ended February 4: 

Bijou—Buckskin Frontier (Realart); American 

Empire (Realart), reissues 50 

College—The Swordsman (Col), Glamour Girl 

t. d. (Col), 2nd wk 70 

Loew-Poli—Fun and Fancy Free (RKO); 

Dangerous Years (20th-Fox) 85 

- 

Paramount—I Walk Alone (Para); The Gay 

HO 

- - Hanchero (Rep) 

Roger Sherman—Tycoon (RKO); Smart 

PoliUcs (Mono) 104 

T-Men' and "High Wall' 

Holdovers in Hartford 

HARTFORD—There were only two downtown 

holdovers. "T-Men" and "High Wall" 

each stayed two weeks. Bad weather continued. 

Allyn—Out ol the Blue (EL); Big Town Alter 

Dark (Para) 90 

E. M. Loew's—Prince ol Thieves (Col); Mary Lou 

(Col) 85 

Loew's Poli—Tycoon (R"0> Road to the Big 

House (SG) 100 

Palace—High Wall .'.! ;: : The Main Street Kid 

(Rep), 2nd ::,: 90 

Regal—T-Men ;EL Adventures of Don Coyote 

(Rep), 2nd 

;tate Fightin 

;trand—My G- - . 

(RKO) 105 

HARTFORD 

Tommy Grace has resumed Saturday mornmg 

Children's Film Library presentations 

at the Eastwood in East Hartford . . . Al 

Schuman of the Hartford circuit was in New 

Haven on a buying and booking trip . . . The 

Rialto has discontinued Saturday morning 

kiddy amateur shows. Pat Bucherri manages 

the HTC house . Carenza, assistant 

manager of the Strand in New Britain, is 

back after an operation at the veterans hospital 

in Newington. 

. 

Roger Dion, former assistant at the Webb, 

is working for Fox & Co. here . . Charles 

Darby, manager of Lockwood and Gordon's 

Avon in Providence, was visiting Manager 

Jim Farrell of the L&G Webb , Moosup, 

drivers of the community ambulance and 

their wives were given a dinner and trip to 

the Moosup Theatre in appreciation of their 

services. More than 10,000 persons are served 

by the ambulance, and some of them, led by 

the Moosup Jom-nal, are getting up a fund 

for the drivers . , . Look for Hartford's Ed 

Begley in Paramount's forthcoming production, 

"Sorry, Wrong Number," 

Henry Needles, district manager for Warner 

Theatres, has been appointed a director 

of the Hartford Rehabilitation workshop . 

Jim Farrell ran a special Saturday morning 

showing of "Five Little Peppers and How 

They Grew" . Redmond, formerly 

with M&P Theatres in Connecticut and now 

managing the Strand in Southbridge for another 

circuit, was named to that town's March 

of Dimes committee. 

George Landers, Hartford division manager 

for the E. M. Loew circuit, and Vince O'Brien, 

house manager of their local house, were on 

Fllmrow in New Haven . . . Loew's Poli has 

returned to a Wednesday opening on new 

product. House had been changing on Thursdays 

. . . The Strand, Plainville, has discontinued 

Monday matinees . . . Sperie 

Perakos, district manager for Perakos Theatres, 

has been installed as president of New 

Britain AHEPA, Greek fraternal organization. 

Irving C. Jacocks has resigned from the 

Connecticut Republican state central committee. 

Jacocks is treasurer and a director 

of the MPTO of Connecticut . Brown, 

director of advertising and publicity for 

Loew's Poll-New England Theatres, visited 

local Loew houses. 

Suburban Manchester wound up its March 

of Dimes campaign last Wednesday i4) with 

an event at the Manchester State armory. 

On the program were a basketball game and 

vaudeville. Jack A. Sanson, manager of the 

Warner State, was master of ceremonies . 

The Broadway comedy, "Made in Heaven," at 

$3 top was booked into the Warner circuit 

Warner, Torrington, Conn., February 10 under 

the sponsorship of the Torrington Foremans 

club, 

Russ Grant, former assistant manager at 

Loew's downtown houses here, and Mrs. Grant 

are parents of a baby boy, their first child. 

Grant is now in the home office publicity 

department of Loew's Theatres, New York 

Torrington, has gone on the air 

on 1490 kilocycles with 250 watts, full time. 

FALL RIVER 

M'orman Zalkind, Park manager, who served 

the destroyers, antisubmarine patrols and 

convoy escorts in the Atlantic during World 

War II, has been chosen as executive officer 

of the Fall River Surface Division 1-13, Organized 

Naval reserve. Zalkind also has been 

elected to the board of directors of the 

Admiral John T. Nelson Navy club. He is the 

husband of the former Esther Yamins. 

Gordon Sweeney, fiance of Helen Quigley, 

Academy cashier, is en route to Dutch Guinea 

as a member of the merchant marine. An 

early spring wedding is planned . . . Fisher 

Zeitz of the Zeitz Theatres, accompanied by 

James Herman and Dr. Louis Cohen, left for 

Florida on vacation. En route they visited 

Robert Zeitz, former Academy assistant manager, 

student at the University of Georgia in 

Savannah . . . The Academy, Carl Zeitz, manager, 

collected $404.09 in March of Dimes 

donations. 

Promotion carried out by William S. Canning 

for "T-Men" at the Empire included 

store and radio tieups, a preview for members 

of the International Revenue bureau office in 

this city, special designs, in water color, in the 

theatre doors, frames and lobby, and two 

huge sidewalk signs. Despite the cold weather, 

the picture showed to capacity audiences . 

For the second consecutive year. Canning 

was master of ceremonies at the annual banquet 

of the Diman 'Vocational school baseball 

team, introducing city and state dignitaries 

as guests. 

'Northwest Passage' Chill 

Is Not From Film Alone 

WARE, MASS. — Showing "Northwest 

Passage" was too much for the furnace at 

the Casino to take, according to Bernard 

Satz, manager. 

As he stood in the rear of the house, Satz 

began to feel cold watching the snow and ice 

scenes. He thought it was the psychology of 

the situation. 

But soon he noticed patrons putting on 

coats and pulling up wraps. He called George 

Labossiere, janitor, to check the heating system. 

He found the furnace grate had dropped 

from the firebox—and the fire was out. 

it will pjcuf, dlauHenJU to- cani44lt 

Stocked With All 

Necessary Repair 

and Replacement 

Parts for Any 

Sound System. 

"Ask any 

exhibitor using 

our service" 

:*7a awUd exceM-lue. i^fiuice. c*iaA,

. . Bob 

. . . Zippy 

. . Lou 

. . Jack 

. . James 

. . . Bert 

. . Miss 

. . Raymond 

NEW HAVEN 

pad weather and the banning of all parking 

on streets after 7 p. m. during snow removal 

put a serious crimp in downtown 

business . . . Quiet business at theatres was 

reflected in the "quiet" look at exchanges 

too . . . Mac Alderman, executive secretary 

of Allied of Connecticut, will attend the 

February 16, 17 board of directors meet at 

the Hotel Statler in Washington . . . 

Allied 

members voted in favor of the anti-Ascap 

bill as presented to Congress. 

"Panic" will be the first foreign picture to 

be presented at the Bijou here. Morey Passari 

was in working with Bill Brown, manager, 

on the opening Februaiy 17 . . . 

You may 

be shivering and slipping in the snow, but 

it's spring at Loew's offices. If you don't 

believe it, ask Lou Brown. Loew Poll publicity 

chief, who a.s of February 18 is to direct 

the Springtime Hit Parade in Loew Poll 

houses. It is a stunt to take the public's 

mind off winter blues and pep up new and 

spirited theatre attendance. Spring will be 

the theme of the ads, lobbies, 

and other advertising media. 

special trailers 

Joe Mansfield of Eagle Lion was in on 

"T-Men." Ken Prickett, MGM publicity 

angler, also was in town . DeWaal, 

RKO auditor, was visiting the local exchange 

Kaufmann, 20th-Fox ballyhoo expert, 

paid Schenectady a visit on "Gentleman's 

Agreement" . . . Ralph Banghart, Boston 

district exploiteer for RKO, dropped in 

Goldman of Embassy Pictui-es, 

Boston, who was a pioneer film man on 

Meadow street some 18 years ago, was on 

Pilmrow this week ... At United Artists, 

J. J. Unger, general sales manager, and 

E. M. Schnitzer, eastern division manager, 

were visitors. 

The 20th-Fox exchange echoed wedding 

bells wdth Phyllis Schelling, to be married 

February 15. She received a sterling carving 

set from the Family club . . . Gloria Parente 

has set her date to become Mrs. Louis Moalli 

April 24 . . . Sal Popolizio is to be married 

to Ann Laudano April 10 . . . E. R. Joyce, 

operator of Eno Memorial, Simsbury, was a 

rare visitor on the Row . Russell, 

former assistant, is the new manager of the 

Webb, Wethersfield, succeeding Russ Ordway, 

now operating the Princess. Rockville. 

Micky Nunes, a welcome caller in the exchange 

district, plans to return to the coast 

soon . Phillips was in to New York on 

business . . . Bucky Harris, formerly with 

RKO, expects to leave these parts shortly 

with new plans . . . Lou Cohn, manager of 

the Poll in Hartford, spent a belated week's 

vacation in New York . . . George Weber, 

former Metro office manager, and Mrs. Weber 

drove to Miami and took in the Mardi Gras 

at New Orleans before returning . . . Sam 

Rosen is expected back from Florida some 

time in March, when Sam Weber will have 

his turn at some deep sea fishing . . . Bob 

Elliano will take a short jaunt to Miami. 

Ted Jacocks, operator of the Branford, has 

resigned from the Republican state central 

committee because of his health . . . "The 

Bishop's Wife" will be screened February 16 

at the Whitney at 10:30 a. m. . . . RKO here 

was leading the country in the short subjects 

drive. 

Daniel Murphy Heads 

IE of New England 

BOSTON—Daniel J. Murphy, operator of 

the Loring Hall Theatre in Hingham, was 

elected president of the Independent Exhibitors, 

Inc., of New England at the annual 

luncheon meeting Tuesday, February 10, in 

DANIEL J. MURPHY 

the Hotel Bradford. He succeeds Leonard 

Goldberg, who conducted the meeting. 

Elected with Murphy were Maurice Safner, 

first vice-president; James M. Guarino, 

second vice-president; Julian Rifkin, secretary: 

W. Leslie Bendslev. treasurer, and an 

executive committee made up of Walter E. 

Mitchell, chairman; Nathan Yamins, national 

delegate, and Mrs. Katherine Avery, 

Norman Glassman, David Hodgdon, Francis 

C. Lydon, Joseph Mathieu, WaiTen Nichols, 

Francis M. Perry, Morris Pouzzner, George 

Ramsdell, Samuel Resnick, Theodore Rosenblatt, 

Meyer Stanzler, Ernest Zuretti and the 

retiring president, Leonard Goldberg. 

Murphy entered the exhibition field in 

1913 when he built and operated the Bayside 

Theatre, a summer situation in Nantasket. 

In 1937 he sold it to M&P Theatres. 

He had taken over the Loring Hall in Hingham 

in 1935 when it was a one-nighter and 

after extensive alterations and improvements 

built it up to a daily operation. His son Dan 

jr., a Holy Cross graduate and army veteran, 

is now the assistant manager. 

Murphy has been a member of Independent 

Exhibitors for 30 years, going back to the 

days of the late Ernest Ho.smer and Adolph 

Bendslev, and Charles Hodgdon, who is still 

a member. He has been a member of the 

board of selectmen for ten years in Hnll, 

where he spent his earlier years. 

Shortly after Murphy was elected he said, 

"I hope that the present board of directors 

of Independent Exhibitors will work with 

me to foster the ambitions of the independents 

here in New England. I am making a 

special appeal to all independents to join 

Independent Exhibitors, Inc., to protect their 

interests in legislative matters, federal, state, 

city and town and in all matters pertaining 

to exhibitor problems. I am fortunate to 

have an able executive in the person of Ray 

Feeley. who is business manager of the organization, 

to carry on with me." 

WORCESTER 

gob Wardel has been promoted to student 

assistant manager of Loew's Poll to succeed 

Eddie Lazar, who was transferred to the 

Elm Street . . . The Universal in Pitchburg 

tried a Search for Talent contest on its 

stage . . . Robert Drouin has joined the Marlboro 

in that city as a doorman. 

A meeting of local theatre managers was 

held at which they pledged their aid to the 

March of Dimes campaign, and an-anged for 

collection booths in all lobbies. Volunteer 

workers manned the booths ... A son was 

born to Edward Fideli, manager of the Rialto, 

and Mrs. Fideli. 

Phil Brito has clinched the film deal for 

which he was negotiating while playing a 

night club date here. It is Monogram's 

"Street Song" . Greenleaf of 

the Playhouse is in San Antonio . . . Manager 

Leo Lajoie of the Capitol held over 

"The Egg and I" . . . Tommy Dorsey's band 

drew a fair house at the Auditorium. 

Louis Bucci of the Strand in Southbridge 

was a candidate for constable there on the 

Democratic ticket . . . Lorina Y. Cormier of 

the Orpheum, Gardner, wâs married in Holy 

Rosary church there to Herman G. Hamel of 

Otter River . Toni Dupont, Worcester 

dancer, was married in New York to Lieut. 

Thomas B. Smith of the navy on the day 

of her scheduled departure abroad for engagements. 

A stage talent program was conducted at 

the Orpheum in Danielson to highlight the 

infantile paralysis campaign . . . The Rialto 

in Leominster w-as closed on a recent night 

as it was rented to St. Anne's parish . . . 

Miss Peggy Woodworth has resigned from 

the Modern in Marlboro. 

Alan G. Holmes of this city has taken an 

option on the English play, "Ultra Marine," 

which he and two associates plan to produce 

in Hollywood and then bring to New York 

T. Mitchell has joined the Modern 

in Marlboro as a doorman . . . Otis Bigelow 

of Westboro writes that he is preparing his 

first script at the Warner studio, a new 

adaptation of "Three Men on a Horse." 

The People's Forum in the Evening Gazette 

has been the battleground lately in which 

theatres here have been raked over the coals 

and also defended. The discussion started 

when a reader protested at the way some 

theatres "pushed around" children when 

business was good. That opened up the whole 

field of show business, but many letters were 

published in which the houses and their 

managers were defended. Some of these communications 

pointed out that some parents 

were in the habit of "dumping" their small 

children in the theatres for many hours just 

to get rid of them. 

State Building Inspector George Newman 

has ordered that the fire escape in the rear 

of the Modern in Marlboro, which was in 

use during the days of the Pastime, be taken 

down and replaced by a new folding type, 

which drops from a window. 

Jack Hauser, stage manager of Loew's Poli, 

says he was flattered that the veteran comedian, 

Doc Rockwell, remembered him when 

corresponding with a Worcester newspaperman 

. . . Maurice Schwartz and the Yiddish 

Art Theatre of New York were booked for a 

one-nighter at the Playhouse in "The Great 

Fortune." 


Dallas Independents 

Air New Ascap Fee 

DALLAS—Twenty members of the Dallas 

Independent Theatre Owners attended the 

monthly meeting Tuesday, February 10, in 

the Dallas Athletic club. Don Dixon, owner 

of the Haskell Theatre, was chairman of the 

meeting and Lee Handley of the Arcadia was 

named as the next meeting chairman, it 

being the policy to have a different presiding 

officer at each session. 

District Manager John 

Manager Leroy Bickel of 

Allen and 

MGM were 

local 

invited 

guests, in line with the plan of having 

film and equipment men sit in at certain 

meetings. There was a general discussion 

on merits of Texas Theatre Owners affiliating 

with TOA by those who attended last 

week's convention. Most of the sentiment 

supported it, chiefly on strength of TOA's 

getting a new deal with Ascap. A letter from 

Henry Reeve explained new Ascap rates. 

The next meeting will oe held on March 2 

Esther Williams on Move 

In Oklahoma City Date 

OKLAHOMA CITY—Esther Williams had 

a busy day here February 3, making five personal 

appearances on the Warner stage, posing 

for a battery of photographers and participating 

in radio and press interviews. 

This comely MGM emissary did all right 

for the film colony. She played to packed 

houses, even during the afternoon, and each 

time did a 30-minute almost one-woman act 

to the enjo>-ment of all concerned. 

Miss Williams arrived early in the morning 

from Tulsa, where she was grounded the 

previous day. Oklahoma City found her refreshing 

with her wholesomeness and enthusiasm. 

However, indications were that 

there was a mutual admiration feeling as 

Esther, no doubt, enjoyed the city's reception 

and hospitality. It was strictly of the southem 

variety. 

Oklahoma Business Index 

Ends Four-Month Rise 

OKLAHOMA CITY — The University of 

Oklahoma bureau of business research reported 

the level of general business in Oklahoma 

declined three points in December after 

rising each month since August. The drop 

marked the end of a four-month period during 

which the index rose nearly 14 points to reach 

the highest level in the history of the state, 

the bureau reported. 

Retail trade, Industrial production, employment 

and construction showed an increase 

during December, despite the general 

decline. Farm cash income, however, showed 

a decrease for the month. 

Rate Studies Under Way 

On Film Truck Service 

DALLAS—There are a number of rate 

schedules being studied as possibilities for 

film delivery charges in Texas, Don Douglas 

told the Texas Theatre Owners at the convention 

last week. One of the plans to be 

suggested to the trucking interests is to divide 

the state in zones, on the parcel post 

idea. There would be a flat rate charge, 

dependent on the number of changes for 

which an exhibitor is serviced. 

Approximately 80 to 85 per cent of the 

state's exhibitors are serviced by trucks. The 

rest use railway express, which are about 30 

per cent higher. 

John Rowley of the second generation of 

the RcfeR circuit, who is a national trustee 

of the Motion Picture Foundation, said he 

was a little embarrassed having to appear on 

a speaking program which boasted such old 

masters of the knife and fork circuit as Bob 

O'Donnell and Ted Gamble. Nevertheless, he 

gave a substantial report on what the Foundation 

had accomplished in the few short 

months of its existence. The $1,200 quota 

established for Dallas, he said, had already 

been subscribed. 

Henry Reeve, TTO president, reported that 

the Texas delegation in Congress is 100 per 

cent for reduction of the federal admissions 

tax to its prewar level. 

Exhibitors who are members of TTO will 

pay an assessment of ten cents per seat as 

a result of affiliation with Theatre Owners 

of America. This ten-cent assessment will 

keep TOA going for some time, and there 

is no plan to come back within the near 

future for additional assessments, Robert 

Coyne, TOA's executive director, explained. 

Morris Loewenstein, president of the Oklahoma 

Theatre Owners, told the delegates 

that his state already had subscribed more 

than 50 per cent of its seat quota; and 

Claude Mundo, president of the Arkansas 

ITO, reported that there had been a similar 

response in his state. 

Among those at the convention were W. W. 

Gilbreath and Buddy Harris, Dallas; Lester 

Dollison, Sherman; E. B. Buffington, Weatherford; 

H. R. Bisby and wife. Garland; H. C. 

Cox, Edna; L. J. Drury, Fort Worth; Mr. 

and Mrs. W. W. Rucker, Round Rock; Mr. 

and Mrs. Henry Reeve. Menard; H. B. Skelton, 

Gatesville; Lynn Smith, Gonzales; Clifford 

Porter, Fort Worth; Mr. and Mrs. O. L. 

Smith, Alto; Mr. and Mrs. C. C. Mumdo, 

Little Rock; L. M. Roberton, Dallas; J. M. 

Tobola and J. J. Tobola, West; George Chatmas, 

Hearne; Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Chatmas 

and John Chatmas, Marlin. 

Theo Routt, Fred Richards, P. 'V. Scott, 

Dallas; Leon Lewis, Fort Worth; Preston 

Tate, Santa Anna; Lloyd Rust, Don Dickson, 

T. W. Lewis, Dallas; Roy Devinney, Hawkins; 

Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Cox, Gilmer; Mart 

Cole, Rosenberg; J. W. Chesher, Littlefield; 

H. A. Daniels, Seguin; J. S. Groves, Mitchell 

Lewis, Houston; Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Lilly, 

Commerce; W. W. McNatt and Mrs. McNatt, 

Naples; P. E. Wilson, Ed Blumenthal, R. J. 

O'Donnell, Don Douglas, John Rowley, Sam 

Landrum, H. J. Griffith, Dallas; L. J. Piwets, 

Lockhart. 

Autry, Olsen & Johnson 

Sellouts in Fort Worth 

FORT WORTH—Olsen & Johnson's "Laffacade" 

did sellout business for practically all 

performances for two weeks in Will Rogers 

auditorium during the Fat Stock show. Gene 

Autry's rodeo was an all-performance sellout, 

as it has been for several years. The 

.showgroimds were covered either by ice or 

mud the entire time. 

BOXOFFICE : : February 14. 1948 

Chas. E, Darden & Co. was host to exhibitors and film men at the Darden suite 

in the Adolphus hotel in Dallas during the annual convention of the Theatre Owners 

of Texas there. Top, left, shows Jack Groves, Darden, the host, and Ted R. Gamble, 

while at right Morris Loewenstein and Henry Reeve watch Christine Tucker on her 

high perch. The group in the lower panel, left, includes Mrs. Morris Loewenstein, 

John B. Watts, BiU BeU, Loewenstein, Petle Lands, Mrs. CUfford Porter, Jo Jack, 

Darden, Harry Lowenstein, Lloyd Rusk, John Chatmas, C. D. Leon, J. C. Chatmas, 

L\Tin Stocker, Sam Landrum and H. A. Daniel. Lower right: Dorothy Brandon 

greets Lean Lewis. 

SW 87

. . Charles 

. . Lloyd 

. . William 

. . Mark 

. . . Lloyd 

DAL LAS 

fayor Harry Conner of Dawson, owner of 

M'' 

the Ritz there, has re-equipped his booth 

with projection machines and high intensity 

lamps picked up from the Trefoil Theatre 

in Waco, which was destroyed by fire several 

months ago. Conner was an established small 

town exhibitor before he entered the army. 

It was hard to find the right spot when he 

came back so he bought the Ritz from his 

father, W. O. Conner, who retired. 

Milton Linder of Cleveland, who has been 

traveling the Memphis territory, has been 

transferred by National Screen Service to 

the southern Texas territory, taking the place 

of Wade Yandel. who resigned and rettirned 

to his home in Charlotte . 

E. 

••Bill" Mick, the company's central Texas 

salesman, is out of the hospital recovering 

from injuries suffered in a holiday accident. 

Siebert Worley of the Liberty in Shamrock, 

co-owner of the boxoffice stimulant. 

Bank of Knowledge, was a recent visitor with 

a film showing just how the game works 

in a theatre. He held tradeshowings for the 

circuits and other interested parties . . . 

W. S. McLemore jr. has completed his temporary 

job as manager of the Lucas Theatre 

while owner P. G, Cameron was in Hollywood 

on business. McLemore says he will 

buy a theatre if he can find one, and if not 

he will take a job. He owned and operated 

the Palace in Piano before the war and 

bought the Lucas from its original owner 

when he returned. Later he sold it to Cameron. 

Mac's father is office manager of 20th- 

Fox and also, incidentally, owner of that exchange 

building. 

. 

George W. Dowling, owner of the Nuplay 

Theatre in Grandview here making the 

rounds of exchanges, indicated he was on a 

deal to seU the theatre. He has operated the 

house the last year Pullen, manager 

of seven Robb & Rowley theatres in the 

Oak Cliff area of Dallas, turned the Texas 

Theatre over to the Kiwanians for a variety 

show. Gay Nineties atmosphere was featured 

bv the members and high school students 

who took part. Proceeds went to the club's 

welfare fund. Pullen has made his theatres 

available to Kiwanians and civic and patriotic 

gatherings for a number of years. 

Interstate circuit tried out a four-piece 

. . . 

strinE ensemble at the 'Varsity Theatre to get 

audience reaction before sending the troop 

out over the circuit. The outfit is called Pour 

Shades of Rhythm and plays everything from 

boogie-woogie to swing 'Variety Club 

members are preparing to go en masse to 

Houston on the morning of February 22 for 

two davs of entertainment by the Houston 

club. Two special cars have already been 

chartered and filled by reservations. Both 

have club accommodations. Another car or 

two is expected to be filled before depai*- 

ing time from the union station at 8 o'clock 

Sundav morning, February 22. The return 

trip will be made Tuesday morning. 

T. W. Luce of Sharon. Conn., has been here 

on a vi.sit to his son, T. W. jr., head booker 

in the Paramount exchange . Holstein, 

Universal-International representative 

in southern Texas, was up for a periodical 

meeting in the Dallas exchange with Manager 

Jimmie Prichard . E. Darden made 

a quick trip to Houston. 

A. M. Riley of the Castle in Logansport, 

La., was here on a trade trip. He buys most 

of his film in New Orleans but comes here 

for equipment needs. He said the weather has 

been mighty rough on his business. He advanced 

his subscription to BOXOFFICE and 

ordered a new set of fillers for his Picture 

Guide, which he has used regularly for ten 

years. 

Ralph Pecliham arrived early in the week 

from Atlanta to take over Jiis new duties as 

branch manager for Film Classics. He is a 

well-known film man all over the south and 

has served in a number of exchange cities, 

but this is his first station in Dallas. Jake 

Lutzer left after Peckham's arrival on a trip 

to New Orleans and the other southeastern 

offices on the first coverage of his territory 

as district manager for FC. 

Laverne Sullivan, secretary to H. J. Griffith, 

has been in the hospital for a few days 

Rust and his wife went to Houston 

to look in on Gene Autry's rodeo. Gene 

and Lloyd have been personal friends for 

many years. The star was Republic's ace attraction 

for years and Rust sold those films 

widely as Republic's branch manager. He 

now is part owner of the Monogram ex- 

I 

Continued on next news page) 


your Deal Handled Personally! 

27 years exverience 

We Cover Ihe U. S. Market 

Arthur Leak 


3422 Kinmore Dallas 10. Texas I 

Phone T3-202G 

REMODELING-DECORATING 

LUPE ROMERO 

DAIXAS 4, TET. 

Westerns-Features-Serials 

Tower Pictures Co 

HABOLD SCHWftR! 

IS 

3021/. s. Harwood 91. C—73S7 

DALLAS 1 

TEva?! 

YOUR THEATRE FOR SALE? 

We Have Buyers With Cash 

"JOE" JOSEPH 

THEATRES 

Let "loe" Sell 

Your Show 

Theatres bought—sold—equipped—iiro 

inventories—consultant and equipment. 

1003 Galloway St. Dallas, Tex. 

Phone Yale 2-7B50 

BOXOFFICE 

: : February 14, 1948 

A

THE NEW oj^nai AUDIENCE PARTICIPATING 

GAME THAT IS SWEEPING THE COUNTRY^ 

IF you will answer 

all of the questions 

below correctly and 

then act at once, it 

will assure you of an 

extra Saturday's business! 

IJol 

QUESTIONS; 

.. What one thing causes most headaches for 

theatre managers? Is it: (J, bright lights) 

(K, poor ventilation) - (L, noise) - (M, empty 

seats) - (N, indigestion) or (O, crowds)? Now 

which do you think is the correct letter? 

Check it. 

No. 2 - What is the sm-est method known for filling 

seats? Is it: (M, drop prices) - (N, double 

features) - (O, Bank of Knowledge) - (P, pass 

a law) - (Q, give away dishes) or (R, free 

shows) ? Now which do you think is the correct 

letter? Check it. 

No. 3 

-- What is the Bank of Knowledge? Is it: (M, 

loan company) - (N, audience participation 

quiz program) - (O, college) - (P, river bank)- 

(Q, encyclopedia) - or (R, song)? Which do 

you think is the correct letter? Check it. 

No. 4 • Who gets the first rights in his town for Bank 

of Knowledge? Is it: (A, the mayor) - (B, 

Mo. 5 

relatives) - (C, anybody) - (D, nobody) - (E, 

smart exhibitors) or (P, highest bidder)? 

Which do you think is the correct letter? 

Check it. 

Where can a person get complete information 

about Bank of Knowledge? Is it: (T. Hollywood) 

- (U, Radio 

City) - (V, Webster's 

Dictionary) - (W, 

February issue Holiday 

magazine, page 

43) - (X, at home) 

or (Y, writing, wiring, 

or telephoning 

P. O. Box 827, AmarUlo, 

Texas) ? Which 

do you think is the 

correct letter? Check 

it. 

SOME TERRITORY OPEN 

TO QUALIFIED SALESMEN 

BANK 

OF 

KNOWLEDGE 

(A fully-protected copyrighted contest feature) 

NOT A LOTTERY — ITIS LEGAL 

AND THE ENTIRE AUDIENCE 

MAY PARTICIPATE. THEY'LL 

SCREAM WITH LAUGHTER AND 

SO WILL YOU! 

ANSWERS: 

Number one is the letter M, Empty Seats are 

the producers of the most colossal headaches in 

the 

business! 

Number two is the letter O, Bank of Knowledge 

fills seats with people who think maybe they 

will get money—and before the show starts the 

theatre manager knows darn well he already 

did! 

Number three is the letter N, The Bank of 

Knowledge is an audience participation quiz 

that is a whiz for getting biz! 

Number four is the letter E, Smart Exhibitors 

who act fast get the Bank of Knowledge and the 

dollars that run hand-in-hand with continuously 

packed houses! 

Number five is the letter Y, Telephone 2-1888 

or P. O. Box 827, Amarillo, Texas, is where you 

get the information that pleases! 

IF YOU PLAY ALONG WITH 

US YOUR ANSWER WILL BE 

MÔlfE'YrÂncTthat's the 

answer you will get every 

week you operate the BANK 

OF KNOWLEDGE Game. 

Every week new theatres are 

starting this quiz game. Yours 

may be next or it may be the 

opposition house. 

^^k*?fi.\.^•*i,fi^tf*-^'' 

BANK OF KNOWLEDGE, Inc. 

ACT AT ONCE! 

Phone 

O. BOX 827, AMARILLO. TEXAS 2-1888

. . Hiram 

DALLAS 

(Continued from preceding news page' 

change. To make their friendship a little 

closer, Autry put a bunch of money into four 

theatres here which Rust and associates are 

operating. 

Martin Grasgreen, Columbia home office, 

was at the local exchange . 

D. Parks, 

manager of the Rialto. Rio and Ritz in 

Brownfield, was here on booking. Until three 

years ago he had long been the western Texas 

representative for Warners, but resigned to 

operate the Brownfield houses for Mrs. Earl 

Jones. 

J. E. Luckett, affectionately called "Uncle 

Joe." was the objective of big plans for his 

birthday celebration February 13. Employes 

of the White Theatre, of which he is manager, 

and the south Dallas Kiwanis club, of 

which he has long been an active member, 

were dovetailing their efforts to go all-out 

to honor the veteran showman. Uncle Joe 

was born in Virginia in 1871. He operated 

legitimate theatres and was among the first 

to operate big roadshow productions of motion 

pictures. He was a Dallas film exchange 

manager for many years before becoming a 

theatre manager. 

Ben Ferguson drove up from College Station 

for a couple of days' buying and booking 

on the Row. He is co-owner and operator of 

the Campus Theatre, located just outside of 

the college gate. Ben lived in Dallas for many 

years before moving his home to the college 

town. His mother, Mrs. B. S. Ferguson, has 

operated the Ferguson and Ritz theatres in 

Hamlin for many years. 

WUliam "Billy" Ducliett, who recently returned 

here to handle a new boxoffice stimulant, 

took a plane to Phoenix, Ariz., because 

of the death there of his uncle. L. L. Dent. 

Duckett planned to be with Mrs. Dent several 

days at her Colorado Springs home following 

cremation of the body and dropping 

of the ashes over a New Mexico ranch. 

P. G. Cameron, owner of the Lucas Theatre, 

says he will sell the house and probably 

retire from the business after about 40 years 

of continuous activity. He jokingly said he 

will then move to the Tliousand Islands and 

spend a little while on each one. His son 

Guy has moved back to California with his 

wife, and instead of again buying a theatre 

is now owner and operator of a motel. 

Venus, Winnfield, Opened 

By Southern Amusement 

WINNFIELD, LA.—"Out of the Blue" was 

featured at the opening of the new Venus 

Theatre here January 30. The house is 

owned and operated by the Southern Amusement 

Co. of Lake Charles, La., and will seat 

more than 750 persons. P. C. Jones, former 

manager of the Winn Theatre, has been 

named manager of the Venus. Sid Havener, 

director of theatres for Southern Amusement 

Co., and E. K. Crosby jr., general manager, 

were here for the opening. 

Jake Lutzer Is Promoted 

To FC Division Manager 

DALLAS—Jake Lutzer, manager here for 

Film Classics since its reorganization a year 

ago, has been promoted 

to southern division 

^^HHk^ manager. He will con- 

^F^^^\ tinue his residence 

y \ here and will set up a 

^MjjJ^ 

headquarters office in 

iCî 

I 

" 

"t 

the local exchange. 

_, His territory includes 

the Atlanta, Charlotte, 

Cincinnati. Memphis, 

New Orleans, Oklahoma 

City and Dallas. 

Lutzer is a native of 

Temple and graduated 

Jake Lutzer from the University of 

Texas in the early 1920s. He stayed on at 

the university a year or two continuing his 

activities with school publications. He then 

began selling films for Universal and held 

that job for over 20 years. His FC connection 

his second film job, although he owns 

is an interest in several small town theatres. 

Ralph Peckham, manager of the Atlanta 

exchange, has been transferred here. Ralph 

McCoy is the new Atlanta manager. 

Hall's Rialto Robbed 

KINGSVILLE, TEX.—Two male students at 

the College of Arts and Industries were arrested 

after the robbery of the safe in Henry 

Hall's Rialto Theatre. The loss was well over 

$1,000. 

A SIGN 

KHO 

o\sn^'^ 

,^v^^^^^ 

tlOi- 0(>M»» 

OF QUALITY 

MERCHANDISE 

Your popcorn machines turn 

out QUALITY merchandise if 

you are using "Pop Com Man" 

ingredients—because they are 

the tops in qualify. Base materials 

used in POT-O-GOLD 

pop corn seasoning must meet 

rigid standards set by "The Pop 

Corn Man." 

POT O-GOLD is a delicate 

blend of highly refined 

domestic oils. Liquid the 

year 'round. Deliciously 

flavored. Delightfully colored. 

POT-O-GOLD gives 

eye appeal for buy appeal! 

All sizes. 

full d) 

Five gallons toj 

Delivery now. I 

CHAS. E. DARDEN & CO. • 308 South Harwood • P. 0. Box 2207 • Dallas, Texas • Riverside-6134 

I ' 

BOXOFFICE 

:: Febriiary 14, 1948 

a

'. 

February 

Cornbread Matinee 

Keeps Grosses Up 

DALLAS—Cornbread Matinee, a half hour 

hillbilly band and quiz program has been a 

factor in helping the Ai-cadia Theatre keep 

its gross above par during the last year. The 

band plays every weekday noon. Hal Horton, 

annoimcer, asks questions and gives away 

groceries and other merchandise. The theatre 

has been filled for all these performances, 

which are followed immediately by the screen 

show. The radio show is intended as corn 

and is patronized by city and covmtiy folks 

alike. Many come in from surrounding small 

towns. 

The Arcadia, a 1,100-seat deluxer, changed 

part hands recently when P. G. Cameron 

sold his interest. Present owners are Lee 

Handley, Glenn McClain and Kenyon Brown. 

The first two have held their interest for two 

years. McClain formerly was connected with 

the J. G. Long circuit. Brown, the new 

partner, lives in Wichita Falls and is owner 

of radio station KWST there along with E. 

H. Rowley and H. J. Griffith, weU known 

Texas circuit heads. 

A neighboring theatre, the Peak, owned 

and operated by the Long circuit, went in for 

a hiilbilly program similar to the Arcadia's. 

The aimouncer was Hal Collins, who ran for 

governor and who sells hair tonic and gives 

away matresses over the radio. Many urban 

contestants appeared on these programs. 

Collins, however, moved his show to a big hall 

of his own in the Oak Cliff area of this city. 

EL PASO 

'The recent cold wave was a headache to 

local exhibitors in more ways than one. In 

addition to tailspinning boxof fice receipts, old 

man winter was blamed for a string of major 

and minor mishaps. Sewers and waterpipes 

froze up at the Texas Grand. The theatre 

was forced to run with only one projection 

machine in operation for a time. Patrons 

were warned on entering, that there would 

be time out between reels, recalling the days 

of the "Please keep your children quiet" 

slides. A broken pipe in the hotel upstairs 

didn't do the Crawford any good. At the 

Mission pipes were frozen. 

Rosa Garcia of the Texas Grand and F. C. 

Gutierrez of the Plaza art department were 

out with the flu . . . Bill Bohling, Pershing 

manager, has added two quarter-horses to 

his string . . . G. S. Hill, Texas, Theatre, 

ysleta, is not showing films in a broomcloset, 

as a recent item would indicate. With 

the addition of 100 new seats, the theatre will 

accommodate about 500, not 100 as previously 

reported. 

( 

Randolph Scott, Mrs. Scott, Gabby Hayes, 

Mr. and Mrs. Lon Chaney, Mr. and Mrs. Bill 

Demarest, Billy De Wolfe, Catherine Craig 

and Mr. and Mrs. Russell Hayden, traveling 

by special car, came through El Paso, en 

' route from Albuquerque to Houston for apipearance 

in connection with the 

"Albuquerque." The picture will be 

picture 

shown 

at the Plaza four days, beginning February 14. 

The Answer 

to the Exhibitor's Prayer for 

a Box Office Stimulant! 

QUIZ APPEAL 

$ $ With Cash $ $ 

You need not go any further than the dial on your radio set 

or look in your favorite newspaper or magazine to realize 

the popularity of the Quiz idea. 

Add cash and you have entertainment that 

sweeps high in popularity! 

"TEST YOUR HORSE SENSE" is quiz appeal that can 

"LIFT" A DULL PICTURE AND HLL EMPTY SEATS! 

This Is 

NOT a Lottery! 

Your Patron Earns Money! 

For Details, Write, Phone or Wire 

"TEST YOUR HORSE SENSE 

Fikn Exchange Building 

308 South Harwood Street 

Dallas, Texas 

f Mayor Ponder proclaimed the week of 

8-14 Rededication week in observf 

ance of the visit of the Freedom train here. 

BOXOFFICE :: February 14, 1948 91

. . The 

: February 

Oklahoma-Bom Starlet 

Laurie Douglas Weds 

OKLAHOMA CITY—Laurie Douglas, Okiahoma-born 

model and fUm starlet, was married 

February 1 in New York to Billy Harbach, 

son of a well-known theatrical family. 

The former Oklahoma City girl is a direct 

descendant of Chickasaw chieftains. He real 

name is Douglas Johnston Smith. She was 

named for her grandfather, Douglas H. Johnston, 

last elected governor of the Chickasaws. 

He held office over 40 years. The bride also 

is a blood descendant of Chief Tishomingo. 

She was born near the Oklahoma town which 

bears the name of her famous ancestor. 

Harbach is under contract to MGM, according 

to a story in the Daily Oklahoman. The 

couple, however, plan to establish a home in 

New York. 

The bride, who has been a model for about 

ten years, is now rated as one of the top ten 

girls In the John Powers agency. She spends 

about half of her time in Hollywood. In 

"Smash-Up" she portrayed a band singer. 

Her husband's most recent film is "Good 

News." The bride's mother, Mrs. Juanita 

Smith, lives here. 

L. J. Piwetz Elected Director 

LUUNG, TEX.—L. J. Piwetz, theatre 

operator, was elected to the board of the 

Luling Chamber of Commerce. 


Your Deal Handled Personally 

I 

27 years experience 

W* Coret the U. S. Market 

Arthur Leak 


1 

OKLAHOMA CITY Sol Sack's Condition 

Chow people in the, southwest already are 

to looking the Variety convention in 

Florida starting April 12. Morris Loewenstein, 

back from the Theatre Owners of Texas 

convention, reports that a special railroad 

car will be made up in Dallas for the trip to 

Miami. Lloyd Rust and Don Douglas of Dallas 

are making arrangements for the train. 

Loewenstein and his wife are planning to 

attend, as are the Harry Lowensteins of 

Ardmore and Mr. and Mrs. Max Brock of 

Lawton. Others are urged to make their reservations. 

DRIVE-IN 

K. C. Blackledge, divisional manager of 

Griffith Consolidated Theatres, and A. C. 

Ince, construction chief for the firm, were 

in Cuero, Tex., preparing plans for remodeling 

of the Rialto Theatre . . . The play 

"Oklahoma!" opens a week-long engagement 

February 16 in the Home Theatre . . . Diana 

Barrymore will be here February 29 and 

March 1 to star in "Joan of Lorraine." This 

production also will be presented at the 

Home. 

Margaret Moore, formerly with the Griffith 

home office and one-time employe of 

the Griffith circuit in Holdenville, replaced 

Jeannie Hollis, resigned, in the home office 

. . . Jane Blackwood replaced Mary Marie 

Ragland as secretary to A. C. Ince . . . The 

J. C. Duncans of Tulsa announced the birth 

of a son . Earl Snyders of the Tulsa's 

Circle also have a new baby . . . Happy 

birthday to George Stovall, Griffith manager 

in Sayre, Claude Hanley, Griffith manager, 

in Wink, Tex., and Rober E. Rice of 

the film merchandising department in the 

Griffith home office. 

Grave After Attack 

DALLAS—The family and friends of Sol 

Sachs, RKO branch manager, were concerned 

over his condition following 

a heart attack 

at his home Saturday 

(7 1. He is in St. Patil's 

hospital under strict 

orders to rest and see 

no company. He had 

not complained of 

feeling ill and was said 

to be getting ready to 

go to his office when 

the attack came. His 

brother Harry said his 

condition was very 

Sol Sachs 

serious and that it 

would be a week before the doctors would 

know the exact status. Harry, who is coowner 

of the Delman Theatre, said telegrams 

were coming in from all over the 

state, and spoke of how much the family 

appreciated that. 

Pete Gehrard Dies 

LINDEN, TEX.—Pete Gehrard, former 

owner of the Ritz here, died in Mount Pleasant, 

Tex., January 22. 

Theatres Aid MOD 

TEXARKANA—All theatres in Texarkana 

joined in the March of Dimes campaign January 

24-30. 

EQUIPMENT 

Central or Innercar Speakers 

From 75 to 300-Watt Amplifiers 

See and Hear Them All and You Will Choose 

MIRROPHONIC SOUND 

and 

AA MOTIOGRAPH PROJECTORS 

with 

STRONG SUPER HI 

modern Theatre 

214 S. St. Paul St. Phone: Riverside 5009 

Complete Theatre Equipment 

" 

LAMPS 

Equipment Co. 

Dallas 1, Texas 

92 BOXOFFICE : 

14, 1948

were offered a diversified 

program of theatre attractions and 

Ray del Rio, PUm Classics 

on February 1 . . . 

grosses were reported improved in downtown salesman, was in town for a few days . . . 

houses. Suburban theatres felt a slump, however, 

since residents of the outlying sections stockholder, was a visitor. 

John Jenkins of Dallas, Dixie Films Corp. 

By Julius Schepps 

were, for the most part, downtown. "My 

DALLAS—Chief Barker Julius Schepps has 

Wild Irish Rose" was at the Saenger, "Intrique" 

appointed the following committees to aid 

at Loew's State, "The As Turkish 

Prince Trigger 

of 

Man 

him in Variety Club activities during the 

at Joy, at 

will "trigger 

coming year: 

"Panic" at the Liberty, "The 

in "Sofia," Arpi production 

Boys' Ranch committee—James O. Cherry, 

Upturned Glass" at the Poche, for 

"Road to Rio" 

Film Classics release 

Thieves" 

the Orpheum, 

the "The Swordsman" Misha Auer 

man 

play a Turkish 

upcoming 

chairman; Hardy H. Cluck, co-chairman; 

at the Tudor, "Marked Woman" at the Globe, 

Buddy Harris, Ken Way, Fred Hoenscheidt. 

F. W. "Doc" Allen, Harold Schwarz and 

"Michigan 

Virginian" 

Kid" 

and 

at 

"The 

the 

Cat 

Center and "The 

Creeps" at the 

Strand. 

THEATRE SEAT INSTALLATION 1 

Committees Named 

P. E. -Ed" Wilson. 

Entertainment committee—Harold Schwarz, 

chairman: George Schepps. Duke Clark, 

Buddy Harris, Fred Hoenscheidt and Roy 

LJtsey. 

Freeman Memorial and Hope Cottage 

committee—W. G. Underwood, chairman; 

C. C. Ezell, Jack Elder and Louis Charninsky. 

Golf committee—Duke Evans, co-chairman; 

R. E. "Bob" Davis, co-chairman; Matt Dowling. 

Ken Way and William O'Donnell. 

Heart committee—P. E. "Ed" Wilson, chairman; 

Sam Landrum, John Rowley and Buddy 

Harris. 

House committee—Duke Clark, chairman; 

Doc Allen and Ken Way. 

Legal committee— L. M. Rice and Van Hollomon. 

Membership committee—Phil Longdon, 

chairman: Duke Clark and Sam Landrum. 

Publicity committee—Ray Beall, chairman: 

Prank Starz, Conrad Brady, Clay Bailey, 

George Bannan. E. B. Coleman, V. W. Crisp, 

George Henger, Bob Kelley, Ed Terhune, Bill 

Lewis. Jimmy Lovell, Henry Morris, Dick 

Owen, John Rosenfield jr. and Bill Singleton. 

Radio committee—Charles Jordan, chairman; 

Clyde Rembert, Martin Campbell and 

Conrad Brady. 

Turtle Derby committee—William O'Donnell. 

chairman; Louis Charninsky, James O. 

Cherry. Fred Hoenscheidt, Torrence Hudglns, 

W. E. Mitchell, George Schepps, Frank Starz, 

Riley Hickman and Harold Schwarz. 

Finance committee—Harold Schwarz, chairman: 

John Rowley, W. G. Underwood. Sam 

Landrum and Heywood Simmons. 

Home Show committee—James O. Cherry. 

Ray Beall, Conrad Brady, Jimmy Allard, Hal 

Hopkins. Don Woods, J. A. Prichard. F. W. 

"Doc" Allen and E. L. Harris. 

NEW ORLEANS 

The carnival kettle bubbled noisily from 

February 3 through February 10, as the 

biggest crowd on record arrived from all 

corners of the country and from many parts 

of the world for New Orleans' annual Mardl 

Gras. Attracted by the charm which is 

carnival, celebrities and near-celebrities 

mingled with the crowd, many passing unrecognized 

by the revelers. We spotted such 

well-known persons as the former heavyweight 

champion Jack Dempsey. Actor Harold 

Lloyd and his wife, the former Mildred 

E>avis of the films, and their good-looking 

daughter Gloria seemed to be getting quite 

a kick out of the merrymakers. The Lloyds 

celebrated their 25th w-edding anniversary 

while visiting here. Former New Orleanian 

John Carroll was here visiting his father and 

taking in the festivities. Frances Marion, 

screen writer and artist, was another of the 

many notables attracted by the gay events. 

Mardi Gras visitors 

New on the list of Joy Theatres is the 

Leo in Texarkana, Tex. Formerly called the 

Princess, the Leo was completely renovated 

at an expenditui-e of $250,000. Opening was

. . Tex 

. . James 

"*- 

I 

SAN ANTONIO 

•Two men suspected of robbing the Rialto 

Theatre in Kingsville have been apprehended. 

The house is operated by Hall Industries, 

Beeville . . . Polo Guerrero's "Mexicomedy 

Revue," which played a long engagement 

here, was the stage attraction at Eddie 

Joseph's Iris, Austin . . . Theatre closings: 

The Lopez Hall, Charlotte, and the Juarez, 

Poteet. They are expected to reopen March 1. 

Local theatres no longer offer a haven for 

truants during school hours. City and county 

juvenile officers, launching a joint drive, 

rounded up six boys and one girl and returned 

them to school. The officers have 

been given free ducats good to 3 p. m. daily 

SOUNDHEADS • AMPLIFTERS 

TWO-WAY HORN SYSTEMS 

COMPLETE SOUND SYSTEMS 

PROJECTION BASES 

AVAILABLE 

OUT OF STOCK FOR 

immediate 

Installation 

in order to visit the theatres . . . Fire broke 

out in an air conditioning unit at the Municipal 

auditorium last week, causing an estimated 

damage of $450 . . . Recent heavy 

rains in southern Texas caused several theatres 

to close down temporarily. 

Sam Schwartz, manager and owner of the 

Yolanda Theatre, Eagle Pass, was here taking 

medical treatments . Ornelas, 

Azteca Films accountant here, returned from 

a flying trip to Los Angeles, where he went 

to show the home office the operation of a 

new calculating machine . . . Benjamin 

Brown, who played juvenile bits and parts 

in Hollywood productions several years ago, 

is convalescing from a recent illness at Brooke 

General hospital. Fort Sam Houston. 

L. C. Griffith, head of Griffith Consolidated 

Theatres, with general headquarters 

in Oklahoma City, is now living here. He and 

Mrs. Griffith recently had as their house 

guests H. S. Griffing and C. R. Guthrie, Griffith 

officials of Oklahoma City. 

Clasa Mohme's newest release, "Aqui Esta 

Juan Colorado," a Raul de Anda production, 

is expected to do outstanding business in the 

territory following its preview showing at 

the National here Friday i6) 

. . . Jacob 

Epstein, former U-I manager in Mexico City 

and now operating the new firm, Deska, in 

Mexico, called upon his friend, Gordon B. 

Dunlap, Clasa-Mohme manager here. 

Others in town: Mrs. Addison Burkhalter, 

booking for the Marine, Fort Worth; 'Wallace 

Blankenship of Lubbock, who operates theatres 

in the south plains, and Gidney Talley, 

Mathis, Devine, Pleasanton and San Antonio 

theatreman. 

Clay Bailey, amusement editor of the Dallas 

Times-Herald, was in town on an assignment 

. Ritter and his new western 

revue was the stage attraction at the Texas 

Thursday. On the screen was "'Wild Horse 

Mesa." 

'Albuquerque' Leads 

Weak Dallas Week 

DATiTiAS—Theatre grosses were generally 

low last week. However, "Albuquerque," 

laimched with personal appearances of several 

stars, had lines backed up on the sidewalk 

at the Majestic and registered 50 per 

1 

cent above average. It was held over. Two 11 

other runs were around par and the others j3 

were low. But that's to be expected this time H |i 

' 

• 

of year, one of the Interstaters said. 

Capitol—Smoky 'ky River Serenade 'C-l> 

London (Col split with Silver Qu 

Lone Well •' 

Lion Man (SR 

reissue; 

Majestic Albuquerque (Para) 

appearance of stars first dav 

150 

Melba—Ride the Pink Horse (U 

Veloz and Yolanda stage revi 

Palace—If Winter Comes (MGI 

Rialto Goona-Goona (Tower); R 

(Tower), reissues 

Telenews—The Upturned . Glass (U 

Tower—Capta CasBIe (20th-Fox), 2nd 

Lionel Delacroix Dies at 71; 

Operator in Plaquemine 

PLAQUEMINE, LA.—Lionel Delacroix died 

here recently following an illness of several 

months. The prominent showman was 71 

years old. He was the operator of the 'Wilbert 

and Osage theatres. 

Delacroix entered show business here in 

1907 when he took over the Hope Opera 

House. The structure then was owned by the 

local fire department. In 1917 he interested 

the Wilbert interests in building a modern 

theatre building to replace the old Opera 

House. Delacroix had leased this house since 

its opening in February 1918. 

Since then Delacroix opened the Osage. 

This house was burned a few years ago, but 

Delacroix personally supervised the construction 

of a new larger Osage. 

Prior to his entry in the theatre business 

Delacroix was employed in the offices of the 

Breaux-Renoudet Cypress Co. in New Iberia, 

the Monroe Lumber Co. and A. 'Wilbert & 

Sons Lumber & Shingle Co. 

here. 

United fheatres , 

S E II \ I t E CORPORATION 

308 S. Harwood St. Dallas, Tex t 

1327 

BUFFALO COOLING EQUIPMENT 

lOthn. 2nd Unit, Santa FeBldg. BUFFALO ENGINEERING CO-, INC. Dallas Tex. 

mOTIOn PICTURE SERVICE 

115 HYDE ST. San fi^ncisco(2)r 

BOXOFFICE 

: : February 14, 194iy 

•i:i(i

MISSISSIPPI HOUSE APPROVES 

BILL ALLOWING SUNDAY SHOWS 

War Veteran Solons Back 

Move to Break Ancient 

State Blue Laws 

JACKSON, MISS.— Blue laws, which have 

prohibited Sunday films and sports in Mississippi 

for 140 years, apparently are on their 

way out. 

The house of representatives February 4 

voted 72-58 on a bill which would amend 

blue laws to permit showing motion pictures 

and playing games on Sundays between 1 and 

6 p. m. 

The favorable vote represented a complete 

reversal from the previous day when the 

house voted 62-59 against Sabbath shows. 

Proponents of the measure, a group of young 

World War II veterans, then came back with 

an amendment which they pushed through. 

That amendment would permit any municipality, 

upon petition of 25 per cent of itquahfied 

voters, to call an election and outlaw 

the Sunday shows if a majority so voted 

IP IN SENATE NEXT 

The bill needs passage by the senate and 

approval of the governor to become law. 

Champion of the measure was Rep. Brinkley 

Morton, a veteran. 

Also supporting the bill was Rep. William 

Winter of Grenada, another veteran, who 

described it as a measure seeking to clear 

up "a farcical situation," 

Rep. Boyce Holleman of Stone county said: 

-I am sick and tired of a system whereby 

the good people of Mississippi must violate 

the law in order to enjoy some of the simple 

and harmless pleasm-es of life." Asked if the 

blue laws were the only ones violated, he 

said: "No, but if I am successful a lot more 

of them will be repealed." 

CHARGES MANEUVER 

Rep. Icey Day charged proponents of the 

bill were attempting to get it passed between 

weekends so "you won't have a chance to go 

back home where your church people can 

talk to you," He argued that "if you pass 

this bill you wull be doing a thing contrary 

• to the will of the Christian people of Mississippi," 

Winter said: "We have had shows and ball 

games in Grenada for a number of years and 

never heard any objections from the good 

church 

people." 

Georgia Ministerial Group Claims 

Sunday Shows Illegal, Urges Ban 

COLUMBUS, GA,—Sunday films are operated 

illegally and for profit, the Columbus- 

Phenix City Ministerial Alliance said here as 

efforts were renewed to have Sabbath shows 

banned. 

The alliance took issue with statements 

from the Consolidated Community Chest that 

it had received $6,298.80 from Sunday shows 

in 1947. It w-as estimated that the total gross 

income of 12 theatres was $6,160 each Smiday, 

which should divert $616 lor 10 per centi 

to charity. Instead, the pastors argued, the 

income to consolidated charities has been 

about $50. 

Roy Martin Created Theatre Empire 

From Nickelodeon Opened in 79/2 

This picture of Roy E. Martin sr., his sons and partner, was taken on the occasion 

of Martin's 34th anniversary in show business. The event was celebrated at a dinner 

party in Atlanta attended by associates and friends. In the picture, left to right, are 

R. E. Martin jr., E. D. Martin, Martin sr., and J. H. "Tommie" Thompson, of the 

Martin & Thompson circuit. 

COLUMBUS, GA.—The story of Roy E. 

Martin sr., who was killed in an airplane 

crash at Bay St. Louis, Miss., February 10 

while on his way home from the Mardi Gras 

in New Orleans, is in the American tradition 

of vision, integrity and work, with an accent 

on work. 

This month Martin's 110 theatres in Georgia, 

Florida, Alabama and Tennessee were 

to celebrate his 36th anniversary in showbusiness. 

Martin himself was to direct the 

campaign from his headquarters here. 

It was a far cry from Roy Martin, the 

farmer's boy. who lost his dad when he was 

just a sprout and has known nothing but 

hard work since. He was born in Harris 

county, Ga„ on March 6, 1885, of pioneer 

stock. Despite his father's death and the 

need for working on the farm, he managed 

to go through the public schools and to 

take a short business course. To help finance 

his schooling, he delivered milk from door 

to 

door. 

Still in his teens, he went west in search 

of his fortune and worked for two years 

with Union Pacific railroad construction 

crews. This was not the life for him, he 

decided, so he returned to the south, where 

he worked for a while selling industrial insurance 

and furniture in Montgomery and 

Atlanta, 

Young Martin was saving his money and 

by 1912 he had enough to go into business 

for himself. In February 1912 he bought his 

first theatre, the Bonita, in Columbus. It was 

the typical nickelodeon of the day. Visioning 

a great future for motion pictures, Martin 

began almost immediately planning to 

build another and finer showhouse. 

Meanwhile, in 1916, he married Hattie Lou 

Miller of Columbus, who was not only a 

devoted mate but a loyal partner and coworker, 

as well. After many disappointments, 

sacrifices and hard work, they managed to 

get the Pastime built, only to find that their 

finances had been completely eaten up and 

they did not have enougih left to equip the 

theatre. To get out of the dilemma, Mrs. 

Martin sold some property that had been 

to her by her family and the Pastime 

willed 

at last opened. 

"It was the proudest day in our lives," 

Martin said years later. 

Mrs. Martin died in 1928. leaving two sons, 

Roy E. jr., 11, and E. D., 8. Both have been 

associated with their father in the theatre 

operations. 

Martin's enterprises have grown continuously 

from the time the Pastime opened. 

All his theatre earnings were plowed back 

into theatres. He opened houses in small 

towns throug-hout the four-state area and 

(Continued on next page> 


SE 

95

: February 

. 

Wives of Carolinas Exhibitors Guests at Convention Luncheon 

William Johnson, president, and Bob Simpson, district manager 

of the Motion Picture Advertising Service Co. of New Orleans 

were hosts to the women who attended the 36th annual convention 

of the Theatre Owners of South amd North Carolina at 

Charlotte. Around the luncheon tables were the following mesdames 

(not all of whom are seen in the photo) : C. F. Finch, T. A. 

Little, J. E. Massie, Frank St. Claire, Morris Nuger, Ben L. Strozier, 

J. Harry Long, Harry Hardy, Jack Austin, J. S. McDaniel, Sam 

Trincher, Fin Lee, Teague Kirby, R. L. Simpson, Basil Kerr, Roy 

Champion, H. E. Buchanan, H. D. Hearn, Warren Irvin, H. H. 

Everett, H. C. Carr, J. H. Dillon, Ernest StelUngs, Hal Keeter, Ben 

Allen, L. L. Theimer, Worth Stewart, Roy L. Smart, Kenneth Richardson 

jr., Frank Beddingfield, Worth Stewart, S. T. Stoker, Bill 

Richardson, J. I. Sims, Scott Lett, Bob Saunders, M. W. Knott, 

Jesse Cox, Joseph Massie. 

NEW CAROLINAS THEATRES HEAD—George D. Carpenter (center) takes the 

gavel as the new president of the Theatre Owners of North and South Carolina. 

On the left is Pauline Griffith, renamed secretary of the association. Ben L. 

Strozier (right), retiring president, was elected first vice-president. 

Atlanta Board Considers 

Building Code Changes 

ATLANTA- A special panel of the city 

building code advisory board is studying possible 

changes in provisions affecting theatres. 

The code now requires that the auditorium 

must be separated from all passages and 

corridors by a fire partition and that only 

exit doors open to the auditorium. Most of 

the theatres in the city have a standee rail 

at the rear of the auditorium, and City 

Building Inspector O. Marvin Harper has 

been ordering owners to replace the rail with 

a fire partition. Protests have been so loud 

and so many that Harper decided to pass the 

question along to a panel of the advisory 

board. That is the procedure under the-Jaw. 

Theatre owners say compliance is a hardship, 

Harper reported. They have also objected 

to installation of sprinkler systems, 

which have been ordered throughout some 

theatres. 

William Griffin Leaves Chamber 

CULLMAN, ALA.—William R. Griffin, 

manager of the Lyric, is retiring as a director 

of the Chamber of Commerce after a 

two-year term. Griffin is president of the 

newly organized Alabama Theatre Owners 

and Managers Ass'n. 

Created Theatre Empire 

From Small Nickelodeon 


still has most of his theatres in small towns. 

Even during the depression, when others 

were "pulling in" their holdings, he continued 

his expansion program. In many cases 

he took in partners, the most active of them 

being J. H. Thompson of Hawkinsvllle, who 

is associated with Martin in a circuit of 16 

Georgia houses operated as tlie Martin & 

Thompson Theatres. 

In addition to his theatre interests. Martin 

had a vast amount of other business and residential 

property in the south. He was the 

owner of most of his theatre properties besides 

being the operator of the business. 

He was an active member of the Variety 

Club of Atlanta and commuted regularly 

to that city. 

Woman Patron Wins Suit 

Against Delmar Theatre 

BIRMINGHAM—A $20,000 verdict has been 

returned by a circuit court jury in favor of ' 

Mrs. Beatrice Anthony, who alleged she was 

injured in a fall at the Delmar. The suit 

was against the theatre and J. R. Waters. 

Mrs. Anthony maintained she suffered a 

dislocated bone and other injuries Aug. 15, 

1946 when she fell to the floor when she 

sat down in a seat from which the seat board 

was missing. 

Theatre witnesses testified that a daily 

check was made of seats and that none was 

reported missing or defective on that day. 

Installs New Projectors 

LITHONIA. GA.—Neil Edwards has in- ^ 

stalled new Simplex projectors in his Lithonia 

> 

Theatre. 

Change Camp Hill Schedule 

CAMP HILL, ALA.—The Crown here has 

discontinued shows on Monday, Tuesday and 

Wednesday of each week. 

BOXOFFICE : 

14, 1948 

,

Theatres in Britain 

Losing Patronage 

MIAMI— Ernie Hill, a Herald staff member, 

writes back from London: "So many 

habitues are staying away from the movies 

in England these days that the secretary of 

the Cinematographers Ass'n, R. Fuller, says 

a decision on how manj- motion pictm-e houses 

must be closed may soon become necessary. 

"With most forms of entertainment extremely 

expensive, movies have become the 

most popular amusement for Britain's middle 

and lower classes. During 1947 over one and 

one-half billion seats were sold as against 

900 million before the war. But the moviegoer 

likes American film stars and he is uttering 

loud complaints against the present 

embargo which denies him a chance to see 

his Hollywood favorites in their newest pictures. 

"The war between the British government 

and Hollywood, which developed when a 75 

per cent tax on foreign film earnings inside 

this country was inaugurated, is still on. 

Hollywood stands firm on its decision of 'no 

more films for Britain while the tax remains.' 

Backers of the Socialist government 

here stick equally fast to their devout contention 

is that the tax justified. Harold 

Wilson, president of the. British Board of 

Trade, says there will be no backing down. 

Speaking in the House of Commons the other 

day he said, 'If Hollywood believes it can 

squeeze us into modifying our 75 per cent 

import duty by its embargo, it is backing a 

loser.' 

"Hollywood badly needs the British fiiin 

market which, as the chief source of Hollywood's 

export income, provides a big share 

of its profits after U.S. showings have defrayed 

production costs. Realizing this, the 

British film industry hopes to work out a 

'compromise'—one by which Britain will retain 

the 75 per cent tax and Hollywood will 

do the compromising. Meanwhile, with Britisli 

films still few and far between and falling 

off in quality, and Hollywood remaining intransigent, 

the British moviegoer is having 

to see reissues of American films. By and 

large he is of the opinion that taking his 

American movies away from him is carrying 

austerity a bit too far." 

To Open Greenville Show 

GREENVILLE, MISS.—A tentative opening 

date of April 15 has been set by L. E. 

Bonner for his new Rex Theatre here. It 

will be a quonset-type structure and will 

seat 600. Bonner reports he will spend 

about $45,000 on the project, equipping it 

with Simplex projection and sound, seats 

from American Seating, and a washed air 

system. The front will be two stories, of 

brick construction. It will have a width of 

50 feet and depth of 25 feet. Directly behind 

that will be a 40xl00-foot quonset. The 

second story will be devoted to office space 

and the fii'st floor will contain, besides a 

concession stand and other conveniences, a 

jewelry store. 

_Spcad» Announcement 

fllM1KAIl# 

mOTIOn PICTURE SERVICE Cq 

Held for Theatre Thefts 

MONTGOMERY—Frank McKenzie of Boston, 

Ga.. has been held for the grand jury 

for thefts from local theatres. He is charged 

with taking $60 at the Paramount and $10 

at the Empire. Police said that McKenzie's 

method was to watch for women placin;; 

purses on empty seats beside them in theatres. 

When the women became preoccupied 

with the picture, police said, McKenzie would 

take the wallet from the purse. 

ASTOR PICTURES PRESENTS 

CHEERS FOR 

MISS BISHOP 

MARTHA 

SCOTT 

AND FOR THE COLORED THEATRES 

HEDDA BROOKS 

The Queen of the Boogie 

CECIL GANT 

The King ol the Boogie 

THE JUBILAIRES 

One of Radio's Top Quartettes 

All 

10 Min. Shorts 

WILLIAM 

GARGAN 

EDMUND (Santa Claus) GWENN 

ASTOR. PICTURES 

CO. OF GA„ Inc. 

163 Walton St. 

Main 9845 ATLANTA 

A Double Bill that Broke 

Records at LaSalle 

Theatre Chicago— 

LOBBY BOARDS- 

TRAILERS—ACCESSORIES 

NEW PRINTS 

flSTOR PICTURES CO. 

of Georgia 

163 Walton St. N. W. 

Main 9845 

ATLANTA 


. . Arthur 

. . Ralph 

. . Howard 

. . Charlie 

. . Mrs. 

. . Homer 

. . Max 

. . Rachel 

. . Walter 

. . Charles 

i 

ATLANTA 

TJob Steele, Hollywood western star who is 

now on his first nationwide personal appearance 

tour, played at the East Point Theatre, 

East Point. Ga. In the revue were Jack 

O'Shea, the Westernaires, Boots Gilbert, Tommy 

Durden and others. 

Raymond Edwards, formerly with Warner 

Bros, and lately with the Cannon Theatres 

in Live Oak, Fla.. has been appointed salesman 

for Kay Films in Florida 

Prances Fink has been added at the Southern 

booking and contracting for his new theatre 

. . . 

Automatic Candy Co. In the city 

was M. Stahl of the Normandy Theatre, 

Miami Beach . Peckham, local manager 

of Film Classics, left for his new job 

in Dallas with the same company . . . H. T. 

Posey of Dixie Drive-In Theatres was back 

at his desk after visiting in Charlotte and 

Jack Elwell, general manager of the .same 

company, was on a trip to Florida. 

O. C. Lam, president of Lam Amusement 

Co., was in booking . Wallace, 

manager of Sack Amusement Enterprises, returned 

from Termessee. 

Jim Reed and Charlie Forstsom of Wil-Kin 

Theatre Supply Co. attended the 36th annual 

convention of the Theatre Owners of 

North and South Carolina . Mc- 

Lean was back from a trip to Georgia and 

Florida . C. Bromberg, president of 

Monogram Southern, spent a few days in 

Charlotte . . . N. E. Savini. New York, Astor 

representative, made a jaunt to New Orleans 

. . . John W. Mangham, president of 

Screen Guild of the Southeast, checked in 

from a road trip. 

Notes from the Variety Club: E. E. Whitaker 

says it is a tremendous honor to be the 

sixth chief barker of Tent 21 and a challenge 

to follow such men as William K. Jenkins, 

Harry Ballance, Paul Wilson, Jack Dumestre 

and Charlie Durmeyer ... A new clubrooms 

committee is busy investigating new locations. 

Abner Camp, formerly with 20th-Fox, is an 

addition to the Kay Films exchange sales 

force, it was reported by W. H. Rudisill, 

manager . . . Joan Howard, secretary to 

Dixie Graham, Kay office manager, returned 

after a short illness ... Ike and Harry Katz 

attended the North and South CaroUna Theatre 

Owners convention in Charlotte . . . 

Jimmy Hobbs, sales manager of Republic Pictures 

also was in Charlotte . . . Sympathy 

is extended to John J. Jarvis jr. in the death 

of his father. 

News from Columbia: Mrs. Mary Glennon 

is leaving to go with her husband, who was 

transferred to Camp Gordon . Meyer, 

home office, visited the local office . . . Ray 

Alhedraff has returned to his desk after an 

illness of several months . Clark, 

Tennessee representative, resigned to go with 

United Ai-tists . . . Mrs. Lucile Orr and Betty 

Daniels were added to the force . . . Dorothy 

Gardener is leaving Filmrow after several 

years with the company and will enter another 

field . . . Carroll Clark, booking department, 

is driving a new car . . . Jack 

Scott, head shipper, announced his plans for 

a June wedding . Mildred Rudisill 

is taking a leave of absence due to the illness 

of her husband. 

visitor . . . William Richardson, president 

of Astor Pictui-es of Georgia, is di-iving a 

new automobile . . . Southern Automatic 

Candy Co. news notes: Jesse Robinson is the 

new Georgia route representative for Southern 

Automat.ic Candy Co. . Burmeyer, 

president, returned from a trip 

thr-ough Tennessee . . . Ray Johnson, Alabama 

salesman, was about a week late getting 

home on account of the snowstorm. 

In Atlanta on their way to St. Louis was 

J. B. Frew, U-I branch manager in Charlotte 

and Tom Bailey, R. Goode and Jimmy Greenleaf, 

salesmen . . . Other visitors were Sidney 

Laird and L. J. Duncan, Al-Dun Amusement 

Co., West Point, Ga.: Edd Duncan, 

Strand Theatre Co., Carrollton, Ga., and E. J. 

Steiner, Town Theatre, Sneedville, Tenn. 

Ben Jordan and Jimmy Campbell, Monogram 

salesmen, returned to the Atlanta office 

for a sales meeting with Babe Cohen, 

branch manager . 

Hickey is still 

confined to the hospital on account of illness. 

He went home last week but was returned 

to the hospital. 

Fred Storey, Georgia Theatres, is a member 

of the Community Chest board here . . . 

H. D. Dowdy, manager of the Bijou, Brunsvrick, 

Ga., promoted a grand prize from a department 

store and awarded 30 passes in a 

football parlay contest on "Spirit of West 

Point." 

The current Filmrow mystery is where 

Dusty Rhodes, head of the Georgia Theatres 

booking department, gets the boxes of fine 

candy he generously passes around. 

Mrs. Virginia Hardwick, formerly wilh 

Paramoimt and Film Classics, has joined the 

Benton Bros. Film Express Co. . . , M. K. 

Jackson, for ten years in the accounting 

department at National Screen Service and 

recently with Republic, has been appointed 

office manager at Film Classics . . . Ralph 

Peckham, local FC manager, spent two weeks 

m Florida. 

Perry Spencer, Southern representative of 

the Dayton Film Co.. Dayton. Ohio, was a 

Let 

MANLEY 

Put You 

on Velvet 

Come and see us. 

Z. C. (Curt) Shreve 

Southeaster?! District Manager 

102 Cain St., N. W. CYpress5ll6 Atlanta 3, Ga. 

Mrs. Katie Haywood, Screen Guild, visited 

in Macon . Lucas is new at Film 

Classics. 

L. O. Davis Plans Miami 

Residential Development 

MIAMI— L. O. Davis, theatre o\^^ler of 

Hazard, Ky., has opened a first-class home 

development on Biscayne bay in North Miami, 

to be known as Davis Harbor. Cost of completing 

the development and making it ready 

for the building of homes has been placed 

at $250,000. 

Aid Red Cross Campaign 

PRATTVILLE, ALA.—The Lyric here is cooperating 

in the Red Cross funds campaign 

by sponsoring a letter-writing contest on 

"Reasons Why I Believe in the Red Cross." 

A month's pass to the theatre is the prize in 

the contest, which is open to all residents of 

Autauga county. 

Phillip Turnipseed 

CARPET LAYING CONTRACTOR 

If you want il done right, let us sew and lay it light 

530 E. Cambridgi 

BOXOFFICE :; February 14, 1948

: February 

Wometco Sues Union, 

Enjoins Its Pickets 

MIAMI—Charging damage to the business 

not at theatre employes but sign painters 

doing advertising work for the theatre. 

Ed Phelan. union business agent, said. 

"The suit will not prevent us from picketing 

all of Wometco theatres, except the Miami, 

which does not use products turned out by 

employes of the Advertising Service Co." 

Phelan said he had been unable to determine 

the owTiership of the Advertising Sen/ice Co.. 

which was first thought by the union to be 

o«-ned by Wometco Theatres. 

Harvey Fleishman, Wometco official, said 

the firm was owned by Wometco stockholders, 

but was set up on an "independent 

BIRMINGHAM 

held its Valentine party and fashion show 

Teanette MacDonald, ill with a sore tluoat 

Filmock • 1327 S.Wabash • Chicago and heavy cold, was forced to cancel her for high school girls, plus a preview of "Escape 

appearance here Saturday (7i. It was the 

Me Never." DeWitt Shaw's orchestra 

of five theatres, three suits seeking a total 

furnished the music and door prizes and 

first time many that Municipal 

in a day 

$300,000 were filed in circuit court here 

of 

against the Pictorial and Sign Painters Local Auditorium had been sold out for a concert souvenirs were distributed. 

1175. Plaintiffs were the State Operating and the Birmingham Music club, sponsors, 

Harry M. Curl, Melba manager, was in 

Corp., owner of the State. Town and Parkway 

theatres, and the Lincoln and Capitol Donald whb 

returned $10,500 to ticket holders. Miss Mac- 

Memphis Tuesday, February 10. Among others 

he visited was Bill Kemp, manager of 

was forced to cancel a concert in 

theatres. All are houses. 

charged the union and individual members but left here to fill a scheduled concert date 

Wometco Each Raleigh, N. following C, the Monday night, 

Loew's State, who was in Birmingham recently 

on his way back to Memphis from 

of the union with intimidation, picketing and 

H. M. Addison, EL publicist, was 

in Greensboro, N. C, Wednesday. 

Atlanta . . . 

unfair statements. 

The union was enjoined from picketing by Bert Smith, former assistant manager at 

named manager 

here working on "The Adventuress." 

the Ritz, has been assistant manager Waters' J. H. Waters, of Circuit Judge Marshall Wiseheart several 

Fairfield 

days previously, on petition of the Miami. at the Alabama, succeeding Virgil O'Neill, 

The theatre declared union picketing constituted 

who resigned to take other employment. 

Theatre, has a perfect record for at- 

tendance at Fairfield Kiwanis club meetings 

a "secondarj- boycott." being directed Smith left the Ritz to finish school and has over a ten-year period. Waters is secretary 

now completed his studies at Birmingham- 

Claude Ritter. former manager 

Southern college. As assistant at the Alabama, 

of the Downtown club here, has opened 

of the club . . . 

he will handle activities of the Mickey his own recording studio on the south side. 

Mouse club, world's largest kiddy organization. 

The studio is equipped with portable and 

stationary recording equipment. He also will 

handle radios and radio equipment. 

J. M. Lakeman, Princess, Haley ville; Dave 

Bowers, Warrior, Warrior, and J. W. Burchfield, 

"Tycoon" went into a sixth downtown week 

Oakman, Oakman, were among the at the Capitol Theatre . . . Other holdovers 

were "T-Men." which moved over to the 

Alabama exhibitors seen here recently . . . 

Barbara Ann Mauldin, Norwood cashier for Galax from the Melba, "Golden Earrings," 

Waters Theatres, resigned and has been replaced 

playing a second week at the Ritz, and 

"Daisy Kenyon." which moved to the Lyric 

by Jessie Louise Thames. 

from the Alabama. 

status." 

Maurice Roth jr. is new factory representative 

in this territory for Craftint Manu- 

Assigned for Screenplay 

Picketing began January 29 after the imion 

claimed three nonimion sign painters employed 

by the Advertising Service Co. were 

The screenplay assignment on "Federal 

facturing Co., Cleveland, and recently paid 

his first visit to local theatre managers. 

"discouraged from joining the union." 

The firm handles artists suppUes . . . Temple 

vs. 

Inc.," Republic picture, 

Agents Underworld, a 

has been handed to Royle Cole, Basil 

Theatre has been booking some strong 

Dickey and Sol Shor. 

weekend vaudeville programs. Gautier's dog 

Bob Gillham in Miami 

act headlined the bill February 5 and the 

On Variety Business 

Three Stooges headed the bill February 12. 

MIAMI—Bob Gillham, eastern advertising 

Tri-State 

director for Selznick Releasing Organization, BiU 

Theatre Service 

Coury, Ritz manager, & Supply 

cooperated with 

Pizitz department store to promote a week 

218 South Second Street 

here confer with Mitchell Wolfson, 

arrived to 

George Hoover, and Variety Club executives of special attractions starting February 9. 

MEMPHIS 3, TENN. 

on art work Gillham will handle for the In comiection with a houseware fair at EQUIPMENT — SUPPLIES 

Variety Journal yearbook to be published in Pizitz, a cooking school was staged for five 

connection with the April convention. Tom mornings. On Saturday, February 14. Pizitz 

REPAIRS 

Jefferson is being assisted in publicity for 

the convention by Al Wilkie, who has just arrived 

from New York. Wilkie managed to 

find a hou.se. 

Charlotte Branch Opened 

Going to Build a Drive-In Theatre? 

By Chunk-E-Nut Firm 

CHARLOTTE—Chunk-E-Nut Products Co. 

has opened warehousing facilities here to 

CONSULT US! 

allow .speedier handling of its popcorn and 

complete line of supplies. The management. 

We will build it complete! You furnish the location and our staff of experts 

will do the rest. We have 

which headquarters in Philadelphia, advises 

that customers orders will now receive 

speedier handling with overnight delivery being 

^^m 

made to all adjacent points. 

THE "AUTOCRAT" IN-ACAR SPEAKER 

(Patent Pending) 

PROJECTION EQUIPMENT FOR DRIVE-INS 

SOUND EQUIPMENT AND PLANS 

FILMACK'S DAYTON FILM CO., INC. 

SPECIAL 

PERRY SPENCER, SOUTHERN REPRESENTATIVE 

TRAILERS 

920 Moreland Avenue, S. £., Atlanta, Georgia 

Telephone CYprus 6964 

BOXOFFICE 

: 

14, 1948 99

. . . Martha 

, , . The 

. . Tony 

. . Hal 

. . The 

. . Thirty-one 

: February 

. . H. 

. . 

MIAMI 

Oonny Shepherd's Sarah Jeanne is picked 

by George Bourke, who once trod the 

boards himself, as star material of the future; 

and he goes on to say that Sonny is 

the fellow who discovered Bob Wright in a 

neighborhood show he staged at the Biltmore 

Theatre years ago. Bob wrote "Song of 

Norway" . . . John Carroll, film actor, dined 

with Powers model Babs Beckwith recently 

Raye and Willie Howard must 

be good boxoffice; they've pulled a local 

club out of the doldrums. 

The cooperation of the Miami Chamber of 

Commerce with a cameraman for a Burton 

Holmes Travelogue has bom fruit. The film 

is now helping to bring the story of sunny 

Florida to a host of snow-weary Philadelphians 

and New Yorkers . Martin 

and wife flew from here to Nassau recently 

Ritz Brothers and Gene Autry are 

due here shortly. 

The nice job done by Esther Williams in 

"This Time for Keeps," now showing at the 

Paramount and Beach, has somewhat soothed 

irate Miamians who were riled when Miss 

Williams blasted the local climate via a 

Louella Parsons broadcast. Localites are still 

waiting critically to see "On an Island With 

You," the film which Miss Williams made 

here. 

Mr. and Mrs. Mervyn LeRoy visited the 

Hialeah race track recently. The producer's 

wife has horses of her own on the coast. 

Ex-Pvt. Iry Mand.ell and Maurice Chevalier 

had a reunion here, three years from the day 

when Mandell recruited Chevalier to entertain 

the First division, infantry for whom 

the actor is said to have given the best show 

of his life. The Embassy and "Variety, Claughton 

circuit, will show "Man About Town," 

the Chevalier film, following the French 

star's personal appearance here in a club 

engagement . Becker of Rank-International 

Pictures is vacationing in Miami 

Beach. 

Aurora Roche, dancer, has been signed to 

do two motion pictiu-es in Mexico after leaving 

here in July. She will speak Spanish in 

the films to be produced by Clasa Films of 

Mexico City. One of the pictures is a Mexican 

version of "Joan of Arc" . Strand 

gave a Saturday matinee special treat for 

children, offering Roscoe the Great and his 

assistant in a magic show and "Land Rush" 

on the screen. 

It was rumba instruction night at the 

Variety Club recently, with Nino Yacovina 

as guest teacher. Thomas Salinas of the Arthur 

Murray studios was to follow. 

Robert Alda, screen star, was the guest 

star on the Herald-WQAM Quizdown at the 

Olympia. Alda headlined the Olympia's stage 

show. Contestants in the quiz show received 

passes J. D. Woodard, Warner field man 

from 

. . . 

Atlanta, arrived to work with Tom 

Jefferson, Paramoimt publicity director, on 

pomotion for "Treasure of Sierra Madre." 

Wometco's Cameo has been selected for the 

southern premiere showing of "The Paradine 

Case." It will open February 18. Particularly 

attractive art went into the ad that 

appeared in Sunday's papers. 

The Mervyn LeRoys came from Boca Raton 

to visit the Nicholas Schencks whose house, 

when their three daughters are not home 

from Sarah Lawrence and Ethel Walker's, 

is one continuous house party, so the society 

page of the Daily News reports. 

CHARLOTTE 

Jôre about the Carolinas convention: Although 

a member for years, Alfred Starr, 

Bijou Amusement Co., Nashville, attended 

his first convention . new members 

were introduced at the first meeting . 

Outstanding for the exhibitors wives was the 

luncheon given them at Chez Montet by William 

Johnson, president of Motion Picture 

Advertising Service Co., New Orleans, and 

Bob Simpson, divisional manager. Each was 

And praises 

presented a gardenia corsage . . . 

still come in for the interestingly decorated 

ballroom for the dinner and dance. Photographs 

of the officers, 60x40, looked down 

from the wall panels, and the tables had 

large red hearts at intervals in carrying out 

the Valentine day motif. 

Harold Armistead opened his new Colony 

in Easley, S. C, January 23. He also operates 

the Lyric there . . . Ellis Blumenthal's Hollywood 

in Winston-Salem was destroyed by 

fire January 28 . . . W. S. Walker's Gem in 

Summerton, S. C, burned last week. 

Arriving here Sunday for booking and buying 

and snowbound by the blizzard which 

started early Monday morning were J. H. 

Webster and J. B. Culpepper of Elizabeth 

City and Roy Champion of Weldon. 

O. D. Calhoun, co-owner of the Scenic In 

Newland since its opening, has purchased the 

stock owned by V. H. Fi-eeman. Calhoun 

plans many changes, including addition of 

a streamlined candy and drink bar, complete 

redecoration, new furniture for the ladies 

loimge and air conditioning . H. Sigman 

of Statesville will construct a drivein 

theatre on the highway between Statesville 

and Salisbury for a spring openmg. Recently 

S. C. Cline of Statesville announced 

plans for a drive-in just outside of Statesville 

on the Hickory road. 

Everett Enterprises will take over the 

operation of the Gay in Gibsonville February 

16 from W. D. Joyner. 

DISTINGUISHED APPEARANCE 

UNMATCHED COMFORT 

keynote the great new line of 

HEYWOOD-WAKEFIELD CHAIRS 

- ENC®RE 

See us for full details on 

these smartly styled chairs now! 

EXCLUSIVE 

SOUTFIEASTERN DISTRIBUTOR 

WIL-Km 

CHABLOTTE, N. C. 

ATLANTA. GA. 

••Everything for the theatre except film" 

Ask for Bids in Memphis 

On Film Storage Plant 

MEMPHIS—Memphis Film Service, Inc., 

has released plans to contractors for bids 

on a film storage and inspection building to 

be erected at the corner of Pontotoc and 

Hernando streets, about a block and a half 

from the center of Filmrow. Dent and Aydelott 

are the architects. The building will 

contain eight vaults and will accommodate 

24 inspectors. It will be air conditioned and 

will have complete facilities for the physical 

handling of film. The company is affiliated 

with National Film Service, Inc., which handles 

the physical distribution for Selznick 

Releasing Organization and services film for 

other distributors. 

Dixie Amusements Buys 

Theatre Site in Toccoa 

TOCCOA, GA.—W. M, Snelson, co-owner 

of the Dixie Amusement Co., announced the 

purchase of a site here for construction of 

a 1,500-seat theatre. The company now 

operates the Ritz and Star theatres in Toccoa. 

Snelson made no annoimcement of when 

the theatre would be built and said plans 

have not yet been drawn. 

100 

BOXOFFICE : 

14, 1948 

I

Galaxy of Top Talent 

Performs for Varieiy 

MIAMI—Probably the most expensive talent 

ever on a single stage put on a great 

show at the Paramount's Beach Theatre here 

the night of February 11 to help build the 

Variety Club's heart fund. The sihow was 

expected to net the club $50,000. 

Complete cooperation of the area's publicity 

and entertainment facilities and a great 

deal of volunteer work went into the making 

of the show, according- to Tom Jefferson, 

Pajamount exploiteer. 

ADVERTISED IN ALL THEATRES 

All local theatre circuits repeatedly advertised 

the show in their daily newspaper ads. 

giving it good space and a lead-off spot. 

Trailers appeared on five Wometco and five 

Paramount screens; radio stations plugged 

the affair consistently and local commentators 

mentioned it. You could scarcely look 

up at the sky without seeing an aerial banner 

being towed beneath the clouds. Besides 

headers on regular theatre ads, newspapers 

printed numerous publicity stories and local 

columnists repeatedly found excuse to report 

on the progress of plans. Jefferson ballyhooed 

the show during his week-long, twocar 

parade, using the lead car. restilt of a 

tiein with the Oldsmobile company, to carry 

a display on its top. 

The show, the first annual affair to be presented 

by Tent 33. was preceded by the arrival 

of stars at the theatre, starting about 

11 p. m. Several prominent persons were 

seated to arrive in the new Oldsmobile. never 

before shown anywhere except on the testing 

grounds of General Motors. Paramount News 

covered the arrival of the stars. 

BILL SHAYNE IS CHAIRMAN 

Invitations to the show were secured by a 

donation to the heart fund. Bill Shayne was 

general chairman, with Jerry Hirsch responsible 

for assembling the talent. Art Schwartz, 

manager of the Beach, saw that everything 

moved along smoothly. Don Lanning, Al 

Weiss and Dan Fitch are the show's producers. 

Al Weiss' lineup from the Olympia was one 

of the first scheduled. It included Keye 

Luke, the DeCastro sisters. Jean Carroll and 

Carl and Arlene. Other entertainers, appearing 

by courtesy of the Arthur Murray studios 

and various night clubs, read like a 

who's who of show business. 

Entertainers included Jackie Miles, the 

Vagabonds, Oracle Barrie, Ray Manton, 

Harry Richman, the Ritz brothers, Maurice 

Chevalier, Sophie Tucker, Del Casion, Jerri 

Blanchard, Steve Murray, Julie WUson, Gene 

Barry, Gloria King, Gene Bayles, Chi'is Kerrigan, 

Bill Jordan. Dave Elliott, Amie Sulton, 

Jack Prince, Charlie Farrell, the Wilfred 

Mae troupe. Martha Stewart, Willie Howard, 

Mun'ay Lane, Michael Strange, Carmen Miranda, 

Joe E. Lewis, the Jack Cole dancers, 

Harry Carroll. Polly Baker. Allan Carftey, 

Gracie Fields, Myles Bell, the Colstons. Pat 

Henning, George Chatterton, George Fronk 

and Tommy Salinas. 

Memphis Area Has 570 Theatres 

With a Total of 268,501 Seats 

NEW YORK—The Memphis exchange area 

has 570 theatres with 268,501 seats in operation. 

Sixteen theatres with 5,655 seats are 

closed. Less than half the theatres—229 

with 133,930 seats—are circuit owned. The 

noncircuit houses total 357 with 140,226 seats. 

There are five drive-ins in the area with 

a capacity of 2,050 automobiles. 

There is o:ily one city in the territory with 

a population between 250,000 and 500,000. 

This is Memphis. It has 37 theatres with 

Theatres in operation 

Closed theatres 

35,560 seats, or an average of 961 to the thea- 

There are no cities in the 100,000 to 250,000 

population classifications. Little Rock, the 

only one between 50,000 and 100,000, has 13 

theatres with 10,188 seats. 

There are two theatres in cities between 

"5.000 and 50,000; 12 in cities between 10,- 

^n and 25,000: 22 in towns of from 5,000 to 

10,000, 55 in towns of 2,500 to 5,000, and 273 

in towns of 2.500 and under. 

Managers Trade Jobs 

ST. PETERSBURG, FLA.—Charles W. 

Knkconnell, manager of the Capitol, and 

Garvin Combs. La Plaza manager, have 

traded jobs.

. . . Tom 

. . Mrs. 

. . . Pete 

. . Janice 

. . Columbia 

MEMPHIS 

n number of exhibitors in town last week 

complained they had had to close their 

theatres curing the bad weather, throwing 

their bookings all off. With better weather. 

although it was still anything but springlike, 

business was reported picking up and roads 

and highways were open again in the midsouth. 

Twentieth-Fox held its annual Family club 

election and chose Mildred Sharp as president: 

Mrs. Sue Eubank, vice-president; Dorothy 

Miller, recording secretary: Evelyn Hammonds, 

treasurer, and Marie Taylor, assistant 

treasurer. 

T. Oscar Baldridge has gone to Miami for 

several weeks to promote the opening of 

"Arch of Triumph" for United Artists at 

the Lincoln Theatre there . . . Frank Loeffel, 

World War II veteran, has joined the circuit 

advertising department of Malco Theatres 

as an artist . . . C. F. Hilgers, district 

manager for Eagle Lion. Dallas, has been 

attending a sales meeting here . Howard 

McClelland, availability clerk at Eagle 

Lion, has submitted her resignation. 

Henry Brownlee, manager of the Strand, 

and Olive Brownlee, manager of the Princess, 

were called to Gainesville, Tex., this week 

by the death of their father, T. G. Brownlee 

O'Ryan of Transitads and assistant 

chief barker of the Variety Club, who has 

been under treatment in a Boston hospital, 

returned to Memphis. 

Exhibitors visiting Filmrow this week in- 

S. M. Perrin. Monarch Theatre Supply 

salesman in Little Rock, spent several days 

here as did G. W. Jones of the Central Films 

circuit. Little Rock . has hired 

Mr. 

J. C. Starling as apprentice booker . . . 

and Mrs. Tom Donahue are the parents of 

a son born January 25. The baby has been 

named Thomas John Donahue. Donahue is 

with Paramount. 

Seen in Memphis: C. W. Tipton of the 

Tipton, Monette, Ar-k.. and the State and Robert Wilson, Wells, Bolivar. Tenn., was 

New at Caraway, Ark.: Ned Greene, Legion in town doing some booking as were Amelia 

Ellis, Mason, Mason, Tenn.: E. G. Jackson, 

at Mayfield, Ky.; K. K. King, Plaza, Searcy, 

Cave, Cave City, Ark., and J. C. Bonds, Von, 

Ark.: Carey Axley. New, England, Ark.; A. D, 

Hernando, Miss. 

Fielder, Steele, Steele, Mo.; L. F. Haven of 

Haven Theatres, Forrest City, Brinkley, 

Wynne and Marianna. Ark.; J. E. Singleton. 

Tyro, Tyronza, Ark.: R. B. Gooch jr., Ritz, 

Selmer, Tenn.: Wake Newson, Dixie, Marmaduke. 

'Arch' to Bow Feb. 17 

Ark., and Dan Landers, Radio, 

Harrisburg, 

Ark. 

Also in were Neely Bradford, Savannah, 

Savannah, Tenn.; Robert Wilson, Wells, Bolivar, 

Tenn.; W. R. Lee. Gem and New, Heber 

Springs. Ark.. The Rice, Des Arc, Ark., and 

The Star, Star City, Ark.: Frank Fisher, 

Jan, Como, Miss.; Moses Slyman, Lux, Luxora. 

Ark.; C. M. Alpe, Gay, Crawfordsville, 

Ark.; C. D. McAllister, Grand, Grand Jimction. 

Ark., and W. C. Kroeger, Shannon and 

Maxon, Portageville, Mo. 

J. W. Wofford, Eupora. Eupora, Miss., and 

his son, J. F. Wofford, Ackerman, Ackerman, 

Miss., and his son-in-law. Gay M. Mounger, 

City, Calhoun City, Miss., were in this week 

A. of the Roxy. Clarksdale, 

cluded N. Rossi as were D. Landers, Radio, Harrisburg, Ark., 

and W. S. Tyson. Savoy, Clarksdale, Miss. 

Miss.: T. H. Kinney, Hays, Hughes, Ark.; 

H. M. Haddad. Munford, Munford, Tenn.: 

Bolivar. Louise Mask. Luez. Tenn.: Gordon 

Dawson, manager of Universal, and 

Robert Wilkinson and Richard Set toon, salesmen, 

B. Hutchins, State and Dixie, Corning, Ark.: 

have returned from a regional meeting 

Arthur Rush, Houston, Houston, Miss.; Jerry 

in St. Louis. 

Williams, Joy, Blue Mountain. Miss.; Ned 

Greene, Legion, Mayfield, Ky.; T. E. Williams. 

Mrs. Mary Ballard is a new biller at Uni- 

Tyson. Clark.sdale. Miss.: W. L. Moxversal 

here, succeeding Mildred Lansky who 

resigned to go to Honolulu with her husband 

ley. Savoy and Mox. Blytheville, Ark., and 

Long, biller for Warner 

Cliff Peck, Gem, Covington, 

Tenn. 

SUPPLY 

1021 GRAND 

THEATRE 

COMPANY 

FORT SMITH, ARK. 

Bros., is wearing a diamond on her left hand. 

Her fiance lives in Louisville and the wedding 

is to take place in the spring or early 

summer. 

Other recent visitors were J. F. Adams of 

Coldwater, Miss.; Howard Langford of Marks, 

Miss.; C. A. Gillarnd, Semo. Steele, Mo.; 

D. H. Brown, Shirley, Ark.; W. R. Tutt, Savoy, 

Tunica, Miss.: Fitz Farris, Harlem, Clarksdale, 

Miss.; Mr. and Mrs. A. D. Fiedler, 

Steele, Steele, Mo.; H. C. Langford, Folly, 

Marks, Miss., and W. A. Rush, Houston, 

Houston. Miss. 

At Florida Resorts 

MIAMI—Enterprise studio's "Arch of 

Triumph," starring Ingrid Bergman, Charles 

Boyer and Charles Laughton, will have a 

dual world premiere in the Colony Theatre, 

Miami Beach, and the Paramount Theatre, 

Palm Beach, Tuesday night, February 17, it 

was announced by Gradwell L. Sears, president 

of United Artists, and George J. Schaefer. 

Enterprise vice-president in charge 

of distribution. 

The two-city premiere, commemorating to 

the day the 100th anniversary of the rededication 

of the Arc de Triomphe by Louis 

Phillipe, will be celebrated by official city 

and state Arch of Triumph day tributes. 

Henri Bonnet. French ambassador t

: February 

now 

odeon Loses Two 

Calgary Theatres 

CALGARY—Odeon Tlieatres gave up leases 

on two suburban houses here last week, leaving 

the Rank circuit with only one theatre 

in Calgarj'. the downtown Grand. 

HaiTy Kohn. managing director of Rosedale 

Theatres, which operates the Crescent in the 

heights area, and of Westmount Theatres, 

which owns the Plaza in suburban HilLhurst, 

annoimced that both houses had been recaptured 

from Odeon. The Odeon lease on the 

Crescent still had eight years to run. 

The Odeon lease provided that Rosedale 

Theatres could not build another picture 

house on the heights. The company wants to 

build, however, and may start work next 

summer on an 860-seater in the heights business 

section. The site has already been 

acquired. 

Jack M. Warner Gathers 

Trade Data on Prairies 

CALGARY—Stating that he was covering 

some western key cities on an infomtal survey, 

Jack M. Warner spent two days here 

last week. In the company of Morris Saifer. 

branch manager, he checked on sales and 

shipping methods on the prairies and visited 

some of the exhibitors. 

The genial son of Jack L. Warner, vicepresident 

in charge of production at Warner 

Bros., said he fotmd a vast difference in sales 

styles and audience tastes in the various 

sections of the continent. His present tour 

took him through the south, to New York, 

and into Canada, where he made stops in 

Winnipeg, Toronto and St. John. Warner had 

just concluded many months of study in theatre 

operational work. 

"I've done a bit of production alongside 

my father and his brothers, and I spent just 

over a year in the exhibition end of the 

business," he said. "Now I'm learning about 

distribution." He spent five years in the army 

with a signal corps photographic outfit, filming 

everything from actual combat to documentary 

films for training purposes. 

He departed by plane for Salt Lake City. 

Hear Beaver May Build 

Theatre in Fredericton 

ST. JOHN—If Loid Beaverbrook, who has 

established a home in Fredericton, builds a 

theatre there, as rumored, speculators wonder 

if he will play J. Arthm- Rank product. Beaver 

and Rank are said to be financial warriors. 

Beaver now has two residential properties 

in Fredericton, and the grapevine, on 

the premise he can't use both for homes, links 

one with a theatre project. Beaver's offer 

of SIOO.OOO for a community rink was declined 

because he insisted on waiver of interest payments 

for all those placing money in the deal. 

He may continue with his original plan to 

build a rink wholly for the University of New 

Brimswick, of which he is chancellor. 

Library Stocks Films 

OTTAWA—The Ottawa public library has 

become the 164th institution of its kind in 

Canada to estabhsh a film library. It has a 

stock of 100 short subjects, for which there 

were 259 bookings during the first four weeks 

of operation. Films were secured from the 

National Film society and the National Film 

board. 

BOXOFTICE : 

PoUUcal Move Eliminates 

Saunders From Tax Fight 

George Stroud, Hamilton 

Showman, Is Stricken 

DUNDAS, ONT.—George E. Stroud, veteran 

Hamilton showman and former manager 

of the Palace died February 2 at his home 

here when stricken by a heart attack while 

listening to the radio. Stroud, retired last 

December as manager of the Palace, Hamilton's 

large motion picture house. He was 

69 years old. 

Well known throughout Canada in the 

stage and motion picture business, Stroud 

spent practically his entire lifetime in film 

work. His first job was managing the old 

Star I 

the Savoy i in Hamilton which was 

owned by his late father. 

A native of Hamilton. Stroud lived in that 

city and in Dundas all his life. He was active 

in the early 1900s in promoting vaudeville 

and stage entertainment in Dimdas. He 

was responsible for bringing in many a leading 

actor, actress and production to Hamilton. 

Stroud was manager of the Palace in Hamilton 

for 26 years at the time of his retirement. 

The veteran showTnan also was interested 

in sports. He was a life member of the 

Hamilton Gun club. 

Surviving are his wife, a daug^hter, Mrs. 

James Bellenie; and three sisters, Mrs. Ray 

Lehn, Mrs. J. Powers and Miss Edith Stroud, 

all of Hamilton. 

Promoter at Vancouver 

Shifts to Auditorium 

VANCOUVER—Hilker Attractions, promoter 

of stage shows and concerts here, 

which has been using the downtown Famous 

Players Strand and International Cinema 

the last few years, is staging most of its attractions 

in the Auditorium, near Stanley 

Park. Hilker said the move is a result of 

"exorbitant" rentals being charged by the 

uptown theatres. He said he can rent the 

Auditoriimi at 50 per cent the rental asked 

by the theatres. The 1,900-seat Auditoritmi 

has had a hectic career and is one of Vancouver's 

landmarks. It has changed hands 

many times in recent years and w-hen not 

in use for concerts, etc., is used as a roller 

rink. Big shows cannot play there because 

it lacks backstage facilities. Some Vancouverites 

do not like the change, and are writing 

to the newspapers complaining. 

Army Producing Three Films 

OTTAWA—Cost of the army film bureau 

dm-ing 1947, including pay and allowances for 

12 employes from April 1, 1947, to Jan. 31, 

1948, was S29,919.60. Defense Minister Brooke 

Claxton reported in reply to a question in the 

House of Commons. This cost covered the 

storage handling and distribution of some 

thousands of films for use in active and reserve 

imits as well as production. Claxton 

said three films are in process of production 

or planned, but he declined to give their 

names. 

14, 1948 K 

TORONTO—The demand of the Ontario 

Ass'n of Mayors and Reeves for a new amusement 

tax in the province, contained in a 

brief presented to the Ontario cabinet last 

week, became virtually leaderless through a 

political move in which Mayor R. H. Saimders 

of Toronto was appointed chairman of the 

Ontario hydroelectric power commission. 

Mayor Saunders, who will resign his seat in 

the city council, for two years has been promoting 

a campaign to restore amusement tax 

in Ontario, with a slice to be earmarked for 

the municipalities to pay for hospital and relief 

costs. When the brief was presented 

to the government. Saimders had been 

appointed to hydroelectric job by Premier 

George A. Drew, who told the deputation 

that the whole question of taxation 

would be reviewed by a provincial legislative 

committee. That was as far as the subject 

was reached at the cabinet interview, 

thus giving hope to the theatre interests that 

an Ontario amusement tax might be shelved. 

There has been no such tax in Ontario for 

a decade. 

Meanwhile, the provincial government has 

been receiving protests against the proposed 

levy- One resolution came from the United 

Auto Workers union, with a membership of 

more than 50,000 in Ontario, and it read in 

part: "It is our conviction that the introduction 

of a municipal hospital tax on theatre 

admissions as proposed by some municipalities, 

particularly Toronto, would be, 

in itself, ill-advised but, more important, 

might lead to further taxation of this natm-e. 

We feel it is a nuisance tax and such 

taxes fall inequitably on different sections 

of the community, particularly on the working 

man who is least able to pay the tax." 

Meanwhile, the word in Ottawa is 

that the 

federal government will drop its 20 per cent 

war tax on theatre grosses with the bringing 

down of the budget before the close of the 

fiscal year March 31. The annoimcement 

would be made before parliament by Finance 

Minister D. C. Abbott w'hen the step is taken. 

NFB Expenditures in '47 

Totaled $3,114,838 

OTTAWA—According to the annual report 

of the National Film board, tabled in the 

Commons, shows that all except $4,662 had 

been spent of the parliamentary- appropriation 

last year of $2,290,148. The board also 

received and spent a further $829,352 for 

contract work with federal and provincial 

governments and other persons, making a 

total expenditure in the year of $3,114,838 

The revenue from theatres and the sale of 

prints totaled $67,133. 

The NFB report estimated that 70,000,000 

persons in other coimtries saw its films during 

the period, the attendance at performances 

in the NFB riu-al circuits was 2,760,000 

and, in addition, the NFB releases had been 

seen at many Canadian theatres whose combined 

patronage was not listed. 

At the same time, the report of the Canadian 

Broadcasting Corp. for the fiscal period 

showed a deficit of $27,261, the revenue from 

all sources being given as $5,803,028.

. . lATSE 

. . Since 

. . 

VANCOUVER 

Tack M. Warner, son of the vice-prssident of 

^ Warner Bros, was here on a tour he is 

making to study distribution methods in Canada 

... A fire panic was averted at the State 

Theatre by an alert doorman, Arnold Morrow, 

200 patrons were watching a French 

fUm, "The Well-Digger's Daughter," when a 

fire broke out in the basement. There was 

more smoke than flames and the house was 

cleared within a few minutes, using all exits. 

The damage was slight. 

Completion of a S60,000 improvement program 

is in its final stages at the Capitol, 

Pi-ince Rupert, by the Famous Players circuit. 

A new $10,000 maquee. extending the 

full 

frontage of the building with neon lighting, 

750 new seats and a new ventilation system 

are included. The FPC Capitol is the 

only theatre in the rorthern British Columbia 

town. Harry Black is the manager. 

The Phillit circuit in western Canada has 

acquired the new Roxy at Grand Forks, B. C. 

from Peter Abrosimoff, who opened it seven 

months ago and ran it in comjpetition with 

the Gem, owned by Phillit. The two houses 

have a combined seating capacity of 750. The 

population is 1,300. The circuit wiU close the 

Gem eventually . . . The National Film Board 

sports reel, "Champions in the Making," which 

features Barbara Arm Scott of Ottawa, new 

Olympic ice skating champion, was screened 

here. Columbia will release it. 

Filmrow visitors were Owen Bird, Goldin; 

Kelly Hayter, Rex Salmon, Armstrong: Paul 

Gauthier, Quesnel; Harry Phillit, Wimiipeg; 

Paul Harmond, Squamish; Myron McLeod 

Canadian Pictm-e Pioneer from Powell River. 

All Combined business on Filmi-ow with a 

visit to the Picture Pioneers Movie baU Februai-y 

3 . . . Howard Boothe, Odeon's British 

Columbia district manager, was back at his 

desk after a month's holiday in Hollywood 

and points south of the border. 

It is in the heart of the business section. 

Odeon has no theatre on the main stem, but 

FPC controls the Columbia, two blocks away. 

Hymie Singer of the State here also is intei'- 

ested in the theatre as a spot to play his 

foreign picture policy in conjunction with his 

State and his Rio at 

Victoria. 

One of British Columbia's leading exhibitors 

came up with some good advice to the theatremen 

who are ti-ying to squeeze the public 

with advanced ticket prices: "Don't oversell 

bad product. Take the lo.ss and give the customers 

a break, and rebuild good feeling with 

the ticket buyers, and keep your patrons 

coming and satisfied." 

Dick McCartney, who sold his two New 

Westminster theatres to the Odeon circuit, 

is now operating the Show Boat bath house 

in downtown Vancouver. His partner. Bob 

Millman, formerly was with Paramount on 

the local Filmrow . Local F71 of 

front office employes has elected these officers: 

President and business agent. Bill Grant 

of RKO: vice-president. Max Sheine, Eagle 

Lion: secretary-treasurer, Vi 'yates of Empire-Universal: 

executive committee, Delia 

Garland, RKO, and Douglas White of Warner 

Bros. No agreement has been signed with 

distributors to date. 

One of the local film boys said some of the 

theatres who have installed cry rooms for 

mothers with children are now being used 

by the exhibitors when business is bad, and 

it's always bad when the film hounds get 

around. 

The National Film board was recently 

allowed to enter the once forbidden area of 

the Chalk river atomic research center to 

film a short subject on the project, Ciiarles 

Marshall, local NFB supervisor, reported. 

OTTAWA 

T Earl Lawson, president of Odeon Theatres 

of Canada, and Mrs. Lawson have been enjoying 

a winter holiday at the Seigniory club, 

Montbello, Que., after which they are to visit 

their son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. 

Donald Baptist, in Ottawa . . . The birth of 

the sixth child to John Farrow, Paramount 

director, and Maureen O'Sullivan in Hollywood 

rated special mention in the Evening 

Citizen here where Farrow served as an officer 

in the Canadian navy during the war. 

Dr. Victor Nef, Swiss minister to Canada, 

and officials of the Swiss legation as well as 

officers of Ottawa's Minto Skating club attended 

a special screening of the National 

Film Board's "Champions in the Making" 

which features Barbara Ann Scott of the 

Minto club, the new Olympic figure-skating 

champion. 

A television test film in which President 

J. J. Fitzgibbons of Famous Players Canadian 

Corp. makes a special appearance has 

aroused considerable interest among local 

theatre men. The pictm-e was made in New 

York when Fitzgibbons attended a demonstration 

of televised broadcasting for ultimate 

use in theatres. 

Projectionists Local 348 presented Bill 

Oswald, retiring inspector of theatres for A deputation of local theatre managers, of 

British Columbia, a life membership card at a which Domi B. Stapleton, owner of the Centre, 

dinner given in his honor the 

was spokesman, waited on Mayor Stan 

. 

death of Frank Kerr of the Edison Theatre at Lewis to protest against the reintroduction of 

New Westminster recently, it is reported that an amusement tax in Ontario to be shared 

both Famous Players and Odeon are making 

by the province and municipalities under a 

plan proposed by Mayor R. H. Saunders of 

offers to the Kerr estate for the 

Edison. 

Toronto. Subsequently, when the mayors met 

at Toronto, Ottawa's civic head took a stand 

against the renewal of the tax which had 

been abolished ten 

years ago. 

The construction of a suburban theatre in 

the south side by A. Wolfe has reached the 

roof stage . . . Irving Herman, publicist for 

International Film Distributors, was here for 

a screening of "T-Men" at the Elgin for 

representatives of the RCMP, the Ontario 

provincial police force and the Ottawa police 

department and government officials. -iT 

The celebrated Leslie Bell singers of Toronto 

appeared before the cameras of the 

National Film board here for a choral picture. 

They also sang for 13 recordings which 

will be broadcast in the States under Canadian 

government sponsorship. 

Into "Wonderful Race' 

Penny Edwards has been inked for the romantic 

lead opposite Donald O'Connor in 

"The Wonderful Race at Rimrock," to be released 

by Universal. 

TORONTO 

Qn top of the departure of Nat Bresver, 

manager of the Belsize, to Brandon, Man., 

where he has acquired the Oak, a former 

Odeon unit, comes the report of the resignation 

of Ralph Wilson as manager of the 

Circle to take up residence in Detroit . . . 

Norman AUin, formerly at the Odeon office 

here, has joined Cooperative Theatres of Ohio 

at 

Cleveland. 

Sam Kaplan of Kaplan & Sprachman, 

theatre architects, has returned from an inspection 

of Famous Players theatre developments 

in the maritime provinces . . . Paramount 

Film Service is handling the physical 

distribution without rental charge of the 

United Nations' pictui-e, "Hungry Minds," now 

being shown in Canadian theatres in conjunction 

with the appeal for funds for the 

relief of Europe's children ... An armed 

bandit victimized the Embassy, Yonge Street, 

forcing the cashier. Daphne Major, to hand 

over the available cash. Manager Phillip 

Sidney reported the loss of $87 after a checkup. 

The robber got away. 

Odeon's Capitol at Brampton will be called 

the Odeon after it opens following extensive 

alterations, and the circuit's brand new 

house in the same town will be the Roxy . 

Something has been added to the International 

Cinema by Manager Yvonne Taylor in 

the booking of the Paramomit News days and 

date with the downtown first run theatres. 

The theatre did not previously have a news 

weekly. 

R. B. Flaherty of the Strand at Beaverton 

has joined the Motion Picture Theatres Ass'n 

of Ontario . . . Hy Freedman of Los Angeles 

has been visiting friends in Toronto 

where he was proprietor of the Circle and 

other theatres ... A far north visitor was 

M. P. Dalseg, proprietor of the Mayfair at t 

Sioux Lookout, Ont. 

Walter Kennedy, general manager of 

Sovereign 

Film Distributors, observed the 36th 

anniversary of his happy marriage. Walter 

made his theatre start practically that many 

' 

years ago as the vocalist for illustrated songs 

: 

. . . Alf Perry of Empire-Universal has announced 

that a block of 16 films from France 

i 

has been secm-ed by his company for distribution 

in French-language sections of 

Canada. 

Cold and Rain Restrict 

Vancouver Theatre Trade 

VANCOUVER—Boxoffice gro.sses declined 

in downtown houses last week, largely a result 

of the unusually cold and rainy weather. 

"Green Dolphin Street" at the Capitol was 

the leader. Two houses with twin reissues 

also were above average. "Daisy Kenyon" 

was just fair and out after one week at tihe 

Orpheum. 

Capitol—Green Dolphin Street (MGM) Good 

Along International-Cmema—"Drums the 

Mohawk (20th-Fox); oi Zorro 

Maik 

(20th-Fox), 2nd wk Good] 

Orpheum—Daisy Kenyon (20ih-Fax) Fcnr 

Park cmd Plaza—The Brothers (EL Br.) Average 

Paradise—Dust Be My Destiny (WB). Marked 

Woman (WB), revivals Good ' 

Stale—The Well-Digger's Daughter (Arlkino) Good 

Slrand—Always Together (WB); Escape Me 

Never (WB), moveover Moderate * 

Vogue—The Exile (U-1) Fair ig t^.. 

104 


. . Paul 

. . There 

. . Hymie 

ST. JOHN 

r\f the 11 film exchanges here distributing 

through New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, 

Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland, 

there are four managers who hail from St. 

John: Gerry Hoyt, Monogram-Eagle Lion; 

Maurice Ellman, Alliance Films; Reg March, 

20th-Fox, and Sammy Kunitzky, United Artists. 

Of the others, Harry Cohen, RKO, is 

from Winnipeg, as are Mickey Komar, Warners, 

and Harry Simon, Columbia; Pat Hogan, 

Paramount, Newfoundland, and Abe Smith 

of MGM; Herb Mathers, Empire-Universal, 

and Jack Bellamy, International, are from 

Toronto. 

At the Popular, Grand Falls, N. F., newsound 

equipment has been installed, and the 

admission lifted a nickel by Pat Edwards, 

manager . . . It's been exceptionally cold and 

blustery this winter, but this can't be blamed 

on Charlie Frost, who made the jump from 

Sudbury, Ont., to manage the Halifax Armview. 

He's the fourth manager since it was 

opened last summer. 

Bob McCharles, who died recently at Sydney 

after being ill about a year, was a vaudeville 

entertainer for several years in Canadian 

and U.S. theatres. He was 46, unmarried, 

and is survived by his parents, six 

brothers, and three sisters, all at Sydney 

. . . Lieut. Col. Les Carey, who died recently 

at Sackville, was a partner of the late Allison 

Ayer in owning and operating the Imperial 

at Sackville. 

The Mayfair, St. John, is to be given a complete 

going-over in the spring . has 

been such an overdose of snow since pre- 

Christmas that theatre staffs have had to 

clear the snow from the roofs to prevent 

leaks into auditoriums, offices, projection 

rooms, etc., after melting under sun and rain. 

There has been far more than the usual 

volume of shoveling for theatre employes so 

far this winter. 

A theatre is being completed for Newfoundland 

Amusements, Ltd., in St. John's 

at St. James and Water streets. Extremely 

cold weather, plus frequent snowstorms, have 

held up construction work on this project and 

also on the Paramount theatres at St. John, 

N. B., and Halifax, N. S.. for Famous Players, 

and on the Vogue, Halifax, for Franklin 

& Herschorn. 

An uncommon way of financing the erection 

and equipping of a rink is being proposed 

at St. John's, N. F. The city council 

has arranged for a referendum for taxpayers 

to decide if the property tax will be raised 

2 per cent to provide the money for construction, 

etc. . . . The new Stadium rink 

has been opened at Grand Falls, N. F., for 

not only skating and hockey, but touring 

shows, fairs, etc. Pat Edwards, manager of 

the Popular Theatre, expects the rink attractions 

to provide formidable opposition 

for his theatre for a few months hut that 

the theatre will recover what it lost after 

the rink novelty wears off. 

Ouimel's'Trivision' 

Tryoul This Month 

MONTREAL — Ernest Ouimet, 70-year-old 

liquor store manager who introduced motion 

pictures in Canada, annovuices that he is 

satisfied with his experiments in threedimensional 

films and is ready fen- a test of 

his invention at a local studio later this 

month. Ouimet said the secret of his work 

is a new type reflector which can be installed 

in any camera. 

"There have been other claims to the discovery 

of three-dimensional photos," said 

Ouimet. who calls his invention "trivision." 

"Those I have seen are notching more than 

superimposed panes of glass on ordinary pictures." 

His experiments, he said, have eliminated 

the necessity for visual aids. He produced 

some still photos where the appearance of 

depth was unmistakable. One showed a 

woman some distance from a building she 

had left. 

Ouimet has been working on the project, 

in collaboration with Albert Brault, a mechanical 

designer, for several years. He said 

he operated the first regular motion picture 

house in Montreal in 1907. It was called the 

Ouimetoscope. 

is reported as successfully negotiating a 

second $2,500,000 loan. 

Currie & Jones, operators of coin machine 

arcades in St. John and Halifax, and distributors 

of pinballs, slots, bells, jukes, have 

become distributors of 16mm projection and 

sound equipment and films. The partners 

are Wilfred Currie, Halifax, and Jack Jones, 

St. John. 

CALGARY 

pirst to occupy office space in the newly constructed 

armex to the Film Exchange Bldg. 

is the Booth Film Service. A screening room 

for 16mm pictures is being finished in the 

basement and will be operated by John Booth. 

It will seat 60 people. W. H. B. Sharp still 

operates the 35mm screening room in the old 

building. 

Jay Lieberman, manager for Odeon in Edmonton, 

was here for the weekend booking. 

He reports the policy change at the 'Varscona, 

subm-ban house, from subsequent rmi to first 

run English film, has worked out well. It 

enabled the circuit to catch up with a backlog 

of product and is stimulating interest in 

the 500-seat house, he said. "Man in Grey," 

which has appeared often in Calgary, will 

make its first appearance in the capital city 

next week. Another policy change that has 

paid off is the sneak preview. These shows 

are advertised without naming the feature. 

First program was "Body and Soul" and it 

drew a turnaway crowd. 

Frank Davis of Winnipeg passed through 

the city en route from Edmonton to his home 

town. 

VICTORIA 

plans are under way to form a private stock 

company in Chemainus to build a motion 

picture theatre at a cost of about $50,000. 

An option has been secured on property in the 

new business subdivision on the Island highway. 

Horace Elgie of Nanaimo presents motion 

pictures to Chemainus twice weekly, and 

seats are generally at a premium. Many residents 

have been urging consti-uction of a 

theatre for the last ten years. 

Manager Sheila Bcjay of the Rio made her 

ads for "That Brennan Girl" so spicy that 

after running them for three days local newspapers 

received so many complaints about the 

ad that advertising managers on both papers 

wrote Bejay, telling her it was against their 

policy to continue running the ad. They 

deleted the part they considered objectionable, 

but during the three days the ad ran 

Bejay doubled the amount of business she 

has done in tlu'ee days with any other picture. 

After the ad was cut, business dropped 

about one-third. The wording that was considered 

objectionable read: "I'm Ziggy Brennan! 

I wasn't born bad! But I became a 

woman of the streets! Why? I learned about 

love before I learned about life! After men 

kissed me, they hated me! There's a gnl 

like me in every town!" The picture was held. 

Manager John Robertson of the Capitol had 

a good run for two weeks with "Gone With 

the Wind." It was the third time he has 

played the picture . . . Manager Al Davidson 

of the Plaza ran five-column ads across the 

bottom of newspapers to exploit "The Man 

Within." 

The Rio will be closed for renovations during 

the latter part of April, but will be reopened 

in time for the tourist season. Manager 

Bejay reports. The policy will be the 

same. She recently returned from a vacation 

in Vancouver . 

Singer, owner of 

the Rio, is in New York on a business and 

pleasure 

trip. 

'October Man' to Premiere 

In Toronto on March 11 

TORONTO—Manager Howard Elliott of the 

Fairlawn is arranging the North American 

premiere March 11 of "October Man" imder 

the auspices of the young men's section of 

the Toronto Board of Ti-ade. Pi'oceeds of the 

first night are to be turned over to the Queen 

Elizabeth hospital, Toronto, and a charity in 

Great Britain. A British film star is expected 

to make a personal appearance. 

Variety Showing Pictures 

To Shutins in Toronto 

TORONTO—J. A. Ti-oyer of the Famous 

Players office, recently appointed chairman 

of the movies for shutins committee of the 

Variety Club, is busily engaged in providing 

special shows at institutions and private 

homes. Mobile 16mm equipment was donated 

to the club by Associated Screen News and 

films are placed at the disposal of the tent 

without charge. 

Archie Mason, veteran helmsman of the 

Springhill, N. S., Capitol, is running for reelection 

for mayor with opposition from one 

other contender . Nathanson reported 

as having taken majority control of 

Holt-Renfrew, big fur company . . . Odeon 


Astronomer Called in 

Dr. Dinsmore Alter, an astronomer and 

meteorological expert, has been called in by 

Director Alfred Hitchcock as technical adviser 

on Transatlantic Pictures' "Rope," being 

produced for Warners. 

Purchases "Katje' 

Helga Noray's new novel, "Katie Called 

Katje," has been purchased by Pioducer William 

A. Bacher as the first film on his independent 

production slate. 

105

. . Ameen 

. Peter 

. . . After 

. . Eugene 

Severe Winler Hard MONTREAL Vancouver Pioneers 

On Theatre Grosses 

ST. JOHN—An overdose of snow and cold 

in the maritime provinces this winter not only 

has dented theatre grosses but has also added 

greatly to the cost of operation. 

With the cold so severe, consumption of coal 

and oU for heating has soared, and prices on 

these items are extremely high. With the 

grant of another wage boost in the coal fields, 

the price of this fuel is expected to go still 

higher. 

Costs of snow removal also have been great 

this winter. At many theatres, snow and high 

winds have damaged marquees, lights, signs 

and windows. 

Soviet Friendship Group 

Asks 'Iron Curtain' Ban 

WINOTPEG—Boycott of "The Iron Curtain," 

on the ground that it will make 

Canada's diplomatic relations with Russia 

more difficult, has been urged by the Winnipeg 

Council for Canadian-Soviet Friendship 

in a letter circulated to local service clubs, 

women's organizations and other groups. 

The letter, which carries the names of L. 

St. G. Stubbs, chairman of the council, and 

Margaret Gilchrist, secretary, points out that 

20th-Fox, producer, based "The Iron Ciu-tain" 

on the memoirs of Igor Gouzenko as printed 

in the Cosmopolitan magazine. 

The letter states: "The department of 

justice facUitated the sale of the memoirs 

and film rights. The government made it 

possible for the producer to film in Ottawa 

background scenes designed to give the film 

an air of authenticity. 

"In making this film, 20th-Fox is exploiting 

a delicate Canadian domestic situation 

in a way that will make our diplomatic relations 

with the U.S.S.R. more difficult. The 

film as planned undoubtedly will stir up 

more anti-Russian feeling at a time when 

calmness and sanity are most needed." 

The letter makes two suggestions. It urges 

organizations to write to the prime minister, 

members of parliament and newspapers stating 

their disapproval of the government's action 

and asking that the film be banned in 

Canada. It urges boycott of the picture if it 

is shown in Winnipeg houses. 

High Grosses Continue 

At Calgary Theatres 

CALGARY—Continued mild weather and 

good programs kept midwinter business well 

up on average last week. Best grosser was 

"Road to Rio." Capacity houses nightly indicated 

a holdover. "Hungry Hill," from Eagle 

Lion, drew the gTowing number of fans 

admiring the more meaty English dramas. 

Subsequents and suburbans are all getting 

a good share of business. 

Capitol—Road to Rio (Para) 

Grand—Hungry Hill (EL) 

Palace Pacific Adventure (Para); 

File 13G5 (NFB) 

-Excelle 

Purchase 'Stars in My Crown' 

"Stars in My Crown," a novel by Joe David 

Brown, has been purchased and scheduled for 

William Wright's production slate. The story 

deals with a preacher in a Tennessee town 

and will be produced for Metro. 

A second Ned Depinet drive sales meeting 

"' was held here Tuesday with Charles 

Boasberg and Charles Peppercorn. New York; 

Leo Devanev, Canadian general manager, Toronto, 

and Montreal and St. John, New 

Brunswick sales staffs present . 

Lightstone, Canadian general manager of 

Paramount, Toronto, was a visitor. 

. . 

Gordon 

Harry A. Kaufman, eastern division manager 

of Cai-dinal FUms. has engaged Teddy 

Atkinson, formerly with RKO. as salesman 

Lawand, booker at Confederation 

Amusement, is the father of a baby girl, 

while BiU Tabah, general manager, became 

parent of a baby boy. 

Sick were Gerry Chemoff, manager of International 

Films; Wilma Pope, secretary to 

Mel Johnston, director of advertising for 

LTnited Amusement Corp.. and BiU Trow, 

president of Montreal Poster exchange. 

Exhibitors in town: Mel Lodge, ovmer of 

the Myra, Richmond, Que.; E. St. Pierre of 

the La San-e, near Chicoutimi; A. Gilbert 

of the Cartier, Chicoutimi; Georges Champagne, 

owner of the Roxy, Cartier and Auditorium 

there, and Dick Allaire of the Victoria, 

"Victoriaville. 

George Heiber, Montreal district manager 

of United Ai'tists, has returned from St. John 

Lambert, Alliance Films salesman, 

was on a selling trip in the eastern townships 

. . . Johmiy Bastien has replaced Teddy 

Atkinson as booker at RKO, and Noi-man 

Ragesky, formerly of Toronto, has been engaged 

as assistant booker. 

There's a rumor that the mayor of Farnham 

will build a theatre there . . . Charles 

Magnan, who operates the Malartic in the 

northern Quebec town of that name, is in 

Victoriaville supervising erection of his new 

theatre there, of which the outside is already 

completed and work is going on in the in- 

terior. The theatre is expected to open in 

May . 'Venne, manager of the 

is 

Avalon, Longueuil. visited his son wtio 

. . 

assistant booker at Eagle Lion Eddy 

Sohrider, salesman at Monogram-Eagle Lion, 

has resigned. 

Arrangements have been completed by 

MGM here for the distribution of some outstanding 

French - language - dubbed productions 

for the 1948 season. Among them ai-e 

"The Sin of Madelon Claudet," "Balalaika," 

"Madame X," "Tarzan Finds a Son." "Bathing 

Beauty" and "They Met in Bombay." The 

management reports that the recently released 

MGM-dubbed pictures, such as "Marie 

Antoinette," "The Great Waltz," "San Francisco," 

"Mutiny on the Bounty" and "Gaslight," 

are doing exceptional business 

throughout the province. 

"Gone With the Wind," which recently concluded 

its third six-week visit to Montreal at 

Loew's, is now playing tliroughout the province. 

On the third Montreal visit, the management 

reports, it played to more people 

than on the original showing. At Huntingdon, 

population 1,952, it played for three days 

to an attendance of 1,306. 

Jeanne Paquin, manager of Hanson 16mm, 

is back at her desk after being ill thi'ee weeks 

playing five weeks at the Snowdon, 

Allied Artists' picture, "It Happened on Fifth 

Avenue," was transferred to the Strand for a 

second week. 

Produce Gala Ball 

VANCOUVER — Approximately 1,200 attended 

the first annual Movie ball here Tuesday 

night last week, produced by the western 

branch of the Canadian Motion Picture 

Pioneers with the cooperation of the entire 

industry here. 

The ball, described as a "live extravaganza 

to end all ail extravaganzas," was given in 

benefit of the Pioneers' benevolent fund in 

Hotel Vancouver. 

Heading the entertainers was wise-cracking 

Jack Paar of radio and motion pictures, 

supplemented by Barney Potts and his Keystone 

Cops, Ivy Anderson and the Deep River 

Boys and others. Ricky Hislop's Nabob orchestra 

provided the music. 

The honor of being the oldest Pioneer 

present went to Johnny Schuberg, 73, who 

lives in West Vancouver. He started in the 

show business in 1898. He owned the Province 

in Winnipeg and was with the Strand 

here before Famous Players Canadian took 

FORT WILLIAM 

/êorge McComber, partner and manager 

of the Lyceum here, a Famous Players 

house, died recently. He managed the Capitol 

in Calgary a number of years ago and 

served as an alderman in Port Arthur for 

over eight years . . . Miss M. Kaucher, cashier 

of the Capitol, has resigned after having 

served for over three years. 

At a meeting of Lakehead Motion Picture 

Exhibitors Ass'n January 28 in the Royal 

Edward hotel, C. Dilley, manager of the 

Colonial, was elected president; N. Novak, 

manager of the Royal, Fort William, vicepresident, 

and L. Palmer of the Lyceum, 

Port Arthur, secretary-treasurer. 

Nine FPC employes journeyed to Winnipeg 

for the annual 25-Year club dinner. The 

newest member of the club at the Lakehead 

was C. Dilley, who was presented a gold 

watch and a 25-year lapel pin. 

'^ ûA Ifou'd 2t4d 

Running Classified Ads 

in BOXOFFICE!" 

106 


BOXOFFICE BAROMETER • EXHIBITOR HAS HIS SAY 

FEATURE CHART • REVIEW DIGEST • SHORTS CHART 

SHORTS REVIEWS • FEATURE REVIEWS • EXPLOITIPS

. . The 

EXHIBITOR HA> nid >AT 

PICTURES 

Just as the Barometer page shows first run reports on current pictures, this 

department is devoted for the most part to reports on subsequent runs, made by 

exhibitors themselves. A one-star contributor is new, two stars mean the exhibitor 

has been writing in for six months or longer, aiid a three-star contributor 

is a regular of one year or more, who receives a token of our appreciation. All 

exhibitors welcome. 

COLUMBIA 

METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER 

Corpse Came C.O.D., The (Col)—George Boys' Ranch (MGM)—Jackie "Butch" Jenkins, 

Skippy Homeier, Dorothy Patrick. This is 

Brent, Joan Blondell, Adele Jergens. This 

seems to please the Sunday patrons. Played a natural for the small town patrons and they 

Sunday.—James C. Balkcom jr.. Gray Theat^re^, really went for it. We filled the place on a 

* 

Gray, Ga. Small town patronage. * * Saturday matinee and made good profits during 

its running. "Butch" Jenkins was the main 

Guill ol Janet Ames, The (Col)—Rosalind attraction and he easily satisfied the people. 

Russell, Melvyn Douglas, Sid Caesar. This If you want to fill your theatre, be sure to 

gave us our poorest Sun., Mon. in many book it. Played Fri., Sat. Weather: Fine.— 

months. Columbia rated this iar too high so George MacKenzie, York Theatre, Hantsport, 

1 lost plenty on it. It did not please the few N. S. Small town patronage. 

that did come out to see it. Played Sun., Mon. 

Weather: Cold and fair.—Arthur E. Phifield, Cynthia (MGM)—Elizabeth Taylor, George 

Park Theatre, South Berwick, Me. Small town Murphy, Mary Astor. This was very much 

patronage. 

a disappointment—really expected something 

good but as pictures rate in entertainment 

Her Husband's Affairs (Col)—Lucille Ball, value, this will do well to make average. No 

Franchot Tone, Edward Everett Horton. This drawing power, either. Played Wed., Thurs. 

is comedy but good all the way. There are Weather: Cool.—Rahl and Hanson, California 

some hair-raising scenes in this picture that Theatre, Kerman, Calif. Small town and rural 

everyone enjoyed. Our business was off a patronage. 

little but the trailer was late and the weather 

was "agin" us. Played Sun., Mon. Weather: Merton of the Movies (MGM)—Red Skelton, 

Rough.—A. D. Laurence, Apex Theatre, Tioga, Virginia O'Brien, Gloria Grahome. A fair 

Tex. Rural and small town patronage. * * show but not up to Red Skelton's standard. 

Just about everyone enjoyed it. Only average 

Johnny O'Clock (Col)—Dick Powell, Evelyn business. Played Wed., Thurs. Weather: Fair. 

Keyes, Lee J. Cobb. They did go for this —A. L. Burke jr., Venita Theatre, Herculaneum, 

picture, but not popular with us. Played Mon., Mo. Small town patronage. * * 

Tues. Weather. Icy, sleet.—Harland Rankin, 

Beau Theatre, Belle River, Ont. Small town My Brother Talks to Horses (MGM)—"Butch" 

patronage. 

Jenkins," Peter Lawford, Beverly Tyler. Butch 

Jenkins is really taking hold here. His acting 

in this picture was very good and pleased 

UJolson Story, The (Col)—Larry Parks, Evelyn 

Keyes, William Demarest. Comments were everyone. Played Saturday. Weather: Clear 

favorable. We played it too soon after other and cold.— J. E. Rougeau, Club Theatre, Seven 

situations.—Joe Stallman, Wyo-Lin Theatre, Sisters Falls, Man. Small town and rural patronage. 

Lingle, Wyo. Small town and rural patronage. 

* * * 

• 

. 

Romance of Rosy Ridge, The (MGM)—Van 

Life With Blondie (Col)—Penny Singleton, Johnson, Thomas Mitchell, Janet Leigh. I 

Arthur Lake, Larry Simms. Our first Blondie played it a little late, due to no fault of ours 

and it certainly let us down! Too sillyl They'll and as a result didn't do so well as we might 

have to be better than this one. Doubled with have. The show is well made and will go if 

"Landrush (Col). Average attendance. Played given a half-way break. Played Fri., Sat. 

Saturday. Weather: Cold —J. E. Rougeau, Club Weather: Okay.—D. W. Trisko, Ritz Theatre, 

Theatre. Seven Sisters Falls, Man. Small town 

and rural patronage. * * * Jerome, Ariz. Mining patronage. * * 

Sea of Grass. The (MGM)—Spencer Tracy, 

Mr. District Attorney (Col)—Dennis O'Keefe, Katharine Hepburn, Robert Walker. This is a 

Adolphe Menjou, Marguerite Chapman. This well made picture anid everyone enjoyed it 

is a good picture with lots of action and but it is too long. Played Sun., Mon. Weather: 

should be double billed. Our business was Fair.—James E. Davis, Rialto Theatre, Bennington, 

Okla. Rural and small town patronage. * * 

bad due to bad roads. Played Thurs., Fri., 

Sat. Weather: Rain and sleet.—Harland 

Rankin, Joy Theatre, Bothwell, Ont. Small Sea of Grass (MGM)—Spencer Tracy, Katharine 

Hepburn, Robert Walker. This is a good 

town patronage. * * * 

story to begin with, and a good cast, though 

EAGLE UON 

somewhat of a tear-jerker, it appealed to the 

men as well as the ladies. It showed up pretty 

Heartaches (EL)—Sheila Ryan, Edward Norris. 

Chill Wills. The sourest lemon ever shown 

on our screen. Hall of 'em walked out, and 

to those that remained, I gave rain checks. 

This stinker hurts yours and my Widely Separated Spots 

future business. 

Business is bad enough, and such pictures 

don't build up—they tear down. Played Tell Business Trends 

Wednesday. Weather: Good.—Ben Brinck, "gUSINESS here hasn't exactly slumped 

West Point Theatre, West Point, Iowa. Rural 

but my gross for the year will be 15_ 

patronage. * * 

per cent under last year, in spite of the" 

fact I boosted admissions nearly 10 per 

Law of the Lash (ED—Al "Lash" La Rue, 

cent. In general people have felt the 

Al "Fuzzy" St. John, Mary Scott. This is a squeeze of the rapidly mounting cost of 

good western that we doubled to satisfaction. 

living."—Lloyd Lafond, Rimrock Theatre, 

—Harland Rankin, Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ont. 

Winnette, Mont. Small town and rural 

Small town patronage. * * * 

patronage. 

Untamed Fury (EL)—Mikel Conrad, Gaylord 

Pendleton, Mary Conwell. A good now than it has ever been. Business in the 

"Our theatre business is worse right 

picture 

for action towns like this but 

community, in general, is 

nothing 

at a very low 

extra. We booked it with a western 

ebb. 

and 

There just isn't any."—Marcella 

it 

got by all right. Business is off here. 

Smith, Vinton Theatre, McArthur, Ohio. 

This 

should have done better on this time. Played "Business is off some here—both theatre 

Fri., Sat. Weather: Cold.— Rahl and Hanson, and general."—L. Brazil jr.. New Theatre, 

Bearden, Ark. 

California Theatre, Kerman, Calif. Small 

town and rural patronage. * " 

His Section Beginning 

To Feel the Pinch 

"TN answ-er to your request on 

here at the theatre and in general, it 

is poor all over. Jeffers is set in the middle 

of the richest farm lands, except the 

Red River Valley of the north. My business 

is down because of the seasonal drop. 

The rest of the places in town are doing 

mostly a credit business due to a queer 

circumstance. We had a good small grain 

crop and the best corn in seven years. 

The grain is aU in but is not being sold. 

The farmers are holding for higher prices. 

In some instances they are borrowing 

from the bank on future sales. This 

means they expect to pay back plus interest 

and clear much more than they 

can today. This is the feeling throughout 

this community. Many places have 

thousands of dollars tied up in stock and 

credits, and are beginning to feel the 

pinch."—E. J. Petersen, Cozy Theatre, 

Jeffers, Minn. 

well at the boxoffice. Play it, if you haven't. 

Played Tues., Wed. Weather: Fair.—Jim Mote, 

Gem Theatre, Sterling, Okla. Rural and small 

* 

town patronage. 

MONOGRAM 

Black Gold (AA-Mono) — Anthony Quinn, 

Katherine DeMille, Elyse Knox. One of the 

better films of the year. Superb acting by 

Anthony Quinn. A man stopped by my office 

that night to tell me he thought one of the 

it 

best pictures he'd ever seen—even better 

than "The Yearling." He thought the death 

scene ol Anthony Quinn was an outstanding 

performance next day this same man 

who raved over the death scene of Anthony 

Quinn died from a heart attack. Played Mon., 

Tues.—James C. Balkcom jr.. Gray Theatre, 

Gray, Ga. Small town patronage. * * * 

PARAMOUNT 

California (Para) — Ray Milland, Barbara 

Stanwyck, Barry Fitzgerald. Wonderful! A 

natural in every way. Although many had 

seen it twice and didn't come, we still gave 

the ones that did see it a real treat. The 

"Made-in-the-USA" short by Paramount is the 

best advance advertising on future product 

1 have ever seen. I believe it should be run 

every couple of months—it's great. Played 

Sat., Sun. Weather: Blizzard and snow—cold. 

W. H. Swan, Auditorium Theatre, Roscoe, S. D. 

Rural patronage. * * * 

Easy Come, Easy Go (Para)—Barry Fitzgerald, 

Diana Lynn, Sonny Tufts. This picture 

is okay—business below average. These 

names evidently mean very little here. We 

paid more than this was worth to us. Played 

Sunday. Weather: Cool.—Rahl and Hanson, 


town and rural patronage. * * 

North of the Rio Grande (Para)—Reissue. 

William Boyd, George Hayes. Although a reissue, 

it seemed to still satisfy our two-fisted 

gun-lovers. Played Fri., Sat., Sun. Weather: j 

Cold.—Harland Rankin, Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, 3 

Ont. General patronage. » * * j 

Trouble With Women, The (Para)—Ray Milland, 

Teresa Wright, Brian Donlevy. Just another 

picture on the "sorta-silly" side that 

will get by. Business below par. Played Sun., 

Mon. Weather: Good.—Terry Axley, New_ 

Theatre, England, Ark. Rural and small town' 

patronage. * * * 

Two Years Before the Mast (Para)—Alan 

Ladd, Brian Donlevy, William Bendix. We 

played this in several of our houses because 

it is good but it didn't take. Played Mon., 

Tues.—Harland Rankin, Erie Theatre, Wheatley, 

Ont. Small town patronage. * * * 

Crossfire (RKO)—Robert 

Mitchum, Gloria Grahame. 

show and Robert 

BOXOFFICE BookinGuide : 

RKO RADIO 

Young, Robert 

This is a good 

Young cai still go for my Jj 

""1

. issue, 

money. The cold wave kept business below 

average. Played Sun., Mon. Weather: Rainy 

and cold.—Terry Axley, New Theatre, England, 

Ark, Rural and small town patronage. 

yFormer's Daughter, The (RKO)—Loretta 

Young, Joseph Gotten, Ethel Barrymore. This 

is a swell show from start to finish. Don't 

pass this one up as it is tops all the way. 

We drew the best Sunday house since "The 

Jolson Story" last May and pleased 100 per 

cent. is All the cast superb, especially Miss 

Young. Played Sun., Mon. Weather; Fair and 

E. Phifield, cold.—Arthur Park Theatre, South 

Berwick, Me. Small town, patronage. * * * 

Honeymoon (RKO)—Shirley Temple Franchot 

Tone, Guy Madison. A very lovely picture 

but not a big picture. However, it's good 

entertainment and Shirley still pleases. Played 

Sat. Weather; ley roads. — Harland 

Fri., 

Rankin, Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ont. Small 

town patronage. 

Lockef. The (RKO)—Laraine Day, Brian 

Aherne, Robert Mitchum. This was one of the 

best shows here for a long time aad all the 

people seemed to think so too. It kept the 

people guessing as to what was coming next. 

The acting was very good and the story lost 

none of its excitement all through the picture. 

If you want to please your patrons, play it, 

by all means. Played Wed., Thurs. Weather: 

Snowy.—George MacKenzie, York Theatre, 

* 

Hantsport, N. S. Small town patronage. 

Secret Life of Walter Mitly- The (RKO)— 

Danny Kaye, Virginia Mayo, Boris Karloff. 

This comedy went over big in this community. 

I used plenty oi ballyhoo before and 

during the run. Comments were all in favor 

of Danny Kaye in his dream scenes. Danny 

Kaye and Virginia Mayo ore favorites.—^L. C. 

Utrecht, Lake Theatre, Oak Pork, 111. Suburban 

patronage. 

Spiral Staircase, The (RKO)—Dorothy Mc- 

Guire, George Brent, Ethel Barrymore. This 

is good for those that like a murder mystery. 

No complaints. Could show it only one 

night on account of the hall not being available, 

so did not do much with it, but no fault 

of the picture. We've got to please 'em all, 

you know. Played Wednesday: Weather: 

Good.—W. H. Swan, Auditorium Theatre, 

S. D. Rural patronage. * » * 

Tarzan and the Huntress (RKO)—Johnny 

Weissmuller, Brenda Joyce, Johnny Sheffield. 

Double billed this to a satisfactory business, 

although we had a sleet storm. Played Wed., 

Thurs. Weather: Bad.—Harland Rankin, Erie 

Theatre, Wheatley, Ont. Small town patronage. 

REPUBLIC 

Along the Oregon Trail (Rep)—Monte Hale, 

Adrian Booth, Clayton Moore. For an all color 

bill, this did better than the average. Doubled 

with "Thief of Bagdad" (FC), an excellent rebut 

my print on it was very poor and 

changed focus constantly and broke twice on 

the last reel, due to poor maintenance. Played 

Mon., Tues. Weather: Cold.—Rahl and Hanson, 


town and rural patronage. * * 

Vigilantes of Boomtown (Rep)—Allan Lane, 

Bobby Blake, Martha Wentworth. The Red 

Business Fairly Good 

In Project Center 

"BUSINESS in Edgewood is fairly good 

considering the size of the town, 

wTiich has a postoffice, railroad station, 

three grocery stores, one furniture store, 

and, oh, yes, two beer joints—last but 

not least, the Edgewood Theatre. The 

main sotxrce of employment is in the 

army chemical 

as the Edgewood 

center, 

ArsenaL"—Arthur 

formerly known 

L. 

Goodman, Edgewood Government Project 

Theatre, Edgewood, Md. 

Rider series continues to please most patrons 

now. I like Allan Lane—he's always been 

tops with me. This is a very good western. 

Played Fri., Sat.—James C. Balkcom jr., Gray 

Theatre, Gray, Ga. Small town patronage, 

* * * 

20th CENTURY-FOX 

Crimson Key. The (20th-Fox)—Kent Taylor, 

Doris Dowling, Denni;; Hoey. Another mystery 

that didn't get by. Too many oi these have 

been bad the last year and the people are 

staying away in protest. Played Wednesday. 

Weather: Okay.—D. W. Trisko, Ritz Theatre, 

Jerome, Ariz. Mining patronage. * * 

Ghost and Mrs. Muir, The (20th-Fox)—Gene 

Tierney, Rex Harrison, George Sanders. Here 

is one of the most amusing pictures to date. 

The people really enjoyed this one, so if you 

want to delight your people, play it. It starts 

out a little weird but towards the middle it 

gets very funny. Fox producers are to be congratulated 

on their choice of actors and 

actresses for this fine film. Played Fri., Sat. 

Weather: Snowy.—George MacKenzie, York 

Theatre, Hantsport, N. S. Small town patronage. 

Homestretch (20th-Fox) — Cornel Wilde, 

Maureen O'Hara, Glenn Langan. Favorable 

comment. We showed it late, after neighboring 

situations. You'll be pleased with it. 

Played Sun., Mon. Weather: Fair.—Joe Stallman, 

Wyo-Lin Theatre, Lingle, Wyo. Small 

town and rural patronage. * * * 

Miracle on 34th Street (20th-Fox)—Maureen 

O'Hara, John Payne, Edmund Gwenn. Unquestionably 

one of the best pictures I have ever 

seen. Well produced, excellent acting, and 

outstandingly .different story. It's a shame to 

have poor attendance on a picture like this. 

Had No Holiday Rush 

In His Locality 

"YOU ask about business in this section 

... IVeU, show business is slow as 

it always is before Christmas. In fact I 

am going to close up entirely the Tuesday 

before Christmas and give my help and 

myself a night off. 

"Merchants report that there has been 

no Christmas rush, that shopping is slow 

and they don't need any extra help—that 

it costs people so much to live that they 

don't have any money left with which to 

buy Christmas presents."—E. M. Freiburger. 

Paramount Theatre, Dewey, Okla. 

but we had a checker and we are very happy 

that we did, as Fox would have never believed 

our report! Business was lousy. Played Wed., 

Thurs. Weather: Cool.—Rahl and Hanson, 

California Theatre, Kerman Theatre, Kerman, 

Calif. Small town and rural patronage. * * 

Wake Up and Dream (20th-Fox)—John 

Payne, June Haver, Charlotte Greenwood. 

This is a good musical but they just don't 

go for them in this town. Played Thurs., Fri. 

Weather: Cold.—Harland Rankin, Joy Theatre, 

Bothwell, Ont. Small town patronage. * * * 

' UNITED ARTISTS 

Adventures of Don Coyote, The (UA)—Richard 

Martin, Frances Rafferty, Marc Cramer, 

This is so good that nearly everyone stayed 

for the second show. The Cinecolor is beautiful. 

Sound good, fighting good and plenty 

of it, plot good, music excellent—what else 

can you ask for, exhibitors? Book it, by all 

means. Played Wednesday. Weather: Cold 

—below zero,—W. H. Swan, Auditorium Theatre, 

Roscoe, S. D. Rural patronage. * * * 

Fun on a Weekend (UA)—Eddie Bracken, 

Priscilla Lane, Tom Conway. This is a good 

comedy that will please the entire family. 

Played Wed., Thurs.—James C. Balkcom jr., 

Gray Theatre, Gray, Ga. Small town patronage. 

* * * 

Little Iodine (UA)— Jo Ann Marlowe, Hobart 

* 

His Mexican Patrons 

Like Classical Music 

I'VE ALWAYS LOVED YOU (Rep) — 

Philip Dom, Catherine McLeod, William 

Carter. If you have a place that goes for 

classical music, play this. Our patrons are 

70 per cent Mexican and really go for this 

type of show, so we got by with it okay. 

—D. W. Trisko, Ritz Theatre, Jerome, 

Ariz. Mining patronage. * * 

Cavanaugh, Irene Ryan. This comic strip 

character drew them in and they were not disappointed. 

Doubled with Hopalong Cassidy, 

the old ladies' Lochinvar. Played Fri., Sat. 

Weather; Fair and cold.—E. J. Petersen, Cozy 

Theatre, Jeffers, Minn. Rural and small town 


Macomber Affair, The (UA)—Gregory Peck, 

Joan Bennett, Robert Preston. I played this 

a little late and didn't do as well as we should 

have. Played Fri., Sat. Weather: Okay.—D. 

W. Trisko, Ritz Theatre, Jerome, Ariz. Mining 


New Orleans (UA)—Arturo de Cordova, 

Dorothy Patrick, Irene Rich. They didn't rave 

about this but it got us by okay. Played 

Thurs., Fri., Sat. Weather: Cold.—Harland 

Rankin, Joy Theatre, Bothwell, Ont. General 

patronage. • » » 

Stork Bites Man (UA)—Jackie Cooper, Gene 

Roberts, Sarah Selby. This is a screwball if 

there ever was one and I wouldn't recommend 

it for anything but a double feature or bargain 

night. Played Thurs., Fri., Sat. Weather: 

Good.—Terry Axley, New Theatre, England, 

Ark. Rural and small town patronage. * * 

Way to the Stars, The (UA)—Michael Redgrave, 

John Mills. This was one of the best 

English pictures played here but they ruined 

business by the trailer they put out. They 

didn't show the best parts of the picture on 

it. All they had was what the different newspapers 

thought about it and nobody bothers 

about that because all studios praise up their 

pictures. Played Wed., Thurs. Weather: Fair. 

—George MacKenzie, York Theatre, Hantsport, 

N. S. Small town 

* 

patronage. 

UNIVERSAL-INTERNATIONAL 

Dark Mirror (U-I)-Olivia de Havillcmd, Lew 

Ayres, Thomas Mitchell. A fine picture for 

large towns but too heavy to go over in my 

situation. It did only fair business and we 

paid a high rental for this one. Played Wed., 

Thurs. Weather: Cold.—Arthur E. Phifield, 

Park Theatre, South Berwick, Me. Small town 

patronage. 

In Old California (U-D—Reissue. Richard 

Arlen, Andy Devine. This is a good reissue 

that did average business here. Old pictures 

of action and comedy are outdrawing the 

new ones and I find many of them more interesting 

myself. There is something to that 

rumor that Hollywood is slipping, and this is 

no time for them to sit down and rest on their 

laurels. Played Mon., Tues. Weather; Cold.— 

Rahl and Hanson, California Theatre, Kerman, 

Calif. Small town and rural patronage, * * 

WARNER BROS. 

Pursued (WB) — Robert 'Mitchum, Teresa 

Wright, Judith Anderson. This didn't takestarved 

to dealh on it. Fair picture. Played 

Mon., Tues., Wed. Weather: Cold.—Harland 

Rankin, Joy Theatre, Bothwell, Ont. General 

patronage. 

That Hagen Girl (WB)—Shirley Temple, 

Ronald Reagan, Dorothy Peterson. Shirley 

Temple is still the same sweet girl and attractive 

as ever. The story is typical of the 

results of gossip in small towns and it was 

well liked by the crowd.—Hobart H. Gates, 

Garlock Theatre, Custer, S. D. Small town patronage. 

BOXOrnCE BookinOuide :: Feb. 14, 1948

BOXOFFICE BookinGuide 

FEATURE CHART 

furnished 

by home office of distributor; checkup with local exchanges is recommeil I 

R jg review date. PG—is Picture Guide page number. Symbol U indicates BOXOFF j 

Blue Ribbon Award Winner. Symbol © indicates color photography. 

APRIL 12 

fio] (67) Comedy 80 

BLONDIE'S HOLIDAY 

I'enny Singleton 

Arthur Lake 

L.irry Simras 

li—Mar. 8—I'G-798 

APRIL 19 

(S:i) Iiraraa 836 

THE GUILT OF JANET 

AMES 

tiosiillnd Russell 

Melvyn Douglas 

Sid Caesar 

n—Mar. 8—PG-798 

APRIL 26 

IS2I Drama 834 

FRAMED 

Glenn Ford-Janis Carter 

R—M.ir. 8—PG-798 

^4] (55) Western 867 

LAW OF THE CANYON 

Starrett-Burnette 

MAY 3 

|T| (69) Drama 8 

FOR THE LOVE OF 

RUSTY 

Ted Donaldson 

Tom Powers 

Ann Doran 

R-ûne 28—PG-834 

MAY 10 

MAY 17 

|15] (70) Mystery S 

BULLDOG DRUMMON 

AT BAY 

Ron Randell 

Anita Louise 

Pat O'Moore 

R—May 12—PG-818 

MAY 24 

MAY 

(72) Mystf 

l29| 

THE MILLER"" 

Warner Barter 

Nancy Saunders "" 1 

It—June 28- 

g (54) Wes 

PRAIRIE RAIfl 

112] (61) Western ' 

WEST TO GLORY 

It— May 

3—PG-8I0 

Ti^ (62) Mystery ; 

PHILO VANCE'S 

GAMBLE 

It—May :i— F(!-815 

Jamis Bniun-Sheila Rya 

R—May 12—PG-8ir 

^ (38-:!9) Westeri 

SIX BRONCO 

BUCKAROO REISSUES 

4 with Buster Crabhe 

and Fuzzy St. John 

2 ivlth Tex O'Brien a; 

Jim Neuill 

|lo] (55) Western 752 

BORDER FEUD 

.\1 "Lash" La Rue 

Al "Fuzzy' St. John 

R—May -24—PG-822 

Reissues 

§0] (93 

[21] (111) Drama 733 REPEAT PERI 

CORSICAN BROTHERS Louis Hayward- ~ 

Douglas Fairbanks jr. K—May 31- 

Akim Tamiroff 

|3l] (63) 

p (60) Drama 716 _ 

KILLER AT URG 

TOO MANY WINNERS Robert Lowery 

R—June 7—PG-82S IJ—June 7—PG-81 

It—June 15—l'G-;2i) 

-Apr. 19—PO-812 

Allied Artists 

|]|] (11.5) Cnmcdy AAl 

IT HAPPENED ON 

FIFTH AVENUE 

lion llL'Fiire 

Ann Harding 

Victor Moore 

R—Keb. 8—PO-788 

Pine-Thomas Prod. 

[lej (72) Drama 4621 

FEAR IN THE NIGHT 

Paul Kelly 

Kay Scott 

PeKorest Kelley 

it—Mar.' 

1—PG-795 

ra (123) Drama 720 

SEA OF GRASS 

Spencer Tracy 

Katharine Hepburn 

Rolierl Walker 

.Melvyn Douglas 

R—Feb. 15—PG-790 

^ 

(59) Western 671 

LAND OF THE LAWLESS 

Johnny Mack Brown 

Raymond Hatton 

Christine Mclntyre 

Virginia 

Field 

Sir CeJrii- llardvvicke 

R—.Mar. 15—PG-802 

[|] (91) Drama 721 

HIGH BARBAREE 

Van Johnson 

June Ailyson 

Claude Jarman jr. 

Thomas Mitchell 

R—Mar. 15—PG-801 

[i]m) Drama 617 

QUEEN OF THE YUKON 

Charles Blckford 

Irene Rich 

(91) Ul 

Drama 

BLAZE OF NOON 

.Mine Baxter 

William Holden 

Sonny Tufts 

8—PG-797 

[io] (63) Melodrama 616 

HARD BOILED 

MAHONEY 

Leo Gorcey 

Bowery Boys 

Teala Loring 

R—May 3—PG-816 

[is] (90) Comedy 722 

UNDERCOVER MAISIE 

Ann Sothern 

Barry Nelson 

R—June 7—PC 826 

[n] (63) Teen-Ager 618 

SARGE GOES TO 

COLLEGE 

^ 


LAW COMES TO 

GUNSIGHT 

Joliniiy Mack Brown 


^ 

(60) M'drama 4622 

BIG TOWN 

Philip Reed 

Hillary Brooke 

Robert Lowery 

R—Feb. 22—PG-791 

[31] (128) Dramii 

U0THE YEARLII 

Gregory Peck 

Jane Wyman 

Claude Jarman jr, 

R—Dec. 

7—PC-ti 

g (58) WestH 

SONG OF THE 

WASTELAND ; 

Jimmy Wakely 

(83) M'draaft 

;UTTA 1 

Ladd m 

am Bendix 

Russell 

Vpr. 19—P(ffl 

Group 4 

(.57) Western 720 

CODE OF THE WEST 

Group 5 

(721 Adventure 7! 

TARZAN AND THE 

HUNTRESS 

lohnny Weissmuller 

Brenda Joyce 

.lohn Sheffield 

K—Mar. 29—PG-806 

Group 5 

(89) Comedy 724 

A LIKELY STORY 

Barbara Hale 

Bin Williams 

R—Apr. 19—PG-8I2 

Group 5 

(68) Musical 725 

BANJO 

Sharyn Moffett 

Jacqueline White 

Walter Reed 

Group 5 

]16] (92) Drama 722 

BORN TO KILL 

Lawrence 

Tierney 

Group 5 

(741 Comedy 721 

HONEYMOON 

Shirley Temple 

Guy Madison 

Franchot Tone 

R—Apr. 19—PG-812 

[I5| (.W) Wesle 

TEXAS TRAIL 

ttililnm Boyd 

|i5| (78) Mus-Wcst 642 

©BELLS OF SAN 

ANGELO 

Roy Rogers- Dale Eians 

R—May 31—PG-824 

(I9] (70) Dutd'r-Dr 4613 

BUFFALO BILL RIDES 

AGAIN 

Richard Arlen ^ 

lennifer Holt 

It-Apr. 5—PG-807 

(66) Drama 6 

SPOILERS OF THE 

NORTH 

Paul Kelly 

Adrian Booth 

Evelyn Ankers 

R—May 12—PG-817 

[I] (65) Horror-Dr 4608 

|26) (71) Western HC09 ©SCARED TO DEATH 

PARTNERS OF THE Bela Lugosi 

PLAINS 

Inyce Compton 

William Boyd 

Douglas Fowley 

[Io] (69) Western HCIO 

CASSIDY OF BAR 20 

WUliam Boyd 

Russell Hayden 

Frank Darien 

]15] (58) Outd'r-Dr 665 [17] (75) Mus-Com 614 

OREGON TRAIL SCOUTS WINTER WONDERLAND 

R—May 24—PG-821 Lynne Roberts 

[15] (66) Mus-Com 609 diaries Drake 

©THAT'S MY GAL R—June 7—PG-825 

R—June 

^ 

7—PG-825 

(63) Drama 5615 

SHOOT TO KILL 

Russell Wade 

Susan Walters 

Douglas Blackley 

B—Apr. 12—PG-809 

lllohard ILiydn 

tli.irles Russell 

II—Peb. 8—PG-7S8 

SAN DEMETRIO, 

LONDON 

Walter Fitzgerald 

Mervyn Johns 

Ralph Michael 

Robert Beatty 

Charles Victor 

R—Apr. 5—PG-80S 

(104) Drama 71! 

THE GHOST AND MRS. 

MUIR 

Gene Tierney 

Res Harrison 

George Sanders 

Edna Best 

Vanessa Brown 

R—May 24—PG-821 

Cornel Wilde 

Maureen O'Hara 

Glenn Langan 

Helen Walker 

James Gleason 

R—Apr. 26—PG-814 

(64) Drama 716 

JEWELS OF 

BRANDENBURG 

Richard Travis 

Micheline Cheirel 

Leonard Strong 

Carol Thurston 

R—Apr. 19—PG-81 

^ (98) Musical 

NEW ORLEANS 

Arturo de Cordova 

Dorothy Patrick 

R—May 3—PG-815 

(94) Outd'r-Dr 

IJ] 

RAMROD 

Joel McCrea 

Veronica Lake 

Don DeFore 

Donald Crisp 

R—Mar. 1—PG-793 

[9] (65) Drama 

©ADVENTURES OF 

DON COYOTE 

Richard 

Frances 

R—May 

Martin 

Rafferty 

3—PG-815 

[16] (85) Drama 

DISHONORED LADY 

Hedy Lamarr 

Dennis O'Keefe 

John Loder 

R—Apr. 26—PG-813 

]3o] (91) Muslear 

COPACABANA 

Groucho Marx 

Carmen Miranda 

.Vndy Russell 

(73) Comedy 2793 

YOU CAN'T CHEAT AN 

HONEST MAN 

W. C Fields 

TIME OUT OF MIND 

(108) Comedy 613 

THE EGG AND I 

Fred MacMurray 

Claudette Colbert 

100 MEN AND 

Deanna Durbin 

Leoiiold Stokowsll 

Adolphe Menjou 

ri2| (97) Drama 617 

STALLION ROAD 

Uonald Reagan 

Alexis Smith 

'/aohary Scott 

R—Mar. 29— PG.805 

Reissues: 

[3] (93) Comedy 620 

(109) Drama 618 

]2(il LOVE AND LEARN 

THE SEA HAWK 

Jack Carson 

Errol Flynn-Claude Rains Robert Hutton 

[26] (87) Drama 619 Martha Vickers 

Janis Paige 

THE SEA WOLF 

I!—Mar. 

Edward 

29—PG-806 

G. Robinson 

^ 

(90) Drama 621 

TWO MRS. CARROLLS 

Humphrey Bogart 

Barbara Stanwyck 

Alexis Smith 

R—Mar. 29—PG-806 

Ida Luplno-John Garfield 

(98) Drama Reissue 

CHEERS FOR MISS 

BISHOP 

Martha Scott 

(60) West Reissue 

GHOST TOWN 

Harry 

Carey 

(57) Mus-Dr Reissue 

HOLLYWOOD BOUND 

IT PAYS TO BE FUNNY 

Bob Hope 

Milton Berle 

(70) Comedy Reissue 

LI'L ABNER 

Martha O'Driscoll 

Edgar Kennedy 

(67) Mus (New Rel) 

REET. PETITE AND 

GONE 

Louis Jordan 

June Richmond 

(57) Musical Reissue 

ROAD TO HOLLYWOOD 

Bing Crosby 

R—Mar. 1—PG-796 

(86) Mus-Dr Reissue 

SECOND CHORUS 

Paulette Ooddard 

Fred .Vstaire 

(."ifi) M-Dr R 

STAIRWAY FOR A 

Cornel 

Wilde

BOXOFFirF R^«Hr,n„i/4» Feh. 14 1948 

' 

JUNE 7 

CHECK RUNNING TIME WITH LOCAL EXCHANGES 

JUNE 14 

[14] (64) Myslery 70S 

PHILO VANCE 

RETURNS 

!— May 3—PG-815 

JUNE 21 

S (Wl) Mu.l 

LITTLE MISS 

BROADWAY 

Jean Porter 

.lohn Sheltun 

Ituth Donnelly 

Prances 

Farmer 

JUNE 28 

(^ (CS) Drama I 

SPORT OF KINGS 

K—June 

21—PG-832 

|26] (60) West-Mus 853 Charles Sturrett 

Smiley 

SWING Hurnetle 

THE WESTERN 

Vlreinla 

WAY 

Hunter 

ll^luly 

lloosier Hotshots 

5—PC-835 

R—July 6—PO-835 

1^ (71) Comedy 704 

HEARTACHES 

C. Wills-S. liyan 

K—July 12—PG-838 

^ (56) Outd'r-Dr 753 

PIONEER JUSTICE 

It—July 5—PG-836 

JULY 5 

jT] (56) Western i 

STRANGER FROM 

PONCA CITY 

JULY 12 

]i0| (68) Drama I 

KEEPER OF THE BE 

Michael Duane 

Harry Davenport 

II—July 6— PG-835 

52] (64) Comedy 711 

GAS HOUSE KIDS GO 

WEST 

Cliill Williams 

Gas House Kids 

William Wright 

It—July 26—PG-841 

JULY 19 

(87 Dra 

©GUNFIGHTERS 

Randolph Scott 

Barbara Brltton 

Bruce Cabot 

It—June 14—PO-830 

FEATURE CHART 

_ 

JULY 26 


GHOST TOWN RENE- 

GADES 

AI "Lash" LaRue 

Al "Fuzzy" St. John 

Jeimlfer Holt 

R—Aug. 9—PO-845 

90) Mdodran 

; DELUSION 

Oaie 

) Bremer 

Barryniore 

tt. 12-l-(i 8 

jT) (98) Drama 726 

CYNTHIA 

Elizabeth Taylor 

Mary Astor 

George Murphy 

R—May 17—PG-SI9 

[is] (104) Mus-Dr 727 

©FIESTA 

Esther Williams 

Iticardo Montalban 

Mary Astor 

Cyd Cîarisse 

Rûne 14—PG-830 

Reprint 

|5] (103) Musical 723 

THE GREAT WALTZ 

Luise Rainer 

Fernand Gravet 

61) nrîm.i 619 

[21] (83) Drama 

HIGH CONQUEST 

Gilbert Roland 

|28] (53) Western 677 

CODE OF THE SADDLE 

Johnny Mack Browr 

Kay Moriey 


[5] (70) Drama 40 

DILLINGER 

Lawrence Tierney 

[5] (83) Drama 380 

MUTINY IN THE BIG 

HOUSE 

Charles Bickford 

g 

(68) Comedy 621 

KILROY WAS HERE 

Jackie Cooper 

Jackie Coogan 

Wanda McKay 

R—July 5—PO-835 

m 

(42) Docura 666 

©THUNDERBOLT 

James Stewart 

|2o] (66) M'drama 4623 

DANGER STREET 

Jane Withers 

Robert Lowery 

liay Milland 

R—Mar. 1—PG-796 Teresa Wright 

Brian Donlevy 

R—May 17—PC-819 

fT] (96) Com-Dr 4615 

©PERILS OF PAULINE 

Betty Hutton 

John Lund 

William Demarest 

R—May 24—PG-822 

|i|| (95) Comedy 4616 

DEAR RUTH 

Joan Caulfield 

Philip Reed 

William Holden 


Edward Arnold 

Robert Lowery 

Billy De Wolfe R—Mar. 1—PC-795 

R—May 31—PG-824 

Com-Dr 

S(9») T'S MY MAN 

P^ Amechp 

f(60) Outd'r-Di 4616 

10) (58) Drama 6 

WEB OF DANGER 

Adele Mara 

Bill Kennedy 

[—June 21—PG-831 

Reissue 

HJ (68) Western HCll 

HEART OF ARIZONA 

iVllIiam Boyd 

George Hayes 


WOMAN ON THE 

BEACH 

arles 

R—Ma 

Bicitford 

-PG-82Q 

T5| (72) Western 684 

SADDLE PALS 

Gene Autry 

Roberts 

R—June 21—PG-831 

g 

(72) Mus-Cora 4701 

HOLLYWOOD BARN 

DANCE 

Ernest Tubb 

Lori Talbott 

Earl Hodgins 


_ 

(91) Drama 615 

NORTHWEST OUTPOST 

Nelson Eddy 

llona Massey 

R—May 17—PG-819 

DESPERATE 

St ere Erodie 

\iidrey Long 

I!—May 17— PG-S20 

[T] (581 Western 

RUSTLERS OF DEVIL'S 

CANYON 

12—PG-83 

It—July 

[?] (71) Drama 619 

THE TRESPASSER 

R—July 

12—PG-837 

Jenkins 

Pamela Blake 

R—Jan. 3—P0-! 

Group 6 

Group 6 

(60) Drama 729 (60) Western 730 

DICK TRACY'S THUNDER MOUNTAIN 

DILEMMA 

Tim Holt 

Ralph Byrd 

Martha Hyer 

Kay Christopher 

Richard Martin 

Ian Keith 

R—May 24—PG-822 

R—May 24—PG-822 

^ (75) Western 

©SPRINGTIME IN THE 

SIERRAS 

Roy Rogers-Jane Frazee 

R— Aug. 2—PG-843 

^ 


ROBINHOOD OF TEXAS 

R—Sept. 1.3—PG-855 

^ 

(65) Western HC12 

BAR 20 JUSTICE 

ira Boyd 


George Hayes 

^ 

(67) Drama 617 

BLACKMAIL 

m Marshall 

Adele Mara 

Aug. 

16—PG-847 

|2|] (40) Mys-Com 461S 

CASE OF THE BABY 

SITTER 

Tom Neal 

Jenkins 

Pamela Blake 

fly Cummins 

for Mature 

B"l Barrymore 

r-«nt Price 

\tgn Wonde 

tM»y 24—PG-821 

(96) Drama 7 

MIRACLE ON 34th 

STREET 

Maureen O'Hara 

lohn Payne 

Edmund Gwenn 

Gene Locl

BOXOFTICE BookinGuide 

FEATURE CHART 

AUGUST 2 AUGUST 9 

Stfphen Imnjie 

Ann Ooraii 

U—Aug. 16—PG-848 

AUGUST 16 

(5.5) West 

jyj 

RIDERS OF Tl 

LONE STAR 

.Voreen 

Nash 

AUGUST 23 

2lj (67) Mus-W 

SMOKY RIVER 

SERENADE 

K—Aug. 

m 


2.'J— PG-85n 

(63) Comedy 712 

GAS HOUSE KIDS IN 

HOLLYWOOD 

Cirl Alfalfa" Snilzcr 

Benny Barllelt 

Rudy Wi.ssler 

Tommy Bund 

R—Sept. 6— Pn-8i 

@ 

AUGUST 30 

(58) Mystery 1 

PHILO VANCE'S 

SECRET MISSION 

Sheila 

Frank 

Ryan 

Jenks 

SEPTEMBER 6 SEPTEMBER 13 septembq: 

g (6.51 Mystery 82 

BULLDOG DRUMMOND 

STRIKES BACK 

THE HUCKSTERS 

: Gable 

lii'borah Kerr 

[e] (87) Mystery 80; (86) Comedy 801 

] 

THE ARNELO AFFAIR NG OF THE THIN 

John Hodiak 

MAN 

eorge Murphy WUUam Powell 

Frances Gifford 

i!—Feb. 15—PG-790 

R—Aug. 2—PG-844 

\6] (55) Dram 

ROBIN HOOD 

MONTEREY 

Ibert Roland 

13] (68) Drama 6 

EWS HOUNDS 

Leo Gorcey 

Chirstine Mclntyre 

Bowery Boys 

" ' me 21—PG-831 

Allieil 

|16] (89) Outd'i 

BLACK GOLD 

Anthony Quinn 

(59) Wcste 

(106) Drama 

[15] (85) Drama 4( 

UWELCOME STRANGER ©DESERT FURY 

Uirii; Crosliy 

Lizabeth Scott. 

It. if I \ Fitzgerald 

Hodiak 

Burt l*mca.ster 

111!. 2— P(:-844 

(67) M^drama 4625 

JUNGLE FLIGHT 

Robert Lottery 

^ 

(93) Musical 4618 

VARIETY GIRL 

Paramount stars 

Mary Hatcher 

Olga San Juan 

R—July 19—PG-840 

Group 6 

(!I5) Mys-nr 

THEY WON'T BELIEVE 

-May 

17—PC-82n 

(SO) Drama 8 

RIFF-RAFF 

Pat O'Brien 

Anne Jeffreys 

If—June 14—PG-829 

UNDER THE TONTO 

(86) lira 

CROSSFIRE 

Robert 

Voong 


Group 1 

(95) Comedy SO^ 

UBACHELOR AND TH! 

BOBBY-SOXER 

Gary 

Special 

(97) 

THE LONG \IIGHT 

Henry Fonda 

Barbara Bel Geddes 

Ann Dvorak 

Vincent Price 


|i3| (58) Western 

MARSHAL OF CRIPPLF 

CREEK 

Allan Lane-Bobby Blake 

R—Ane. 23—PO-849 

p] (69) Drama 62i 

THE PRETENDER 

R—Am:. 30—PG-851 

[?] (59) Drama 6; 

EXPOSED 

Adele Mara 

Robert Scott 

R—Sept. 20—PG-857 

^ (90) Dr: 

DRIFTWOOD 

Ruth Warrick 

Walter Brennai 

Dean Jagger 

R—Nov. 15— 

Reissues 

^ (65) Drama 

RACKETEERS 

Preston Foster 


^ (74) Drama 

CALL IT MURDER 


Richard 

Wliorf 

Herald (Negro) 11 

||o] (69) Mus-Cia» 

BOY, WHAT A Gl( 

Elwood Smith 

Sheila Guyse 

Duke William 

R—Feb. 15—PI 0-f 

Ol WONDER WHO'S 

KISSING HER NOW 

Mark 

Stevens 

©MOTHER WORE 

TIGHTS 

Bettv 

Grable 

Reissue 

(118) Drama m^ 

HOW GREEN ura< WAJ 

VALLEY 

Walter Pidgeon 

(62) Drama 

SECOND CHANCE 

R-ûly 26—PG-8i 

nri (133) Musical 

CARNEGIE HALL 

im Prince 

la Hunt 

|m1 (112) Comedies 

©COMEDY CARNIVAL 

Walter Abel 

Margot Grahame 

- Aug 30—PG-S51 

(102) Drama 

[|] 

LURED 

George Sanders 

Lucille Ball 

niarles Coburn 

R_J„ly 19_PG.839 

[l|] (93) Comedy 

HEAVEN ONLY KNOWS 

Robert (îmmings 

Brian Donlevy 

Marjorie Reynolds 

ug. 2—PG-a43 

(80) Drama 6 

OSLAVE GIRL 

le De Carlo 

Oeorne Brent 

R-^luly 26- Pf;-S4'-' 

. (89) Musical 62 

SOMETHING IN THE 

WIND 

Dcanna Durbin 

.lohn Dall 

Donald O'Connor 

Ildy 26—PO.S42 

Reissues 

n (SI) Drama 

MARKED WOMAN 

fl6l (84) 1 

CRY WOLF 

Errnl Flynn 

Barbara Stan 

Is] (118) Comedy 702 

©LIFE WITH FATHER 

William Powell 

Irene Dunne 

Elizabeth Taylor , 

Edmund Gwenn 

ZaSu Pitts 

R— .Vug. 23—PG-Ssn 

©DUEL IN THE SUN 

JennlTer Jones 

Gregory Peck 

Joseph Cotten 

Lionel Barrymore 

R^lan. 11—Pfi-rsn 

(83) My: -Dr 

Devo 

GREEN COCKATOO 

lohn Mills 

I!—Aug. 9—PG-846 

(48) Drama 

Bell PIct. Corp. 

GIRL ON THE CANAL 

(68) Docum-Dr 

Kng. Films 

SCHOOL FOR DANGER 

R—Nov. 29—PG-87S 

(61) Dooum-Dr 

Eng. Films 

CHILDREN ON TRIAL 

B—Nov. 29—PG-878 

^1 3 a 

Sept. (85) Western 1208 Oct. (71) Myst-1 

LADY IN A JAM BLACK FRIDAY| 

Irene Dunne Boris Karloff 

Ralph Bellamy Bela Lugosi 

Sept. (89) Western 1121 Oct. (72) Mys 

LADY FROM CHEYENNE THE BUCK 

Loretta Young .Alan Ladd 

Robert Preston Basil Kathbone

i 

(106) 

Fph. 14. 1948 

] 

CHECK RUNNING TIME WITH LOCAL EXCHANGE 

FEATURE CHART 

gpTEMBER 27 

aoS) Miis-Cnm 827 

EN A GIRL'S 

lllAUTIFUL 

far 

Jergens 

-PG-859 

OCTOBER 4 

OCTOBER II 

Tnldy Marslliil 

.limniy Lloyd 

li—Stpit. (i— 

OCTOBER 18 OCTOBER 25 NOVEMBER I NOVEMBER 8 NOVEMBER 15 

BUCKAROO FROM 

POWER RIVER 

N'm 1.1— PO-873 

(ti!M Comedy 

BLONDIE IN THE 

DOUGH 

(Sli) Comedv 9: [^ (08, Mys.e 

©DOWN TO EARTH LAST ROUNDUP 

ER HUSBAND'S LONE WOLF IN 

llay\uirth-L. Parks Gene Autry 

AFFAIRS 

LONDON 

-Aug. S—PG-844 (liamplon" 

It—July 20— PG-«41 

ean Heather 

[6] (70) Musical 9 

R—Oct. 11—PO-f TWO BLONDES AND 

A REDHEAD 

II—Sent. 20 -858 

It— ll.c 27—l'G.S85 

:ima 710 

[T] (931 Cora-Mysl 802 

GREEN FOR DANGER 

Grey-Treior llcmaid 

m (118) Drama 802 

©UNFINISHED DANCE 

Margaret O'Brien 

Cyd Charisse 

in Booth 

Aug. 9—PG-846 

g 


RIDIN' DOWN THE 

TRAIL 

imny Wakely 

Cannonball" Taylor 

Johns 

fverly 

—Sept. 

(i—PG-S53 

[ul (53) We,.t Johns 

a Rohson 

Aug. :fO—PG-852 

(101) Drama 625 (78) Comedy 62 

RIDE THE PINK HORSf WISTFUL WIDOW OF 

Robert Montgomery WAGON GAP 

nrta Hendrix 

Abbott & Costelln 

-Sept. 20—PG-857 Marjorie Main 

.\udrey Young 

R—Oct. 4—PO-802 

(92) Drama 6 

THE EXILE 

Douglas Fairbanks jr. 

a Montez 

Paule Croset 

R—Oct. 25—PG-868 

(86) Drama 631 

THE UPTURNED GLASS 

James Mason 

Rosamund John 

ela Kellino 

Stephens 

R— Nov. 1—PG-86 

Drama 703 

IK PASSAGE 

iplirey Bogart 

«n Bacall 

» Bennett 

!8 Moorehead 

D'Andrea 

Sept. 6—PG-854 

Reissues 

fT] (71) Drama 704 

BAD MEN OF MISSOU 

D Morgan-J. Wyman 

\J] (84) Drama 7 

EACH DAWN I DIE 

[il] (103) Drama 70 

THE UNSUSPECTED 

Joan Caulfieid 

Claude Riiins 

Audrey Totter 

Hurd Hatfield 

R—Sept. 20—PG-S58 

;3 ) Drama 7 

THAT HAGEN GIRL 

Ronald Reagan 

Shirley Temple 

Rory Calhoun 

R_Oct. 25—PG-868 

Nov. (69) Drama 1139 

TIGHT SHOES 

tn 

0> 

3 

Broderick Crawford 

Leo Carrlllo 

S Nov. (77) Comedy 1217 

BUTCH MINDS THE 

•S 

K BABY 

£ Virginia Bruce 


THE INVISIBLE MAN 

Cedric 

Hardwicke 

PITTSBURGH 

John Wayne 

Marlene Dietrich 

Dec. (87) Dram;i 

GREEN HELL 

Douglas Fairbanks 

.loan Bennett 

SIN TOWN 

Constance Bennett 


Jan. (80) Mvst-Dr 1295 

SON OF PRACULA 

Lon Chancy 

Louise Allbritton 

J.an (07) Mysl-Dr 1212 

GHOST OF 

FRANKENSTEIN 

Lon Chancy 

Evelyn Ankers 

Feb. (78) Dran 924 

THE STORM 

(Carles Bickford 

Preston Foster 

Feb. (01) Myst-Dr 1246 

MUMMY'S TOMB 

Dick Foran 

Lon Chaney 

Feb. (05) Myst-Dr 1344 

MUMMY'S GHOST 

Lon (âney 

Ramsay Ames 

LITTLE TOUGH GUY 

Little Tough Guys 

Dead End Kids 

Mar. (73) Drama 92! 

LITTLE TOUGH GUYS 

IN SOCIETY 

Little Tough Guys

I 

;t. 

BOXOFTTCE BookinGuide Feb. 14. 1948 

FEATURE CHART 


NOVEMBER 22 NOVEMBER 29 DECEMBER 6 DECEMBER 13 DECEMBER 20 DECEMBER 27 JANUARY 3 lANUARH 

I 

g (60) Mystery S 

(nj (62) Dram ^ (67) Comedy 913 g (65) Musical 951 

[9] (54) Wes;ei 

LAST DAYS OF BOOT 

HILL 

Charlw Slarrett 

Smiley Burnettc 

R—Feb. 14—PO-OOO 

CRIME DOCTOR'S 

GAMBLE 

Warner Baxter 

MichelUie Chelrel 

Roger Dann 

Steven Oeray 

R—Dec. 13—PO-881 

IT HAD TO BE YOU 

R—Oct. 

2S—PG-8C7 

DEVIL SHIP 

Rlcbard Lane 

BLONDIE'S 

ANNIVERSARY 

Penny Singleton 

ROSE OF SANTA ROSA 

Hnosier Hotshots 

Patricia 

Eduardo 

R—Jan. 

HTiite 

Noriega 

3—PG-888 

Patricia Morlson 

Adele Jergens 

R— Dec. 6—PG-879 

SIX-GUN LAW 

Starrett-Biirnetti 

©THE SWORDl 

Larry Parks 

R—Oct. 25—POM 

BLOND SAVAGE 

l.irr Erlckson 

Gale Sher^'ood 

It— Oct. ll_pC-864 

(58) Western I 

|g| 

SHADOW VALLEY 

Eddie Dean 

li—Dec »;—PG-880 

|l3] (58) Western ! 

CHEYENNE TAKES 

OVER 

Lash LaRlle 

^ (91) Drai 

T-MEN 

Dennis O'Keefe 

R—Dec. 

20—P(« 

^ (141) Dran 

GREEN DOLPHI 

STREET 

(103) Drama 809 

[£1 

KILLER McCOY 

Mickey Rooney 

Brian Donlevy 

H 

(110) Comedy 812 

NINOTCHKA 

Greta Carbo 


Peter Lawfo*d 

.loan McCracken 

H—Dec. 6—PG-879 

[9] (119) D, 

CASS TIMBERLANI 

Silencer Tiacy 

Lana Ttlrner 

Zachary Scott 

R_Nov. 8—PG 

^ 

(651 Cnm-Dr 625 

BOWERY BUCKAROOS 

1, G.ircey.Bouery Boys 

THE GANGSTER 

Bellla-B. Sullivan 

II—Oct. 4—PG-862 

[Tj (68) Drama 626 

THE CHINESE RING 

Roland Winters 

Louise Currie 

R—Dec. 20—PG-8S4 

g (58) Western 

GUN TALK 

Johnny Mack Brown 

Virginia Christine 

^ 

Re-release 

(66) Drama 4706 

BETRAYED 

Kim Hunter 

De.an Jagger 

Robert Mitchum 

[T] (68) Drama 

SMART POLITICS 

June Preisser 

P>eddie Stewart 

Noel Neill 

\m\ (66) Comei 

JIGGS AND H( 

IN SOCIETY 

Joe Yule 

Renie Riano 

R—Feb. 14—PG- 

i 

J 

|5T] (SO) Comedy 4704 

OWHERE THERE'S 

LIFE 

(69) Drama 4705 

[U 

BIG TOWN AFTER 

DARK 

Philip Reed 


H_Nov. 22—PG-S75 

101) Comedy 4707 

ROAD TO RIO 

Bing Crosby 

Dorothy 

ov. 

Lam our 

8—PO-871 

THE 

FUGITIVE 

Group 2 

(97) Drama 81 

OUT OF THE PAST 

Robert Mitchum 

Greer 

R—Nov. 22—PG-875 

Reissue 

(60) Western 

PAINTED DESERT 

Special 

128) Drama 

TYCOON 

ne 

R—Nov. 

Day 

29—PG-87. 

Group 2 

(114) Drama 

SO WELL 

REMEMBERED 

John Mills 

.Martha Scott 

Patricia Roc 

(97) Drama 628 

THE FLAME 

John Carroll 

Ralston 

Paige 


R_jan. 17— PG-891 

_ 

(69) Western HC16 

SUNSET TRAIL 

|13] (42) Outd'r-Dr 4707 

WHERE THE NORTH 

BEGINS 

issell 

Hayden 

[is] (65) Mus-West 652 

©UNDER COLORADO 

SKIES 

20—PG-883 

Dec. 

[is] (59) Western 752 

BANDITS OF DARK 

CANYON 

R—Dec. 1.3—PG-881 

_ 

(72) Drama 4706 

ROAD TO THE BIG 

HOUSE 

John Shell on 

R—Nov. 1—PG-869 

\T\ (64) Com-Dr 701 

MAIN STREET KID 

Janet 

Reissue 

Martin 

[J] (58) Western HC13 

PRIDE OF THE WEST 

William Boyd 

Gabby Hayes 


[Jo] (72) Outd' 

@GAY RANCHERO' 

lioy Rogers 

Tito Ouizar 

Andy Devine 

R—Jan. 10—PG-( 

[lo] (SO) Drami 

THE PRAIRIE 

Lenore Aubert 

Alan Baxter 

103) Drama 720 

SHEPHERD OF THE 

VALLEY 

n McCalllster 

Edmund Gwenn 

'eggy Ann Garner 

t—June 14—PO-830 

\T\ (67) M'drama 734 

ROSES ARE RED 

Don Castle 

Peggy Kjiudsen 

Patricia Knight 

ov. 8—PG-872 

TOBACCO ROAD 

Gene Tiemey 

Dana Andrews 

(128) Drama 7 

GRAPES OF WRATH 

Henry Fonda 

Jane Danvell 

Cirradine 

99) Drama 731 

DAISY KENYON 

Joan Crawford 

Dana Andrews 

Henry Fonda 

Ruth Warrick 

It—Nov. 29—PG-878 

(140) Drama 

©CAPTAIN FROI 

CASTILE 

Tyrone Power 

Jean Peters 

Cesar Romero 

Lee J. Cobb 

.John Sutton 

R—Dec. 6—-I 

^ 

(90) Drama 

NTRIGUE 

George 

Raft 

SLEEP, MY LOVE 

Claudette Colbert 

Robert Oimmlngs 

Don Ameche 

R—Jaji. 17—PG-892 

(77%) Drama 632 

©PIRATES OF 

MONTEREY 

Maria Montez 

Rod Cameron 

Phillip Reed 

G.ale Sondergaard 

R—Nov. 22—PG-876 

(88) Drama 6 

LOST MOMENT 

Hayward 

Robert 

Curamings 

18—PG-866 

(91) Drama 62 

OBLACK NARCISSUS 

Deborah Kerr 

David 

Farrar 

ily 12—PG-838 

(81) Drama 

THE SENATOR WAS 

NDISCREET 

William Powell 

Ella Raines 

Arleen Whelan 

K—Dec. 20—PO-S33 

Reissues 

[n] (93) Drama 710 

JEZEBEL 

Bette Davis 

(l3] (8S) Drama 712 

SLIGHT CASE OF 

RDER 

d G. Rohln.son 

^ 

(116) Drama 71 

ANTHONY ADVERSE 

Fredric March 

de Havilland 

[27) (101) Drama 711 

©MY WILD IRISH ROSE 

Dennis Morgan 

^ (78) Dra. 

ALWAYS T0GE1 

loyce Reynolds 

Robert Hutton 

R—Dec. 20—PC 

(82) Drama 

Hoffherg 

THUNDER IN THE 

HILLS 

It— liily 19—PO-840 

(901 Drama 

Superfllm 

ANYTHING FOR A SONG 

Ferruccio Tagllavlni 

R—Aug. 9—PO-846 

(83) Mus-Dr 

Superfllm 

SHOE-SHINE 

R—Sept. fi—PG-854 

(10,5) Melodrama 

LO QUE VA DE AYER 

A HOY 

R—Sept, 

1.3—pn-856 

(81) Mus-Dr 

Superfllm 

I LIVE AS I PLEASE 

Ferruccio 'Pagllavinl 

n—Sept. 13—PG-856 

(97) Com-Dr 

Clasa-Mnhme 

GUADALAJARA PUES 

R—SepI 13—pn-856 

(105) Drama 

Rupeifilm 

THE DEVILS ENVOYS NO BASTA SER 

CHARRO 

R—Srnl. 

27—PG-S(!r 

FAREWELL, MY 

BEAUTIFUL NA 

R—Ocl. IS—P(l-)

I 


jwnJARY kNUARY 17 JANUARY 24 JANUARY 31 FEBRUARY 7 FEBRUARY 14 FEBRUARY 21 

d((i;i Music; 

|23) (S:) Mus-lir 9 

(i;S) 

[5] Drama 

Kmour girl MARY LOU 

WRECK OF THE WOMAN FROM 

RELENTLESS 

IJlillE Grey 

itnhtTt Louery 

HESPERUS 

TANGIER 

Robert Yotini; 

Idid Diiane 

Joan Barton 

Wlllard PurliCT 

Wlllard Parker 

Gleiida Parrcll 

l^dâr Buchanan 

-Marguerite Chapman 

Friuikk Carle 

I'atricia While 

Micltael Duanc 

It—Jan. 17—PG-892 

R—Jan. 31—PG-895 

R—Feb. 14—PO-8 

FEBRUARY 28 

|22{ (109) Drama 

TO THE ENDS OF THE 

EARTH 

Dick Powell 

Slgne Hasso 

II—Jan. 24—PG-894 

FEATURE CHART 

MARCH 6 

,.:, Uruma 810 

OING FOR HEAVEN 

»-!)«. ::.—l'U-885 

[gi] (85) Drama 

©THE SMUGGLERS 

Michael KecJi^rave 

It^lan. 17—I'G-892 

HI) (52) Weslern 758 

STAGE TO MESA CITY 

Jnlinny 

Johnston 

[7] (83) Drama 

ADVENTURES OF 

CASANOVA 

Lucille 

Bremer 

[6] (99) Drama 815 

HIGH WALL 

KolierC Taylor 

Audrey Totter 

Herbert Marshall 

R— Dec. 20—rG-S83 

[m] (TO) Drama 8 

OPEN SECRET 

John Ireland 

Jane Randolph 

Roman Bohnen 

R-^lan. 24— l'G-8l)3 

TAKE MY LIFE 

Greta Gynl 

Hugh Williams 

It—Keb. 14—PC-901 

(S3) Musical 6S6 

C OF THE DRIFTER 

ay Wakfly 

|3i] (5S) Western 4751 

OVERLAND TRAIL 

.lohniiy Mack Brown 

Itiymond Hattnn 

[7] (75) Drama 

FIGHTING MAD 

Joe Klrkwood jr. 

Blyse Knox 

Leon Errol 

R—Feb. 7—PG-81 

[14] (66) Drama 4707 

PERILOUS WATERS 

Don Castle 

.\udrey Long 

ROSE OF THE RIO 

GRANDE 

.lohn (îrroll 

|2l] (90) Dram; 

ALBUQUERQUE 

R;indolph Scott 

Barbara Britlon 

Gabby Hiyes 

K—.Ian, 24—PO- 

Sl'PY Mc 

Di Barry 

LAWLESS 

VALLEY 

^ 

(61) Comedy 7 

CAMPUS HONEYMOOI 

Richard Crane 

Lmi Wilde 

Lee Wilde 

H;d Hackelt 

R— Feb. 14—PG-899 

(104) Drama 

THE FUGITIVE 

Henry Fonda 

Dolores Del Rio 

R—Nov. 15—PG-; 

Reissue 

(70) Drama 

©BAMBI 

Special 

(109) rom-Dr 85 

THE BISHOP'S WIFE 

R—Nov. 

22—PG-) 

|2i] (59) Western 753 

OKLAHOMA BADLANDS 

.\Il;tn "Rocky" Luuie 

Eddy W;ilkT 

|2i| (60) Drama 704 

MADONNA OF THE 

DESERT 

Don 

Cistle 

Reissue 

[f] (70) Western HC14 

IN OLD MEXICO 

William Boyd 

Gabby Hayes 


,2l] (42) Outd'r Dr 4708 

TRAIL OF THE 

MOUNTIES 


Jennifer Holt 

^ 

Herald 

(Negro) 

(71) Drama X-: 

MIRACLE IN HARLEM 

Stepln Fetchlt 

_ 

71) Western HC17 

SILVER ON THE SAGE 

im Boyd 

Gabby Hayes 


(81) Drama 80 

THE TENDER YEARS 

Joe B. Brown 

Richard Lyon 

Charles 

R_Dec. 

Drake 

6—rG-880 

(91) Musical 21 

YOU WERE MEANT 

FOR ME 

Jeanne Crain 

Dan Dailey 

Oscar Levant 

R—Jan. 24—PG-894 

DANGEROUS YEARS 

WiUlam Halop 

Scotty 

Richard 

Beckett 

Gaines 

(111) Drama 

CALL NORTHSIDE 777 

James Stewart 

Richard Conte 

Helen Walker 

R—Jan. 24—PG-894 

I 

;)3) Drama 

N BOYCOTT 

Craniier 

1 Ry;.n 

(90) Drama 

MAN OF EVIL 

James Mason 

Phyllis Calvert 

A 

(107) Comedy 

MIRACLE CAN 

HAPPEN 

All-Star 

R—Feb. 

Cast 

7—PG-89 

|n] (96) Drama 634 

A WOMAN'S 

VENGEANCE 

Charles Boyer 

Ann Blyth 

Jessica Tandy 

R—Dec. 27—PG-8S6 

^ 

(99) Drama 6 

SECRET BEYOND 

THE DOOR 

Joan Bennett 

Michael Rederave 

.Natalie Schafer 

R—.I;m. 10—PG-S89 

g (126) Drama 

TREASURE OF 

SIERRA MADRE 


MY GIRL TISA 

Lllll Palmer 

Sam Wanamaker 

RÎan 24—PG-893 

g 

(103) Drama 716 

VOICE OF THE TURTLE 

Ronald Reagan 

E eanor Parker 

R— Dec. 27—PG-886 

\e} (78) Drama 717 

BECAME A CRIMINAL 

Sally Gray 

Trevor Howard 

Griffith Jones 

R—Feb. 14—PG-902 

R—Oct. 

18—PG-865 

(91) Drama 

Leo Cohn 

THE BLUE VEIL 

R— (let. 25—PG-868 

(97) Comedy 

ChLâ-Mohme 

QUE VERDE ERA Ml 

PADRE! 

R—Oct. 25—PG-8e8 

(85) Drama 

Film Rts. Inf] 

ELIXIR OF LOVE 

R—Nov. 

1—PG-869 

(90) Drama 

Times Films 

TO LIVE IN PEACE 

R—Dec. 13—PG-882 

(67) Drama 

Distinguished 

REVENGE 

Anna Magnani 

R—Dec, 13—PG-882 

Grandi 

LUCIA Dl 

LAMMERMOOR 

R—Dec. 13—Pn-882 

(98) Drama 

Tricolore 

PANIC 

R—Dec. 1.3— PG-S81 

Siiperfilm 

STORY OF TOSCA 

R_,I:,n. 

3—PG-887 

CAVALLERIA 

RUSTICANA 

R—J.in 111— PG-S9II 

(105 Comedy 

(85) Mus-Dr 

A. F. Films 

LA SYMPHONIE 

FANTASTIQUE 

R—Jan. in— PG-8S9

REVIEW DIGEST 

and Alphabetical Picture Guide Index- 

II fi n I 

B50 Adventure Island Para 8-23-47 

893 Albuquerque (90) Para. 1-24-48 

895 Alias a Gentleman (78) MGM 1-31-48 

855Alono the Oregon Trail (64) Rep... 9-13-47 

88

i 

/ inlerpretalive analysis of opinions deduced Irom the language of lay 

cd trade press reviews. The plus and minus signs indicate the degree 

c favor or disfavor of the review?. This department serves also as an 

r/PHABETICAL INDEX to feature releases. Numeral preceding title is 

rpture Guide Review page number. In parentheses after title is running 

time. Date following distributor is BOXOFFICE review date. Listings cover 

current reviews. It is brought up to dale regularly. The meaning of 

vnnni.a 

the 

signs and their combinations is as follows: 

H Very Good; Good; ± Fair; Poor; = Very Poor, 

In the summary is rated as 2 pluses; = as 2 minuses. 

i 

i 

i

Movietone News, No. II: U.S. and Canada 

join in mercy flight to frozen north; Havana 

exiles King Leopold III of Belgium; France 

new giant dam across river Rhone; paratroops J 

take part in exercise snow drop in New York; i 

four are now nine as Badgett quads enjoy .ij 

a birthday; Bob Hope presents Look maga- 

zine to Darryl F. Zanuck and Gregory Peck; I 

speed skating at St. Paul; ice boat regatta atj. 

Lake Geneva, Wis.; school for umpires in3 

Florida. 

I 

News of the Day, No. 245: Washington spot-^ 

light on communists; exercise snow drop' 

jj 

SHORTS REVIEWS 

Aren't We All? 

Columbia (Film Novelties) II Minutes. 

Good. First of a new series in which Col. 

Lemuel Q. Stoopnagle, raconteur and radio 

personality, describle human foibles in a 

manner reminiscent of the late Robert Benchley. 

Col. Stoopnagle, with his oily personality 

and annoying laugh, points out the little 

idiosyncrasies that are familiar to us all. 

Among them are the diner who can't make 

up his mind, the chair-hopper who never can 

get comfortable in any seat and, most amusing, 

the female ash tray emptier. 

Community Sing 

Columbia (No. 4—Series 12) 10 Minutes 

Fair. Similar to other shorts in this series 

designed to entertain patrons who enjoy singing 

while the words of popular songs ore 

flashed on the screen. The Song Spinners, 

with Dick Leibert at the organ, carry the tune 

for the old favorite, "When You Were Sweet 

Sixteen," and several numbers including 

"Cecilia, That's My Desire" and the novelty, 

"Red Silk Stockings and Green Perfume." 

Navy Crew Champions 

Columbia (World of Sports) 10 Minutes 

Good. There are plenty of thrills in the 

closing shots of this reel during an exciting 

rowing race in which the navy crew becomes 

the nation's champion. Sportscaster Bill Stern 

provides live-wire commentary throughout. 

The early reel follows the national crew 

champions during workouts for the famous 

Poughkeepsie regatta. 

Oi{ the Air 

Columbia (Screen Snapshots) 10 Minutes. 

Good. Entertaining "off the air" shots of 

famous radio personalities. Kay Kyser attempts 

to build a playhouse for his daughter, 

Sharon, with disastrous results; Art Linkletter 

tries to be as amusing as his "'People Are 

Funny" show, and 'Vera Vague nearly talks 

Eve Arden to decfth. Al Jolson makes a brief 

appearance as do Hal "Gildersleeve" Peary 

and Ralph Edwards, the "Truth or Consequences" 

man. 

Wedlock Deadlock 

Columbia (All-Star Comedies) 16 Minutes. 

Good. The latest Joe DeRita comedy is a 

frantic farce about newlyweds with in-law 

trouble. It's the broadest sort of slapstick, 

but will get laughs from average patrons. 

Esther Howard, as a sarcastic mother-in-law, 

and Dorothy Granger, as a would-be singer, 

are amusing and Christine Mclntyre plays the 

worried bride. DeRita finally drives out his 

wife's relations but finds that two of his friends 

have decided to move in. 

/ Love My Mother-in-Law 

BUT 

MGM (Pete Smith Specialty) 8 Minutes 

Very good. Another in the entertaining 

comedy series dealing with average domestic 

problems. Although slightly exaggerated, it's 

close enough to the truth to bring chuckles 

from all types of patrons. Dave O'Brien plays 

a husband who does his best to keep his 

temper while coping with several types of 

mothers-in-law. Among them is the snoopy 

the kind who sweetly suggests changes 

kind, 

about the house and the kind who sows 

tho seeds of suspicion in her daughter's mind. 

Opiaioas 00 tho Curreat Short Sub'itcts- 

All American Swing Stars i ±L hl^xA/sr^^ls 

^r,rantland Rice SDortliaht) Sporthght) 

III Ills: IMCWJICCIJ 

(Grantland Rice 

Paramount 10 Minutes 

Good. Seven top golf stars are presented 

here. Sam Snead, Jimmy Thompson, Byron 

Nelson, Jimmy Demaret, Ben Hogan, Lew 

Worsham and Joe Kirkwood demonstrate the 

fine points of the game. The short is interesting 

for golfers and nongolfers. 

Base Brawl 

Paramount (Screen Song) 8 Minutes 

Good. A lively film produced in Polacolor. 

It is built around the song, "Take Me Out to 

the Ball Game," and gives a ball-by-ball account 

of the game between a team of elephants, 

the Jungle Jumboes, and the Forest 

All Stars. The All Stars include mice and 

monkeys, who eventually triumph over elephant 

brawn. The short includes a cotnmunity 

sing guided by a bouncing ball. 

Home Sweet Home 

Paramount (Speaking of Animals) 10 Minutes 

Fair. Now that the novelty has 'worn off, 

this series is losing its zest. This latest edition 

shows how the various animals live. The 

lovebirds in their cages, turtles and armadillos 

in their shells and pigs in their pens. 

They all contribute a wisecrack about living 

conditions. 

Samba Mania 

Paramount (Musical Parades) 18 Minutes 

Several uninspiring dance routines in 

Fair. 

the Latin American manner serve to hold 

together a thin plot about lovesick night club 

performers. Isabelita, Russ Vincent, Billy 

Daniels, Betty Hannon and the Bombalera 

girls are featured in the song and dance 

numbers. These include "Jack, Jack, Jack," 

"Olivia from Olvera Street" and "Tacos Tostados 

Tamales." 

Streamlined Luxury 

Paramount (Popular Science) 10 Minutes 

Interesting. The main feature of this short 

the train of tomorrow. It is a Diesel-powered 

is 

train capable of traveling more than 100 miles 

an hour without sacrificing the passengers' 

comfort. The coaches have astral observation 

domes, comfortable seats, thick carpeting and 

telephones. The short also shows new household 

gadgets such as a salt shaker that works 

under water and an airplane-type control 

stick for sink faucets. 

Banquet Busters 

United Artists (Lantz Cartune) 7 Minutes 

Good. Two unemployed musicians, Andy 

Panda and Woody Woodpecker, crash a 

party given by Mrs. Van Glutton. They cause 

a near riot and break up the party in their 

mad rush for food. The film is in Technicolor. 

Fingal's Cave 

United Artists (Loew Musicolor) 10 Minutes 

Fair. Art theatres would be the best gullets 

for this film which combines sea phonography 

and the "Hebrides Overture" by Felix 

Mendelssohn. The Janssen symphony orchestra 

of Los Angeles handles the musical 

end of the picture which was photographed 

by Alan Stensvold and Jack McCoskey. The 

film is in Cinecolor. 

The Mad Hatter 

United Artists (Lantz Cartune) 7 Minutes 

Fair. Woody Woodpecker buys a top hat 

in order to get a job as an actor. The hat is 

too small and keeps popping off his head. It 

lands on a frog, a goose and a stork, leading 

Woody a wild and not-so-merry chase. He 

doesn't get the job. A Technicolor film. 

Movietone Newrs, No. 10: World 

Gandhi; Pope Pius thanks organizers of 

Friendship train; Paris fire destroys friendship 

food; Virginia marines sail for Mediterranean; 

Canada—Montreal area cleared of snow; winter 

Olympics at St. Moritz, Switzerland; Santa 

Anita; Millrose games. 

News of the Day, No. 244: World mourns 

Gandhi— film story of his amazing career; more 

marines embark; fur fashions—guess where?; 

Millrose games; first film of 1948 Olympic 

games. 

Paramount News, No. 47: Winter Olympics 

first pictures from St. Moritz; Canada welcomes 

new pioneers; India without Gandhi; 

record indoor mile—Gil Dodds breaks own 

world mark. 

Universal News, No. 114: Gandhi assassinated; 

Canada welcomes displaced Europeans; 

Gil Dodds breaks mile record -at Millrose 

games; photo finish thrills Santa Anita 

race fans; disputes mark opening at St. 

Moritz. 

Warner Pathe News, No. 49: Olympics begin; 

world mourns Gandhi; France devalues 

franc; Florida's fur fashions; Canada welcomes 

displaced persons from Europe; fire 

destroys friendship food; Dodds shatters world 

mark. 

• 

Arctic tost for army; 18-month-old orangutan;-, 

magic brain comes to aid of science; exiled 'S 

Belgium monarch finds haven in Cuba; school^ i— 

for umpires. 

J 

Paramount News, No. 48: Hearing on legis- ' 

lature to curb Reds; first pictures of Gandhi's 

funeral rites; skiing as you like it. 

Universal News, No. 115: Troops snow drop 

in winter exercise at Pine Camp, N. Y; Labrador 

mercy mission; French open high dam 

at Genissiat; Badgett quads celebrate ninth 

birthday; thrilling ski meet at Leavenworth, 

Wash.; English-Irish setter pups take a bow; 

Wisconsin ice boat regatta. 

Warner Pathe News, No. 50: Airpower conquers 

winter; um.pire school trains men; open 

war on heart disease; Lewis fights Foxworth; 

people in the news—skiing night and day; 

great Americans—Abraham Lincoln 

All American News, Vol. 6, No. 276: Atlanb 

university receives high rating; garden cl 

in Chattanooga, Tenn., presents dance 

view; first year-round resort for Negroe, 

opened in Volusia county, Fla.; Carver recip 

for flour substitutes; disk jockey opens taleft 

agency in Chicago; Kentucky's oldest am 

newest fire equipment demonstrated in Lou: 

ville. 

• 

Telenews Digest, No. 5: Fresno air crasl 

kills 32; cold weather grips east; new Eur< 

pean aid plan begins; couple celebrates 70tl 

anniversary; Gandhi killing stirs world; Dutcl 

Indonesian truce signed; France—Orphans' 

homes care for war-wounded kids; Austi 

Crime museum opens at Vienna; New York- 

Mechanical brain exhibition; boxing—Cerd< 

scores knockout in Paris bout; boating—Yachj 

scene at Chicago show; midget race's come t( 

Mexico; sports we seldom see—Swedish 

bathers. 

f 

12 

BOXOFnCE BookinGuide :: Feb. 14, 194J|

Opinions on Currenf Productions; ExploHips for Selling to the Public 

FEATURE REVIEWS 

Three Daring Daughters F ^::Z. 

MGM (817) IIG Minutes Rel. Mar. 5. "48 

Praiseworthy on more counts than hmited space will permit 

chronicling, the picture which brings Jeanette MacDonald 

back to the screen after a long absence is relreshingly 

reminiscent of the days when she and Leo were queen and 

king of the iilmusicols. With rare good judgment, she is 

cast to be her age, the mother of the three youngsters whose 

machinations give the film its title and its 

talents and 

engrossing story. La MacDonald photographs as beautiful 

as ever and her voice seems to have lost none of its charm. 

She is supported by a sterling cast, headed by Jose Iturbi, 

who portrays himself but this time displays, in addition 

to his magic fingers, a considerable talent for acting. With 

a bevy of magnetic names to attract the customers and 

superior quality to send them away gushing plaudits, it 

appears certain to gross handsomely. Fred M. Wilcox directed 

expertly. 

Jeanette MacDonald, Jose Iturbi, Jane Powell, Edward 

Arnold, Harry Davejiport, Moyna MacGill, Ann E. Todd. 

Caged Fury 

Paramount ( ) 80 Minutes Rol. 

Apparently there is no ceiling on the number of hazardous 

occupations which Producers Pine and Thomas can unearth 

to serve as subject matter for the fast moving actioners which 

constitute the major share of Paramount's B program. This 

time they delve into the lives and loves of the lads and 

lassies who earn their coffee and cakes training and exhibiting 

the big cats of the circus. Through the use of an aboveaverage 

amount of stock film of big top acts and people 

most of which is adroitly edited into the studio-exposed footage—the 

offering is given an air of authenticity and productional 

opulence which transcends its budgetary limitations. 

Thus, as a top rate, suspenseful film—and further considering 

the fact that the screen has had few circus pictures during 

recent years—the offering earns rating as one of P&T's better 

efforts. Directed by William Berke. 

Richard Denning, Sheila Ryan, Mary Beth Hughes, Buster 

Crabbe, Frank Wilcox. 

F 

Last Days of Boot Hill The Wreck of the Hesperus F 

Columbia (964) 56 Minutes \el. Nov. 20, -47 Columbia (802) Minutes Rel. Feb. 5, '48 

Contains all the elements which have made this Durango 

Kid series popular with the action houses, but badly 

scrambled by flashback sequences. Half the time the audience 

won't be able to distinguish between what happened 

before and what is supposed to be happening now. For 

'flashbacks to invade the most primitively conceived westerns 

is a little disconcerting, but maybe if was a desperate attempt 

to vary the plot for those following the Kid's lightning 

costume changes, his white charger always conveniently 

hid in some timbered ravine. The scheming widow of an 

ex-outlaw tries to cheat her stepdaughter out of her inheritance 

and the government out of restitution, but Durango 

rides in and out of the picture and miracles of justice occur 

Smiley Burnette furnishes comedy and corny songs. Ray 

Nazarro directed. 

Charles Starrett, Smiley Burnette, 'Virginia Hunter, PauK 

Campbell, Mary Newton, Bill Free, J. Courtland Lytton. 

This sea-action picture is well produced to hold the 

audience attention throughout. Gloucester sea captain Willard 

Parker is blackballed by ship-owners because his ship 

has wrecked on Norman's Woe. He throws in his fortunes 

with a salvage company, unaware that its sinister manager, 

Edgar Buchanan, is causing ships to go down by putting 

out false lanterns to mark the channel during storms. Parker 

opposes in the meeting-house the local project to build 

a lighthouse, resisting pleas of his sweetheart. His brother's 

ship, the Hesperus, with niece aboard, goes down and he 

begins to suspect the salvage leader—accusing him. That 

crafty crook gets authority from the governor to arrest Parker 

and stop his burning- flares until a lighthouse can be 

built, but the sweetheart rides to the governor and they 

trap the salvage crooks, John Hoffman directed, 

Willard Parker, Ec'gar Buchanan, Patricia White, Holmes 

Herbert, Wilton Gralf, Boyd Davis, Jeff Corey. 

Jiggs and Maggie in Society 

(4704) 66 Minutes ReL Jan. 10, '48 

George McManus' venerable and popular cartoon characters 

herein undertake their second screen adventure in 

series being produced by Barney Gerald, which offering 

the 

compares favorably with the initialer and can be considered 

dependable to attract like amounts of patronage and praise. 

Continuing adherence to the comic strip technigue, the 

film unavoidably suffers somewhat in story values. But 

the slapstick comedy, expected in pictures stemming from 

such material, is present in sufficient quantities to satisfy 

those whose tastes favor that kind of humor. The photoplay 

finds another exploitable asset in the presence of Dale 

Carnegie, Arthur Murray and Sheilah Graham, who, while 

they add little to Thespian stature, are nonetheless homes 

to be reckoned with. The stars are compeiently supported and 

Eddie Cline's direction displays his flair for broad comedy. 

Joe Yule, Renie Riano, Dale Carnegie, Arthur Murray, 

Sheilah Graham, Tim Ryan, Wanda McKay, Lee Bonnell. 

F 

Campus Honeymoon F JiZ'L 

RepubUc (703) 61 Minutes Rel. Jan. 31, '48 

Through employment of a youthful, enthusiastic and talented 

cast, and a carefully and cleverly contrived screenplay, 

Fanchon, in her first time at bat as a Republic producer, 

turned out a breezy, bright and blithesome photoplay which 

greatly transcends its budgetary classification. She was 

materially aided in her efforts by Richard Sale, who directed 

from a script of his own concoction. As a supporting booking 

in the de luxe situations—particularly where the younger 

element sees its celluloid—the film will add luster and enjoyment 

to any program, while subsequently it will press the 

No. 1 offering for audience appreciation. Refreshingly timely, 

the yarn deals with the crowded living conditions on American 

college campuses and how two GIs in order to crash a 

married vets' housing project join two comparably homeless 

gals and pose as married couples. Songs are catchy. 

Lyn Wilde, Lee Wilde, Adele Mara, Richard Crane, Hal 

Hackett, Wilson Wood, Stephanie Bachelor. 

Black Hills 

Eagle Lion (851) 

Minutes ReL Oct. 25, 

The action is fast and the chases are many as Eddie Dean 

brings the villains to justice. Western fans and juvenile 

audiences will be satisfied with the lively pace of the picture. 

The film should draw in situations that usually show 

;hi.-. type of product, and also should prove suitable for 

Saturday children's shows. For added western name value 

there is Roscoe Ates, stumble-tongued comedian. He is cost 

as Dean's side-kick. The Plainsmen help out in the musical 

department. Dean, of course, handles the solos. There is 

little that is new in the story of a crooked gambler who kills 

an honest rancher to get control of a gold mine. The gambler 

fails to reckon with Eddie Dean who exposes him as the 

killer and saves the gold mine for the son and daughter of 

the rancher. Ray Taylor directed-. 

Western Heritage 

'47 RKO Radio (812) 61 jnutes Rel. Feb. 22, '48 

'-^ 

It's a Tim Holt ooter, localed in Arizona and utilizing 

formula situation No. 3—the one in which the heavy and his 

coterie of bad 'uns undertake a land grab from the honest, 

hard-working ranchers. That's about all that can be or need 

be told to showmen who habitually book entries in the Holt 

sagebrush series and/or countless comparable gallopers. 

This one perhaps assays a notch or two below the average 

of that continuous flow of film, but it's a western, nonetheless, 

and will encounter little difficulty in satisfying the juves and 

other bang-bang fans. There's plenty of lead and fist slinging 

and hard riding to keep the action on the move, although 

the film is not as effectively written, directed and edited as 

some of its predecessors. Holt's play is backed by the supporting 

cast which has become standard equipment to the 

series. Directed by Wallace A. Grissell. 

Eddie Dean, Roscoe Ates, Shirley Patterson, Terry Frost. 

Steve Drake, Nina Bara, Bill Fawcett, The Plainsmen. 

Tim Holt, Nan Leslie, Richard Martin, Lois Andrews, Tony 

Barrett, Walter Reed, Harry Woods, Richard Powers.

. . . Up 

. . And 

Really 

. . 

. . 

. . 

. . Pounding Hoofs . . . 

. . Jam-Crowded 

. . Who 

. . Heart-Warming 

. . . Jiggs and Maggie . . . Whose 

. . Eddie 

. . Guns 

. 

^ 

. . 

EXPLOITIPS Suggestions for Selling; Adiines for Newspaper and PrograJth-' 

SELLING ANGLES: 

"Caged Funr" 

Impart a circus background to your lobby with colorful 

posters reminiscent of sideshow advertising. In street ballyhoo 

or lobby exploitation a man dressed as a sideshow 

barker would be effective. Stage an "unusual pets" show 

for the juveniles with prizes going to the most out-of-theordinary 

entries. Merchandising tieups could be worked out 

with gasoline dealers such as: "Unleash the 'Caged Fury' that 

lies hidden in that motor. Use Blank Ethyl." 

CATCHLINES: 

Thrill to a Story of Adventure, Love and Jealousy Under 

the Big Tod ... As Two Girls Fight Over the Headliner in a 

Wild-Uon Act . Nearly Fall Into a Trap Set by a 

Jealous Fool . . . The Circus Clown . . . Who Is Destroyed 

by the Very Weapons He Had Planned to Use. 

Step Right Up, Ladies and Gentlemen . . . It's First Come, 

First Served ... For the Thrill Picture of the Year ... A 

Compelling Story o! Lives and Loves Under the Big Top . 

Loaded With Action and Adventure. 

SELLING ANGLES: "The Wreck of the Hesperus" 

Although there is little of Longfellow's poem by this title in 

the plot, except for the captains daughter being found 

lashed to the mast, the picture is one which should please 

the high school crowd. Sponsor an elocution contest in the 

local high schools, with the winner getting a cash prize 

and reciting this poem on the opening night on the stage, 

to help advertise the picture. Another contest would be to 

name lighthouses off the Atlantic coast. Use a model lighthouse 

in the lobby and a wrecked ship model. 

CATCHLINES: 

More Treacherous Than the Raging Sea Were the Dark 

Schemes of the Dishonest Salvager . . . Immortal Epic of 

Dark Deeds and Wild Rapture ... A Light That Failed and 

a Love That Braved Disaster. 

"It Was the Schooner Hesperus That Sailed the Wintery 

Sea " From the Sea He Came to Live and Love 

but Some Whispered That He Mocked the Dead . . . The 

Sea Casts Up a Thrilling Tale of Treachery and Love . . . 

With Strong Men and Brave Women Unconquered by Raging 

Elements. 


"Campus Honeymoon' 

Hire an ancient collegiate-type jalopy, fill it with youngsters 

and paint it up with plugs for picture and theatre, 

using it in street ballyhoo. The picture's theme suggests you 

rounjd up married couples attending nearby colleges as special 

guests opening night. Use their comments on the film 

in subsequent advertising. Make up cardboard pennants to 

string around the marquee and dress attendants in collegiate 

fashion. Plant throwaways in popular school meeting places. 

CATCHLINES: 

Postwar Campus Capers ... In a New and Different Collegiate 

Era . . . Where the Students ' Study ... But 

They're Still Hep, Happy and Hilarious . . . And They've 

Still Got the Heart-Beat of That College Rhythm. 

There May Be a Housing Shortage . . . For the Married 

Kids Who Want to Go to College ... But There's No Shortage 

of Romance and Laughs . . . Mirth and Music ... In This 

Campus Caper That Delivers Chuckles by the Carload . 

It's Tops Among the Season's Romantic Comedies. 

V: ^ 


"Three Daring Daughters" 

There is a galaxy of star names to sell, with music store 

and recording tieups to be worked out on Pianist Jose 

Iturbi, Jeanette MacDonald and Lorry Adler, harmonica 

virtuoso. Life-sized cutouts of the "three daring daughters" 

would make an effective lobby display. Offer special admission 

rates to families with three daughters. Interviews 

with such families on "why we think our three daughters 

ore wonderful" should be capable of planting with newspapers. 

CATCHLINES: 

Rollicking Comedy . Romance . 

Glorious New Thrill in Music ... All Rolled into One Magnificent 

Package of ;he Kind of Wholesome, Laugh-Studded 

Entertainment You Love. 

A 

You'll Fall Head Over Heels for These Three Daring 

Damsels . Tried Their Level Worst ... To Straighten 

Out Their Lovely Mother's Tangled Romance . . . It's Gay 

. . . It's Melodic . . . It's Exciting . . . It's Guaranteed 100 

Per Cent Swell Entertainment. 


"Last Days of Boot Hill" 

Play Smiley's latest records in the lobby before the picture 

shows, using stills of him with his guitar. Show stills 

of the masked Durango Kid alongside Charles Starrett in 

on action pose. Offer ticket prizes for the best five essays 

on the origin of the phrase "Boot Hill" and the towns which 

had the most famous ones in the early west. Use a western 

boot display in the lobby. 

CATCHLINES: 

Durango and Smiley Smoke Out Looted Gold . . . Blast 

'Em Durango, Slay 'Em, Smiley . . . Bullet-Hot Thrills and 

Tunes . With Action and Melody . . . Tops 

for Thrills. 

Durango Kid and Smiley Are Galloping into Town . 

Warbling Smiley Makes a Wobbly Deputy Sheriff . . . 

Durango is Hot on Law-Breaker Trails, as Usual ... if 

Durango's a Ghost, He's a Tough One. 

SELLING ANGLES: "Jiggs and Maggie in Society" 

Tieups are in order if a local newspaper carries the 

widely-read George McManus comic strip. Capitalize also 

on the two persons appearing in the -film—Arthur Murray 

and Dole Carnegie. As to Murray, if there is one of his 

dancing schools in your area, plug it and the picture with 

an amateur dancing contest on the stage. Sell Carnegie 

via special library and bookstore tieups on his "How to 

Win Friends and Influence People." 

CATCHLINES: 

Based on the Best-Loved of All Comic Strip Characters 

Adventures Are Read the 

World Over . . . Wow! What a Row! . . . It's a New High 

in Hilarity When Those Top Crumbs of the Upper Crust 

Start Scrappin' . . . The First Family of Fun Is in High 

Sassiety Now. 

Maggie's Mad and Gettin' Madder . . . Jiggs Is in Bad 

and Gettin' Battered . . . Those Battlin' Bluebloods Have 

Got the Social Set in a Sweat ... In Their Second Rollicking 

Film Frolic. 

* 

SELLING ANGLES: "Western Heritage " 

Tim Holt is the name to sell. Do it through organizing 

"Tim Holt Junior Rangers" clubs among juvenile patrons. 

Arrange for window displays of western-type clothing such as 

levis, riding boots and sombreros. Tie in with local radio 

stations featuring western musical progframs. Make the usual 

tieups with magazine dealers on western stories. Offer prizes 

for the best juvenile impersonators of Holt. Give the theatre 

front and lobby a western-style dressing. 

CATCHLINES: 

Another Thrill-Filled Saga of the Roaring West . . . Packed /Tnd 

With the Adventure of Lawless Life and Reckless Drama . 

ô< 

Brawling Fists . . . Smoking Guns . 

And Action All the Way. 

Rip-Roaring Action ... As Tim Holt Goes Up Against 

Blazing Six-Guns . . . It's Fast-Riding, Fast-Punching, Fast- 

Shooting Outdoor Entertainment ... An Hour of Heart- 

Pounding Excitement . . . Riding into the Night . . . Roaring 

into Danger . . . With All the Thrills of the Rugged West 

Co 


"Black Hills" 

Arrange music store tieups for Eddie Dean records. He has 

made a number of recordings for Majestic. Counter and window 

displays of these records and sheet music of songs 

written by Dean can be used. Have a man ride around town 

in a cowboy outfit with playdate notice draped over horse's 

flanks. Hold a cowboy costume contest for kiddies attending 

Saturday shows. Merchants can provide prizes. 

CATCHLINES: 

. 

. 

A Tale of Rip-Roaring Action Dean Heads Into 

His Most Exciting Adventures Blaze and Bullets 

Fly ... A Smashing Story oi the Fighting West. 

Fast and Furious Action . . . Men Stake Their Lives on 

Gold . . . KUlers Lurk Behind Every Rock . . . Eddie Dean 

Battles Outlaws ... He Sings His Way Into Your Heart.

Opinions on Current Productions; Exploitips for Selling to the Public FEATURE REVIEWS 

/ Became a Criminal F 

"='"'""'' 

Warner Bros. (717) 78 Minutes Rel. Mar. G, '48 

Mobsters, molls and murderers, doing their scenery-chewing 

best to emulate American gangsters, but finding themselves 

considerably handicapped in such attempts by 

Limehouse or Mayfair accents, give this British production 

a laugh content for American audiences which, probably, 

the producers didn't intend. While the subject matter deals 

with English criminals—black marketeers to be specific 

the screenplay obviously was modeled after countless and 

definitely dated American pictures dealing with gangdom; 

and m.onaged to pick up most of the cliches of those assorted 

patterns without inheriting any of their tempo or 

atmosphere. The only patrons who might get some enjoyment 

from the picture are oldsters to whom it will be 

nostalgically reminiscent of the days when melodrama was 

the piece de resistance of repertoire companies, and villains 

were hissed. Directed by Cavalcanti. 

Sally Gray. Trevor Howard, Grillith Jones, Rene Ray, Mary 

MerralL Charles Farrell, Phyllis Robins. 

frrCQV F 

Melodrama 

lUbby i (Technicolor) 

Univ-Inl'l ( ) 98 Minutes Rel. 

Our British cousins ore unrivalled in their facility at 

utilizing two or three complex and interminable story lines 

and weaving them into a celluloid whole that is bulging 

at the seams with unadulterated melodrama. In this instance 

such film-making technique is embellished with 

Technicolor and an estimable array of players, but the end 

result—for American audiences, at any rate—is just plain 

dull. Filmed under the banner of J Arthur Rank, it boasts 

production trappings of a lovishness belying England's 

present program of austerity, but the plot is completely unbelievable 

and the direction by Barnard Knowles is heavyhanded. 

In American bookings, the reception it will receive 

will probably be very cool. Prominent in the rambling 

yarn are a gypsy girl, accused of being a witch; a dealmute 

servant and a hard-headed country squire. 

Margaret Lockwood, Patricia Roc, Dennis Price, Basil Sydney, 

Dermot Walsh, Esma Cannon, Cathleen Nesbitt. 

-D 

Take My Liie F 

^~ 

Eagle Uon (814) 79 Minutes Rel. Feb. 28. '48 

Here's a laudable importation from J. Arthur Rank's 

British production hopper—another crime-and-suspense 

thriller at which the English have frequently demonstrated 

their prowess in the past. This one is in the moderatebudget 

category, but that do#sn't stop it from delivering 

a full measure of action, thrills and mystery and winding 

up with a slam-bang climax. It is handicapped by a rather 

weak title and a cast of (to Americans, at least) comparative 

unknowns, but the entertainment content justifies bookings 

at least as half of a dual program, in which niche it 

should completely satisfy. The premise is a familiar one 

the innocent man accused of murder—but the unfoldment 

of the plot is deftly handled and the suspense mounts 

continuously until his wife successfully unearths the true 

culprit. Directed by Ronald Neame. 

Hugh Williams, Greta Gynt, Leo Bieber, Marjorie Mors. David 

Wallbridge. Francis L. Sullivan. Rosalie Crutchman. 

The Idiot 

7\ Drama 

E. C. D. 100 Minutes 

Rel. Feb. '48 

A morbid French film of love and religion in 19th century 

Russia as described by the noveUst Dostoievsky in his 

literary classic. Too brooding and too involved for overage 

audiences, the picture will have to earn its grosses in art 

theatres. It also has possibilities as a special midweek attraction 

for theatres in college towns. There is little name 

value in the cast even for habitual foreign-language patrons. 

Scenes of great power and frank romance are in the story, 

which tells of a young. Christlike prince v,rho returns to 

Russia filled with idealism. In his zeal to save souls and 

forgive sins he helps prevent two marriages because they 

are based on convenience, not love. His sainfliness is 

responsible for driving a man to murder. Gerard Philippe 

is as this idealist excellent. George Lampin directed. 

European Copyrights & Distribution, Inc., 151 East 51 st St., 

New York, N. Y. 

Gerard Philippe, Edwige Feuillere, Marguerite Moreno, 

Lucien Coedel. 

Springtime 

Four Continents Films 80 Minutes Rel. 

British musicals rarely impress American audiences, and 

"Springtime" will be no exception. Its song and dance 

routines are skimpy by Hollywood standards. Its story of 

the showgirl who falls in love with a wealthy aristocrat and 

runs into parental objections has been told too often. The 

picture can help fill the lower half of a midweek bill. Do not 

to top production from England, because you will 

try to sell it 

antagonize regular patrons of British films who have come to 

expect class entertainment. The best the picture has to 

offer is some pleasant singing by Carol Raye as the showgirl. 

She plays a dual role. In the first role she is a 1911 

music hall artist who fails to get her aristocratic sweetheart. 

In the second role she is a 1945 showgirl who wins the 

nephew of the original lover. Hans May directed. 

Peter Graves, Carol Raye, Lawrence O'Madden, Leni Lynn. 

Netta Westcott, David Home, Diana Calderwood. 

Bohemian Rapture 

Artldno 88 Minutes Rel. 

Foreign-language patrons, particularly those of Bohemian 

origin, will be the chief customers for this film produced 

in postwar Czechoslovakia. As a story about the 19th 

century Czech violinist-composer, Josef Salvik, it also may 

appeal to Americans devoted to serious music. The picture 

includes numerous violin and orchestral selections composed 

by Slavik and Paganini. The English titles fail to 

cope with the involved plot, which is tied in with dream 

sequences and emotional .upheavals. The film tells the story 

of Slavik's stormy career as a musician and ladies' man. He 

loves his rich and beautiful patroness who merely toys 

with his affection. He is loved in turn by two other women 

whom he ignores until it is too late. These complications 

and conflicts are shown through trick photography that 

was in vogue 20 years ago in the U.S., Germany and Russia. 

Vaclav Krska directed. 

Jaromir Spal, Vaclav Voska, Karel Dostal, Vlasta Fabianova, 

Libuse Zemkova. 

F 

%r ,^;n 

The Eternal Return 

Discina Int'l Films 92 Minutes Rel. 

An ur.jsual and decidedly arty French film based on the 

ancient Tristan and Isolde legend. This is a modern version, 

without the glorious Wagner music but with two striking 

blond players, Jean Marais and Madeleine Sologne, as the 

unhappy lovers. The theme and the author, Jean Cocteau, 

make this an excellent draw for the art houses. It's too unreal 

and slow-moving for general audiences. The settings of a 

palatial old chateau, a snowbound cabin in the mountains 

and the seacoast of a lonely island have been rnagnificently 

photographed. Miss Sologne is beautiful, but rather artificial 

as the modern-day Isolde. However, Marais is excellent as 

the virile blond Tristan and Pieral makes a sinister figure of 

the evil dwarf nephew who gives the lovers a poisoned drink 

which acts as a love potion. As in the opera, the ending is 

a tragic one. Jean Delannoy directed. Discina is at 250 

West 57th St., New Ycrk City. 

Jean Marais. Madeleine Sologne, Jean Murat, Junie Astor, 

Pieral, Yvonne DeBray. Roland Toutain. 

This Wine of Love F ::;L 

Superlilm Distributing Corp. 96 Minutes Rel. 

Latest opera to be filmed in Italian is a pleasantly improbable 

comedy with a full quota of fine arias. Based on 

Donizetti's "L'Elisir D' Amore," the picture will have a strong 

appeal to music lovers and should do good business in art 

houses. Will also have a draw in Italian neighborhoods, 

but, because none of the singers is known in America, it 

will have little value for general audiences. Like "The 

Barber of Seville," this closely follows the confines of the 

stage action, but the settings suggest real-life backgrounds. 

While the singing appears to have been dubbed in, the 

arias are delightfully rendered by the entire cast. Nelly 

Corradi makes a lovely heroine and Italo Tajo is outstanding 

as a fast-talking charlatan. In addition to English titles, 

an introduction by Milton Cross explains the action. Directed 

by Mario Costa. Superfilm is at 52 Vanderbuilt Ave., 

N.Y.C. 

Nelly Corradi, Tito Gobbi, Gino Sinimberghi, Italo Tajo.

. . . Flaming 

. . . Jean 

. . And 

. . Fear 

. . One 

. . Her 

. . Only 

. . When 

. . For 

. . Whose 

. . You 

. . "Springtime" 

. . 

EXPLOITIPS Suggestions for Selling; Adiines for Newspaper and Progran 

SELLING ANGLES: "Take My Lile" 

The crime and suspense angles indicate tieups with 

libraries and bookstores on detective yarns. Stuff heralds 

in pulp mystery m-agazines. Delve through newspaper files 

for stories concerning people innocently accused of crimes 

and blow up the yarns for display in lobby easels. Use the 

title in tieups with local merchants, gagged up a bit, such 

as " 'Take My Life'—But Don't Dare Touch My New Suit 

From the De Luxe Haberdashery." 

CATCHLINES: 

It's a Spine-Tingling Killer-Thriller ... As a Beautiful 

Woman Risks Life and Career ... To Track Down a Murderer 

'With a Twisted Mind . . . Because the Man She Loved 

Was Doomed to Die. 

Her Beauty Hid an Evil Soul . Kiss Led a Man to 

Murder . Wove a Net of Suspense and Intrigue 

Around an Innocent Victim . . . Blood Was on This Killer's 

Hands . Raged Through His Mind .; . . As He Drew 

Closer, Closer ... To the Trap Set by the Woman He Hated. 


"The Idiot" 

The film will have to be sold on the strength of the reputation 

of Dostoievsky's novel. This book has long been a 

classic, familiar to college students and literary groups. It 

has been dramatized and presented as a ploy by professional 

and amateur theatrical organizations. Angle your 

ad campaigns for these individuals and groups. Use direct 

mail in addition to newspapers. Also try library tieups. 

CATCHLINES: 

A World-Famous Novel Is Now a Great Film ... An 

Emotional Experience That Will Leave You Limp . . . Romance, 

Tender and Passionate, Set Against the Background 

of Imperial Russia. 

Superb Acting 'Vitalizes a Powerful Film . the 

French Would Dare Make Such Picture . . . Unique and 

Soul Stirring . of the Greatest Films to Come From 

France. 

SELLING ANGLES: "I Became a Criminal" 

Tie in with police officials, civic organizations, churches, 

the Boy Scouts and other groups to promote a local "Crime 

Prevention Week." Use the title in tieups with auto repair 

shops on displays of brake lining, captioned: "You can 

become a criminal—attend to those worn tires and poor 

brakes right now." Stuff throwsheets in crime, detective 

and mystery magazines. Snipe the neighborhood with 

"Wanted" posters with a description and portrait of Trevor 

Howard. 

CATCHLINES: 

Limehouse Turns on the Heat ... As Guns Bark and Fists 

Fly in the Dregs of London's Underworld . . . It's a Whirlwind 

of Action and Thrills ... As an Innocent Man Becomes 

Involved in a Fiendish Dope-Smuggling Ring . . . And 

Clears His Name at the Risk of His Life. 

Bullets Blaze and Headlines Scream ... As the Hottest 

Black-Market Gong Ever to Slink Through Soho . . . Winds 

up on the Wrong Side of the Lcrw . . . There's 'Whirlwind 

Action Every Minute ... As London Stalks Its Racketeers. 


"Jassy" 

Build up interest in the title through lobby portraits of 

Margaret Lockwood, captioned: " 'Jassy'—the most unforgettable 

woman you've ever met." In the plot she has occult 

powers, suggesting a lobby layout including a crystal ball 

and a gypsy "fortune-teller." Stills of gambling scenes 

could be planted with banks and finance companies, with 

copy reading: "Don't gamble with your future—invest your 

savings wisely." Margaret Lockwood is well enough known 

to American audiences to warrant marquee and advertising 

attention. 

CATCHLINES: 

Meet Jassy . . . The Most Unforgettable Woman You've 

Ever Known . Compelling Beauty and Charm 

Were Irresistible . . . Until They Led Her to the Brink of the 

^ 

Gallows . . . For a Crime She Did Not Commit. .'j 

You'll Never Forget Jassy . . . Half Gypsy and Half Housewife 

. . . Who Sought a Cunning Revenge Against the Man 

Who Killed Her Father ... But Was Swayed From Her 

Purpose . Murder Struck. 

SELLING ANGLES: "The Eternal Return" SELLING ANGLES: "Springtime" 

Play up the fact that this is a modernized version of the 

famous 'Tristan and Isolde legend by using many stills of 

Jean Marais and Madeleine Sologne, who are both striking 

blonds, in modern attire. Marais has had a following in art 

houses since the release of "Carmen" and "Beauty and the 

Beast," both outstanding French films. Jean Cocteau, the 

Parisian poet and author, is widely read by the intelligentsia 

who will patronize this. 

CATCHLINES: 

The Ancient Legend of Tristan and Isolde in Modern Dress 

Passion in a Setting of Snowcapped Mountains 

Cocteau, French Surrealist and Poet, Gives Us a 

Modern 'Version of a Legendary Triangle. 

A Beautiful Young Bride and Her Elderly Husband's Handsome 

Emissary Are Trapped By a Love from Which There Is 

No Escape ... A Magic Potion Swept Them Into a Love Which 

Could End Only in a Death Pact . . . The Greatest Love Story 

of All Time, 

Try to make the most of the film as a musical romance without 

playing up the fact it comes from England. Stress the 

fact that it offers a new singing star (Carol Raye) who has 

a promising future as a result of her work in this picture. 

Play around with the title. Use some of the catchlines listed 

below on signs and in ads. 

CATCHLINES: 

"Springtime" Is Lovetime . Is the Time For 

Romance . the Time of Your Life See "Springtime" 

. . . "You'll Have One Swell Time at 'Springtime' "... It's 

Time to See "Springtime.' 

Tender Romance, Lilting Melodies . . . You'll Hear and See 

a New Singing Star . . . Gay Entertainment ... As Old 

Fashioned As Love, As Up-to-Date As Jet Propulsion. 


"This Wine of Love" SELLING ^GLES: "Bohemian Rapture" 

through music shop window 

This can be sold to music-1 

displays of recordings from Donizetti's "L'Elisir D'Amore" 

or by having a loud-speaker attachment on a phonograph 

playing the melodies in the lobby. Give special matinee 

rates to students studying opera and circularize music 

schools. Also interest Italian language students. Tieup the 

title with liquor stores for displays of fine Italian wines 

and stills of the wedding feast in the picture. 

CATCHLINES: 

Donizetti's Great Opera, "L'Elisir D'Amore," Presented 

on the Centennial of the Composer's Death 

. . . Glorious 

Music Sung by Nelly Corradi and Singers of the Rome 

Opera House ... An Elixir Which Turns an Inarticulate 

Swain Into a Passionate Lover. 

. . . 

Another Feast of Music for Opera-Lovers ... A Divine 

Draught 

Suitor 

Which Works Its Magic Power on a Love-Sick 

Love Works Its Magic Spell on Soldier and 

Civilian Alike Donizetti's Immortal Music Comes to the 

. . . 

Screen. 

Play up the music and romance angles in regular foreignlanguage 

situations. In cities vrith heavy Czech and Slovak 

is first representation point out that this one of the films 

to come from postwar Czechoslovakia. Local Czech and 

Slovak national societies may be willing to sponsor the film. 

Also arrange tieups with music shops carrying Paganini 

records. In addition music shops specializing in foreign 

records may have selections by Slavik and may be agreeable 

for tieups. 

CATCHLINES: 

A Filr of Great Beauty and Warmth ... A Musical Deight 

Seething With Passions of a Romantic Age . 

A Film of Great -Emotional Depth ... A Picture That Will 

Make Film History . . . Brilliant Photography. 

A New Screen Thrill From the Old World ... An Unusual 

Film Brilliantly Acted . . .A Story Never Before Told on an 

American Screen . Will Gasp at the Stark Drama of 

a Great Man's Life and Loves.

' 

, complete 

, 459 

il, 

1 chairs, 

^ 

I'mi 

ES: 10c per word, minimum $1.00, cash with copy. Four insertions for price oi thre 

ISING DATE: Monday noon preceding publication dale. Send copy and answers 

Box Numbers to BOXOFFICE, 825 Van Brunt Blvd., Kansas City 1, Mo. 

lENERAL EQUIPMZIir—USED^ 

THEATRES FOR SALE 

iouulc parking dnve-in Ihea 

THEATRES WANTED 

Sell Your Tlieatre 

CUflRlllG 

HOUSf 

HELP WANTED 

iiintiiii.-ns an 

,eraMd, Architect, 628 .\1 Ic 

malting. We gel quick results. «ui give juu a 

prompt estimate oi your prcstni ilie.itre i.ilue 

We liave theatres. .Many theatres 

Write us iud.ij. "Jue" Jobipli, 1003 Galiuviay 

irtb investigailng. Contact us In 

Phone Yale 2-7li50, liallas, Texas, 

loe" Joseph, 1003 Uallovray. Ph 

Wanted to lease small town iheatie 

7050, Dallas, Tesas, 

west. Have cash for equipment and 

Theatres for sale. Selected listings iJi Oregon rent In advance If necessary. Calhollc 

id \Vaslilngton now available. Write for list, preferred. Full details first letter. 

heatre Exchange Co., Fine Arts BIdg., Poil- 

permanent theatre posl- 

'hiladelphia. llingbamton, 

$110 lu $150 neckly, de- 

ivy Duty bloners, ball-bearing equipped, 

U cfra to 50,000 cfm. Air washers, all 

Hydraulic drives, two and four speed motors 

ontrois. Immediate delivery. Dealers waiited. 

Ml Engiiieerine and Mfg. Co., 519 Wy«n- 

St.. Kansas City, Mo. 

ondition your tlieatre tliis supimer at fracnew 

price. Used blower and air-uiisber and 

with all motors, etc.. for alr- 

1,000-seat theatre. Now in operation. For 

and price write Gust Constan, Avon Thea- 

)ecaliir. 111. 

^ry portable 35mm sound projector complete 

ampliiier and speaiier. Late model used 

good as new, bargain. Joseph Vasut, Schug. 

Te.v. 

Family theatre Central Texas college town. Ui 

$13,000 profit 1947. $6,500 spent 1947 

modeling. Easily operated. $25,000 cash. Le: 

3422 Klnmore. Dallas, Texas. 

200.seat theatre in closed Ohio town. ( 

ii 

llicatre in radius of 25 miles. Ideal lor 

lidual operation. $10,000 will buy building 

ill: or $4,000 for long term lease. Boxol 

Florida theatre. 400 seats, population 1,500, 

new equipment. Includes building with large apartment, 

two stores. B,xceplional value, $35,000 »iil. 

terras. Scott Itutherford, 124 Pomegranate St., 

Northwest Ark:insas cuuni 

400 seats. Centurys, Stm 

Altec serviced, new MaiiU'\ 

eluded. Knotty pine lobbv 

Wanted: Small town theatre, population o.c: 

,000, Wisconsin or Minnesota. Can buy, prcft 

ase. l-'ull details first letter. B. E Cui 

$8,000 to invest in good snia 

lull or p:irt paymenl. No com 

„ Woods, Hotel Robert E. Lee 

STUDIO AND PRODUCTION 

EQUIPMENT 

Latest super Parvo DeBrie studio camera, 5 

1st lenses, blimp, motor, ten 1,000 tt. magazines, 

irect focus rackover, pilot pin registration, heavy 

Ohio. 

x mechanisms, rebuilt, $472.50; 

shutter, shockproof gears, rebuilt, 

$114.50: Strong Mogul lamp- 

$425 pr,; Spring seats, excellent, 

^()und systems; rotary stabilizer 

ii-way speaker systems, etc., com- 

.?765. What do you need? Star 

St., W. 46th New York 

1^ plenty of used and rebuilt theatre 

It at reasonable prices. Call or 

Tlieatre Equipment Co.. 1878 E. 

lis: superior 3912 or FAlrmount 

Ohio. 

good condition seats, upholiprinfi 

cushion seats. Good conishort 

:nr conditioning outfit, 

Slime light fixtures. Delivery 

i 

New, used, half price! 

Southeast Texas town 2,000. 40 ft. building 

liided. 410 seats, latest Simplex booih. tin 

;sidence available. $28,600, terms. Leak, 31 

Southwest Oklahoma thriving new tlieatre. slioni 

ommiinity interest. Simplex, Ballantyne. ne\ 

;ats. Only show small town. $17,500. Libei.i 

Oklahoma small town, modern. Ideal spot for 

family; fine scllools. near University. Best bootli 

equipment, modern seats. Beautiful front, all new. 

.Modern building. Withui communting distance ol 

beautiful city; fine housing available. $39,780 

all. takes Terms, or lease. Write Boxofficc, 

A-2958. 

For Sale: New building. Super Simplex machines, 

1,200. Box 95, Cheneyville. 

liCA sound. Population 

La. 

300-seat theatre, new Motiosr.iph equipment, 

American Seatiri*; CiiinMinv ^-i, ,?.•, nndiiUtHied, 

*Jew building. ': !! l:i.".i!i_' < in 

i. 

Profitable mu 

university. FIili 

lamps, Centurss, 

roll. Excellent 

petitive trade i 

tion, qualified |i 

recoridit lulled, $795; new .Muviula D, $279 50; 

ran wants tlie.itre in growing town of 1,000 

5,000 W. studio spots, $89.50. Send for latest 

E:istern North Carolina or South Caroeferred. 

lioliert W, Kennedy, Delco, N. C. 

stocklist. S.O.S. Cinema Supply Corp.. 449 W. 

42nd St.. New York City 

GENERAL EQUIPMENT—NEW 

THEATRE SEATING 

$295; flashlights, singli 

Send for bargain catalog. 

Corp.. 449 W. 42nd St.. 

On or about February 15, we will be located in 

the new S.O.S. building, 602 West 52nd Street, 

New York 19. Ten minutes from Times Square, 

The latch string is out. Pay us a visit. S.O.S. 

Cinema Supply Corp., New York 

Drive-in Theatre Projection and sound equipment. 

Brand new: nothing else needed, $2,974. 

Theatre equipment $2,794, and $2,280, complete 

and installed. Ace Camera Supply, 116 N, Dargan, 

Florence, S. C. 

F|i Sale: Pair 16mm Ampro Hi-Arc projectors. 

Worth $2,500. Best offer takes. Imshipment. 

.\riington Theatre. Hopewell, 

Many 

others. 

lei one DeVry 35mm portable sound 

with 2.000 ft. magazines, speaker, 

and cable used only few months. W. A. 

(ier, 

Rntherfcrd, Tenn 

nsert unholstered backs for slope floor, exjndition, 

$5.50 ea. Immediate delivery. 

& Sons Co.. 2159 S. Kinnickinnic Ave. 

Near Dallas: Only theatre lively farming center, 

1,000, Good building, new Manley. Needs showmanship, 

$111. noil, $ii.000 down. Leak, 3422 

Kinmiiiv, Mrii ntliers similar. 

EQUIPMENT WANTED 

sloping, 200 

& T, Wickes, Ark. 

BUSINESS STIMULATORS 

or 100 number. $3 per 

mium Products, 354 W, 

IS. N, Y 

ies, surprises, for Satur- 

$30 per thousand (all 

iiv Co.. 40 E. 23rd St.,

i 

3mf ipPOLLAE 

aniLwjwi 

^»inA 

immi .Qc'^-eî^ -.t

Boxoffice-Febuary.14.1948

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?