The Exhibitor (1953)

NT-2 EXHIBITOR critics to have telephone interviews with Miss Davis, who is playing in New York in “Two’s Company” after the critics saw a press screening. Stephanie Wagner, who was in a plane that was forced to make a crash land¬ ing at LaGuardia Field, was back in her office at the publicity office of Loew’s Theatres. She made the front pages of the local newspapers when she was interviewed in New York after the acci¬ dent. Fortunately, no one was seriously injured, and she escaped with cuts on her legs. Film District Passing of Gus Schaefer, 60, former New England district manager for RKO, who died of a heart attack, was mourned. He had recently been general manager, Hartford Operating Company, Hartford, Conn. At one time, Para¬ mount’s general manager in Central Europe, he is survived by his wife and three brothers, one, Herbert Schaefer, Republic manager here. Roger Appel, son of Leonard Appel, Columbia salesman, has won the Bausch and Lomb Science Award medal, and is eligible to compete for one of the three scholarships sponsored by the Bausch and Lomb Optical Company at the University of Rochester. He is a senior in a Boston High School, and intends to apply for the scholarship. There are 5,000 pupils from local high schools taking the necessary tests to compete. Kenneth Douglass, president, Capitol Theatre Supply Company, and Mrs. Douglass have gone to Florida for a vacation, where he is meeting his old golfing pals, Joe Mathieu and Warren Nichols, both New Hampshire exhibitors, and Michael Redstone, drive-in owner, for some delightful golf-foursomes. Visitors were: John Anthony, Modern, Manchester, N. H.; Bill Savitts, Arcadia, Portsmouth, N. H.; Norman Rolfe, district manager, Lockwood and Gordon’s Maine theatres; Norman Zalkind, Strand, Fall River, Mass.; Ernie Warren, Warren, Whitman, Mass., and Jim Sayer, New Hampshire drive-in owner. John McGrail, U-I publicist, returned from New Haven and Providence, R. I., where he worked on the campaigns for “The Mississippi Gambler,” that has a March 4 opening date at the Keith Memorial. He rushed into the prepara¬ tions for the campaign on the saturation bookings for U-Ps “City Beneath The Sea,” set for 106 simultaneous open¬ ings in the territory. The film plays the Pilgrim on Feb. 19, at which time there will be personal appearances of Suzan Ball, Bud Westmore, and Navy Lieu¬ tenant Reisberg, an authority on sunken treasure. These celebrities will meet the press, and be on the air and TV for interviews. The entire campaign will be backed heavily by TV spot announcements. Herman Fine, Hollywood Candy Com¬ pany, Centralia, Ill., is in town for Jose Greco, Spanish dancer in MGM’s “Sombrero,” recently met some MGM folk while appearing in a dance recital with his own company in New Haven. Seen at the Taft Hotel meeting are, left to right, Floyd Fitzsimmons, MGM exploitation representative in New England; Morris Rosenthal, man¬ ager, Loew’s Poli; Greco, and Arthur Canton, MGM publicity department, in New York City. several months contacting circuit owners and independents on promotions for kiddy shows. He has brought with him “Mr. Zero,” Hollywood’s trade mark, a midget four feet and one inch tall, who hands out samples of candy in lobbies, and then entertains the children from the stages. “Mr. Zero” travels around in his own little automobile, and is avail¬ able to all theatres within the exchange area for personal appearances. Whereever he goes, candy sales boom. Harold Rubin, Globe Premium Com¬ pany, is offering theatres a new combi¬ nation encyclopedia and dictionary deal for giveaways. He reports that his 1953 deals have gone into the Community, Centerdale, R. I.; Lincoln, Valley Falls, R. I.; Broadway, Pawtucket, R. I.; Up¬ town, Providence, R. I.; the Lafayette, Haverhill, Mass., and the Orpheum, New Bedford, Mass. Sam Berg, head booker, 20th-Fox, and Mrs. Berg motored to Hollywood, Fla., for a vacation. John Feloney, sales man¬ ager, same office, was planning to train to Miami, Fla., to join Mrs. Feloney. . . . James Connolly, branch manager, George E. Freeman, left, manager, Loew’s Poli, Springfield. Mass., recently listened as visiting MGM starlet Elaine Stewart told some stories of her early show business days to The Daily News film critic W. Harley Rudkin at a meet¬ ing at the Somerset Hotel, Boston. New England Bowling Theatrical Bowling League First Week’s Bowling (Second Half) All Stars .... MGM . . 1 Affiliated . . 1 Harry’s Snack Bar . 2 United Artists . 3 Independents . . . 2 STANDINGS Won Lost All Stars . . 3 1 United Artists . 3 1 Harry’s Snack Bar . . 2 2 Independents ., . 2 2 Affiliated . . 1 3 MGM . 3 High single: J. Young 122. High team single: Harry’s Snack Bar — 503. High three single: J. Freeman 319. High team three: Independents — 1402. Second Week’s Bowling (Second Half) United Artists . 4 All Stars . . 1 Independents . . 0 Affiliated . . 3 Harry’s Snack Bar . 3 MGM . . 1 STANDINGS Won Lost United Artists . 7 1 Harry’s Snack Bar . . 5 3 All Stars . . 4 4 Affiliated . . 4 4 MGM . . 2 6 Independents . 2 6 High single: Jennings — 123. High team single: Harry’s Snack Bar — 503. High three single: Jennings — 323. High team three: United Artists — 1437. INDIVIDUAL AVERAGES Jennings . . . 104.0 , . 88.6 J. Freeman . . . . . 103.3 Asdot . , . 88.5 J. Young . . . 97.6 88.5 . . 96.1 Hill . 87.0 Owens . . . 95.1 Hy Young . . . . . 86.6 Prager . . . . 94.6 Clements . . 86.6 Serra . . . . 93.5 Pugh . . 84.1 Segal . . . 93.3 83.5 Bradley . . . 92.8 McCarthy . . 82.0 Smith . . . 92.3 L. Freeman . . . . 81.3 Berlone . , . 91.8 . 81.3 Field . .. 91.6 Rahilly . . 80.2 Gates . .. 91.1 Cohan . . 79.6 Farrington . . . . . 91.1 Lynde . . 79.0 Rowe . 72.6 20th-Fox, was laid up with a touch of virus. New Haven Crosstown Piper Laurie was in to meet the press and radio. The actress, in “The Missis¬ sippi Gambler,” received plenty of pub¬ licity for the film booked into Jim Darby’s Paramount. The advertising columns were utilized to the extent of a full page of co-op ads in The Courier and co-op tieups with department stores and other merchants. The Whalley, Whitney, and Westville had a private ladies showing of “A Modern Marriage” with door prizes, etc. . . . Franklin E. Ferguson, Whalley manager, was a guest speaker at a luncheon meeting of the New Haven Quota Club. His topic was “The Motion Picture Industry — Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow.” Miss Catherine A. Nunziante was married to Walter R. Wilson, assistant manager, Paramount. They took a trip to Boston for their honeymoon. . . . For “Breaking the Sound Barrier,” Crown, the management had a tieup with the Army Recruiting Station. . . . With Lincoln’s Birthday, and a week off for the kids, nabe theatres were planning on added children’s matinees. . . . Morris Rosenthal, Loew’s Poli, in advance of “The Bad and The Beautiful,” gave envelopes to the ladies leaving the thea¬ tre captioned, “Advice to People in Love.” The card read, “Save card. If number is listed on the boxoffice window, it will entitle the bearer to a guest invi¬ tation to see ‘The Bad and The Beauti¬ ful.’ ”... Sophie Peretz, Poli, resigned. February IS, 11)53