The Exhibitor (1953)

I EXHIBITOR NT-3 theatre over to his wife, who will operate it. Schwin has taken up the manufac¬ ture of built-in kitchen cabinets. . . . The drive-in at Angola, Ind., operated by Clair Stucky and Matt Schcid'.er, will open on April 15. The Rodeo was relieved of $800 when a gunman entered the manager’s office, bound his victim, manager Robert Anderson, and fled on foot. Anderson told police the bandit forced him to put the money into a canvas bag, ripped out the telephone wires, and went his way. Visitors were; Matt Scheidler, Hart¬ ford City, Ind.; Harry Van Noy, Van Noy, Middletown, Ind.; William Handley, Rambusch Circuit, Franklin, Ind.; Bruce Kixmiller, Colonial. Bicknell, Ind., and Vic Burkle, Rialto, Fortville, Ind. Pittsburgh Jack Kahn, publicity head, Warner Circuit, staged a disc jockey jamboree for “The Jazz Singer” and its premiere at the Stanley. Seven disc jockeys appeared in person at the Fred Astaire dance studio. Admission was by a record or more, donated to local charities. Jackie Lee, newcomer, who has a hit record in the making, and Bill Kenny, “The Ink Spots,” also made per¬ sonal appearances. Gary McHugh, manager, Squirrel Hill, one of the city’s two art houses, resigned after managing the house last summer. He returned to New York to continue his career in the concert and operatic field. McHugh has already signed to narrate a series of army train¬ ing films. His successor is Earl Gordon, formerly of 20th Century Theatres, Toronto, Canada. WENS, due to take over Channel 16 and be on the air sometime this fall, will be a part of the American Broad¬ casting System-Paramount Theatre net¬ work when it starts telecasting. Dick Cvetic, son of the famous for¬ mer FBI man, rejoined the Warner Theatres, and is at the Melrose. . . . The Warner will raise its admission prices for “Peter Pan.” . . . Fred Hunkle joined Loew’s Penn as one of manager William Elder’s assistants after a hitch in the army. He formerly worked at the J. P. Harris. . . . Dave Leff, former owner, Metropolitan, and more recently with United Artists in Buffalo and Cleveland, has been named Italian Films Export representative for the Buffalo district. Dorothy Lamour will make her first night club appearance in this territory starting on April 4 at the Vogue Terrace, near McKeesport, Pa. . . . Ted Grance was reelected president, TriStates Drive-In Association, for the fourth straight term. . . . Among the downtown previews recently was Bette Davis in “The Star” at the J. P. Harris. Harold Lund, manager, WDTV, was presented with a bronze plaque in appreciation for his work on the tele In the recently concluded Warner Thea¬ tres quarterly drive, many of the show¬ manship awards went to managers of the circuit’s Erie, Pa., theatres. Shown receiving their awards from Henry , Burger, Erie district manager, are, left to right, Milford Parker, Strand; Bob Bowman, Warner, and Henry Rastetter, Columbia. thon which raised over $50,000 for the charities of the Variety Club, Tent 1. Piper Laurie was in town for a round of interviews with the radio and news¬ paper writers. She was plugging “The Mississippi Gambler.” The picture’s other star, Tyrone Power, also did some ex¬ ploitation for the film when he was in the Mosque in “John Brown’s Body.” Arcade owner William Finkel is up and around again after being in bed for a while. . . . Bennett Ambdur, owner, Garden, celebrated his 34th anniversary at the neighborhood house. . . . Albert Hill, Loew’s Penn, reported for his army physical. . . . Ted Goldsmith, veteran exploitation and advance man, was in town to publicize the Jose Greco dance revue. Sid Jacobs, Warner Circuit home office, is back from Florida with a tan that really sells the Sunshine State. Benny Steerman, also of the same office, left for his vacation in Florida when Jacobs returned. John Harris booked another all-star one night stage show into the Gardens, due on April 22. Five of the Warner neighborhood houses staged a special two-hour car¬ toon show, featuring 17 color cartoons. Youngsters attending the morning show H. J. Gilbert is chairman, West Virginia state committee, in the current trade national tax repeal campaign. comedian, were rooting for him when he recently took sick and his picture, “The Clown,” opened at the New Moon, Vincennes, Ind. Seen are some of Red’s friends at the home of song writer Clarence Stout, center, singing get well cards which were shipped to Skelton at the studio. were allowed to stay for the regular show. . . . Arthur G. Williams, projectioist, Enright, celebrated his 76th birthday. He’s been a member of Local 171 since it was organized in 1909. Former Pittsburgher Jules Lapidus, now a divisional manager for Warners, became a grandfather with the arrival of a daughter at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Larry Lapidus in New Haven. The new father is booker-buyer for Warner Theatres in that area. According to reports, “Bwana Devil” grossed a terrific $75,000 in four weeks at the Warner. . . . Bernie Ellinoff, Warner Circuit booking department, celebrated a birthday. . . . Over 70 thea¬ tre owners attended the Allied Theatre Owners of Western Pennsylvania meet¬ ing, reported in a recent issue. Harold Hanna, son of the 20th-Fox shipper, returned to this country after service in Korea. Another soldier back home was Bob Shauer, husband of Lor¬ raine Shauer, Cooperative Theatre Service. Film Row shut down for one morning to attend a rally in the Fifth Avenue High School for “Brotherhood Week.” Speakers were chairman A1 Levy, Moe Silver, and Bert Stearn. . . . Jack Kelley, MGM home office, was a visitor to the branch. At one time, he worked as a salesman here. . . . Frank Panoplos, after a long fight, was successful in having the Clairton, Pa., City Council take off the damaging 10 per cent amusement tax. . . . Bill Blatt, Jr., is managing the Corry, Pa., theatres for the circuit of the same name. He was in the Pittsburgh home office before taking over his new assignment. Ohio Columbus “Limelight” was shown three days only at the RKO Palace. Manager Harry Schreiber said lack of business, and not a boycott of the picture by the Franklin County American Legion, caused the shortened run. February 18, 1953