Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1948)

(Continued from preceding page) Hunerberg has sold the State, Hedrick, to E. G. Green of Loup City, Neb. . . . Des Moines' Variety club is planning a bingo party December 20. Nate Sandler and Lou Levy are making arrangements. . . . Charlie Kopp, manager of the Victory, Sioux City, is sponsoring a talent hunt show every Monday night. . . . The Paramount, Cedar Rapids, is planning a birthday celebration on November 20. On that day, the theatre will be 20 years old. HARTFORD The Perakos Theatres circuit, New Britain, Conn., operating four Hartford area theatres, will open a new 1,100-seat theatre, the Elm, West Hartford, November 10. Peter Perakos heads the circuit. . . . Al Perinetti has been appointed manager of the Victory theatre, New Haven. . . . Joe Faith, operator of four theatres in the Hartford area, has returned from a trip to Europe. . . . Warren Gould has been named manager of the State theatre, New Haven. . . . Norman Villevenu has been named assistant manager at E. M. Loew's Hartford drive-in theatre, Newington, Conn. KANSAS CITY The Community Chest campaign, followed by the American Royal live stock show and incidental dinners and parties, left Kansas City tired and relatively impecunious for a few days. . . . Nathan Gould is manager of the Star, Quincy, 111., recently acquired by the Dickinson circuit. . . . Ward Pennington, Paramount salesman here, is returning to San Francisco and will be succeeded by Frank Westbrook. . . . Walter Clark, Paramount booker, and his wife, are moving to California; his post to be filled by Marguerite Levy. . . . The Kimo followed "Fanny" with "Panic." . . . "Raw Deal" and "The Olympic Games" came into the Roxy after "Texas, Brooklyn and Heaven," plus "Shed No Tears." . . . Work has begun on drive-ins at Sedalia and Columbia, Mo., both to be operated by Commonwealth Theatres, with Joe Chosen associate at Sedalia. . . . Film Row visitors: Dick Upton, Parnell; Harry Till, Hamilton; A. K. Smith, Johnson; J. Leo Hayob, Marshall; Saul Franks, Coldwater ; Don Phillips, Colby ; Mr. and Mrs. Ray Handley, Tonganoxie; Ben Adams, El Dorado; T. A. Spurgin, Stanberry; O. C. Alexander, Kiowa; Carl Botkin, Harper; A. E. Jarboe, Cameron; Don Peyton, Lamar ; Frank Myers, Brookfield; F. L. Norton, Caldwell; O. F. Sullivan, Wichita; A. J. Simmons, Lamar; Ray Mussellman, Lincoln, and Warren Weber, Winfield. . . . William Pannell has been appointed manager of the Waldo, succeeding Aaron Gardner. LOUISVILLE With all of Louisville's first runs bringing in new product, and four of the six theatres with double bill programs, theatre-goers here had plenty to choose from. The Mary Anderson played "Johnny Belinda" The Scoop played "The Life of St. Francis of Assisi." Loew's brought in "Red River," coupled with "Manhattan Angel," and the Rialto had "Apartment for Peggy" and "Night Wind." The National played "For the Love of Mary" and "The End of the River," and the Strand joined "Ruthless" with "Linda Be Good." "Sorry, Wrong Number," and French Leave" were moved to the Brown following a week at the Rialto. . . . Fire completely destroyed the Bell theatre at Ravenna, owned and operated by Walter L. Campbell. . . . Seen on Film Row: Col. L. B. Fuqua, Eddyville; F. X. Merkley, Columbia; Foster Lane, Williamsburg; J. F. Carnahan, Manchester; Willard Gabhart, Harrodsburg; R. H. Robertson, Springfield; Louis Wiethe, Cincinnati; Willis Vance, Cincinnati; Ben Reeves, Stanford ; Rodger Davis, Lancaster ; Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Marshall, Columbia; C. J. Williams, Paintsville; Nelson E. Ward, Georgetown. . . . The board of directors of the Louisville Park Theatrical Association named George E. Gans president. . . . The Kentucky Association of Theatre Owners brought to a close last week one of the largest and most successful conventions ever held held by the association. MEMPHIS Malco led first run attendance houses with "Night Has a Thousand Eyes," reporting capacity crowds. Other first runs reported slightly better than average business. Loew's Palace showed "Good Sam." Loew's State had "Red River." Warner played "Wild Bill Hickok Rides." Ritz had "The Secret Land." Strand showed a double feature. . . . W. F. Ruffin, Sr., Ruffin Amusements Co., Covington, announced the formation of a new corporation, RACO Outdoor Enterprises, Inc., which will construct and operate a circuit of drive-ins and other outdoor entertainment places in west Tennessee. Property has been purchased near Dyersburg for the first drive-in. . . . Mid-south exhibitors booking on Film Row included Leon Roundtree, Water Valley ; C. N. Eudy, Ackerman; W. R. Tutt, Tunica; W. A. Rush, Houston; D. F. Blissard, Okolona ; E. L. Boggs, Amory ; Frank Fisher, Como; W. C. Broeger, Portageville ; Lyle Richmond, Senath; Mrs. H. A. Fitch, Erin; L. J. Denning, Bemis; Nathan Flexer, Waverly; Norman Fair, Somerville; Aubrey Webb, Ripley ; Steve Stein, Jackson ; L. F. Haven, Jr., Forrest City; K. K. King, Searcy; W. E. Malin, Augusta; O. C. Hauber, Pine Bluff; Emma Cox, Osceola; J. W. Cox, Osceola; John Crabtree, Clarendon; Gordon Hutchins, Corning; O. G. Abernathy, Morrilton; and Orris Collins, Paragould. MIAMI New assistant at the Capitol is Malcolm Tait, replacing Joseph Rynock, who shifted to the Surf in the same capacity. . . . Changes in the Claughton theatres include Lloyd Hess, new manager of the Royal, with George Bronson as assistant; Julian de la Fe, new assistant at the Variety; Earl Dial, the same at the Trial, and Dennis Barton, new top man at the Embassy. . . . John Friant is making the Florida his official spot as he comes in as assistant. The vacancy he created at the Beach theatre has been filled by Caroll Lowery, taking over as assistant. . . . "One Touch of Venus" has been drawing patrons to the Miami and Lincoln, and "Rachel and the Stranger" at the Paramount and Beach is doing equally well. . . . This is University of Miami Homecoming Week, so more crowds have been attending the shows as of late. ... "A Southern Yankee" has been brought into Miami for a premiere showing by the Embassy and Variety. "Embraceable You" is the feature for the Florida and Sheridan. MILWAUKEE First run Warner theatre reports comfortable business at the box office with "Johnny Belinda," as does the Towne with "Julia Misbehaves." Sour notes in the turnstile music are the Alhambra with "Moonrise," and the Strand, "Tower of London" and "The Man Who Reclaimed his Head." . . Local censorship committee is hovering in corridors at the Court House and City Hall looking for an opportunity to drive home legislation giving them legal powers. At present the committee works only in an advisory capacity to the Police Department. . . . On the sick list this week was Paul Langheinrich of the Burleigh, Milwaukee. Incidentally, he is letting it be known he is willing to listen to any good offer for the leasing of his theatre. . . . Booking Thanksgiving and Christmas attractions on Film Row this week were Fred Krueger, Milwaukee; John Juell, South Milwaukee; Billy Pierce, Milwaukee; Helene Hanke, Milwaukee; Erv Koenigsreiter, Greendale; Barney and Dave Sherman, Racine; Nick Berg, Sheboygan, and Joe Reynolds, Milwaukee. MINNEAPOLIS "Rope" drew the major business of the week at the RKO Orpheum. "Julia Misbehaves" had a good second week, but "The Saxon Charm" was weak in its first at the State. . . . "Miss Tatlock's Millions" comes into Radio City with personal appearances of William Holden, William Demarest, Mary Hatcher and Robert Stack. "Walk a Crooked Mile" and "The Time of Your Life" are other openers. . . . Federal Judge Gunnar H. Nordbye is considering form of findings and answers submitted by both sides in the Ascap-Berger infringement suit. . . . Pat Halloran, Minneapolis U-I salesman, was elected vice-president of the Collosseum of Motion Picture Salesmen at the Chicago convention. . . . The Minneapolis city council will argue the application of Mrs. Betty M. Secrest for a license for a new theatre near the west city limits. The council's license committee voted down the application. . . . The Cedar, a new Loop-edge house, opened with "Big City." . . . Kelly Evidon of Independent Film Distributors of Minneapolis is convelascing from an operation. . . . Ben Hurney, new owner of the Roxy at Bird Island, Minn., and N. Morris, operator of the State at Olivia, Minn., were Film Row visitors in Minneapolis. NEW ORLEANS A three-day run here last week of Ringling Brothers circus offered severe competition for all houses. Downtown theatres offered an excellent lineup. Loew's State showed "Red River." The Saenger featured "Johnny Belinda." "Walk a Crooked Mile" was at the Orpheum. "Rope" moved to the Liberty. "For the Love of Mary" played the Joy. "The Spiritualist" was at the Center. "Embraceable You" was featured at (Continued on opposite page) 28 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, NOVEMBER 6, 1948