The Exhibitor (1961)

NEWS CAPSULES \j^ BROADWAY GROSSES Top Attractions Draw NEW YORK — Bad weekend weather hurt some, but top attractions still drew in the Broadway first-runs. “SANCTUARY” (20th-Fox). Paramount re¬ ported $31,000 for the first week. “CIMARRON” (MGM). Radio City Music Hall did $67,000 on Thursday through Sunday, with the second week claimed as $110,000. Stage show. “THE MISFITS” (UA). Capitol claimed the fourth week at $40,000. “BEN-HUR” (MGM). Loew’s State on re¬ served seat policy did $24,500 on the 67th week. “EXODUS” (UA). Warner totaled $60,000 capacity on the 11th week. “SPARTACUS” (U-I). De Mille totaled $19,500 on the 21st week. “THE FACTS OF LIFE” (UA). Astor re¬ ported the third week at a good $32,000. “CIRCLE OF DECEPTION” (20th -Fox). Victoria claimed $13,000 for the second ses¬ sion. “THE WACKIEST SHIP IN THE ARMY” (Col.). Forum reported the last nine days of the third week at $20,500. “PEPE” (Col.). Criterion announced the 10th week of road show engagement as $27,500. “THE ALAMO” (UA). Rivoli claimed the 18th week of road show engagement at $13,000. ElectroYision In Black LOS ANGELES — Shareholders of Electro Vision Corporation were informed in the semi¬ annual report of substantially improved work¬ ing capital, increased net worth, and a profit of $201,517 on sales of $1,729,887 for the first six months ended Nov. 30, 1960, by Martin Stone, president. Per share earnings amounted to seven cents on 2,700,285 shares outstanding. Stone pointed out the company had in¬ creased its net worth since the close of its last fiscal year from $622,204 to $1,137,492 and that the company had turned the corner from losses to solid profits. ElectroVision showed a $79,031 loss at the end of the last fiscal year. With regard to the six month profits. Stone said, “In evaluating the results for the past six months, please bear in mind that our business is now somewhat seasonable in nature. Our largest activity — the operation of drive-in theatres — is most profitable in the summer months and slows down substantially in the winter months.” ElectroVision is now composed of eighteen theatres, primarily drive-ins located in north¬ ern California and southern Oregon, and Air Cargo Equipment Division. Big Facelift For Detroit House DETROIT — James Nederlander, general manager, Nederlander Circuit, announced that up to $2,000,000 will be spent to recon¬ struct the Fisher, which will be equipped with Todd -AO and have its seating capacity reduced to 2,200 seats from 2,800. House will be primarily a legit theatre, but will book road-show motion pictures. An August com¬ pletion is scheduled. FORMS FOR THIS PAGE CLOSED AT. 2 P.M. ON MON., FEB. 27 Conn. Exhibs Continue Fight Against Toll-TV HARTFORD, CONN. — Connecticut theatre owners “will continue in opposition” against pay-TV in Hartford, Bernard Menschell, chairman of the Connecticut committee against toll-TV, told MOTION PICTURE EX¬ HIBITOR after learning of the Feb. 24 FCC authorization of the pay-TV project, backed by the Zenith-RKO General interests, on WHCT-TV (Channel 18), Hartford. He did not specify what form the opposition will take, pointing out that any specific move must await such time as when he and fellow committee members (Maurice Bailey, Bailey Theatres, and Max Hoffman, Connecticut Theatre Circuit) have fully digested the FCC report. Menschell added: “If this pay-TV does go, it will mean the end of ‘free’ television as we know it now. I feel the final decision on whether ‘free’ television lasts will come from Congress.” To date, he said, experience with pay-TV in Toronto area has been “quite disappoint¬ ing.” Any appeal would go to U.S. District Court. W. Theodore Pierson, counsel for Hartford Phonevision Company (owned by RKO Gen¬ eral), told MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR that if an appeal is taken, the court may be asked to stay the operation until there is a judicial decision. This would bring a delay until the appeal is determined. NT&T Names Chester BEVERLY HILLS, CALIF. — B. Gerald Cantor, president of National Theatres and Television, Inc., announced the appointment of Hal E. Chester to the newly-created post as European representative for the company. Chester’s duties will be to keep NT&T ad¬ vised of European production activities and to secure exhibition rights to motion pictures for the circuit’s houses. Steve Broidy, left, president. Allied Artists Pictures Corporation, signs the contract with George Mulvey, of Beaver-Champion Attrac¬ tions, setting the deal for AA to distribute "David and Goliath" in the U. S. FILM FAMILY ALBUM Arrivals A daughter, June Irene, was born to Mr. and Mrs. Vincent Kostek, Jr. Father is man¬ ager of Hunt’s Casino during the winter and manager of Hunt’s Pier, Wildwood, N. J., dur¬ ing the summer. Obituaries James W. Bradford, 30, president, C and B Theatres, Inc., New Orleans, who had been engaged in both the theatre and insurance business, died last fortnight. He was a son-inlaw of William and Iris Cobb, Exhibitors Poster Exchange. Richard L. Johnston, 68, former executive production manager. Paramount studio, and most recently producer of TV shows for Gen¬ eral Electric, died at his Hollywood, Calif., home. He is survived by his widow, two daughters, and four grandchildren. Mrs. Phillip Speed, long a foe of motion picture censorship, died in Charlottesville, Va. She served on the National Board of Review by appointment of President Wilson during the war. This board chose films for troops showings. Harold L. Warner, Jr., 46, organist at the Byrd, Richmond, Va., died of a heart attack while making repairs in the chambers of the pipe organ at the Mosque Auditorium. For the past three years, he has been organist five nights a week at the Byrd. The Mosque organ had been Warner’s pride and joy, and he kept it in top condition. He is survived by his mother and two sisters. Leonard C. Wright, Sr., 64, Wilmington, Del., projectionist for 45 years, most recently at the WW Towne, died at his home after a 10-months illness. He was a member of lATSE Local 473. FST Adman Honored JACKSONVILLE — Ray Starr, television and radio advertising specialist in the local home office of Florida State Theatres, was honored for his outstanding creative talent at impressive ceremonies in Valley Forge, Pa., when Kenneth D. Wells, president of Freedom Foundation, presented him with the organization’s highest national radio award | for 1960. : The annual award is usually presented to a radio network or a syndicated radio pro¬ ducer, but the FST executive won it for the excellence of a five-part radio series en¬ titled “The Genius Who Walks On Eggs,” featuring counterspy Boris Morros. Kennedy "Joins" Variety WASHINGTON — President John F. Ken¬ nedy became the fourth White House occupant to “join” Variety Clubs International when he was presented a gold card as an honorary “barker” in this world-wide organization of showmen dedicated to helping unfortunate children in White House ceremonies yesterday (Feb. 28). Participating in the presentation was Ed¬ ward Emanuel of Philadelphia, international chief barker of Variety Clubs; Perry Como, representing television; and Miiko Taka, rep¬ resenting Hollywood. 8 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR March I, 1961