The Exhibitor (1953)

EXHIBITOR NT-3 Seen at the recent reception and cocktail party in New York City tendered to winners of The New York Journal-American Movie Contest, at which the Organization of the Motion Picture Industry acted as host, were, left to right, Sam Rosen, treasurer, Fabian Theatres; Robert M. Weitman, vice-presi¬ dent, United Paramount Theatres; Danny Kaye; Sam H. Day, managing director, The Journal-American; Shirley Booth, winner of the “best actress” award in Paramount’s “Come Back, Little Sheba” in the Associated Press poll; Ernest Emerling, advertising and publcity director, Loew’s Theatres; Fred J. Schwartz, chairman. Organization of the Motion Picture Industry, and president, Century Theatres; Miss Booth; Emanuel Frisch, president. Metropolitan Theatres Association, and treasurer, Randforce Amusement Corpora¬ tion; Day; Kaye; Solomon Strausberg, president, Interboro Circuit; Kaye; Piper Laurie, now appearing in LI-I’s “The Mississippi Gambler;” Milton R. Rackmil, U-I president, and A1 E. Daff, vice-president and general sales manager, U-I. ager; Fred Sliter, Clayton Pantages, John Wilhelm, John Sharpe, Mrs. Martha Tingler, Winifred Allen, Helen D’Amico, Frieda Hannemann, Joan Wagner, Diane Snyder, Kitty Heavenor, Evelyn Mallery, C. Ryan, and Robert Roth, and United Artists, Robert Adler, and Phyllis Dembo. Fabian Theatres launched a “Hold the Line” drive. Attending a meeting were : Saul J. Ullman, division manager; Joseph Saperstein, booker; Albany managers Alex Sayles, Palace; Paul Wallen, Grand, and Stanton Patterson, Leland; Sche¬ nectady city manager Guy Graves and Richard Murphy, Plaza; Lou Rapp, Erie, and Phil Rapp, State; Larry Cowen, Proctor’s Troy; George Seed, Cohoes; and Irwin Ullman and George Lourinia, drive-ins, handling other assignments dur¬ ing the winter months. Ed Wall, Paramount director of ad¬ vertising-publicity, Albany and Buffalo territories, breathed easier when his wife started on the road to recovery from pneumonia. The call of Florida’s sunshine and balmy temperatures was answered by Dave Rosenbaum, Capitol, Elizabethtown, Mrs. Rosenbaum, and young daughter, and Fred Sliter, veteran 20th-Fox sales¬ man, and Mrs. Sliter. The Rosenbaums, reported that their son, Burt, would be at the helm in Elizabethtown until the travelers returned. The Sliters left by car for Florida. A shrinkage of $50,000 in estimated revenue from the motion picture tax for the state’s fiscal year of 1952-53 was indicated by a study of the figure which Governor Thomas E. Dewey gave in his budget message to the legislature. The governor told the 1953 lawmakers that “During the first 10 months of the current fiscal year, $347,000 was collected. The revenue for the year is expected to reach $400,000, and for 1953-54 the same amount is forecast.” Last year, Dewey stated: “Collections during the first 10 months of the current fiscal year have amounted to $380,000, compared with collections of $324,000 during the same period of 195051, mostly as a result of the current practice of purchasing duplicate seals (for prints) by license applicants. Total revenue in 1951-52 estimated at $450,000, and the same amount is expected during 1952-53.” The revised estimate is based on experience with collections from films submitted to the motion picture division, State Education Department, for review and licensing. Governor Dewey wrote the current legislature that the motion picture levy is “a licensing tax on films registered for exhibition in the state. Its yield in recent years has ranged between $350,000 and $475,000.” A year ago, he described the impost as one “collected from film producers on films exhibited in the state.” Dewey then added: “The annual revenue over the past three years has ranged between $350,000 and $390,C00.” Buffalo New president of the Colosseum is Herb Gaines, with the other officers being secretary John McMahon and treasurer Michael Jusko. Lydia Behling, Dorothy Gammel, Irene Mac Williams, Florence Hotte, Clara Nauth, Florence Schaaf, and Alice Dietschler were hosts to 50 guests at a cocktail, luncheon, and variety shower in honor of Merle Jacobson, daughter of Mrs. Mike Simon, wife of Detroit’s Para¬ mount branch manager, preceding her wedding at Grosse Point, Mich. Miss Jacobson was the recipient of many gifts. Kathryn Simon accompanied her daughter from Detroit. Manny Brown, United Artists branch manager, and staff held their annual cocktail party in the local exchange, with a dinner for the entire staff at LaMarque following the office party. Wife Belle Brown assisted her husband, and handled the table decoration. Moe Dudelson, dis¬ trict manager, UA, was in to attend the party, as was Robert Adler, Ablany office. . . . George and Dorthy Gammel, Gammel Circuit, had a buffet supper party in their home in Pomeroy Park, Eggertsville. . . . Leon Herman, branch manager, Republic, and his entire staff were hosts to exhibitors and distributors in a cocktail party in the Exchange. Immediately following, he and his staff journeyed to the Town Casino for dinner and entertainment. One of the loveliest weddings of the season took place when Merle Janeen Jacobson, daughter of Mrs. Merle Simon, wife of the Detroit branch head for Para¬ mount, became the bride of Tracy Har¬ rington Tingley, Detroit, in Grosse Pointe Memorial Church, Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich. Dr. Frank Fitt officiated at the ceremony uniting in marriage the daughter of Mrs. Simon to the son of Mrs. Tracy Warren Tingley, Detroit. Mike Simon gave the bride in marriage. Miss Eugenia Pauline Markthaler, Elmira, was maid of honor. Attendants were Mrs. Howard D. Simon, Rochester, Minn., and Mrs. David Diefendorf, Buffalo. Pamela Sue Spitznaleg, Detroit, cousin of the bride, was flower girl. Burton Warren Tingley was best man. Ushers were Frederick Wilson, Farmingham, Mich.; Robert Wilson, Pittsburgh; Dr. Howard Simon, Robert Lesterson, and Forler Massnick, Detroit. A reception was held at the Detroit Yacht Club following the ceremony. The couple left for a honey¬ moon in Miami, Fla. They will live at Grosse Pointe, Mich. Mr. and Mrs. Mike Simon, had a buffet supper in their apart¬ ment preseding the wedding for the bridal party and guests. Following the wedding reception, the Simons had a mid¬ night champagne party in honor of two birthdays, that of wife Kathryn and George Gammel, Gammel Circuit, and president, MPTO of New York Street, Inc. A joint meeting of exhibitors and dis¬ tributors was held in the Variety Club rooms for “Brotherhood Week.” Manny Brown is distributor chairman, and Arthur Krolick is exhibitor chairman. Max and Laura Rosing, Roosevelt, returned from an extended trip to Phila¬ delphia and Atlantic City. . . . Meyer Fox, Columbia Buffalo sales representative, was apartment hunting. Wife Eleanor and son Steve arrived to join him. . . . William Dipson, Dipson Circuit, spon¬ sored a “Dipson Night” party in the Variety Club rooms. Other circuits and exchanges may follow suit on following Saturday nights, according to Dewey Michaels, Chief Barker. Phil Fox, Columbia branch manager, Cincinnati, and wife Ida celebrated their 14th wedding anniversary on Jan. 29, also the birthdays of their two sons. . . . February 11, 1953