The Exhibitor (1949)

A FURTHER SIGN that business is getting back to normal comes from the midwest, where a theatre showed “Count Of Monte Cristo,” “He Walked By Night,” and “Mexican Hayride” for one admission. ★ SOMETHING DIFFERENT in the matter of theatre robberies comes from the west, where an assistant manager received a call from a theatre aide at his home telling him the house was on fire. When the assistant reached the theatre, two gun¬ men were waiting, and forced him to open tlie safe. It seems the robbers forced the aide to make the fake call. This will probably lead to some kind of a code conversation in the future, so if it happens again, the assistant can he tipped off. ★ A PROBLEM was presented in tlie west by a former inmate of a state mental hospital who said, after being arrested for burglary, that he “had an uncon¬ trollable desire for movies,” and “wanted to spend all his time there.” While the authorities seemed convinced that he needed “some kind of psychiatric treat¬ ment,” they weren’t sure what to do with him. ★ DRIVE-IN OWNERS might note with in¬ terest the warning issued in a southern city by police to the effect that drive-in patrons turn off their motors while watch¬ ing the films. The warning came after a near-asphyxiation disaster. ★ SOME REISSUES may now he worth more than ever since a collection of 31 antique automobiles and horse-drawn carriages worth $50,000 was destroyed in a recent fire. At those rates, the cars were still cheaper than the 1949 variety. ★ NO CONSTERNATION has as yet resulted in Hollywood from the charge by Ivan Bolshakov, Soviet Minister of Cinemato¬ graphy, that Hollywood films display “ob¬ scurantism”, and are designed to propa¬ gandize “the alleged superiority of the Anglo-Saxon race and the notorious American way of life.” — H.M.M. INDEX VoL. 41, No. 16 February 23, 1949 Section One Editorial . 5 Feature Article — “Courtesy Is Contagious” . 6, 7 In The Newsreels . 19 People . 22 Picture Page . 18 Release Date Guide Inside Back Cover The Scoreboard . 20 Trade Screenings . 21 Studio Survey' . SS-1— SS-4 Section Two iiminTOfl VoL. 41, No. 16 February 23, 1949 Something Mew Has Been Added Something very significant happened a couple of weeks ago, too important to let pass without special attention. When Sam Pinanski, one of the real veterans in exhiliition and who now heads American Theatres Corporation, Boston, which is approxi¬ mately one-half of the former M and P Circuit, announced his association with Eagle Lion in a “purely advisory capacity”, it deservedly made headlines. For, in addition to revealing his EL association, Pinanski had many things to say, one of which is particularly pertinent to this publication and the other tradepapers in the motion picture field. Pinanski commended the tradepapers “for servicing the exhibitor in an efficient manner”. Furthermore, he paid them praise as a real medium l>y which to reacli the showman. Naturally, a statement of this nature is one wliich is heartily endorsed by all motion picture tradepapers, hut, what is more, if a survey of theatremen were made, thei’e would lie thousands of others who are of the same opinion, that there is no force within the industiy that is more potent, and which offers greater oppor¬ tunity hy which the three branches of this luisiness, production, distribution, and exhibition, may benefit. Pinanski expressed the thought tliat there should lie coordina¬ tion between production and exhibition, and that exhibitors should have a greater voice within the industry. He also hoped that many other theatremen would he able to lie in the same position as he nows finds himself, as an advisor. In the case of EL, of course, there is no question hut that Pinanski’s coming will benefit its production, hut certainly all along the line all companies can use such exhibitor cooperation where it is not now present. The el move is another healthy sign that the industry is getting hack to fundamentals. President Arthur Krim has bene¬ fited his company hy such a move. This is real showmanship. A Jay Emanuel Publication. Founded in 1918. Published weekly by Jay Emanuel Publications Incorporated. Publishing office: 1225 Vine Street, Philadelphia 7, Pennsylvania. New York office: 1600 Broadway, New York 19. West Coast Representative: Paul Manning, 923 Alandele Avenue, Los Angeles 36, California. Jay Emanuel, publisher; Paul J. Greenhaigh, business manager; Herbert M. Miller, editor; James A. Dalton, advertising manager; George Frees Nonamaker and Mel Konecoff, associate editors. Subscriptions; Each edition, one yeai;, $2. two years, $3.50; three years, $5. Address correspondence to 1225 Vine Street, Phila. 7, Pa. The Check-Up SS-1— SS-8