The Exhibitor (1951)

EXHIBITOR NT-3 Gorrell and wife, Isis, Winamac, Ind., were business visitors in Fort Wayne, Ind. “The Tanks Are Coming,’’ Warners’ production, from Nov. 11-21 will be shown in 100 Indiana spots, including Indianapolis, according to Claude Mc¬ Kean, manager. Gene Rovenstine, teacher and exhibi¬ tor at Vivian, Ind., where he has the Comet, was in attending the Indiana Teachers meeting. . . . Roger Wright, Madrid, Akron, Ind., is now the head coach of the basketball team of the Elk¬ hart Manufacturing Company, Burbon, Ind. . . . One night’s proceeds at the Kay, Kewanna, Ind., operated by Joe Mc¬ Pherson, will be turned over to the high school fund. The students will help sell tickets to swell the attendance. Exhibitors visiting were: George Heliotes, Rialto, Fort Wayne, Ind.; Mor¬ ton Weinberg, Crescent-Shelmar, Louis¬ ville, Ky.; Chuck Hood, Elwood, Elwood, Ind., R. E. Harold, Princess, Rushville, Ind., and Jack Armstrong, Drive-In Theatres, Fort Wayne, Ind. A letter from William S. Conway, Irvin, Cannelton, Ind., received by Charles Acton, salesman, Republic, says in part: “The Starlight Drive-In, the Swiss, and Ohio, all of Tell City, Ind.; the Rio, Rockport, Ind., and the Irvin, Cannelton, Ind., staged a fine parade covering all the towns for ‘Movietime, U.S.A.’ Two sound trucks, a banner truck, and more than 15 auto trucks, all decorated for the occasion, participated, with the distribution of 1500 heralds covering all features in all houses for one week. All participants agree that this exploitation effort is paying off, and it leads to something else. Managers of the theatres were particularly pleased with the cooperation of Rocky Lane in his attempts to salvage the Indiana cam¬ paign, planned for bigger towns.” Signed — William S. Conway and the five theatres mentioned. William Coons, better known as “Bill’’ of Film Row, was honored at the Variety Club by a special occasion and presenta¬ tion of the first Annual Good Fellowship Award, a bronze plaque. Bill is the druggist on Film Row, and every morn¬ ing the clan on the row gathers in his place to exchange news and gossip, mostly gossip, over a cup of coffee. Everybody knows him, and he knows everybody, from office clerks to the ex¬ change managers. The Variety Club quarters were filled to overflowing. In fact, members who hadn’t attended any of the meetings in a long time were there, and Bill Coons began to become alarmed, whether it was a complaint about his morning coffee or a mistaken dose, he didn’t know. However, it was neither, for he does serve an excellent cup of coffee. When the fireworks were announced, he received the award from the film dignitaries, Claude McKean and Earl Herndon, selected to make the presentation. Coons was filled with emo¬ tion and a few tears flowed. It was pathetic to see a six-footer weeping. October 31, 1951 angg H0V. It 17 197 RHUBARB CAT OF THE YEAR Paramount’s “Rhubarb” poses content¬ edly under enlargement of the “National Cat Week” stamp which bears his like¬ ness. The feline was named “cat of the year” recently for his title role in Perlberg-Seaton’s comedy, “Rhubarb.” Pittsburgh Ken Hoel, head, Harris Amusement Company publicity department, was away on a short vacation. . . . The Gardens, usually reserved for ice shows, hockey, etc., put on a live stage show. . . . Charles Comar’s secretary, Corrine Keesler, announced her engagement to Harry Kaufman, Squirrel Hill. Comar is personnel director for Warner Theatres. total of 10 cities that reported collec¬ tions last year. The total taxes for all the cities was 10 per cent under 1949. Eleanor Crane left her position at the Shadyside to remain at home, follow¬ ing the passing of her mother. Juanita Smith is the new aide. Jack Kahn, Warner Theatres’ pub¬ licity head, set a triple stage wedding at the Stanley for “Here Comes The Groom.” A honeymoon at Bedford Springs., Pa., and many merchandise gifts were promoted for the newlyweds. Pittsburgh will be one of six cities to see MGM’s “Quo Vadis” first when Loew’s Penn will show it starting on Nov. 20. The Variety Club annual banquet has been definitely set for Jan. 20, according to chairman William Finkel. A1 Brevak, former assistant to Ken Hoel at the Harris office and who left to join the Walker-Downing advertising agency, resigned to become station manager for WPGH and West View Amusement Park. Screen comedian Vince Barnett was in to visit with his family. Almost 100 tradesters recently at¬ tended the testimonial dinner at the Fort Pitt honoring Jack Judd, recently named Columbia branch manager. Pro¬ moted singlehanded by Jake Solz, the large turnout was a tribute to the pop¬ ular film man. Dinty Moore, Warners’ district manager, acted as toastmaster. John Walsh, Variety Club Chief Barker, and his successor for 1952, William Finkel; Saul Bragan, Warner Theatres’ circuit film buyer, and Morris Finkel, Allied national director and chairman of the board, were speakers. Katherine Creedmore left her booking berth at Columbia to join the RKO ex¬ change staff. . . . The drive-ins in this area are planning to close on Nov. 4, unless unseasonable weather comes along. Ray Woodward, Franklin, Pa., exhibi¬ tor, has been named head, Allied Motion Picture Theatre Owners of Western Pennsylvania election committee. He held a meeting to decide upon possible candidates for officers and the board of directors. F. D. Moore, Jr., son of the Warner district manager, has taken over the operation of the Beechview. The Harris Circuit had operated the house for years, but dropped out of the picture earlier this year when the lease expired. Moore resigned his position with Tri-State Automatic Candy Company. The city collected $1,309,000 in admis¬ sion taxes during 1950, the third highest Andy Battiston and Jack Goldberg, G and B Road Attractions, opened their twin bill combination, “Cocaine, The Thrill That Kills” and “Call of the Blood,” at the Circle and Gateway Drive-In, New Kensington, Pa. Fred Herrington, Allied secretary, re¬ turned from New York after seeing all the companies regarding ads for the Allied convention program. Monogram and Allied Artists executives gathered aboard the S. S. America in New York recently to bid farewell to Monogram-Allied Artists President Steve Broidy and Norton V. Ritchey, head, Monogram International, as they left on a trip to England. From left are Lloyd Lind, exchange supervisor; Broidy, Ed Morey, Mono¬ gram-Allied Artists vice-president; William Satori, assistant to Ritchey; Ritchey, John Dervin, Stratford Pictures, Monogram subsidiary, and T. O’Neill, Lind’s assistant.