The Exhibitor (1954)

NT-2 EXHIBITOR conducted annually by JL)A to finance the activities of the American Jewish Committee and the Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith. Larry Ayres, assistant to 20th-Fox executive assistant general sales man¬ ager W. C. Gehring, announced the birth of a daughter. Cash prizes totalling $1,000 were presented to 11 residents of the metro¬ politan area at a cocktail party in the studio apartment of the Radio City Music Hall with managing director-presi¬ dent Russell V. Downing acting as host. The prize recipients were the winners in The JournalAmerican poll to deter¬ mine the best pictures, best actor and actress, best supporting actor and actress, and best discovery of 1953. Local 306 revealed that area exhibitors have been notified that playing of pic¬ tures not bearing the official IATSE emblem might bring union action. The notice, signed by Herman Gelber, presi¬ dent, Local 306, pointed out the distinc¬ tion between foreign and United States made films not bearing the emblem, and advised exhibitors “to be guided accord¬ ingly.” The union stand was understood to be based on the view that pictures made without IATSE labor cannot claim to have been made under “ideal working conditions and standards.” Montague Salmon, managing director, Rivoli, is Broadway chairman of “Broth¬ erhood Week,” it was announced by Emanuel Frisch, national chairman, in¬ dustry’s Brotherhood campaign for 1954. The selection of Salmon to coordinate the Brotherhood membership drive staged by showmen in the Times Square ax-ea was made at a meeting attended by members of the exhibitors’ committee of the Brotherhood campaign, including Spyros S. Skouras, chairman, national exhibitors’ Brotherhood committee and vice-president, Skouras Theatres Cor¬ poration; Harry Brandt, national vicechairman, Brotherhood drive, and presi¬ dent, Bradt Theatres; Edward Fabian, Stanley Warner Theatres; Eugene Pic¬ ker, Brotherhood national vice-chairman and head, New York circuit operations, Loew’s Inc.; Harold J. Klein, J. J. Theatres; Fred J. Schwartz, president, Century Circuit; Charles R. Hacker, manager of operations, Radio City Music Hall; Harry Mandel, director of adver¬ tising and publicity RKO Theatres; and Frisch. Sol A. Schwartz, president, RKO Theatres, has accepted the chairmanship of the motion picture division, 1954 Development Fund Drive, New York Arthritis and Rheumatism Foundation, it was announced by William Holmes, general campaign chairman. Condolences went to Walter Barber, U-I purchasing agent and advertising production chief, on the death of his mother. (Contrary to an item previously printed in Exhibitor, Island Theatre Circuit is still buying and booking for the Surf, Windsor, Leader, and Kent, all in Brooklyn — Editor.) Good grosses and good public relations are reflected in this photo taken at Walter Reade’s Park, Morristown, N. J., recent ly as Mrs. Ernest Wet more, ex¬ treme right, president, Morris County unit, National Council for Negro women, presented to Mrs. Robert Bourne, ex¬ treme left, chairman, special gifts fund, Morristown Neighborhood House Com¬ munity Center, a check for $351.15, re¬ presenting proceeds from the benefit premiere of UA’s “The Joe Louis Story.” Looking on, left to right, are Jack Pardes, manager, Park; Mrs. Marcel McCleary, Neighborhood House; Ralph Lanterman, city manager, Reade Thea¬ tres; and Miss Alma Lewis, Neighbor¬ hood House. New Jersey Bayonne Henry E. Nowicki, manager, Plaza, used three and six sheet cutouts on lobby doors and the marquee and secured a lobby and store window tieup with a record dealer on “Calamity Jane.” Music from the film was played from the record album before show time and during house breaks and title music sheets were distributed. Newark About 20 girls of the Stanley Warner Jersey office attended a luncheon for Margaret Brewster, who celebrated her birthday. . . . Peter Werner, formerlyan assistant, was made manager, Regent, Paterson, N. J. . . . Milton Brenner, manager, Tivoli, who was absent from Milton Schwartz, manager, Criterion, New York City, is seen beside the recent lobby display announcing the WOR-TY tieup with Walt Disney’s RKO release, “Rob Roy, The Highland Rogue.” The contest tied in with WOR’s daily halfhour dramatic show, “High Tension.” The theatre ran a WOR trailer about the contest in exchange for TV plugs for the picture, given five days a week both before and after the “High Tension” show. his theatre for about six weeks due to ill¬ ness, is back. The Stanley Warner Jersey Circuit extends deepest sympathy to George Birkner, manager, Fabian, Paterson, N. J., on the loss of his brother. The winners for January in the Stanley Warner “Prize Salute to Star Showmen” were Andrew Garfalo, Royal, Bloomfield, N. J.; Sam Roth, Baker, Dover, N. J.; Fred DiAngerlis, Sanford, Irvington, N. J.; Bob Phillips, Holly¬ wood, East Orange, New Jersey.; and A1 Barilla, Union, Union, N. J. The Strand, Clifton, N. J., closed. New York State Albany Do the motion picture industry and its associations support the “status quo,” under which the Board of Regents hear appeals from licensing denials by the director of the State education Depart¬ ment’s motion picture division, or the pending bill which provides an alternative system of trial by Supreme Court jury? If they do neither, “Have they a solution of the problem, which is of paramount importance not only to this industry but to the public?” Thus asked Senator Fred G. Moritt, Brooklyn Democrat and sponsor of the measure, in a statement issued recently. Senator Moritt, in effect, called for the MPA and other in¬ dustry organizations to lay their cards on the table and say which plan they favor. “It seems to me,” he commented, “that an industry which has a potential reaching about 50 million people a week and is the most powerful instrument in the formation of opinions and ideas, not only of the adults but also of the children of America, should and must give pro or con expressions on the troublesome question of censorship.” Pointing out that he favors “the continu¬ ing of the licensing of motion pictures to be exhibited to the public,” Senator Moritt explained, “My bill makes the public, via our jury system, the final Planning the activities for the reception and cocktail party tendered winners of The New York Journal-American annual movie contest are, left to right, Russell V. Downing, president-managing direc¬ tor, Radio City Music Hall, the host; Rose Pelswick, the newspaper’s critic; Edward L. Fabian, chief barker, Variety Club; and Harry Brandt, president, Independent Theatre Owners Association. Contest winners were guests and were presented cash awards. February 2b, 195b