The Exhibitor (1953)

NT-2 United Artists branch has a new sales¬ man covering the Toledo, 0., territory, Ward Besanson from Washington, D. C., where he formerly was with Eagle Lion. “Lights-Camera-Questions,” said to be the only weekly, industry-sponsored TV show in the country, completed its initial 13-week contract with WXEL, and started its second 13-week period. In addi¬ tion to the regular quiz panel consisting of Dick Wright, Warner Theatres’ dis¬ trict manager; Max Mink, RKO city manager; Frank Murphy, Loew’s Thea¬ tres division manager; Jack Silverthorne, manager, Hippodrome, and Leonard Greenberger, representing the Lower Mall and Fairmount, there is generally also some visiting movie personality. Roy Williams spent four days pro¬ moting “Peter Pan,” RKO Palace. He appeared on radio, TV, and in the Higbee lounge, where he demonstrated the art of Disney cartooning. Peter Wellman, owner of theatres in Girard, 0., had a birthday. His son took note of the event by presenting him with a Homberg. . . . Herbert Ochs, who owns drive-ins in Canada and in the States, is calling a managers’ meeting for March 8 here. This seriously interferes with his original plans to join Mrs. Ochs in Florida for a vacation. Nat Marcus, well-known in film circles as sales representative for beverages dis¬ pensed in theatres, died suddenly of a heart attack while on a business trip to New York. Ted Barker, Loew’s Theatres publicity director, was mapping out an extensive TV campaign for “Jeopardy,” State. . . . Mark Goldman, IFE division manager, announced the appointment of two sales representatives. A1 Glaubinger, formerly with Eagle Lion in Cleveland and Cin¬ cinnati, will be in charge of the southern Ohio territory including Cincinnati, Indianapolis, and Kentucky. Dave Leff, erstwhile United Artists branch mana¬ ger, will represent IFE in Buffalo and Pittsburgh. Bernard Rubin, head, Imperial Pictures, spent the week in New York. . . . Twelve Ohio cities have repealed their local amusement tax as result of exhibitor activity. Relieved of this burden are Perrysburg, Bucyrus, Fostoria, Forest, Defiance, Bellefontaine, Plymouth, Shelby, Medina, Hamilton, Bluffton, and St. Bernard. Indianapolis Allied Theatre Owners of Indiana an¬ nounced that a dutch treat luncheon will be held on March 18, followed by an informal meeting of drive-in operators. After being closed, the Sunshine, operated by Charles Marshall, reopened. . . . Julie Chapman, United Artists super¬ visor, was in. . . . Leo Adler, United Artists auditor, was checking UA. . . . Clyde McKean, Warner manager, re¬ covered from the flu, and is back at his desk. . . . Ralph Kettering is working on “Bwana Devil,’’ Indiana . EXHIBITOR Milton J. Shaffer and John T. Flannigan, winners of U-I’s WNBK-RKO Palace “treasure hunt” contest, one of the features of the recent Cleveland gala pre¬ miere campaign on “City Beneath The Sea,” are seen receiving congratulations from Suzan Ball and Frank Westmore, while Philip Gerard, LI-I eastern publicity manager, and Max Fink, RKO Palace manager, look on. The Dana, Dana, Ind., will close on Tuesdays and Wednesdays until business improves. . . . Manager Russell Brentlinger, RKO, attended a sales convention in Cleveland. . . . Leonard Smith, head shipper, RKO, was at home after suffer¬ ing a heart spasm. A1 Borkenstein, Wells, Fort Wayne, Ind., and wife, were vacationing in Florida. . . . Robert “Bob” Scherer, Palace, Clinton, Ind., was vacationing in Florida. . . . Jack Safer, Lippert, attended a sales meeting in Chicago. . . . Charles Acton, Paramount salesman, resigned to go into the lumber business. . . . Howard Rutherford, manager, Loew’s, is back after absence due to the flu. The Skyline Drive-In, Shelbyville, Ind., will be operated by Ted L. Mendelssohn. The property still is owned by Worland and Walts. . . . Bennett Goldstein started as salesman at 20th-Fox. C. A. Hill, 20th-Fox home office, was with union committees on business, accompanied by Herbert Kaufman, Columbia, and Jules Chapman, United Artists. Exhibitors on Film Row were: Ed Campbell, Louisville, Ky.; W. P. Mc¬ Govern, Ritz, Loogootee, Ind.; Bruce Kixmiller, Colonial, Bicknell, Ind.; T. J. Arrington, Arrington, New Haven, Ind.; William T. Studebaker, Logan, Logansport, Ind.; John Micu, Indiana, Fort Wayne, Ind.; Oscar Fine, Fine Circuit, Evansville, Ind.; R. L. Hudson, Hudson Circuit, Richmond, Ind., and Walter Weil, Weil, Greenfield, Ind. Pittsburgh M. A. Silver, zone manager, Warner Theatres, announced the promotions of Henry Burger, district manager; Robert Bowman, manager, Warner, Erie, Pa., and Phil Katz, assistant advertising director. Effective on March 1, Burger will become director of advertising for all Warner Theatres in the tri-state area, and at the same time, supervise the Erie district theatres, with Bowman moving up to become district manager for the theatres in Northern Pennsylvania and lower New York State. Katz will assume greater responsibilities as publicity and exploitation chief. In Erie, Henry Rastetter, manager, Columbia, will move up to manage the Warner. A bill to increase salaries of the chair¬ man and members of the Pennsylvania Board of Motion Picture Censors was introduced by Senator Francis P. McCusker, Republican. Philadelphia, in the State Legislature in Harrisburg, Pa. The chairman would go from $5,500 to $7,500 and the vice-chairman and secretary from $4,000 to $7,000 a year. Mrs. Edna R. Carroll, Phildelphia, is the present chair¬ man, while John C. Fisher, Sharon, Pa., is vice-chairman and Beatrice Z. Miller, Philadelphia, secretary. Sidney Sugarman, a Columbia employee since 1927, who worked in Philadelphia and Washington as well as here, died, He was a member of the Motion Picture Associates of Philadelphia. Sol Bragin, Warner Circuit chief booker-buyer, was in Florida for a vaca¬ tion. WENS, new television station, which will go on the air in August or Sep¬ tember on Channel 16, has affiliated with the new ABC-Paramount network. John Dugan resigned his sales post with Warners after coming here from St. Louis. He replaced Bob Lynch. Irwin Ziner, Boston, is the Columbia salesman for the West Virginia territory. . . . Frank Braden, well known press agent, was in on behalf of “Hans Christian Andersen,” Fulton. WCAE and Chief Barker Carl Dozer were hosts at the regular Variety Club “Family Night.” . . . Bob Finkel, son of Arcade owner William Finkel, is direct¬ ing the Dennis Day TV shows from Hollywood. NBC obtained a leave of absence for Finkel from ABC. . . . Dinty Moore signed the Metropolitan and Morgan, Morgantown, W. Va., to his growing list of accounts. Moore will do the buying and booking. . . . John Walsh, Fulton manager, is able to spend a couple of hours at the theatre now. He’s looking and feeling better following a back operation. . . . Joseph Martin, Loew’s Penn, retired after working 63 of his 73 years. City Council cut the 10 per cent amuse¬ ment tax to nine per cent in New Kens¬ ington, Pa. Roaring Spring, Pa., Borough Council repealed the tax, but the Springdale, Pa., council refused a plea by ex¬ hibitors. However, it promised to repeal it in 1954. Among State exhibitors seen on Film Row were: Jim Christy, Tidioute; Bud Rosenberg, West Park; Gil Gelman, Washington, Swissvale; Fred Serrao, Circle, New Kensington; Doc Wadkins, booker, Manos Circuit; Bill Wheat, Scwickley and Coraopolis; Morris Finkel, owner of five neighborhood houses; Howard Minsky, Paramount district man¬ ager; Vic Notopolous, Capital, Altoona, February 25, 1953