The Exhibitor (May-Aug 1948)

THE EXHIBITOR NT-1 NEWS OF THE PHILADELPHIA Crosstown That new film about the big town, “So This Is New York”, which extolls the virtues of small-town life in South Bend, Ind., and which, as a result of New York’s bid for renewed film pro¬ duction, was made in Hollywood, will have its world premiere, quite naturally, here at the S-W Earle on June 24, it was announced by UA. The logic of this decision, apparent at a glance, was high¬ lighted by the Golden Jubilee Committee of New York City, which nominated the film, unofficially, as the official picture of any other city’s anniversary celebra¬ tion. The choice of Philadelphia for the world premiere is obvious. Never once is the City of Brotherly Love mentioned in the film. Henry Morgan will make per¬ sonal appearances during the run between getting mixed up with the Republican National Convention. “So This Is New York”, even before release, has won three-fold Academy honors. First, for Morgan’s finest screen per¬ formance (his first) ; second, for the greatest production by Stanley Kramer’s Screenplays, Inc. (also its first); and finally, for the greatest picture D. C. McCarthy ever hoped to see. McCarthy is the California Riding Academy pre¬ sident. Columbia’s “The Mating Of Millie” was given a sneak preview at William Goldman’s Karlton last week. Samuel Goldwyn Pictures, Inc., a corporation of the State of Delaware, which received a certificate of authority from the Department of State of Pennsylvania on Jan. 24, 1947, to transact business in Pennsylvania, presented an application for a with¬ drawal of said certificate and the cancellation thereof. Vine Street The trade was sorry to hear that Mrs. Charles Zagrans, wife of the RKO branch head, was a patient in University Hospital. “Report For Action”, a two-reel sub¬ ject, is available through Lewen Pizor, president, UMPTO, who heads the TOA state group sponsoring the showing of this short throughout the territory. The subject is not to be shown at regular theatre hours, but, rather, to civic leaders and others at special screenings when the theatre is not open to the public. The TOA subject was made in cooperation with U. S. Attorney General Tom Clark, and is designed to help combat juvenile dekinquency. It is free, and available now to all theatres in the territory. Contact Pizor, at 12 South 12th Street. The unveiling of the memorial stone for Samuel J. Dembow, prominent exhibitor who passed away a year ago, will be held on June 27 at 11 a. m. at Har Nebo Cemetery. Tradesters are invited. Joe Becker, who operates the Apex Garage, has taken over the Chelsea Parking Lot, Morris Avenue and the boardwalk, Atlantic City, and opposite the Chelsea Hotel, where he will be glad to serve film folk during their stay in the shore resort. Rates are reasonable. The Motion Picture Associates has donated $1000 to the Will Rogers Memorial Hospital, Saranac Lake, N. Y. The trade was sorry to hear of the retirement of Carl Keatsch, American Seating Company, who leaves for Man¬ chester, Vt., after 29 years in the busi¬ ness. His last deal was for seats for the Academy Of Music, and among his big¬ gest contracts was one for the Conven¬ tion Hall, Atlantic City. In addition, he supplied seats for some of the biggest theatres in the area. On a two -acre estate, he will retire, play golf, and fish. He leaves with the best wishes of the trade. Joe Engel, Quality Premiums’ branch manager, is quite enthused over the reception to his “Gay Bouquet” cannister set, which he is now showing to exhibitors. The investigation into the theft of city amusement 'tax funds was still attracting the attention of tradesters as well as others last week, as local dailies reported that one theatre already was unable to show a receipt for $600 in tax monies which it claimed to have been paid. Trade opinion was that the trail might eventually lead to other houses in the same predicament. If receipts for payment could be shown, however, the houses in question would be cleared. Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Engel held a reception last weekend in honor of the confirmation of their daughter, Marilyn, at their Bala-Cynwyd home. Engel is the popular Quality Premiums executive. Dorothy Eagan, Eagle Lion clerk, announced that she was getting married. . . . Eli Ginsberg, local head, Colosseum of Motion Picture Salesmen, was excited last week over the National Labor Rela¬ tions Board authorized election to be held in New York City on June 25 on the question: “Do you wish to be represented for purposes of collective bargaining by the Colosseum of Motion Picture Sales¬ men of America?” Eligible for voting by secret ballot were salesmen of Para¬ mount, MGM, RKO, Republic, 20th Century-Fox, U-I, Warners, Columbia, That torrid team of Gable and Turner dominate this attractive display at the S-W Stanley, Philadelphia, which was recently placed in the lobby to promote MGM’s “Homecoming.” Eagle Lion, UA, Monogram, and National Screen Service, as well as sales managers and supervisors. Out-of-towners cast their ballots by mail. The Motion Picture Associates held another meeting at the RKO Screening Room. . . . Elmer Hollander has taken space with Clark Film, second floor, 1225 Vine Street. He is handling local distri¬ bution of the Zale-Graziano fight films. . . . James Dowling, MGM head shipper, became a proud grandfather last week. 20th Century-Fox was closed tight on June 8, date of the Family Club outing to Beach Haven, N. J. . . . Local 307, IATSE, was redecorating its union head¬ quarters both inside and out. Harry Abbott, Abbott Oliver, Horace Johns, Abe Freeman, and Joe Abrams will be Local 307 delegates to the IATSE convention in Cleveland on Aug. 16. It took Abrams 24 years to make it. Addie Gottshalk, RKO office manager, made the upstate trip last week. . . . Charles Donohue, RKO booker, was on vacation last week. . . . The fellows at MGM have got themselves a bowling team. Anyone wishing a match should cJSfoW, MORE THAN EVER >»» IE it’s a Shrammmf {Picture , rs THE BEST SHOW IN TOWN Attending Paramount’s recent mid-eastern division sales meeting in Philadelphia, were, left to right, top to bottom: Earle W. Sweigert, mid-eastern division sales man¬ ager; Charles M. Reagan, E. K. “Ted” O’Shea, and Albert Schwalberg, on the dais; Fred Leroy and Sweigert, huddling over company product, and John J. Bergin, Ulrik F. Smith, branch manager; Herman Rubin, Clement Reck, Ralph Garman, F. L. Rodgers, John D. Holman, and John Kane, all from the Philadelphia exchange. One of the highlights of the confab was a special screening of “A Foreign Affair”, and in the lower right shot the group is shown in the company’s local projection room. June 16, 1948 PHILADELPHIA