The Exhibitor (1953)

NT-2 EXHIBITOR with sacks of money containing $1,578.55, as reported by Mrs. O’Connell to the police. The money was in sacks ready for deposit in the bank. Leslie E. Frye, director of visual education, public schools, was speaker at a meeting of the Cleveland Motion Picture Council in the Higbee Auditorium. The Lincoln, Youngstown, 0., built about three years ago by Gene Gioppo and operated since then on an open and shut basis, closed. . . . Another closed house is the Pioneer, Pioneer, 0., operated by William Widmer, who delivers rural mail and also heads his own dance band. Pioneer, a village of 600 population, is now without a theatre. . . . Work on Paul Wintner’s new Memphis Avenue drive-in is coming along. Arthur Engelbert, cashier, Warner exchange, has a new interest, a nine pound little girl, Kathryn, born in Marymount Hospital to his daughter, Mrs. Genevieve Orosz. . . . Moe Dudelson, United Artists district manager, was in to confer with branch manager David Rosenthal. George Manos is planning a super deluxe opening for his new 800-seat Manos, Columbiana, O., on April1. This newest unit in the extensive Manos Cir¬ cuit is being equipped with RCA equip¬ ment furnished by M. H. Fritchle, Oliver Theatre Supply Company, and was built under the supervision of Henry Hellriegel. Opening picture will be 20th-Fox’s “The President’s Lady.” A 20th-Fox star is expected to add glamour to the event. The East Side and West Side DriveIns have a March 27 opening date. Both are owned and operated by Phil Smith, Boston. Mary Lou Weaver, secretary to Warner branch manager Jerry Wechsler, is anticipating the return of her son, Air Force Sergeant Forrest Weaver, from Guam, where he has been stationed the past two years. He has been in the service five years, and is due home for reassign¬ ment. Ernest Schwartz, president, Cleveland Motion Picture Exhibitor Association, registered a protest in the name of the local independent exhibitors to a news¬ paper editor against a boxed list of daily movies appearing on radio and TV. . . . Sol Gordon, Monogram salesman, can arrange for exhibitors to give away Hawaiian orchids on Easter or Mother’s Day. Marvin White, A. C. Constant Circuit, with headquarters in Steubenville, 0., built a huge neon sign for the Family Drive-in on Route 7 which he says can be seen miles away in all directions. . . . Nate Bigelson, returned from Florida, reports the Fred Schram, retired Cleve¬ land industry member, celebrated his 77th birthday. P. E. Essick, Modern Theatre Circuit, and Mrs. Essick left for Fort Pierce, Fla. . . . Also southbound are Marshall and Bruce Fine, who will join their parents, Lieutenant Harry E. Rieseberg, who re¬ cently toured to promote U-I’s “City Beneath the Sea,” is seen in Saginaw, Mich., with Art Sanford, manager, Franklin. Mr. and Mrs. Meyer Fine, for Easter. Meyer Fine is president, Associated Theatres Circuit. Ben Ogron, head, Ohio Theatre Supply Company, distributor of Motiograph pro¬ jectors, says he is now prepared to con¬ vert to 3-D. Detroit Norman Wheaton, manager, Telenews, who has clung, despite all the vicissitudes of theatre management, to the slogan, “The Customer is Always Right,” has been somewhat shaken in his faith. The following ad was inserted in the Detroit papers LOST columns; “Lost or borrowed — Over 100 pairs of 3-D Polaroid glasses. Not good for general use. Patrons returning same in person or by mail will receive a pass for any future programs. Telenews Theatre, 1540 Woodward, Detroit 26.” Actually, the theatre, despite careful check on outgoing customers to retrieve the glasses, is missing close to 500 pairs of Polaroid glasses. The glasses are of the permanent variety. They cost $1.50 a pair, and, with the current demand for specs to unscramble three-dimensional fare, are as scarce as hens’ heeth. Wheaton scratched on a pad on his desk, and groaned, “The net loss to the thea¬ tre is in excess of $700.” Jack Saxe, formerly with Allied Artists, is now in Florida. . . . Pat Mclnnis, publicity head, United Artists Theatre for Dillon Krepps, left to take a job in Bermuda. A and W Theatres, headed by Arthur Weisberg, has taken over the East Detroit, Roseville, and Carlton, bringing to eight the number of houses controlled by the circuit. More than 400 persons, representing Detroit and Michigan leaders in all fields, attended the industry and civic testimonial banquet to Earl J. Hudson. Jack Zide, manager, Allied Film Ex¬ change, and Chief Barker, Variety Club, introduced Robert J. O’Donnell, who acted as toastmaster. Leonard Goldenson, ABC-PT president, spoke on Hudson’s business career, and also speaking on Hudson’s civic and charitable work were Harvey Campbell, executive vice-presi¬ dent, Detroit Board of Commerce, and Dr. A. C. Furstenberg, dean, University of Michigan Medical School. Plaques were awarded to Hudson for civic con¬ tributions, awarded by Louis C. Miriani, president, City Council; for outstanding record as a civic leader, a theatre executive, and contributions to humanity, awarded by the Variety Club, and from the Cerebral Palsy Association of Michigan, which made him president emeritus for life. Hudson also received life-memberships in two Detroit locals, Local 199 and Local 38. Indianapolis Warners was making plans for the handling of 3-D equipment. Manager Claude McKean was in Cincinnati in conference with district manager Jules Lapidus. Mrs. Claude McKean, visiting in DelRay Beach, Fla., was reported in poor health. . . . A1 Borkenstein and wife returned from California. Robert Harned and wife, who operate the Empire, Sellersburg, Ind., returned after vacationing in the south. . . . Ed Campbell and family returned from Florida, and have taken up residence in Louisville, Ky., where he will buy and book for drive-ins. . . . The mother of Hobart Hart was stricken with a ceberal hemmorage, and is confined to Memorial Hospital. She is 94. Hart operates the Court, Auburn, Ind. . . . Kenneth Hibler, Eastern, Fort Wayne, Ind., was con¬ fined by influenza. Bert Rayburn opened his Ben Hur Drive-In, Crawfordsville, Ind. . . . George Jacoby, home office representative, RKO, left for Cincinnati. . . . United Film Booking Service will do the buy¬ ing and booking for the Hillcrest DriveIn; Sunset Drive-In, and East Thirty Drive-In, all in Fort Wayne, Ind. Ted Mendlesohn also announced that his office will do the booking for the SkyLine Drive-In and the Shelby Drive-In, Shelbyville, Ind. Beatrice Coffman, cashier’s clerk, 20th-Fox, is being replaced by Phyllis Snoddy. . . . Marie Jo Prather is the new booker’s stenographer at 20th-Fox. . . . The Clarksville Drive-In, Clarks¬ ville, Ind., is being operated by the owner, M. J. Atkins, Jeffersonville, Ind. . . . The Ornstein Circuit will do the booking and buying for the drive-ins at Bloomfield and Bardstown, Ind. Visiting were: J. F. Griffis, Boswell, Boswell, Ind.; Ted Graulich, Family Drive-In, Evansville, Ind.; E. E. Smith, Devon, Francesville, Ind.; A1 Borken¬ stein, Wells, Fort Wayne, Ind.; George Helitos, Rialto, Fort Wayne; John Austin, Austin, Versailles, Ind.; Wil¬ liam Passen, Amus-u, Jasonville, Ind.; Vic Sicilia, Rivoli, Muncie, Ind., and Bruce Kixmiller, Colonial, Bicknell, Ind. Pittsburgh Fred Kunkle has been upped from assistant manager, Loew’s Ritz, to the Penn. . . . The Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera Company announced 10 musical comedies for the coming season. Prices range from $3.50 to 75 cents, the lower price being less than the first-run downtown houses. March 25, 1953