The Exhibitor (1953)

NT-2 EXHIBITOR Governor Thomas E. Dewey is seen re¬ cently signing a proclamation in Albany designating February as “Heart Month” as, left to right, Charles A. Smakwitz, Warner Theatres zone manager and president, Albany County Heart Associa¬ tion; Dr. Harold Wiggers, dean, Albany Medical College and vice-president, AHA, and Dr. H. F. Hilleboe, State Commis¬ sioner of Health, look on. A number of theatres cooperated in the drive to raise $50,000. New Jersey Morristown The Stanley Company of America, owner, Baker, Dover, N. J., won a jury verdict of $40,000 in County Court for damage suffered by an explosion on June 21, 1948, at the Hercules Powder Com¬ pany, Kenvil, N. J. The plaintiff charged that concussion from the explosion broke wooden trusses in the roof of the theatre, about four miles away. Newark J. Stavron replaced H. Owens as man¬ ager, Central. . . . Ginger Kole, per¬ former at clubs, hospitals, and army camps, made a personal appearance at the Royal, Bloomfield, N. J., with her vaudeville troupe in a lively variety show. Thomas Cantillo, manager, Hollywood, East Orange, N. J., had a unique stunt in conjunction with “Million Dollar Mermaid.” Several miniature automatic mermaids were on display diving in and out among the fishes in an aquarium stationed in the lobby. . . . On Washing¬ ton’s Birthday, A. Fihkenlstein, manager, Embassy, Orange, N. J., had the pupils from the Lydia Dean Dancing School in a revue on the stage. Shapiro, Plashette Upped At Paramount NEW’ YORK — Leonard H. Goldenson, president, AB-PT, announced the promotion of Robert K. Shapiro to the executive managership of the Paramount. Shapiro will have com¬ plete authority over stage and screen programs in addition to the physical operation of the theatre, a position he has held since 1941. Goldenson also annnounnced that Eugene Plashette, manager, Brook¬ lyn Paramount, has been made execu¬ tive manager, with full control over all phases of the operation, includ¬ ing the engagement of attractions. New York State Albany Mrs. Jennie C. Rosenthal, 70, owner, State, Troy, and widow of Jacob C. Rosenthal, pioneer exhibitor, died at Memorial Hospital after an illness of several weeks. Mrs. Rosenthal, wellknow and well liked, had not been in top health for the past year. Funeral services were held in Temple Beth El, Troy. John Capano, booker for U-I and operator of the State since 1947, was among those attending. Capano had been employed by the Rosenthals in his youth, when he and his parents lived on the same street as the couple. A native of Poland, Mrs. Rosenthal had lived in Troy about a half century. She was a member of Temple Beth El, Congregation Shaaray Tephilah, and the Hadassah of Troy. Survivors are four sons: Leonard L. Rosenthal, counsel and adviser on film buying, Upstate Theatres, Inc.; Monroe Rosenthal, Kansas City; Dr. Ellis A. Rosenthal, AuburnCranston, R. I., and Robert J. Rosenthal, Silver Springs, Md.; a daughter, Mrs. Jack Green, Kansas City; a brother, Dr. Philip Dorenbaum, Providence, R. I., and six grandchildren. Gerry Atkin, former Warner Theatres zone director of advertising and exploita¬ tion, moved to New York City. . . . The American, Troy, closed the books on full¬ time operation, and reopened on a week¬ end schedule. . . . The Lincoln, secondrun, climbed back to first-run with the transfer of the American to a Friday through Sunday plan. Edward J. Noble, right, chairman of the board, American Broadcasting Company, and general chairman, 1953 Greater New York $4,000,000 Campaign of the National Foundation for Infantile Par¬ alysis, and Leonard Goldenson, president, United Paramount Theatres, Inc., and chairman, motion picture industry, for the drive of the Greater New York “March of Dimes,” examine a check for $49,328.67 raised by the industry recently to fight polio. Lewis A. Sumberg, executive director, Albany TOAA, and Mrs. Sumberg went to Miami, Fla. . . . Harry Lamont, presi¬ dent, TOAA and owner, Lamont Thea¬ tres, arrived from Key West, Fla. He and Mrs. Lamont spent approximately seven weeks in the fishing town. Bob Case, manager, Lamont’s Sunset Drive-In, Kingston, and Mrs. Case, who drove to Florida with the Lamonts, returned to Woodstock ahead of the latter. Gerald Schwartz, partner of Lamont in several drive-ins, transferred his base to Pough¬ keepsie, where he will direct the Over¬ look. The Schwartzs are living in a new, large trailer. Theatres and other places of amuse¬ ment, entertainment, and sports in New York State would be required to post, in a conspicuous location, a diagram show¬ ing the exact location of every reserved seat under terms of a bill introduced by Senator Julius A. Archibald and Assem¬ blyman Daniel M. Kelly, Democrats. New York City could adopt, by local ordinance, a series of taxes, including one of 10 cents on admissions of $1 or more to theatres, for the benefit of the muncipally owned and operated transporta¬ tion system, if a bill by Senator Fred G. Moritt, Brooklyn Democrat is adopted by the legislature. Russell V. Downing, executive director, Radio City Music Hall, New York, was host at a champagne party at the theatre following the recent bow of 20th-Fox’s “Tonight We Sing.” Seen, left to right, are Ezio Pinza, starring in the film, and George Jessel, producer; Downing and Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Stern, and Pinza, Mrs. Sol Hurok, Mrs. Pinza and Sol Hurok, whose career as an impresario makes up the story of the Tech¬ nicolor film. February 25, 1953