The Exhibitor (1954)

NT-4 L. Olshansky, active Variety Club worker and former part owner, Colonial. . . . James Biondo checked in for U-I to promote “The Glenn Miller Story,” Strand. The Times-Union ran a threecolumn cut of Biondo with Staff Sergeant Dorothy Oinward, WAF; Captain Gil¬ more Kinney, commanding officer, Albany Army Air Force Recruiting Service; and Staff Sergeant William L. Fowler, pub ic information officer, making plans for ihe setting up of a Military Affiliate Radio System station at the Strand. Colonel Edward Kirby had previously visited in advance ballyhoo. Maurice Harris accompanied Colonel Kirby. Federal Judge James T. Foley heard arguments on the motion of Schine Chain Theatres, Inc., and other Schine defend¬ ants, along with eight major distributors, for dismissal of the amended complaint filed by the executor of the estate of Charles E. Dickinson, former holder of a one-third interest in Reliance Theatres, Inc., operating the Palace, Lockport, in a $3,000,000 anti-trust action. Frank E. Raichle, Buffalo, argued the motion for the Schine interests. Russell Hardy, Washington, D. C., opposed it for plain¬ tiff. Judge Foley gave the plaintiff op¬ portunity to file an answering brief, and the defendants to submit a memorandum. Raichle contended that the complainant failed to state grounds on which relief could be granted; that neither a stock¬ holder nor his estate could bring a deriv¬ ative suit under the Sherman Act; that Reliance Theatres, the corporation in question, had instituted an anti-trust case in 1953; and that it had been marked settled in the U. S. District Court for Western New York, in October, 1936. Hardy disagreed with Raichle’s arguments and interpretations, basing his case on the law, court decisions, and the government’s action, for conspiracy and monopolization brought against the Schines et al (in which the Lockport situation was alleged to have figured). Hardy claimed that the monopoly had not yet been completely ended, and that the 1936 settlement, in effect, was “by Schine for Schine.” Buffalo Plans for “Brotherhood Week” were discussed by 200 distributors and exhibi¬ tors at the Variety Club. Stanley Kositsky, UA branch manager and chairman for “Brotherhood Week,” presided, a,nd campaign kits were distributed by Eddie Meade, publicity chairman. Arrange¬ ments were made for an industry table at the NCCJ luncheon at the Hotel Statler. Constantine J. Basil, president, Basil Enterprises; Basil J. Basil, vice-presi¬ dent; V. Spencer Balser, film buyer booker, and their wives left for Florida and Havana, Cuba, for a few weeks. Basil’s Lafayette installed frank¬ furter vending equipment on the mezza¬ nine. . . . George Mackenna, general manager, moved from his present office to the director’s office. Charles McKernan, manager, Seneca, and William Colson, manager, Niagara, EXHIBITOR EYEING Tills New York — Columbia’s Frances Taylor stepped before the television cameras on ABC’s “Spotlight On Harlem” for the lead in a group specialty of Afro-Cuban dances. She has been study¬ ing interpretive dance at the Katherine Dunham School for a number of years and also teaches her own class in modern dance at the YMCA Harlem branch. Warners — Office manager Calvin C. Leeder was serving on a federal jury. . . . Booking clerk Cynthia Porges is back after illness. . . . Gladys Larsen, secre¬ tary to the office manager, was recovering from laryngitis. . . . Inspectress Anna Mancuso is back after illness. Paramount — Birthday congrats went to ledger clerk Reginal Bagnal. . . . Carol Davidson, secretary to the office manager, weekend. 20th-Fox — Secretary Bess G. Allen was on the sick list. . . . Also ill was biller Alice Schwartz. . . . Secretary Lillian Gordon was back after a virus attack. . . . Division manager Martin Moscowitz was in Buffalo. . . Secretary Harriet Dublin’s eyes were sparkling in anticipation of army husband Arty’s return from Korea. . . . Sales manager Alex Arnswalder received congrats on his Feb. 19 birthday. . . . Ann Jones, secretary to the branch manager, went to the Poconos for a weekend. held special kiddie matinees on Lincoln’s birthday. . . . Nate Dickman advised that the four Buffalo area drive-ins in which he is a partner will open on April 4. ... A parcel post, where packages will be sold at 50 cents each, will feature the card party on Feb. 25 sponsored by the Women’s League, Variety Club. Nina Lux is chairman and Barbara Quinlivan is co-chairman. Howard Pearl, UA exploitation repre¬ sentative, was in working with Leon Serin, Center, and Charles Taylor, Paramount advertising director, on “Wicked Woman.” Star Beverly Michaels was also in for the opening. Arthur Krolick, district manager, was host at a luncheon for the press. Eddie Meade, Shea’s publicity director, arranged for a display at the Buffalo Auto Show tieing in with Mercury automobiles and “The Long, Long Trailer.” A New Moon trailer will be on display in front of Shea’s Buffalo for the run. A special screening was held at the screening room for the New Moon, Mercury, and Philip Morris dealers. The trade wishes to extend its sincerest sympathy to Charles McLeary, ma.nager¥ Shea’s Kensington, on the passing of his brother, James. . . . Bert Lapetina is busy getting ready for “Julius Caesar,” Teck. — Nedra Gray Clifton Webb, in 20th-Fox’s “Three Coins In The Fountain,” recently ar¬ rived in New York from Hollywood for a brief vacation. United Artists — Booker Lou Solkoff moved into his new Jersey City, N. J., apartment. . . . Assistant cashier Hilda Frishman was ill. . . . Also on the sick list were switchboard operator Meyrl McKenna, clerk Vana Smith, and office assistant Dave Nathan. . . . Typist June Hill and her Jackie were pricing homes for forthcoming marriage. . . . Fred Franke, home office auditor, was visiting. . . . the exchange was all pepped up over the company’s 35th anniversary drive. RKO — Switchboard operator June Jacobson helped niece Ronnie celebrate her first birthday. . . . Clerk Phillis Friedman was on the sick list. . . . Office assistant Irwin Diamond was waiting the army call. UI — Shipper Mac Davis was back after illness. . . . Inspectress Florence Knight was in California visiting her daughter. . . . Night examiner Morris Harrison had an injured back. . . . Inspectress Betty Mallon moved from Brooklyn to Queens. MGM — Salesman Charles Wittner marked his birthday. . . . Ex-MGMer Jerry Geness was visiting’. . . . The contract department’s Joyce Cohen raised her bowling score to 120. Republic — Myra Lerner, contract department, switched back to auburn. . . . Salesman Antony Ricci boasts that god¬ child Jenny cut two teeth at the age of four months. Allied Artists — Cashier Norman Benchik marked his fifth year of married life with wife Iris. . . . Margo MacGregor was ill. . . . Eugene Daily was promoted to the boxoffice department. . . . Office manager Ted Falgiatore was back from Florida with candy. . . . Booker Dave Jacobs also was making Florida his vacationland. . . . Head biller Kitty Bernstein sparked up her Florida respite with a junket to Havana. . . . The boxoffice department’s Howard Goldstein was at a ski jump meet. . . . Roy O’Leary, new addition to the staff, hails from Fairhaven, Mass., and is a recent dischargee from the army. . . . Birthday greetings went to salesman John Wenisch. . . . Millie Taliaferro, inspectress, was still ailing. — J. A. D. February 2b, 195 b