Showmen's Trade Review (Oct-Dec 1949)

16 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW, November 19, 1949 NEWSREEL CLIPS Notre Dame Star In Boston Pilgrim Theatre Telecast Notre Dame proved a star on large-screen theatre television as well as on the grid last Saturday as its game against North Carolina, received by the American Theatre's 190-seat Pilgrim at Boston, brought out a crowd which outstripped those which attended the world series telecasts presented by the same theatre. Reports from the Hub city indicate that 1600 attended the telecast of the game and that the theatre concession trade did an average business. Reason for football's topping the world series classic, which let the Pilgrim down attendance-wise, was attributed to the fact that Boston is more interested generally in football when played by Notre Dame and to the fact that the Pilgrim, profiting by world series experience, did not raise its admissions. The series was sold at advanced prices, the Notre Dame game at the regular matinee prices of 50, 65 and 85 cents, which included a double feature. Price Rise Unlikely A spokesman for the Pilgrim said it was unlikely that the theatre would advance admissions for sports telecasts in the future as this did not seem a desirable policy unless the event should be exclusive. Two other Notre Dame games are to be received by the Pilgrim, those at Iowa and at Southern California. 3 More Petitions On Theatre Video The Theatre Owners of Oklahoma, the Walter Reade circuit and Washington, D. C, Exhibitor Sidney Lust this week joined the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of West Virginia to petition the Federal Communications Commission to hold hearings on theatre television and to assign special channels for theatre telecasting. Twenty-five petitions are expected. All but Lust emphasized the point that theatre video "may be the only satisfactory television service" available to small-town and rural areas. Lust skirted this point, apparently because ther,e are four commercial video stations in Washington, but he did claim that theatre television could serve the public by going beyond ordinary video service and offering entertainment beyond the means of commercial broadcasting. Cut March of Time To 8 Issues a Year March of Time will cut its release schedule from 13 issues a year to eight during 1950, with the new series to be issued Feb. 3, March 17, .A.pril 28. June 9, August 18, September 29, November 10 and December 22, offices of Producer Richard deRochemont announced Monday. The move, thought to be the result of economy and the difficulty in getting playing time for shorts, marks the first change in March of Time issues in 16 years of operation. Originally issued as a 12-issue a year proposition, it was increased to 13 issues shortly after its inception in order to provide one subject every four weeks. Dembow Heads Philanthropies National Screen's George Dembow this week was appointed to head the Amusement Division of the Federation of Jewish Philanthropies' New York City 1949 drive for funds. The overall drive seeks $50,500,000— $16,500,000 for maintenance, $34,000,000 for its building fund. Of this the amusement industry reportedly will seek to raise $5,40,000. Film Row Milt Frank, formerly with Film Classics, Los Angeles, is now booking for Warners there where Harvey Lithgow has been promoted to office manager. . . . Clarence Phillips, formerly of Eagle Lion, has joined Realart sales in Chicago. . . . Ray Nolan moves into St. Louis as branch manager, with Tommy Williamson turning salesman. Reason : Economy. . . . Same reason for Bob Haley apparently quitting RKO after 21 years in Cleveland. ... In the same city Rose Murphy celebrated her 25th anniversary as RKO inspectress last week and Warner Bros. Cashier Jayne Toth, announced she would wed Larry Beers on Thanksgiving Day. . . . Harry Walters, formerly with RKO in Indianapolis, has joined Paramount in Chicago. . . . Mary Leek Mempner has quit as booking stafifer of U in Chicago. "You Can't Escape" That the motion picture industry is thoroughly tied up with and by lawyers received corroboration again this week when inside sources reported that the script on "All the King's Men," current at New York's Victoria, was read and reread by lawyers who practically did some rewrite to make sure that there was nothing obviously libelous in the film which deals with the rise of an American fascist politician to dictatorial power. Some observers, it was feared, might draw conclusions that the conditions portrayed actually took place in a state somewhere around New Orleans. Commemorating A plaque commemorating the discovery of a baby girl in the Sheridan Square Theatre at Pittsburgh — the event which led to the foundation of what is now the Variety Clubs International— was unveiled last Sunday in the theatre in ceremonies which preceded the annual banquet of Pittsburgh Tent No. 1 at the William Penn Hotel. The banquet was held to honor outgoing Chief Barker George W. Eby and in celebration of the tent's 22nd birthday. Bull's-Eye That fast shooting Roy Rogers seems to have hit the bull's-eye in the Cliicago area with the Republic exchangee reporting that it has Film Events Calendar DECEMBER 1-2, convention. Independent Theatre Owners of Wisconsin, Hotel Schrooder, Mil waiikfe 6-7, third annual convention, Allied Theatre Owners of the Gulf States, Jung Hotel, New Orleans. 12-13, meeting of the Conference Committee of the Motion Picture Industry, Shoreham Hotel, Washington, D. C. so many demands that it is now shipping out prints which go back to 1944. Reason: The increased number of kid shows is putting a strain on the hoof-and-heroers. Pillar of Finance Sam Pinanksi, president of the American Theatres Corporation, a pretty big fish in financial waters himself, has been appointed a director of the John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company. It's possible that he's the first exhibitor to be so honored. To Drive for Members Clarence Taylor has been added to the staff of the Kentucky Association of Theatre Owners to tour the state in a membership drive. Joins TOA The western zone of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of New York this week decided to affiliate with the Theatre Owners of America. Broidy Reelected Monogram President Steve Broidy was reelected president of Monogram as directors of the organization met in Hollywood this week. Other officers reelected are 'Board Chairman W. Ray Johnston ; Executive Vice-President and Treasurer George D. Burrows ; Vice-Presidents Ed Morey, Norton V. Ritchey, Harold Mirisch, Herman Rifkin, Morey Goldstein ; Secretary Sam Wolf ; Comptroller George Blotchford. Prior to the officers' election. Monogram stockholders reelected the following directors : Johnston, Broidy, Burrows, Ritchey, Rifkin, Arthur C. Bromberg, William Hurlbut, Howard Stubbins, Charles W. Trampe. Monogiam to Handle All ABP Output A five-year distribution deal by which all Associated British-Pathe product would be released in the United States and the Latin Americas through Monogram was announced this week by Monogram President Steve Broidy. Part of the product under its deal, which was closed by Monogram-International President Norton V. Ritchey with ABP's Sir Philip Warier and William Moffat, will be put out under the Allied Artists label, with the remainder going to Monogram and part to be handled by Monogram's new special handling outfit — Stratford Pictures. Palfreyman Joins Brokau Circuit Dave Palfreyman, former head of exhibitor relations for the Motion Picture Association of America, has joined Brokau Theatres at .*ingola, Ind., as a partner, Indianapolis reports. Outfit is planning a new 700-seater at Angola. MISS ELVIRA ROSLUND, RKO cashier for 25 years, after an illness of several months. WILLIAM HENDERSON, 42, maintenance manager, Warner's State, Manchester, Conn., in an automobile accident.