Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1961)

MINNEAPOLIS Bob Titus, former house manager of the St. Louis Park Theatre, is now manager of the Cedar. Jim Johnson, formerly manager of the Cedar for 13 years, is now manager of the Nile, replacing Ed Hamlet, who resigned . . . Bob Branton, booker at Columbia, vacationed at Brainerd . . . Irene Frazer, office manager at National Screen Service, vacationed in North Dakota and Canada. Exhibitors on the Row included M. W. Long, Lansing, Iowa; Jake Musich, Duluth; A1 Smith, Winona; Harold Schlais, Rib Lake, Wis.; Howard Underwood. Brainerd, and John Rohr, Pine River, who was setting up bookings for his circuit of outdoor theatres . . . William Castle, producer of "Homicidal,” which opened at the Orpheum, was in promoting the picture along with Harry Hollander, Columbia exploiteer. Edward L. Hyman, vice-president of American Broadcasting-Paramount Theatres, was in Friday (16) with his assistant for a routine early summer conference with officials of Minnesota Amusement Co., local AB-PT affiliate . . . Burton Gaines, shipper at U-I, injured his knee and has been confined to his home . . . Bob Wilkinson, U-I divisional sales manager, was in from Dallas. Mary Max, biller at MGM, vacationed in Washington state . . . Chet LeVoir, salesman at U-I, spent a week’s vacation at a lake in northern Minnesota . . . Paramount Weeks, July 12-25, are getting good support from exhibitors, according to Forrie Myers, Paramount sales manager. “We’re trying to put some Paramount service on every screen in the area sometime during that period,” Myers said. Actor Regis Toomey was in town to promote Universal’s “The Last Sunset,” which opened at the State . . . Ralph Green, operator of the East Lake Theatre and part owner of drive-ins in Rochester and in Iowa, was the subject of a recent Reporting at Large column of Bob Murphy in the Minneapolis Star. The column described another venture of Green — the Milaca Underwear Co. at Milaca, manufacturer of lingerie, pajamas and other women’s apparel. Dr. James Reid of St. Paul purchased the West Twins theatre, St. Paul, from the W. R. Frank Co., effective Wednesday (14). The first picture being presented by the new owner is “Ben Hur,” booked for three weeks. Theatre Associates, Minneapolis, will continue to do the buying and booking for the house. Jim Goggin, Exhibitor At Wheaton, Minn., Dies WHEATON, MINN. — James P. Goggin, 49, owner and operator of the Gopher Theatre here, died recently. He entered the theatre field in 1946, operating a theatre at Park Rapids for eight years. He purchased the local Gopher August 1, 1953. Goggin also conducted a daily newscast over radio station KMRS in Morris from a studio in the theatre. He was stricken just prior to going on the air with his morning show and died shortly after. Survivors include his wife; three children, Maureen, Dennis and Kathleen; his mother, Mrs. Leona Goggin of Benson; and three brothers, Lawrence and Edwin, Benson, and Patrick, Wahpeton, N. D. Jack Greenberg Resigns At Minneapolis NSS MINNEAPOLIS — Jack Greenberg, manager of National Screen Service, has resigned effective June 30, to become sales manager of the Jerrold Stephan Co. of this city, manufacturer of TV tables, lamps and chairs. Greenberg has been manager at National Screen since Dec. 15, 1960, when he replaced Jay MacFarland, who retired. Previously to that he was sales manager of NSS here, having been transferred to Minneapolis from New York. No successor to Greenberg has been named. “The Tiger Among Us,” a Columbia release, is based on the best-selling novel by Leigh Brackett. Astral Appointments Made by Mrs. Allen TORONTO — Mrs. Sophie Allen, new president of Astral Films, has announced several appointments which she said are designed to strengthen the company’s coast-to-coast activities in Canada. Jerry H. Solway becomes managing director, responsible for coordinating the company’s overall operation. Martin Bockner, formerly Toronto branch manager, has been promoted to general sales manager. Paul Hanner joins the company as director of public relations and will handle all matters pertaining to advertising and publicity. Mac McDonald is to be director of exchange operations, a new position in the Astral organization. His duties will include supervision of the company’s accounting operation as well as liaison of the exchanges. Bill Elman, who had been Astral’s exchange manager in Montreal, will also take over supervision of the Maritimes, with the title of eastern division manager, continuing to be in charge of the Montreal exchange. Bert Frank joins the company as Montreal sales representative. He has many years of distribution experience, including service with Rank and Empire-Universal. Harry Ginsler becomes manager of the company’s new 16mm division. With Hanner’s appointment, Astral is able to offer outstanding advertising and publicity service for such American International Pictures as Jules Verne’s “Master of the World,” Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Pit and the Pendulum” and the 70mm Technirama production, “Ali Baba and the 7 Miracles of the World.” Robert Tirrell Promoted To L&G District Post HARTFORD — Doug Amos, general manager of Lockwood & Gordon Enterprises, has announced promotion of Robert Tirrell to Hartford district manager, supervising metropolitan Hartford hardtops and drive-ins, plus drive-in operations in the Torrington region. Tirrell, who had been tentatively assigned to the post some months ago, was formerly manager of the L&G East Windsor (Conn.) Drive-In. He will work under direct supervision of William Daugherty, who continues as L&G Connecticut division manager. William F. Murphy, managing director of the Cine Webb, Wethersfield, the circuit’s first-run art situation in metropolitan Hartford, will continue to temporarily supervise the Art Theatre, Hartford. Bardwell, Ky„ Drive-In Leased to Sikeston Men BARDWELL, KY.— The Bardwell DriveIn, formerly the Beardsley Drive-In, onehalf mile north of town on Highway 51, is being operated under lease this season by Dean Traw and Earl Ferrell, both of Sikeston, Mo. The drive-in has been operated for the past two seasons by Beardsley Bros., who owns the property. P/ease ser>cf tne □ 2 years for $5 □ 1 year for $3 □ 3 years for $7 □ Remittance Enclosed □ Send Invoice THEATRE STREET ADDRESS TOWN ZONE STATE NAME POSITION THE NATIONAL FILM WEEKLY 52 issues a year 825 Van Brunt Blvd., Kansas City 24, Mo. NC-4 BOXOFFICE :: June 19, 1961