The Exhibitor (1949)

THE EXHIBITOR NT-1 miws OF inK BRANCHES Cincinnati The first of a series of promotional events to inaugurate forthcoming Universal-International releases will take place here on March 4 on behalf of “The Life Of Riley”. The premiere will be augmented by the origination of “The Life Of Riley” radio broad¬ cast from the stage of the Grand, together with the appearance of per¬ sonalities of both screen and radio shows. All proceeds from the sale of tickets will be donated to the Chil¬ drens’ Home of Cincinnati. The three daily Cincinnati newspapers are giving 100 per cent support to the charity premiere, which promises to be the most elaborate staged in Cincinnati. In addition, newspaper critics, radio commentators, and columnists from surrounding territories, as well as key cities in the Middle West, will be present. Among the per¬ sonalities making the trip to Cin¬ cinnati are William Bendix, Rosemary De Camp, Jimmy Gleason, Meg Randall, Richard Long, and John Brown. Cleveland Owners of independent subsequent first-run theatres in the Greater Cleveland area are seeking a reduced clearance from the current 35 days to 21 days. In a letter to all branch managers, Ernest Schwartz, president, Cleveland Motion Picture Exhibitors Association, requests that all dis¬ tributors conform to a 21-day avail¬ ability following the first-run. Al¬ though there is a general 35-day availability for most houses in this classification, both 20th CenturyFox and Warners are serving 17 houses on the 21st day. This policy was first offered locally by Andy W. Smith, Jr. , 20th-Fox sales manager, to selected first-run subsequent houses which are not competitive, and which meet certain physical require¬ ments. Bob Snyder and E.J. Stutz, Realart, distributors in this territory of “Paisan”, now in its seventh week at the Lower Mall, reported state bookings at the Allen, Akron; Mozard, Canton; Strand, Youngstown, and Palace, Toledo. Nat Wolf, Warner Ohio Theatres’ zone manager, and J. Jnox Strachan, Warner Theatres’ publicity director, were named by Mayor Thomas A. Burke as members of the city committee to meet and welcome the French Merci train on its 2-hour visit to Cleve¬ land. Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. , will be in on Feb. 22 to make two personal ap¬ pearances at Warners’ Allen, where “The Fighting 0’ Flynn” will be on the screen. Abe Bernstein, U-I pub¬ licity staff, was in arranging for a press luncheon with the star. The opening of the new 1200-seat Shea, Ashtabula, 0., was attended by a large representive group of local film men including branch managers Jack Sogg, MGM; Harry Walders, RKO; Irwin Pollard, Republic; Jerry Wechsler, Warners; Bernie Rubin, Imperial; Nat Barach, NSS; Lester Zucker, U-I; Pete Dana, U-I district manager; Oscar Kantor, Warner salesman, and M.H. Fritchle, Oliver Theatre Supply Company. A cocktail party and dinner was held at the Ashtabula Hotel, at which Mr. and Mrs. Peter Wellman, Mr. and Mrs. Manning Glick, and Mr. and Mrs. Howard Kay were also present. Margaret Macsay, Republic booker, and Robert Svegel were married on Feb. 12, and on Feb. 14, “Macsay” celebrated her birthday. The newly¬ weds are postponing their honeymoon until later in the year. Frank Blitz, father of Bob Blitz, Warner booker, died at St. Vincent Hospital. ... Saul Frifield, Paramount branch manager, was given his Mount Sinai Hospital discharge papers, and is now ^recuperating at his home. Millard Ogle, head, Cleveland Projector Company, which handles all kinds of booth equipment, appointed Joseph Van Grove as sales manager. With the closing of SRO, Leonard Miskind, SRO sales representative and his secretary, Genevieve Eisner, are now located in the Eagle Lion office. Sol Gordon, SRO sales staff, is with Monogram. Detroit Leo Carrilo was master of cere¬ monies when the Chrysler Corporation showed its new “Silver Anniversary” models to all Chrysler dealers.... “Blood On The Moon’’ at the 1,800-seat Madison broke gross records. ... Thomas L. Kilbride, manager. Globe;. his brother, Bernard J. Kilbride, Jr. , and NobynH, D’ Haene formed the Pointe Concession Company, with offices in the Globe Building. They also oper¬ ated the Pointe Vending Machine Company. Nora Moran, UniversalInternational , was married to William Doyle.... Don Cooper and Robert J. Anderson formed the Television Products Company to make low cost films for television sponsors. Clifford Perry succeeded the late Gilbert L. Becker as MGM office mana¬ ger. Perry was bookersalesman pre¬ vious to his promotion. Keith Orr is the new booker at MGM ....Nate Talcott is the new manager, Apollo. ... Ruby Goldstein has been ap¬ pointed manager, Pix and Carver.... Joseph Urban takes over as manager, Castle. ... Jess Simon is head booker, MGM. ... William Johnson has been ap¬ pointed manager, Elliott, River Rouge, Mich. Marvin Faris, executive-secretary. Independent Motion Picture Producers, won a point in $8,750,000 anti-trust suit. Paris came to Detroit from Hollywood to give a deposition in the suit, in which the independents charge two theatre chains with monopolistic control over distribution of films in the Detroit area. Faris balked at making certain records available to defense attorneys. Federal Judge Arthur A. Koscinski ruled that the records were not material to the case at this time. Alfred G. Parker, former theatre manager, was fined $100, and placed on six months probation, after he pleaded guilty to charges he pulled in a false fire alarm. Firemen said that Parker was arrested on Jan. 24 after a chase. Traces of green chemical which had been smeared on the box handle were found on Parker’ s glove. The United Detroit Theatres and The Free Press will present a “For and About Women” show on the stage of the Michigan on Feb. 19. The members of The Free Press women’ s department will give beauty, cooking, and fashion hints. Milo Anderson, Hollywood de¬ signer, sent three of his original designs for Doris Day in "My Dream Is Yours” to be modeled at the show. Alice Gorham, publicity director, UTD, is in charge of the program. Free color cut-outs were given to all children at the Cinderella, Fisher, Riviera, and Woods. Theatre managers report that al¬ though theatre grosses are about average, the Shrine Circus, Civic Light Operas, and Sonj a Henie were drawing away big crowds. A 20-year lease was acquired by the BKR Theatre Corporation of Michigan on the Liberty, Madison, and Franklin, Grand Rapids, Mich. , from Wilier and Boshoven. Joseph Busic, former dis¬ trict supervisor. United Detroit The¬ atres, becomes general manager of the three houses on March 1. The five major distributors filed answers in Federal Court as defendants in the $600, 000 anti-trust suit brought by Jack Loeks, Powers Poto News, Grand Rapids, Mich. The taking of depositions will be unusual in that they will be taken, at the request of the defend¬ ants, in Loeks’ own theatre. Indianapolis Joe Marcus, son of Mannie Marcus, president, M. Marcus Enterprises, was in a critical condition in Gen¬ eral Hospital from multiple fractures suffered when his motor scooter was hit, and dragged 70 feet by an auto. Police had to jack up the auto to free the victim from the twisted remains of the scooter. Hospital authorities said the boy suffered compound fractures of both legs and other injuries. He was given blood transfusions, and placed beneath an oxygen tent. Harry Komblum, and his son, James, February 16, 1949 Mideast