The Exhibitor (1953)

EXHIBITOR NT-3 Mr. and Mrs. Christy Kalafat, he’s the operator, Tri-High Drive-In, Garrett, Pa., announced the arrival of a baby boy. Mrs. Alex Kalafat was visiting her daughter, Mrs. N. J. Topetzes, in Mil¬ waukee. . . . The office of RKO was visited by thieves. . . . Bennett Goldstein, new salesman, 20th-Fox, has moved his family here. The Sunset Drive-In, Bowling Green, Ky., has been acquired by Alton Rush, and Davis Duff, Lost River Drive-In. . . . Hai’vey Lemons is the new U-I student booker. . . . Andy Anderson discontinued work on his Moonlight Drive-In, Owens¬ boro, Ky. Nina Busby, contract clerk, RKO, was confined to Riley Hospital, Greenfield, Ind., her home town, by a tonsilectomy. . . . Allied Theatre Owners of Indiana, lnc. , redecorated. . . . The Avalon closed and is being converted to a religious meeting room. . . . Practically all drive-ins in Indiana will be open by Easter Sunday. . . . Foster Blake, U-I division manager, spent the week in Indianapolis. Exhibitors seen on Film Row were: A. Thompson, Park, North Vernon, Ind.; E. E. Smith, Devon, Francisville, Ind.; R. Foster, Venro, Charleston, Ind.; Harry Van Noy, Van Noy, Middletown, Ind.; Fletcher Brewer, State, Lafayette, Ind.; William Passen, Amusu, Jasonville, Ind.; Jack Sloan, State, Windfall, Ind.; Vic Burkel, Rialto, Fortville, Ind.; A1 Blankenbaker, Pastime, Richmond, Ind.; Harry Coleman, Drive-In, Evansville, lnd. ; J. Austin, Austin, Versailles, Ind., and Bruce Kixmiller, Colonial, Bicknell, Ind. Pittsburgh It looks as though Cinerama will make its local bow in the Warner this summer. According to Karl Krug, The Sun Tele¬ graph drama critic, unions have been contacted regarding terms for running Cinerama. Joseph Kaufman, Cinerama Company, was in, and said costs for in¬ stalling the equipment had come down from $60,000 to $45,000 or less. The WB “House of Wax” is scheduled for a show¬ ing in the Warner, however, before Cinerama takes over. Walter Wolverton, left, manager, Circle, Indianapolis, and Dave Friedman, Para¬ mount field exploiteer, are obviously happy over the success of the disc jockey’s talent search show they staged in con¬ junction with the recent showing of Para¬ mount’s “The Stars Are Singing.” H. P. “Chick” Tompkins, right, recently resigned as district manager for IndianaIllinois Theatres, Elkhart, Ind., and was replaced by Jack Flex, left. Tompkins is now in partnership with Andy Anderson, operating drive-ins around Kentucky. Kenneth Sutton has been promoted from assistant manager, Schenley, to the downtown Warner. . . . Bob Ruskin, a salesman for Columbia who resigned to go into the lumber business, didn’t like it. He’s back as a salesman for Para¬ mount, replacing Dale Edmonds. Joe Mazzei has taken over the lease of the Brant, Millvale, Pa., from the Stern Theatre Circuit, for whom he worked at the theatre as manager. He was manager, Art Cinema, for a while before going to Millvale. Les Bowser, veteran Harris Circuit manager, celebrated a birthday, but wouldn’t admit the exact number. He’s at the Harris, Warren, O., but has man¬ aged several Pittsburgh houses in recent years. . . . Harold Cohen’s mother was recuperating after a major operation in Montefiore Hospital. He’s The Post Gazette movie editor. . . . Danny Mc¬ Kenna, Warners, and Lou Sisk, Modeart, are due to join Uncle Sam’s legions on March 19. . . . Bill Decker, Warner man¬ ager, Butler, Pa., is leading the current drive in the Warner Circuit. He formerly managed the Art Cinema. . . . Two hundred civic and business leaders honored Sam Gould with a testimonial dinner upon his departure from Greensburg, Pa., as Warner city manager to join Stern Theatres, New Castle, Pa. I The Pennsylvania censors passed the French “Devil in the Flesh,” and Gabe Seen is a lobby sign announcing the state¬ wide poll of theatregoers inaugurated by the Canton Theatre Association, Canton, O., to give patrons a voice in selecting favorite stars and pictures. The organiza¬ tion hopes the poll will be conducted on a national scale by next year. Ruth Hampton, U-I featured player, tour¬ ing key cities on behalf of “The Missis¬ sippi Gambler,” is seen here in Cin¬ cinnati with J. C. Baumgardt, Lyric, Lan¬ caster, O., at the recent premiere at Keith’s. Rubin promptly booked it in the Art Cinema. . . . Alex Catania has been pro¬ moted from assistant manager, Fairmount, Fairmount, W. Va., to manager, Washington, Pa., house. Albert Hill is another junior film executive to join the army. He is assistant, Loew’s Penn. . . . B. F. “Dinty” Moore, Warner Circuit district manager, was one of the many battling the flu. . . . Corporal Blanche Short, who works at WAC recruiting in Meadville, Pa., came in to help publicize “Never Wave At A Wac,” Stanley. Andy Battiston, theatre broker and lease holder, Rialto, closed the house for an indefinite period. Battiston is handl¬ ing area distribution for “Because of Eve.” ... It seems as though the entire Warner Circuit top executives have the Florida bug. First, zone manager M. A. Silver went there for a vacation, followed by Sid Jacobs, Ben Steerman, and several others. Now, Joe De Mann, projectionist supervisor, left with his wife for Florida. Twenty-five Warner houses in the area contracted to show “Bwana Devil.” . . . John Fabec, at the Warner booking department before he joined the army, was in for a furlough. . . . The son of “Dutch” Lauth, Fulton, Pittsburgh pro¬ jectionist, captains the Langley High School basketball team, which played Westinghouse for the city championship. Perry Nathan, National Screen Service branch manager, and salesmen William Mack and Charles Truran, Jr., are back from New York, where they attended a home office meeting. . . . Ernie Stern, Associated Theatres, was in Florida for a vacation. . . . Ted Grance, president, Tri-State Outdoor Theatre Association, was in New York. He also runs seven drive-ins in the area. . . . Many drive-ins are planning a March 15 opening, and others Holy Week. . . . Warners State, Wilkinsburg, Pa., closed its doors folllowing the last show on Feb. 14. The closed Regal reopened with man¬ ager Charles Struck moving over. Kentucky Berea Scott R. Seale, 69, manager, Berea, for 36 years, died. Survivors are his wife, two daughters, a sister, and two brothers. March 11, 1953