The Exhibitor (1953)

EXHIBITOR NT-1 5kws or tub Chicago Jim Gorman, who was dividing his managerial duties between the Carnegie and Telenews, is now giving his full time to the latter, with John Baum¬ gartner and Gene De Grazia as assistants. Dave Barnett, formerly of New Hamp¬ shire, was named Carnegie manager. . . . The Browny, Brownburg, Ind., and the Community, Greenwood, Ind., closed temporarily. . . . The Melody Drive-In, near Tamaroa, Ill., awarded an all¬ expense tour to Los Angeles to a woman patron. The Towne, United Artists suit, involv¬ ing a stock transfer, was concluded. Hearings were heard for several months by Master-in-Chancery. ... A $20,000 fire, originating in an organ motor, closed the Palace, South Bend, Ind., until a new screen was installed, and repairs made. The Embassy, Fort Wayne, Ind., is using trailers to portray local leaders and civic organizations in a public rela¬ tions move. The Auditorium, Connersville, Ind., was rechristened the Fayette. Following the announcement that the way had been cleared for the installation of Cinerama at the Palace, a last-minute hitch occurred to stall the deal at least for the time being. As a result, Otto K. Eitel reopened the house with “The Stars Are Singing.” Eitel said the union had rejected an offer of $140 for a 35-hour week, and insisted on $200 for 28 hours. He has not closed the door on Cinerama. In an amended action filed in federal court, attorney Thomas McConnell asked $900,000 additional in the $1,500,000 treble damage anti-trust suit of the Congress building against Balaban and Katz. . . . Norman Lougee, 20th-Fox country salesman, was transferred here from Detroit. Eddie Seguin, publicist, Chicago, and his wife vacationed in Florida. . . . The mother, 85, of Jerome Daly, projection¬ ist, passed on. George Paul 66, Rockford, Ill., ex¬ hibitor, passed on. Arthur M. Van Dyke, veteran 20th-Fox circuit salesman, was home again from the hospital following another slight heart attack. With the firm for 30 years, he has been directed by his office to rest at home for at least a month before re¬ turning to his duties. Dallas Carl Garner, southern general agent for Hallmark, returned to active duty after illness. The sudden death of Mrs. J. B. Under¬ wood shocked everyone. The husband is branch manager for Columbia. The two were planning to leave for Europe next Charles Weisenburg, 36, head, Weisenburg Drive-In Theatres, was recently elected president, Texas Drive-In Thea¬ tre Owners Association. month on the trip he won in a recent sales contest. . . . Dorothy Harrison has been seen on the Row again helping out at Rowley United Theatres, where she pre¬ viously had worked. . . . Film Row learned with regret that Jack Groves was seriously ill in the Memorial Hospital, Houston, Tex. He has the Post Oak DriveIn. .. . W. J. Chesher, Littlefield, Tex., was in wearing a sun tan acquired in Havana, Cuba. . . . Columbia’s Harry Colburn was spending a few weeks here on business. ... A brief visit to the Allied office by Charles Niles, Anamosa, la., was a pleasant surprise. Niles is a. national director of Allied. . . . Horace Falls, Falls Theatre Service, was in Oklahoma City taking care of his thea¬ tre interests at Lawton, Okla. He was scheduled for a minor operation at Gaston Avenue Hospital. Colonel H. A. Cole was in Washington, D. C., in connection with the admissions tax campaign. . . . Cuernavaca, Mexico, still claims the attention of Mr. and Mrs. Ed Rowley on their usual winter trip. They plan to return on March 1. . . . Jack Bryant, directing manager, Variety Club, reports a lot of interest in the gin tournament. The final evening of play saw free buffet dinner served and awarding of prizes. Three state talks given recently by members of the Texas COMPO speaker’s bureau were well received. Kyle Rorex, executive director, Tevas COMPO, spoke to the Rotary Club, Greenville. General William McCraw, chairman, Texas COMPO speakers bureau, addressed the McGregor Chamber of Commerce, and Duke Clark, working with Colonel H. A. Cole on the tax campaign, spoke twice at Graham. Clark addressed women of the Chatauqua Club and also spoke to about 100 members of the Lion’s Club. Petticoat Prattle — Stormy Meadows, formerly of Blevins Popcorn Company, was made Texas represent¬ ative for Filmack. One of the busiest and most popular gals on the Row, she also has started buying and booking and will be at the same address, 2023 Jackson Street. Mrs. Joseph Noble, hubby manages the Big “D” Drive-In, was guest at an in¬ formal stork shower given in her honor by Mrs. T. N. Childress, Crest, at the Childress home. About a dozen of the wives and employees of the Phil Isley and Leon Theatre Circuits were present. Mrs. C. O. Wise, co-hostess, was unable to be present due to the sudden illness of her brother, Grady Landrom. The brother is also a brother of Charles Landrom, manager, Riverside Drive-In, Fort Worth, Tex. Lloyd Bridges and Marie Windsor, stars of “The Tall Texan,” rode in the Southwestern Championship Rodeo parade, and appeared in person with the showing of the film at the Ellanay, El Paso, Tex. John Paxton, manager, Inter¬ state Theatres, was host. Thomas E. Griffing, president, Allstate Theatres, announced the opening of the Duke City Drive-In, Albuquerque, N. M. The opening was delayed by the cool weather. It will hold 600 cars, and has equipment for the projection of television programs. Equipment for the showing of three-dimensional movies will be installed later. Denver Ward Scott, 67, who retired in 1948 as 20th-Fox district manager at Kansas City for 20th-Fox, died after a long illness. Scott started in the film business in 1913 with the old Mutual Film Company. He returned to Denver to live following his retirement. He is survived by his wife, Daisy, two sons, and a sister. Fox Intermountain Theatres are mak¬ ing a survey of all “A” houses in seven states in order to determine which to convert first to third-dimension. Gordon Pearce, assistant booker, Warners, quit to become office manager and booker, Allied Artists, where he succeeds Dick Ivy, who left to take a similar job at Intermountain Film Ex¬ change. . . . Robbers got $1,030.30 out of the Santa Fe safe. Seen on Film Row were: Sally and John Sawaya, Trinidad, Colo.; Fred Anderson, Eaton, Colo.; Kenneth Powell, Wray, Colo.; Mr. and Mrs. Bernard New¬ man, Walsh, Colo.; C. E. McLaughlin, Las Animas, Colo.; Mrs. Marie Goodhand, Kimball, Neb.; John Murray, Springfield, Colo.; Merle Gwinn, Benkelman, Neb., and Frank Roberts, comptroller, Cooper Foundation Theatres, Lincoln, Neb. Fred Brown, booker-buyer, Black Hills Amusement Company, was surprised with a birthday party, cake, and all the trimmings at the regular Monday noon luncheon at the Variety Club. Des Moines Four stars made personal appearances in connection with “Gunsmoke” at the Des Moines. Making up the group were Audie Murphy, Susan Cabot, Jesse White, and Renate Hoy. . . . Don Loftus resigned as manager, Grand, Estherville, La., to join The Estherville Daily News. . . . Floyd Street, RKO booker, joined Warners as a booker. . . . Martha McDowell has also joined Warners, and will be in the billing department. . . . Paul Leatherby, salesman, Columbia, has a new daughter. February 25, 1953 MIDWEST-WESTERN