The Exhibitor (1953)

NT-4 EXHIBITOR District of Columbia Washington The drama department of Catholic University invited director Alfred Hitch¬ cock to lecture on motion picture sus¬ pense. He plans to make the address when he comes east in connection with premiere showings of his new Warner production, “I Confess.” Ed Linder, manager, Ontario, obtained a front page spot as well as an inside break with photo on U-I’s “The Lawless Breed” in The Uptown Connecticut Avenue Shopper. Moved by the opposition of Arlington residents, the Alexandria Planning Com¬ mission denied rezoning that would have permitted construction of a drive-in at Mount Vernon Avenue and Glebe Road. The commission’s good-neighbor decision now goes to Alexandria City Council, which can reverse the planning board by a three-fourths majority. The planning commission had previously recommended, and the City Council had approved, a “special use permit” to allow the drive-in, subject to rezoning of three acres of the seven-acre tract. However, the Commis¬ sion stated it was not aware of the opposition when it voted the permit. Variety Club— The club presented a check for $2,000 to the Metropolitan Police Boys Club on the Mark Evans television show over WTOP. Presentation was made by Morton Gerber, chairman, welfare committee, to Vice-President Richard M. Nixon, who turned the check over to District Police Chief Robert V. Murray. Also present was Ralph D. Pitt¬ man, president, Metropolitan Police Boys Club. . . . Recent contributions of the Variety Club will be used to mem¬ orialize deceased members. They include the gift of an ambulance to Emergency Hospital and a contribution to the Hebrew Home for the Aged. . . . The traditional “thank you” luncheon for the ladies who worked on the 1952 welfare awards drive will be held on Feb. 28 in the Terrace Room of the Shoreham Hotel. Invitations will be sent out by Mrs. Sara S. Young, chairman, women’s committee, to the women who actively participated. . . . Gerald P. Price, chairman, member¬ ship committee, inducted new members into the club on Feb. 2. A diplomatic preview of “Mahatma Gandhi — Twentieth Century Prophet,” a feature-length documentary film on the life of the Indian leader produced by the American Academy of Asian Studies, San Francisco, was held in the DuPont. The preview was under the auspices of G. L. Mehta, Ambassador of India to the United States, in cooperation with the American Academy of Asian Studies. Twenty-five top Washington-Baltimore, Md., territory exhibitors and circuit heads lunched at the Mayflower Hotel with Rosemary Clooney, star of Para¬ mount’s “The Stars Are Singing,” who is touring in conjunction with the pro¬ motional campaign in behalf of the film. Among the showmen present were: Sidney Lust, Fred Kogod, Max Burka, Marvin Goldman, Lloyd Wineland, Joseph Bernheimer, T. J. Martin, Tom Mudd, Wilbur Brizendine, George Crouch, The Senate, Harrisburg, Pa., recently had this display of military equipment out¬ side the theatre in a tieup with the National Guard on Republic’s “Thunderbirds.” Louis Ribnitzki, and others. Acting as host for Paramount was Phil Isaacs, Washington branch manager. The luncheon was preceded by a special screening of “The Stars Are Singing” for the exhibitors followed by a cock¬ tail party at the Mayflower in honor of Miss Clooney, at which disc jockeys and fashion editors of the area interviewed the radio-TV-recording artist. Miss Clooney arrived accompanied by Herb Steinberg, Paramount publicity manager. Next stop on their tour was Atlanta. MGM’s Mrs. Catherine Murphy re¬ ported that Hazel McCarthy, booker’s stenographer, was in Minnesota on a vacation and that Eddie Kushner, Dot Biggs, and Ernest Huyett were all back after a siege of the flu. Sam Pike, Equity, is back after two weeks in the Clinch. ... Joe DiMaio, Kay, back from Martinsville, Va., re¬ ported that J. L. Pritchett, Martin, was sick with the flu. . . . At Allied Artists, R. V. Graber, auditor, was in. RKO assistant cashier Mildred Mc¬ Donald was back after her bout with the virus, as was inspectress Charlotte West. . . . RKO’s Agnes Turner introduced Howard Mitchell, conductor, National Symphony, at the Soroptimists luncheon at the Willard Hotel. Local F-13 had a regular monthly meeting, and admitted Virginia Baisey, William Padgett, Jean Tuazon, and Esther Bomstein. . . . Sam Jenkins is leaving United Artists to take residence in Arizona. . . . Miss Anna Bernd, at The Byrd, Richmond, Va., recently utilized space on a building project to plug the showing of RKO’s “Never Wave At A Wac.” Paramount for 34 years, passed away after illness. ... At Republic, Bertha May Amandat’s father passed away. . . . A baby shower was held for Mrs. Doris Musselman, former contract clerk at Republic. ... In were W. R. Tanner, K and T Theatres, Kenbridge, Va., and Cecil Curtis, Galax, Va. . . . Harley Davidson, Independent Theatre Service, has taken over buying and booking for the Lee-Hi Drive-In, Roanoke, Va. Jerome A. Adams, branch manager, MGM, announced that he has resigned his position effective on April 4 to accept another position in California. Adams came to Washington from the San Francisco office of MGM, and has been most active in motion picture, charitable, and civic affairs. He is a member of the Ad Club and Variety Club, and served the latter organization as Chief Barker during 1952. He started with MGM in 1934, and in 1941 entered the armed forces, working his way up through the ranks to captain, combat intelligence. Upon his return to civilian life, he was assigned as assistant branch manager in San Francisco, and was transferred to Wahington as branch manager in March, 1947. Mr. and Mrs. Adams and their three children will make their home in the Bay area of San Francisco. Membei-s of the Cabinet, Congress, and Washington diplomatic, and press corps attended a special screening of “Come Back, Little Sheba’’ at the MPAA theatre with Shirley Booth as hostess. Warner Theatres reported that Frank La Falce and George Crouch were down to the Shenandoah for the field meeting of managers. . . . Gertrude Epstein, Sandy, reported that Jerry Sandy was back after his bout with the flu. ... A surprise birthday party was held for Clark Davis, District Theatres, at the Variety Club. . . . Lanny Payne, Pitt Circuit, was in visiting. Ground was broken for a new drive-in on the Marlboro Pike less than a mile from the District line. This will be operated by Sidney Lust Theatres when it opens around April 1. — Rick La Falce Delaware Wilmington Stereo-Techniques films made their eastern premiere in Wilmington on Feb. 5 at Loew’s Aldine. Five films were shown along with “Rogue’s March.” Funeral services for Mrs. Anna Thomas Ritchie Horn, widow of Charles S. Horn, Sr., pioneer exhibitor of Rehoboth Beach, Del., were held. Mr. and Mrs. Horn built the first motion picture theatre in Rehoboth, the Blue Hen, still in operation. — H. L. S. Maryland Baltimore The Maryland Board of Motion Picture Censors has made formal request of the Attorney General’s office for submission and promotion of a more modern and definite censorship state during the cur¬ rent session of the legislature. . . . Jack Largent, assistant manager, Strand, Cumberland, Md., spent several days visiting friends here. PHILA.-WASH. February 11, 1953