The Exhibitor (May-Aug 1948)

NT-4 THE EXHIBITOR MGM southern division sales manager Rudolph Berger recently met in Washington with three of the branch managers in his territory. Shown left to right, are: Charles Kessnick, Atlanta; Berger, Jerry Adams, Washington, and Jack ReVille, Charlotte. As part of his special campaign in connection with the recent showing of the MGM two-reeler, “Drunk Driving”, Lamar Keen, manager, Capitol, Winchester, Va., ar¬ ranged to have a badly wrecked car parked near his theatre with a placard plugging the playdate. to have completed by Aug. 1. He stated that the Naval Base there has promised full cooperation, and will not allow civilian personnel to attend the base’s showings in the recreation center once the new theatre opens to the public. Solomon's Island The recent benefit held by a young theatrical group at the D. and L. proved a success. A feature film was shown in conjunction with the stage play, “Bar¬ gain Bride”, and at $1 admission. VIRGINIA Norfolk Jeff Hofheimer’s Suburban has new lights and a new coat of paint on the attractions boards. Stanley Williams, manager, says he saw a lot of new faces due to the attractive heralds he put out. Hofheimer’s Boulevard runs a kiddies show every Saturday morning which the kids in the neighborhood really go for in a big way due to that Casey manage¬ ment. . . . Manager Badeaux, Hofhei¬ mer’s Grand, South Norfolk, reports that now he can run his sound three points lower due to the removal of the street cars from in front of the theatre. A1 Herring, manager, Hofheimer’s Visulite, took the other night off to at¬ tend his daughter, Patsy’s dance recital. . . . P. L. McCall, manager, Byrd, will visit relatives in Roanoke during his vacation. A1 Cogsdale, assistant, Wells, returned after a short vacation. . . . It’s nice to see Mel Rowe back on his old job at the Colonial. . . . L. Weiford was in town. He now is manager, Craver’s Grandin, Roanoke. Bill Michalson, 20th Century Fox ex¬ ploited’, was in to set up his adver¬ tising campaign for “The Iron Curtain” and “Scudda-Hoo! Scudda-Hay !”, Norva and Granby. . . . Harry Valentine joined the Hal Lyon Enterprises as general manager with headquarters in Ports¬ mouth. He will manage the Elco and Delta, Portsmouth, and will have charge of exploitation for the entire circuit. Sidney Bowden was married not long ago to Frances Murrell Richards. He is general manager, Wilder Theatres. . . . UA Fieldman Melburn was in to set up a campaign for “Arch Of Triumph”, Loew’s State. Maxine Adams has joined the staff of Loew’s. . . . A1 Dawley resigned his position at the Norva, and was replaced by Raymond Sobleski, from the Granby. . . . Mrs. Bessie Comer resigned at the Norva to take up full time duties as housekeeper. . . . The Norva has a new aide, Miss Alice Peterson. Earle Westbrook, Fabian’s city mana¬ ger, reports that the drive-in, located on the Virginia Beach Boulevard, is rapidly nearing completion, and will be ready to open around the middle of June. . . . Bob Turner, Wilders Gates manager, Portsmouth, reports that Berio Vending Company installed a new popcorn warm¬ er for his theatre. Mrs. Beddingfield is the new Gates candy attendant. Tur¬ ner also reports that he has at last found an apartment near the theatre. Miss Statha Wright joined the staff of the Riverview. . . . Herman E. Town¬ send leased from Copeland Ornoff the Hampton, Hampton Boulevard. Town¬ send was for some time with the Ornoff Theatres, and was for a number of years with Schine Circuit in Maryland. There will be no changes in personnel at the Hampton, and the policy will remain the same. Clarance Richardson is new at Wilders Virginia, Portsmouth. . . . John Kelly is back on his old job at Levine’s Rosele, Ocean View. . . . Betty Beacham is new at Levine’s Memrose. E. L. Collamer, Jr. reports that the Park will stage an amateur night from its stage beginning on June 11, to run for 13 weeks. There will be prizes weekly, and the final winner will receive $50. Richmond Film boys in town included: Fred Beiersdorf, Warners’ branch manager; Bill Michalson, 20th-Fox exploited’, and Manager Ernest Sterling. St. Mary’s, Leonardtown, Md., with the snappy jac¬ ket and broad smile, shakes hands with actor-manager Robert Lunt, “Grand Old Opry” troupe, during the players’ re¬ cent two-day show at the house. Others seen, left to right, are: front row, Oscar and Hillous Burton, and, standing, Del Heck and Buford Gentry. Don Chaban, Screen Guild. . . . Bryan Fox, projectionists’ business agent, help¬ ed to install the sound and booth equip¬ ment in the WRVA Theatre for the seve¬ ral films shown recently. . . . Cecil Curtis is remodelling the Colonial, Galax, and expects to open on July 15. . . . Bob Eagan, National manager, has another stage show, “Dagmar the Magician”. . . . Dave Kamsky, Neighborhood Theatre, Inc., ad manager, had blow-ups made of the newspaper stories of the riot in front of the Roxy, New York, for “The Iron Curtain”, and used them in special frames in front of the Byrd and State. . . . Bryan Fox went up to Bowling Green for several days, and Bernard McCann took over for him in the East End booth. The Neighborhood Theatre, Inc., home office: Arthur Deekens spent the week¬ end in New York. . . . A. O. Budina, architect, was in Blacksburg holding State exams for architects. . . . Vet¬ eran employee Ann Williams left, suc¬ ceeded by Edna Mattson. . . . Margie Davidson is entertaining her daughter from Havana. . . . The entire office en¬ joyed the first outing of the season at Bryan Park recently. . . . Pete Trent and wife were in from Farmville. Winchester E. E. Ours, Parsons, W. Va., announ¬ ced his intention of erecting a theatre building immediately adjoining War¬ ners’ Capitol Cameron Street, with a seating capacity of 800 on the first floor and 110 in the balcony. He estimated the cost at $50,000. Meanwhile, Herman H. Hable is proceeding with the razing of a business building on South Loudoun Street, where he has indicated he will erect his second local theatre. June 2, 1948: