The Exhibitor (1953)

EXHIBITOR NT-3 Fabian theatres are participating in a “Hold That Line” drive, which will ex¬ tend to spring. Its goals are: retention of recent business gains and maintenace of economies in operation. Division manager Saul J. Ullman, spearheads the campaign. Managers taking part are: Alex Sayles, Palace; Paul Wallen, Grand, and Stanton Paterson, Leland, all in Albany; Larry Cowen, Proctor’s, Troy; George Seed, Cohoes, Cohoes; Guy Graves, Schenectady city manager; Richard Murphy, Plaza, Phil Rapp, State; Lou Rapp, Erie, Schenectady; Irwin Ullman and George Louring, drive-ins. Gerald L. Atkin, Warner Theatres zone director of advertising and exploitation and manager, Ritz, resigned. Atkin had been with Warners for a dozen years, joining the organization as successor to Jules Curley. Atkin had also been Ritz manager for seven months. Oscar Perrin temporarily doubled from the Madison, and Don Germain remained at the Ritz. A bill introduced in the Senate by Herbert I. Sorin, Brooklyn Democrat, would require insurance from theatres operating under a city license to protect patrons from accidents. Coverage would be in the amount of $3,500 for one person and $50,000 for more than one person. Albany will see its first three-dimen¬ sion motion picture on Feb. 25, when “Bwana Devil” opens at Fabian’s Palace. A meeting in the 20th-Fox screening room to discuss final details for “Brotherhood Week,” and to brief branch managers, salesmen, and others was held, taking the place of the civic lunch¬ eon, which was cancelled. Distributor chairman Jack Goldberg, Metro man¬ ager, and exhibitor co-chairman Charles A. Smakwitz, Warner Theatres zone manager, presided. Larry Lapidus, Warner Theatres’ booker, drove in from New Haven to Starlets in U-I’s “Girls In The Night” recently visited various towns in New Jersey on a personal appearance tour for “The March of Dimes” and to pro¬ mote the picture, and seen at the Fabian, Paterson, N. J., are from left to right, Mayor Lester Titus; Jacqueline Greene, Patricia Hardy, once named “Miss Brooklyn,” Don Gordon, and, back row, Garrett Voorman, manager, Fabian, and William Clark, publicist, Warners’ New Jersey Theatres. An industry meeting for “Brotherhood Week” was held recently at the Dela¬ ware, Albany, and among those present were Ethel Anameier. U-I; Joan Pratt, U-I; Dr. Carlyle Adams, lecturer in philosophy and religion at Russell Sage College, principal speaker, and Sue O’Brien, Republic. spend several days in the Albany zone offices. Lapidus, son of Jules Lapidus, eastern division sales manager for War¬ ners, was transferred from Albany to New Haven several months ago. While here, he received congratulations on a recent addition to the family, a baby girl, born in New Haven. A report that the American, Troy, would go from full-time to weekend operation was heard. The 600-seat house, operated by the Warner Circuit, had re¬ opened after a summer closing. A bill which would require theatres and other places of entertainment and exhibition to “conspicuously post and at all times display a diagram of the exact location by number and letter of each reserved ticket” has been introduced by Senator Archibald and Assemblyman Kelly, New York City Democrats. Post¬ ing would be “adjacent to the box office or other place where such reserved seat tickets are sold.” Norton Y. Ritchey, center, president, Monogram International Corporation, in New York recently presented James J. Tierney, right, who resigned after many years with the organization, a briefcase and a wristwatch as parting gifts from Tierney’s associates. Tierney is succeeded as assistant treasurer by Walter Liebler. Glens Falls George Pugh, manager, Schine’s Rialto, accomplished a triple purpose in presenting “Wintertime Frolics” by the St. Mary’s Athletic Association for three nights. He had an added attraction with strong local appeal, derived personal, creative satisfaction from producing the amateur minstrel show, and built com¬ munity good will for the Rialto and him¬ self. Rochester “Bwana Devil” opened at the Para¬ mount, the first 3-D picture to be shown here. . . . Schine Theatres has a new city manager, Irving Cantor, managing Schine theatres for the past several years and at one time the youngest man¬ ager in the country. . . . Bill Holmes, projectionist, RKO Palace, and Merritt Mitchell, projectionist, Loew’s, were spending vacations in Florida. (Continued on next page) Don't Forget . . . Your Date with “Hazel*' — “Hazel” Who ? ? ? ‘HAZEL FLAGG OF COURSE The Smash Musical Hit of 1953 A Gala Theatre Party Sponsored by The Motion Picture Bookers Club •> •> THURSDAY, MARCH 51 li MARK HEEC1ARER THEATRE MAKE YOUR RESERVATION NOW This space contributed by EXHIBITOR February 18, 1053