The Exhibitor (1951)

EXHIBITOR NT-1 MiWS OF THE Philadelphia Crosstown The City Treasurer reported that amusement taxes for 1950 totalled $3,589,201.76 as compared to $4,261,105.64 for 1949. For December, 1950, receipts were $325,543.46 compared with $400,001.75 for December, 1949. The de¬ crease for the 12-month period was minus 10.24. Joe E. Sapsis, manager, announced that despite rumors to the contrary, the Eureka is not going to close. Sid K. Stanley, veteran showman, who has recently been in the ticket office of the Philadelphia Eagles professional football team, expects to go back to his government chores any day now. The Riviera is now down to a weekend operation. The Fox held a preview of 20th-Fox’s “U.S.S. Teakettle” last week. . . . Mel Koff was reported buying the interest of Carl Munzer in the Darby, Darby, Pa. Vine Street They are calling Monogram salesman Mike Katz “lucky” since he came out of that accident at Harley, Pa., unscratched after a train hit his automobile, but you should have seen the car, Katz says. . . . Their friends were glad to see Monogram salesman Eli Ginsberg and MGM sales¬ man William Hopkins back on the street. . . . Republic branch manager Norman Silverman attended home office conferences in New York City. . . . J. V. O’Gara, new Republic district mana¬ ger, was in at the branch. . . . Pat Beck, RKO salesman, was on the sick list. . . . Jean Marie Carr is back at Warners as a stenographer. She was formerly at the exchange as a bookkeeper. Helen Strollo, Warner biller, was given a shower. She will be married soon. . . . Caroline Fisher, Warner con¬ tract clerk, was back after a bout with the flu. . . . Dave Moliver intends enter¬ ing the auction business on a large scale soon. Condolences are extended to Louis Blaustein, National Screen Service salesman, upon the recent death of his sister. . . . His many friends were glad to see Dan Katlin, popular Lansdale, Pa., exhibitor, up and around. . . . The flu bedded quite a few industryites. Nelson Wax, Boxoffice, announced something new for kid matinees, three big serials to be run on one big thrill show, one episode each week. These are Realart reissues, each has 13 chapters, “The Royal Mounted Rides Again,” “The Master Key,” and “Lost City of the Jungle.” Wax says the triple serial package features new prints, paper, trailers, etc. Penna. Bill Would Ban "The Miracle" HARRISBURG, PA.— Among bills introduced in the legislature last week were the following: One by Representatives Beech and Schmidt, Allegheny County, to amend an act passed by the General Assembly on June 24, 1939, and increase the age range of children prohibited admittance to theatres during school hours. The bill would change the law to apply to children “subject to compulsory school atten¬ dance laws” rather than specifically stating those between 8 and 14 years of age. It was referred to the Committee on Judiciary. Representatives Amarando, Doug¬ herty, Conway, and Wilbur H. Ham¬ ilton, all of Philadelphia, presented a resolution in the House calling for “unequivocal disapproval” of “The Miracle,” and requesting that the Pennsylvania Board of Censors pro¬ hibit its showing anywhere in the State. A meeting of Motion Picture Associ¬ ates of Philadelphia was held in the RKO projection room. Benny “American Film” Harris points with pride to critical raves given to “You Can Change The World,” all-star short, which he is distributing in this territory. Circuits Stanley-Warner The Stanley-Warner press staff cer¬ tainly arranged a busy schedule for Robert Stillman, producer, “The Sound of Fury,” UA release, during his oneday visit. Included were air interviews with Creighton Stewart, George Lord, Mary Biddle, Kal Ross, and Powers Gouraud; press interviews with Marian Kelley, The Inquirer; Jack Brady, The Bulletin, and Chuck Melvin, The Daily News; dinner with Warner executives, Press Club presentation of a scroll and screening of the film at the Press Asso¬ ciation headquarters at WCAU, and a meeting with Ben Gimbel, president, WIP, and board member, Mutual Broad¬ casting Service, regarding “Queen For A Day.” The activities resulted in news¬ paper breaks including the three inter¬ views and a photo break of Sig Hagen, president, Philadelphia Press Associa¬ tion, making the presentation of the citation. The S-W Allegheny closed. Ray Ayrey was in from the New York office to replace Ellis Shipman while the latter was vacationing. . . . Lee Klein is back for a month, and then will return to Florida. . . . Leo Balceley, Sedgwick manager, returned to his post after a four-week leave of absence. ... Joe Forte, Bromley manager, is recovering from his recent surgery. . . . Lane man¬ ager Barney Cohen is busy chauffering to and from the hospital where his wife is under observation. . . . Bob DeFino moved from the Plaza to the Earl. District of Columbia Washington The Georgetown, operating as an art cinema under the consultative supervi¬ sion of A1 Sherman, celebrated its first anniversary. Camelia corsages were pre¬ sented to the first 100 feminine cus¬ tomers. After-the-show patrons were given birthday cakes. Peter and George C. Heon are the owners. A most distinguished gathering of leading statesmen and wives was on hand for the opening of 20th CenturyFox’s “Of Men And Music” at the Dupont. Heading the list of patronesses for the event, sponsored by the Ameri¬ can Newspaper Women’s Club for the benefit of the Parent-Teachers’ Associ¬ ation District of Columbia Health School for Crippled Children, was Mrs. Harry Truman. Mrs. Eric Johnston was chairman of the benefit showing, with STAR SPANGLED SAGA OF THE KEYSTONE STATE 64 DANGEROUS WATERS” IN VIVID, THRILLING COLOR STARRING PENNSYLVANIA TOWNS, RIVERS, PEOPLE in the most interesting 10 minutes ever filmed Available Without Charge AMERICAN co“ 1329 VINE STREET • PHILADELPHIA 7, PA. WAInut 2-1800 Phone Write Wire March 7, 1951 PHILA.-WASH.