The Exhibitor (Aug-Nov 1948)

NT2 THE EXH I Bl TOR Herman Wobber, division manager, 20th Century-Fox, spent a few days conferring with James Dugan, branch manager. Prank Culp, Tabor manager, is re¬ covering nicely following an operation at St. Luke’s Hospi tal . . . . Wil 1 iam Gehring, assistant general sales mana¬ ger, and Buck Stoner, west coast di¬ vision manager, 20th Century-Fox, were in a few days calling on large accounts, and conferring with James Dugan, branch manager. ... Wayne Bauer is put¬ ting a 300-seat theatre in Mancos, Colo. Film Row visitors included; Clarence J. Brase, Holyoke, Colo. , who flew in with his family; Frank Whalen, Deertrail, Colo.; Doyle Shelton, Pritchett, Colo.; J.R. Smith, Steamboat Springs, Colo.; Mr. and Mrs. B.h. Dickson, Cul¬ bertson, Neb. ; Marlin Butler, Albu¬ querque, N.M. ; Mr. and Mrs. Leon coul¬ ter, Loveland, Colo. ; Elden Menagh, Ft. Lupton, Colo.; R.D. Ervin, Kremmling, Colo. ; Lloyd Greve, Eagle, Colo., and Roy Steele, Limon, Colo. Des Moines Allied Independent Theatre Owners Of Iowa and Nebraska advised its mem¬ bers not to sign any contract or pay any money to ASCAP as a result of the U.S. District Court decision. Leo F. Wolcott, chairman, also urged members to install I6mm. equipment in their booths, and to make the equipment available for all I6mm. shows in their communities as a means of combatting 16mm. and television. Jerry Bloedow, manager, RKO-Orpheum, received the RKO Theatres showmanship award for his special promotion of “Fort Apache’’. Central States Theatre Corporation announced plans for construction of a 700-car drive-in near Mason City, la. The theatre is expected to cost over $100, 000. The Bel-Air, Davenport, la., opened with two shows nightly with adult ad¬ mission 55 cents, and children over five 14 cents. The theatre represents an investment of over $145,000. Gordon Atland, Waterloo, la. , pur¬ chased the Earl, Earlville, la., from Max Lindley, Clarksville, la. ...H.S. Twedt sold his theatre at Manly, la. , to Paul Kirkham, Kansas city. ...The Galve, operated by businessmen, opened its doors for business. .. Ray Copeland, formerly with Paramount at Kansas Ci ty, resigned to assume management of the new branch office for the savereide Theatre Bookers. Richard Shields has been appointed a salesman for National screen Service at Des Moines. ... Morton Eichenberg, formerly of Omaha, joined U-I as a salesman. ... Madge Goff has been named ledger clerk for Warners. Bernice Dykstra has been named bil¬ ler for U-I, replacing Alice Carpen¬ ter, resigned. Mel Evidon, who re¬ signed recently as Columbia manager, left for Los Angeles and a vacation ....Leo McKeachneay and G. Ralph Branton, Tri-States officials, were taking their annual fishing trip in Canada. Kansas City Paul stonum, manager. Riverside Drive-In, North Kansas city. Mo., ar¬ ranged a deal with the nearby toll bridge management so that patrons can cross the bridge without charge. Los Angeles The vital function of bringing com¬ munity groups together to set up the program for “Youth Month’’ was started here by the TOA at a luncheon meeting hosted by Charles P. Skouras, national Theatres chairman. National Conference on the Prevention and control of Ju¬ venile Delinquency. Southern Califor¬ nia youth leaders joined civic heads in plans for the country-wide campaign in September. Dave Bershon, Southern California chairman, presided at the luncheon. For the local cooperation, Dick Dickson, FWC Southern California district head, set up offices to as¬ sist in every possible way. Support was voiced by local community heads, including the PTA, Paul Williams, general counsel, SCTOA; Ben Wallerstein, Warner Theatres; Rabbi Edgar F. Magnin, and other church dignitar¬ ies; while the Teamsters Union volun¬ teered 100 per cent activity. Before the luncheon, the group of 75 guests were shown "Report For Action’’. The¬ atres will perform the mechanics to assist in every way for the success of the campaign, Skouras said. Ted Gamble, TOA president, flew in from Portland to assist with the event. Olin E. Darby, president. Board of Education, expressed “the laymen’ s’’ gratitude to the motion picture the¬ atre owners. Bob 0’ Donnell and his new bride were here for a brief stay. ... Barnett Film Service set deals for installation of large advertising clocks next to the screen in theatres of Golden State. The annual outing of the Fox West Coast employes will be held on Aug. 27 at Riviera Country Club, with Charles P. Skouras as host. ... Milton Kusell, sales head, SRO, finally worked out a deal with Eddie Zabel, circuit film buyer for FWC, for popular price dis¬ tribution of “Duel” and “Mr. Blandings”. While the studio lull takes place, plans go on for the Variety Clubs In¬ ternational-sponsored picture, “Bad Boy”, which stars Audio Murphy, over at Allied Artists. screen Guild will have representa¬ tives from Salt Lake, Portland, Seat¬ tle, and San Francisco at the fifth and last regional sales meeting. . . . Paul Hollister, RKO publicity chief, was here.,.. U-I chief Maurice Bergman flew in to switch plans for advertis¬ ing campaigns on J. Arthur Rank pic¬ tures. Lloyd H. Goad announces he will take over the La Mont from Joe Rogers on Aug. 8.... Police investigation is under way on the “stink bombing” of the two Warner theatres, the Warners Hollywood and Wiltern, Irving Lamm, manager, Ramona and Holly, married Pepi Braunberger. , . . Bill Foy, assistant to R.H, McCullough, Fox West Coast, was off for England for a month to visit his family. Charles P. Skouras is chairman for Greater Los Angeles, with Dick Dick¬ son as his assistant, in presenting the St. John’ s Hospital Guild premiere of Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey on Sept. 4.... Bruce Fowler, FWC, is chairman of the motion picture committee. J. H. Blowitz, manager, Manor, Pitts¬ burgh, was here for a visit. .. .Morris Simpson, Para, comptroller, was enroute to vacation in Alaska. .. Several localites went to Seattle to attend the funeral services for Fred Mercy, Sr. Alex Frieder, president, Frieder Film, Inc. , exclusive distributors of Republic films in the Philippine Is¬ lands, China, and Dutch East Indies, was in with his daughter and Gilbert E. Marcus, comptroller, distributing company. Monogram welcomes Bill Raynor, who joins the advertising staff here after being with RKO in New York.... Leo Gorcey, Huntz Hall, and “The Bowery Boys” were invited to the Maywood to start off a fund drive for underpri¬ vileged children. Five local houses, two in San Diego, Cal., and one each in Pomona, River¬ side, and Long Beach, Cal., started a contest for promotion in conjunction with “The Dude Goes West”. Patrons were asked to write in 50 words or less why they should like to spend a week at the El Rancho Vegas Hotel. Minneapolis vacations continued to be the main topic of interest along Film row. Va¬ cationers include Elaine Norby, book¬ ing manager’ s secretary. Paramount, in California; Clara Eisenberg, book¬ ers’ secretary, U-I, at Lake Minne¬ tonka. Minn. ; Ruth Gray, stenographer, Columbia, who visited Chicago and Mi¬ chigan; Walter Hoffman, exploiteer, 20th-Fox, off to see the Hollywood studios; Marilyn Benson, clerk, 20thFox, visiting at Seattle and Los An¬ geles, and Myrtle Hallman, assistant cashier, 20th-Fox, spending two weeks in Nebraska. ... New on Film Row were Jack Allender, salesman, NSS, Betty Reese, biller, U-I, and Marilyn Reuther, stenographer, Columbia. Ben Marcus, Columbia midwest divi¬ sion manager, was in as was Jules Serkowich, Columbia exploiteer, work¬ ing on “The Black Arrow”, Orpheum. . . . Max Youngstein, Eagle Lion vice-pre¬ sident in charge of advertising, pub¬ licity, and exploitation, was in for the Heineman Drive. . . . Every employee of 20th-Fox receives three weeks extra pay’as a result of the exchange’s showing in the Andy Smith Sales Drive. August 18, 1948