Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1948)

LOS ANGELES ^es Moines and Kansas City have been added to the Universal territory supervised by Foster Blake, western district manager . . . Slated to open early this month is the Valley Drive-In, a 600-car showcase, located in Ontario. It is owned and operated by Sero Enterprises . . . Cliff Harris, Republic salesman, checked out on a two-week trip through his Arizona territory. Dave Cantor, RKO exploiteer, is handing out cigars. Mrs. Cantor gave birth to a daughter at the California Lutheran hospital . . . On the sick list: George Topper, treasurer of Fox West Coast, who checked in at the Good Samaritan; Sarah Levith, bookkeeper for the J. P. Filbert Supply Co., who was away from her desk for a few days . . . Down from San Francisco was Charles Maestri, booker and buyer for the Robert L. Lippert chain. Huddling on product deals with Roy Dickson of Cooperative Theatres was C. T. Parron, operator of the Atlantic in Long Beach . . . Gil Harlan is the new artist at the Filmack Trailer office . . . Harvey Goldman shuttered his Pix Theatre here for a remodeling job . . . Visitors from Chicago, where they own the Adelphi Theatre, were Mr. and Mrs. Ludwig Sussman, who are staying with their nephew, Irving Lamm, manager of the Holly and Ramona theatres. Due in shortly is Milt Kusell, general sales We have the for YOUR Count on us for Quick Action! THEATRE i contacts with the exhibitors >u oi satisfactory results. THEATRE EXCHANGE CO. 201 Fine Arts BitlQ. Portland 5. Oreoon METRO PREMIUM CO. f now offers BEAUTYWARE PREMIUM DEAL Gifts of overpowering Boxoffice Appeal 242 Hyde St. GRaystone 410S San Francisco, Calif. , NOW h VACUUM PACKED IN 10-LB. CANS f FOR LASTING TOP RESULTS MANLEY HYBRID JUMBO POPCORN W. H. TURPIE. Western Division Manager 1914 So. Vermont. RE 7528 Los Angeles 7, Calit. ijapiraolUEirdiEiiMig wTsanssTPKTr Better Trailers at Lower Prices Service • Price • Quality 1977 S. Vermont Avenue Los Angeles 7, California RE. 2-0621 manager for SRO, who is making a tour of the company’s exchanges on his way to the coast ... A booking visitor was A1 Galston, partner in the Galston-Sutton circuit . . . W. H. Turpie, western division chief for Manley Popcorn, left for San Francisco on a “territorial survey” ... In from Long Beach was Harold Simpson, operator of the Tracy Theatre there. George A. Smith, Paramount’s western division manager, came in from meetings with sales staffs in Kansas City and Des Moines, while Hugh Braly, west coast district chief for the same company, returned from a junket to Denver . . . Milt Hossfeld planed to Amarillo to complete distribution plans for Bank of Knowledge, new theatre quiz game, which he is handling. George Bowser, Fox West Coast general manager and National Theatres executive, checked out for an extended inspection tour of all NT divisions, scheduling stopovers in Milwaukee, Detroit, Philadelphia, St. Louis, Kansas City, Denver, Seattle, Portland and other key centers. He is accompanied by John Healy, John Hodges and Paul Scherer. After only a few months in the spot, Dick Pritchard resigned as manager of FWC’s Guild Theatre, first run spot in Hollywood. He is opening his own offices to handle commercial and personal exploitation accounts. Pritchard was for many years manager of the Ambassador Hotel Theatre. John J. Curry of the Paramount sales staff died of a heart attack March 30. He had been with the company in various capacities since 1917. Curry is survived by his wife and two children. Will Remodel Pala Theatre, Build Escondido Airer ESCONDIDO, CALIF. — Dan Johnston, ovmer of the Pala and Ritz here, will remodel the Pala inside and out and will construct a $100,000 drive-in theatre on Highway 395 and Pine street. The Indian theme of the Pala’s interior will be replaced by a plain, modern treatment. A new face already has been put on the exterior. The new marquee, of green and yellow glass, has in the center a large mural carrying out the theme of Palomar observatory. Eventual plans for the interior call for a graduated seating arrangement to replace the balcony. The drive-in will be built as soon as plans are approved and materials made available, Johnston said. Capacity of the airer will be 600 cars. Johnston also has plans for redecorating the interior of the Ritz. Harry Popkin Will Release Ten Pictures Through UA HOLLYWOOD — Cardinal Pictures, recently reactivated independent unit headed by Harry Popkin, veteran producer-exhibitor, has closed a ten-picture release deal with United Artists covering a four-year period. The production program is bankrolled' at a minimum of $8,000,000. No titles or casts have been set. Popkin’s last film, made some years ago for 20th-Fox release, was “And Then There Were None.” TOA Ascap Plan Permits Cancellation LOS ANGELES — Members of the Southern California Theatre Owners Ass’n, a unit of the Theatre Owners of America, were informed via a special bulletin from Paul Williams, SCTOA general counsel, that Robert Coyne, TOA executive director, had telegraphed him additional information concerning the new Ascap application and license plan. Coyne informed Williams the plan has been revised at TOA insistence and “now conforms to terms TOA originally recommended for acceptance.” He pointed out that the license offered is for ten years, but emphasized “each exhibitor may request special cancellation clause effective at the end of each contract year upon 60 days’ notice by exhibitor.” Williams urged SCTOA members to make certain this cancellation clause is incorporated in each Ascap contract, and added that the settlement “is a most favorable one for the exhibitor.” Roy Hunt Starts Airer In Los Angeles Section LOS ANGELES — Preliminary work is being done on a 700-car drive-in theatre being built by Roy C. Hunt, circuit operator, at the corner of Opal street and Mission boulevard in Riverside. He expects to open about August 1. Hunt said the theatre would be built 225 feet from the boulevard, with space along the boulevard given over to commercial development and landscaping. Space will be provided for parking 300 cars in an outside area while awaiting the second show. Inside there will be 300 seats for walking patrons, a playground inside for children and a lounge and restaurant from which patrons may watch the show. The theatre will be open the year around. Hunt said. He announced that construction of the drive-in would in no way affect plans for construction of the Jurupa-Magnolia Theatre. Hal Wallis Denies Reports HOLLYWOOD— Published reports that he was negotiating with other releasing organizations to handle his independently made product upon completion of his current Paramount pact has been denied by Hal Wallis. He declared four pictures remain to be delivered to Paramount to fulfill his present agreement and, admitting “overtures” had been made by other distributors, said negotiations had “not been initiated” with any of them. Any “ultimate determination,” Wallis emphasized, will be based on “prevailing economic conditions” when his Paramount ticket has expired. New Playhouse Manager POR'TLAND — William Katzky has capped his nine-year career in the local theatre business by stepping into the full managerial position at the Playhouse Theatre. Katzky has replaced Emrys Evans who, due to poor health, has been forced into temporary retirement. Katzky stepped into his new position from the post of assistant manager of the Castle and Kiggens in Vancouver, Wash. 58D BOXOFFICE :: April 3, 1948