Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1948)

ALBANY The Palace presented "A Song Is Born" and "Black Eagle." The Strand held over "Johnny Belinda" for a second week. The Warner management decided extra patronage might be drawn by doubling "Feudin', Fussin' and Fightin' " with "Johnny" for the second week. The Ritz, after a week with "For the Love of Mary" and "Dear Murderer," staged a Sunday opening of "Kiss the Blood Off My Hands." The Grand played "Sofia" and "Miraculous Journey." "Hatter's Castle" came into the Colonial. . . . The Will Rogers Memorial Hospital Drive in the Albany zone has been extended from November 6 to December 4. . . . Chief Barker Harry Lamont has appointed a building committee for Variety Tent No. 9, consisting of Max Friedman, Dan Houlihan and Charles Dortic. The tent has decided to move from its present third-floor location over the Warner Theatres zone offices to larger quarters. . . . Lamont also appointed a shut-in committee, with Arthur Newman and James Faughnan as co-chairmen, to screen applications by hospitals and other institutions for free films. . . . Chase Hathaway's Hoosick drive-in, one of the season's new operations, is remaining open until November 14. All others are now dark. The year's business for drive-ins was about the same as 1947's. ATLANTA Business in all theatres is a little above average. At the Peachtree Art, "Hamlet," in its third week. At the Fox, "Beyond Glory." At Loew's Grand, "Red River," to extra good business. At the Paramount, "Isn't It Romantic." At the Rhodes, "The Saxon Charm," on a moveover from the Grand. At the Rialto, "Walk a Crooked Mile." ... On Film Row visiting: P. J. Gaston, Griffin ; O. C. Lam and Howard Schuessler, Rome; R. E. Hook, Aliceville. . . . Jack King, former sales representative for Eagle Lion, has been appointed Florida representative for Realart. . . . Lamar McCarity has joined the booking department of Columbia. . . . Mrs. Rachel Gravley has resigned from Monogram. . . . Florida State Theatres has reopened the State theatre, Lake Wales, following extensive repairs. . . . The Crescent Amusement Co., Nashville, has a permit to begin construction on new theatres in Cleveland, Greenville, Union City and Columbia, Tenn., and in Decatur, Alabama. . . . Walt Woodward, Paul Dawes and Howard Williams have been added to the sales staff of Wil-Kin Theatre Supply Co. BALTIMORE Five new pictures opened at six first runs : "The Gallant Blade," with vaudeville, at the Hippodrome; "Kiss the Blood Off My Hands," at Keith's ; "Road House," at the New theatre; "A Song Is Born," at the Town, and "Argyle Secrets," with "Magnificent Bruce," at the Times and Roslyn. Two reissues offered. "A Night at the Opera," at the Valencia, and "Belle Starr," at the Mayfair. "Red River" went into a good second week at the Century, as did "Sorry, Wrong Number," at the Stanley. "Henry V" still going strong at advanced prices in third week at the Little. . . . Baltimore Variety Club, Tent No. 19, held election night on November 5, resulting in 26 Joseph C. Grant, chief barker ; H. Ted Routson, first assistant; Fred Schmuff, second assistant ; W. G. Myers, treasurer, and Chauncey Wolf, secretary. These, with the following, are on board of directors : Al Vogelstein, Fred Saperstein, Jake Embry, Sam Tabor, Barry Goldman and Mike Randleman. The tenth annual dinner dance of the Baltimore Variety Club, Tent No. 19, was held Saturday night, November 6, at the Sheraton-Belvedere Hotel, arranged by a committee headed by Rodney Collier, and it was a great success, with the Charity Chest fund of the club being enlarged bv nearly $5,000. Col. William McGraw, Variety Club International executive director, was there. CHICAGO Business was about average in most cases, but the surprise of the week was two reissues, "She" and "Last Days of Pompeii," which broke attendance records at the Grand and will hit $30,000. "Johnny Belinda" grossed $28,000 and looks set for a strong four week run. The Astor theatre in the Loop, operated by Abe Teitel and Danny Newman, a fourth run double feature house with daily changes, will try an art policy on Monday with "Well Digger's Daughter" and "Baker's Wife" for a oneweek run at 40c top. If it clicks, the policy will continue. . . . Milton Overman, Eagle Lion publicity man from Kansas City, has added Chicago and Milwaukee to his territory. . . . Morton Stark has joined Warners WHEN AND WHERE November 17: Motion Picture Pioneers ninth annual dinner at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, New York. November 27-December I: Allied States Association annual convention at the Roosevelt Hotel, New Orleans, La. December 6-7: Theatre Owners of Oklahoma annual convention at the Skirvin Hotel, Oklahoma City. December 7: Allied Independent Theatre Owners of Kansas and Missouri membership meeting in Kansas City. here in the booking department. . . . Jack Kirsch, Illinois Allied president, is this year's chairman for the amusement industry Community Fund Drive, which has a quota of $75,500. . . . The southside Empress theatre, operated by the Van Nomikos circuit, re-opened Friday night after complete remodeling, and will play first run films coming out of the Loop. Before the Jackson Park decree, the house played fourth run. . . . Harold Stevens, Paramount branch manager and chairman for the Will Rogers Memorial Drive in this area, reports that raffle ticket sales are way below quota and is urging exhibitors and distributors to expand sales if the $100,000 quota is to be met. CINCINNATI j Despite the high quality of the product,1 favorable weather conditions and absence of any particularly unusual competition, grosses at the first run houses here continue] to sag appreciably, with some low marks fori the past several months recently registered. I No one seems able to definitely determine i the cause for the slump. . . . The newly elected board of 11 canvassmen of the Cincinnati j Variety Club, Tent No. 3, will meet shortly to elect a chief barker and other officers for the coming year. The canvassmen consist of James Ambrose, Jack Frisch, Arthur Manheimer, William Ramsey, Manny Trau-< tenberg and Jules Sein, all of whom are new incumbents. Reelected are Saul GreenbergJ Allan S. Moritz, Nat Kaplin, William Onid and Noah Schecter. Mr. Onie and MrB Schecter were named as delegates, witm Maurice White and Mr. Moritz as alterB nates, to the Variety International convenl tion at San Francisco next year. . . . Th<| Guild theatre, in suburban Peebles Corners formerly the Eden, a unit of the Willi ii Vance chain, has reopened under sponsor j ship of Universal-International, with a conj I tinuous policy from 2 P.M. daily, and 1 midnight show on Saturdays. Practically al I suburban and neighborhood houses ill Greater Cincinnati operate evenings onlyiJ except on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays CLEVELAND | Theatre business is beginning to take tha long expected rise. Exhibitors report gen erally that, although the rise is slow, it i definite. . . . Justin Spiegle succeeds Edwi R. Bergman as Screen Guild branch mar ager. . . . Charles Rich, Warner distrioi manager, divided the week beween visitin with branch manager Paul Krumenacker i Pittsburgh and branch manager C. W. Mc Kean in Indianapolis. . . . David Sandh and J. Stuart Cangney, general manager an sales manager, respectively, of Theatrecra Mfg. Co., will try their luck at the offici; opening of the pheasant season next wee Their hunting ground lies between Po Clinton and Fremont. . . . Roger Schere former manager for the Mailers theatre ci HI cuit, now operates his own Family theatr l Fort Wayne, Ind. . . . Name of the ne j 1,800-seat deluxe house which Associatil Circuit is building in suburban' Euclid w! be the Lake theatre. . . . Al Glauhinge former RKO salesman in Pittsburgh, is no 1 with the local Eagle Lion exchange. . J Mrs. Nazera Zegiob of Lorain is remode'ji ing her Liberty theatre at Vermilion. . j Rose Weitz, after three years with t J (Continued on page 28) MOTION PICTURE HERALD, NOVEMBER 13, l<