Motion Picture Herald (Oct-Dec 1956)

Columbus “Tea and Sympathy" was held for a second wek at Loew’s Ohio, following a strong first week. . . . Walter Kessler, manager of Loew’s Ohio, acted as “stand-in" for Judy Holliday, star of Columbia’s “The Solid Gold Cadillac,” in presenting a wrist watch to the girl chosen Queen of the Epsilon Sigma Alpha sorority at the organization’s state convention here. Mr. Kessler and Miss Holliday were among the judges in the contest. Miss Holliday voted by mail. . . . Mrs. Lily Hofheimer, 80, mother of Lee J. Hofheimer, former local theatre owner, died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Max Gumble of Columbus. Mr. Hofheimer is now residing in Norfolk, Virginia. . . . Charles Sugarman of the World art theatre scored a booking ten-strike by playing Paramount’s “The Vagabond King” in a first run. . . . A1 McClain, of the Dispatch editorial staff, has been substituting for Samuel T. Wilson, theatre editor, who has been visiting Hollywood studios. . . . Northern, near North Side neighborhood house and one of the oldest theatres in Columbus, will be torn down to make way for the Goodale expressway. The theatre, formerly operated by the Miles theatres, has been dark for several years. It has been used as a warehouse by the Chakeres Land Company. Denver Jean Gerbase, first president of Chapter 10, Women of the Motion Picture Industry, organized here by her, has been named a vice-president of the international body at the Atlanta convention. She was given an emerald bracelet as a symbol of her office. . . . The A-Best drive-in, on the northwest edge of Denver, is closing except for showings on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. The Saturday children’s matinee is being continued with the indoor theatre that seats 502 being utilized for this. It’s the only drive-in in the region that has such a setup. . . . Wanda King, box office report girl at Universal, is quitting to become a mother at just about Christmas time. . . . Wm. Sombar, United Artists salesman, vacationing. . . . Bailey Distributing Co. has acquired 20 Zane Grey westerns for the Denver and Salt Lake City areas. . . . Bruce Miller has sold the Vida, Spearfish, S. D., to the Mile High Co., which operates the Mile High drive-in, Lead, S. D. Des Moines The Elma theatre at Elma has been reopened by the town’s commercial club. It will be operated by the former managers, Mr. and Mrs. Neal Mullineaux until other arrangements can be made. . . . The Lincoln theatre in Des Moines has been sold by the Iowa United Theatre Co. to Bob Fridley and Bev Mahon. The new owners operate the Variety theatre near Drake University and plan extensive remodeling and redecorating of the Lincoln, during which period the house will be closed. . . . J. Louis Smith has been named manager of the Iowa theatre at Jefferson by Pioneer Theatre Corp. officials. Smith formerly was associated with the Orpheum in Dubuque; the Washington Opera House in Washington; the Orpheum in Fairfield and the Orpheum and Plumb theatres in Strea tor, 111 More capital is needed to keep the Marcus theatre at Marcus in operation, according to members of the corporation operating the house. It was decided to attempt the sale of additional stock in the corporation to raise the necessary funds. . . . Mr. and Mrs. Roy Streit of Pocahontas have leased the Ritz theatre at Rolfe from William Obrecht. . . . The City Council at Lamon is considering an ordinance which would allow the showing of Sunday movies there. Three readings of the ordinance will be required — the first time in 35 years that such a procedure has been called for. . . . The Traer theatre at Traer has been purchased by the Hesperia Masonic lodge from Mr. and Mrs. Gene McLaughlin. The building will be used as a Masonic temple. Detroit After 30 years of all-night operation the Loop has adopted a 4 A.M. to 11:30 A.M. closing. Associated Theatres manager, Max Gealer blames business conditions. . . . The United Artists has added a Thursday matinee to the “Oklahoma!” schedule. Dropping the Saturday midnight showing holds the total to 14 a week. . . . Bill Green, Cinerama district ad man, has been in New Grace Hospital for an intestinal operation. His sister reports the operation took four hours and he is waiting another. . . . The Troy drive-in was broken into — with a loss of 80 cents. . . . Joanne Cussigh, United Artists, and Margie Zevchak, MGM, are on the bridal lists. . . . Daniel Bzovi was denied a writ of mandamus to force Livonia city officials to permit building of a drivein at Middle Belt and Schoolcraft. Across the street location of the Detroit Race Track was given as the reason for refusal. . . . The Playhouse, Whitehall, was dropped to weekend operation by Jack Kane. . . . Anita Teschner suffered a heart attack but is recovering. Hartford Sperie Perakos, general manager, Perakos Theatre Associates, New Britain, Conn, has been appointed to the Yale University Alumni Board’s film committee. The group, responsible for production of alumni films, meets several times a year in New Haven and New York. . . . The Interstate Circuit of New England has adopted a special student price at the Bradley theatre, Putnam, Conn. Students are charged only 40 cents between 6 and 7 P.M., Mondays through Fridays. ... A second Connecticut outdoor theatre — the Lake drivein, Waterbury — has adopted a $l-a-car night policy for more than one evening a week. . . . Bob Schwart is admitting cars for $1, regardless of number of passengers, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. A similar policy — on a seven-night basis — recently went into effect at the Lockwood & Gordon Enterprises’ East Hartford Family drive-in, South Windsor. Many drive-in facilities in Connecticut heretofore have charged $l-a-car, but only on occasional evenings. . . . Joseph C. Miklos, of the Stanley Warner Embassy, New Britain, Conn., has been appointed retail division captain of the New Britain Community Chest Campaign. . . . Fred R. Greenway, Loew’s Palace, is serving as entertainment chairman of the Hartford Fire Prevention Week observance. Indianapolis Chief barker Bob Jones announced the Variety Club will have a series of five dancing lessons on alternate Monday nights beginning Oct. 8. A stag party is scheduled for every other Monday. . . . Hugh McLachlin, chairman of the Allied Theatre Owners of Indiana equipment committee, was attending the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers convention in Los Angeles this week. . . . Marc Wolf went to Denver last week for a meeting of the officers of Variety Interational there. . . . Dale MacFarland, general manager of Greater Indianapolis, reports “Oklahoma!” has passed the halfway mark of its hoped-for 12 weeks’ run at the Lyric without slowing down. . . . Richard C. McKay will reopen the Palace at Fort Wayne Nov. 6 for a 12-week season of dramatic stock under the name of Conwayne Productions. ... A night club party at the Variety Club Oct. 23 and the annual banquet Oct. 24 will be the main social events on the ATOI fall convention calendar. Jacksonville Glen Lambert, a pioneer motion picture producer and director, left here for Washington, D. C., to begin the production of a series of short subjects for Federal agencies . . . Projectionist Bender A Cawthon revealed that his collection of projection equipment dating from the early 1900s may be turned over to a Hollywood historical museum ... As part of a national 20th-Fox advertising survey Don Yarbrough, company exploiteer from Atlanta, questioned patrons of the Florida theatre as to what influenced them to attend “The Best Things in Life Are Free.” . . . Bill Boardman, who operates the Playhouse and Roxy theatres in St. Petersburg, came in on a booking and buying trip. ... A group of Florida and Georgia managers of the Dixie Drive-In Theatres circuit were here to plan for a Harris Robinson drive, September 30-December 8, under the leadership of district director Horace Denning. . . . Jim Taylor has resigned from the 20thFox staff. . . . Norm Levinson, MGM publicist, left for his annual vacation to be spent in New York, New Haven and Hartford. Kansas City W. D. Fulton and Mrs. Fulton of the Electric and Avenue theatres in Kansas City, Kans. and the Lake Park drive-in are touring Europe. . . . Mrs. Beverly Miller, wife of Bev Miller, KMTA president, was injured when an electric golf car overturned. . . . William W. Lewis, a native Kansas Citian, has been in town promoting “Lust for Life.” ... At the Motion Picture Association’s stag party in Kansas City the top honors in the golf tournament went to A1 Carson and in gin rummy to Dr. Nathan Zoglin. . . . George Baker of Baker Enterprises was a guest on the Ted Mack Amateur Hour. ... A chapter of Women of the Motion Picture Industry was organized in Kansas City with Myrtle Cain, secretary at the MGM offices, as president; Billie Mistelle, secretary at Paramount, as vice-president in charge of programs and Gretchen Brown of Consolidated Agencies as vice-president (Continued on opposite page ) 26 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, OCTOBER 13, 1956