The Exhibitor (1951)

EXHIBITOR NT-1 MiWS OF THE Chicago Four of the 13 outdoors in the Chi¬ cago area opened, the Double Drive-In, Twin Open-Air, Starlite, and Drive-In. The Double Drive-In inaugurated an “early bird” cartoon show preceding the feature. Children under 12 are ad¬ mitted free to the Starlite. ... At the last checkup, Illinois had 48 drive-ins. In Springfield, Ill., Judge Charles G. Briggle continued hearings in federal court in the suit of the Springfield DriveIn against film distributors and others accused of violation of the Sherman anti-trust act. The judge granted the plaintiff leave to add Paramount to the list of the defendants. Permission was also granted to file an amended com¬ plaint against the defendants. Jack Kirsch, 48, Allied Theatres of Illinois, Inc., had a terrifying experience with three bandits who forcibly entered his car at a stoplight, and kidnaped him. Kirsch was rescued through the alert¬ ness of cruising police, but not until he had been severely beaten on the head with the butt of a 30-caliber automatic pistol, until blood streamed down his face, and was robbed of $45. The bandits accosted Kirsch at Roosevelt Road and Wabash Avenue, not far from his office, and drove him in his car a couple of miles to Wabash Avenue and Monroe Street, near the heart of the Loop, where they took his money, and ordered him out of the car. As he started to alight, they changed their minds, pulled him back in the car, beat him with the gun, and con¬ tinued north on Lake Shore Drive. The bandits had proceeded several miles when police in a squad car noted Kirsch’s blood¬ stained face. Curbing the car, the police ordered the kidnappers out. Keeping the trio covered with their own weapons, they ordered the bandit gun thrown into the street. Kirsch was quickly taken to a hospital, where his wounds were treated, and his assailants, handcuffed, were taken to a police station. H. Merrill Smith observed his 23rd year on the Altec staff. . . . Max Rosenfield, Clark, joined the Army. Jack Kirsch was reelected president, Allied Theatres of I linois, Inc., for a term of three years at the 21st annual meeting of the organization. Others chosen, for a one-year term, were: Van Nomikos, vice-president; Benjamin Banowitz, secretary-treasurer; Harry Nepo, sergeant-at-arms, and directors: Arthur Davidson, Richard Salkin, James Greg¬ ory, Verne Langdon, Sinuel Roberts, Ludwig Sussman, John Semadales, Saul Lockwood, Howard Lubliner, Charles Lindau, Nate Slott, Joseph Stern, Rob¬ ert Harrison Oscar Brotman, and Bill Charuhas. Embassy Theatre Corporation is the new name for the Emboyd Theatre Cor¬ poration. . . . Jack Isbee and Morris Weisell bought the Metropolitan, High¬ land Park, Mich. . . . Vaudeville for children, along with cartoons, is being presented by B and K at some of its neighborhood houses. H. and E. Balaban’s Surf and Es¬ quire solicit inquiries from patrons as to picture preferences. . . . Charles Kloepier, Lans manager, Lansing, Ill., conducted a successful picture coloring contest. Abe, Barney, and Polly Brotman formed the Hiland Theatre BuildingCompany, Moline, Ill. . . . Jack Van Burssun, Savoy, Terre Haute, Ind., suffered a neuritis attack. B and K turned over the Manor to the Manor Amusement Company, former operators. . . . The Ashton was opened at Ashton, Ill., with Clyde Sheppard as manager. Gus Bjelke was upped to Harding assistant manager. . . . George May was appointed receiver, Highway Amusement Enterprises, Inc., Highway Outdoor, Waukegan, Ill., in a mechanics lien dis¬ pute. . . . Sylvan Goldfinger, Telenews western manager, is back from Arizona. The National Confectioners Associa¬ tion will hold its annual convention and exposition at the Stevens Hotel on June 3-7. . . . Massac Theatres, Inc., bought the El Capitan Drive-In, Metropolis, Ill. The Chicago Commons sponsored juve¬ nile movies at the Esquire with tickets at $2.50 for fund raising. . . . Roy Cherry was managing the Gateway while Ralph McFarland was on vacation in Mexico. ... A northside neighborhood paper chain put on a square dance jam¬ boree at Green Briar park fieldhouse to advertise “Ma and Pa Kettle Back on the Farm.” . . . K. F. Wilcox purchased the Rialto, Pekin, Ill., from Publix Great States. James R. Grainger, Republic vicepresident, held a conference with branch managers. Among those attending were: A. H. Fisher, Chicago; Nat E. Stein¬ berg, St. Louis; Bernard Brager, Indian¬ apolis; J. E. Loeffler, Minneapolis; Jack G. Frackman, Milwaukee; Harry Lefholtz, Omaha; Paul Webster, Des Moines, and R. F. Withers, Kansas City. . . . C. W. Ritenour is new owner, Mil¬ ford, Milford, Ind. John G. Koletis was chosen president, newly formed Memri Drive-In Corpora¬ tion, Rock Island, Ill. Other officers are Isadore N. Brotman, vice-president; Bar¬ ney Brotman, secretary, and Sam B. Shlaes. . . . The Arcadia and the Elks, Olney, Ill., collected $359 for “The March of Dimes.” Induction ceremonies were held on the stage of the Chicago for the first rookie to go up the gangplank of the sub¬ marine Silversides. . . . A. T. Blum bought the De Luxe, Camp Point, Ill. . . . Confection Cabinet Corporation is established in permanent new head¬ quarters at 153 West Ohio Street, follow¬ ing the fire which destroyed its former location. John D. Loeks acquired the Division Avenue Drive-In, Grand Rapids, Mich. . . . Bill Methe was managing the Ber¬ wyn while Ted Boiseneau was on an auto tour in Mexico. . . . John Eisner bought the Sun, Bangor, Mich., from Gus Eis¬ ner. Dallas C. H. Leavell and Company, El Paso, Tex., was awarded the contract to con¬ struct a 518-seat theatre at White Sands Proving Ground. The building will cost $213,000. Managers who have community thea¬ tre groups in their vicinity can profit from the showmanship of Dan Gould and Francis Barr, publicity managers, local Majestic, and the Worth, Fort Worth, Tex. The pair induced the Dallas Actors Guild Group to perform the stage play, “Born Yesterday,” just before the Columbia film version came to town. Three persons were apprehended in connection with the robbery of the Aztec, Snyder, Tex. The new $165,000 Osage Drive-In, Corpus Christi, Tex., opened. The own¬ ers are Chester W. Kyle and Lestere Miller. Denver The date for the 1951 convention of the Allied Rocky Mountain Independent Theatres was set for May 9-10 at a directors’ meeting. A special invitation is being sent to Andy Smith, 20th-Fox, to tell of his company’s sales plan, and to explain why it is said to be so hard for independents to buy that product in the Denver territory. The directors voted to join COMPO, and members were asked to pay COMPO dues. A committee is to be named to investigate the print shortage, and a buying and booking serv¬ ice was created, to be used by those desiring the service. This department will be managed by Robert Spahn, an independent film buyer-booker. United Artists will world premiere “New Mexico” on May 3 at the Kimo, Albuquerque, N. M. Doris Wille, office manager-booker, Republic, left in favor of keeping house for her family. . . . Floyd Brethour, ELC booker, and Miss Bobby Spahn, Monogram secretary, were married at St. James Catholic Church. Film Row visitors included: Mr. and Mrs. Fred Hall, Akron, Colo.; Kenneth Powell, Wray, Colo.; Elden Menagh, Fort Lupton, Colo. ; Mrs. Marie Goodhand, Kimball, Neb.; Robert Smith, Steamboat Springs, Colo.; Dorrance Schmidt, Bridgeport, Neb.; Neal Beezley, Burlington, Colo.; Burl Lingle, Estancia, N. M., and Leon Coulter, Love¬ land, Colo. Ben Elrod is the new Republic branch manager. March 28, 1951 MIDWEST-WESTERN