The Exhibitor (May-Aug 1948)

NEWS OF THE Chicago B and K commissioned Holabird and Root, architects, to prepare plans for an ultra-modern 2,000 seat theatre at Toledo, O., at an estimated cost of between $1,500,000 and $2,000,000. The newly organized Republic Club, formed by employes of Republic, chose Frank Mardi, president; Pearl Perkins, vice president; Stella Russo, treasurer, and Beverly Knapp, secretary. . . . Fred Mat¬ hews, Motiograph, Inc., brought back some good stories from his Canadian fishing trip. Wilbur Albright, Valencia assistant, and his wife were showered with gifts on the advent of Wilbur, Jr. . . . Mrs. Harry E. Fuller, wife of the Century aide, was killed when her auto was struck by a streetcar. She was the sister of Elmer Bull, StateLake. . . . The engagement of Bruce Balaban, son of A. J. Balaban, B and K circuit founder, to Joan Neda, New York, was announced. . . . Milton Officer. Lake¬ side manager, visited relatives in Colorado. Marion Smith, Will Rogers, is president of Steinmetz council, Illinois Association of Student Councils, head of a mixed choir, and holder of an American Legion Merit Award. . . . Training for assistant managerships are Lee Behrens, former head, Uptown service staff, and Richard Hoffman, Roosevelt. . . . Robert J. Baker is back at the Maryland as manager, after many months in army hospitals. Danny Starzynski replaced Mort Rosen¬ thal, taking time off from the Crystal to build up his health. . . . Bernice Rowe, Crystal, is recovering at home following a serious operation on her back. . . . The La Grange, La Grange, Ill., is finishing re¬ modeling, including glass doors. Charles Wilson, State, is out of the hospital with his arm in a sling following a fall. It is estimated 1948 tax collections from theatres will amount to $2 million. The Grand had a sell-out when Pat O’Brien appeared on stage for “Fighting Father Dunne.” His autographed photo was given to 1000 patrons. Matt Plunkett, manager, Frank Smith, RKO division man¬ ager; Wally Heim, RKO publicity, and Jack Irving, AGVA, were on the job. Inspired by “Mr. Brandings Builds His Dream House, a white-frame residence was built in suburban Williamsburg Vil¬ lage in exactly 45 days. Ted Kraft was made manager, new Alliance drive-in, Kokomo, Ind. Walter Immerman, B and K general manager, was receiving rafts of cards and greetings at Henrotin Hospital. Dallas Colonel H. A. Cole intimated last week at a director’s meeting that he will not serve again as head of Allied Theatre Owners of Texas, after the next election of officers at the annual convention on Noy. 1-2. Cole urged a more active partici¬ pation of directors, officers and members THE EXHIBITOR in association matters, and said it should not be “a one man organization.” He offered to continue actively as state rep¬ resentative on National Allied matters, and to continue to work closely with both national and local Allied boards. The board agreed to inaugurate a new election pro¬ cedure under which members in districts will nominate directors by districts, with the full board in turn to elect officers. Phil Isley was named chairman of interim activities, and will preside at the fall convention. Rubin Frels was named finance chairman, and C. D. Leon entertainment chairman. Denver Two stock companies will offer compe¬ tition for films in Denver this year, instead of the usual one. With Elitch summer theatre running for the usual 10 weeks, the Artists Repertory Theatre will also put on a season of 10 weeks of four nights and a matinee each week in the Phipps auditorium. The latter company will jour¬ ney to Colorado Springs, Colo., for two nights in the city auditorium. Dick Conley, city manager, Fox Inter¬ mountain Theatres, La Junta, Colo., was named president, Junior chamber of com¬ merce. . . . John Woods bought the Zia, Springer, N. M., from Carl Garitson. . . . Thos. Knight, owner, Acme, Riverton, Wyo., was elected mayor. . . . Dave Davis, Atlas Theatres general manager, is vaca¬ tioning in California. . . . Marlin Butler sold the Mission and Drive-In, Hatch, N. M., to Bohanan brothers, who closed the drive-in. Jerry Pickman, New York Eagle Lion offices, and Milt Overman, regional pub¬ licity man, spent some time in the terri¬ tory arranging for publicity to accompany the world premiere of “Canon City” at Canon City, Colo. M. R. Austin, branch manager, declares he will easily break the record for the territory with at least 115 bookings for the first week following the premiere. All of the governors since the naming of Roy Best as warden of the state penitentiary will be present at the opening. Arlie Beery, Manley representative, went to Salt Lake City to attend the TriStates Theatres convention. . . . Louise Morris, secretary to Robert Hill, Colum¬ bia branch manager, resigned to devote NT-1 more time to housework. She is succeeded by Bonnie Walth, bookers’ secretary. Seen on film row were: Kenneth Powell, Wray, Colo.; John Steele, Limon, Colo.; J. A. Weiss, Mesilla Park, N. M.; Mitchell Kelloff, Aguilar, Colo.; Merval Goodrich, Lander, Wyo.; Mr. and Mrs. B. P. Dickson, Culbertson, Neb., and John Bohanan, Hatch, N. M. Des Moines The polio epidemic in extreme western Iowa continued with the theatre at Logan, la., barring all children under 18 years of age. Earlier, the theatre at Mondamin was closed, with 40 cases reported in the county. . . . Jim Kunath resigned as sales¬ man for Eagle Lion to enter another busi¬ ness. . . . Myron Blank, general manager, Central States Theatre Corporation, was on a fishing trip in Canada. . . . Harry Warren, formerly general manager. Cen¬ tral States, was a visitor. . . . Harold Lyons, salesman for 20th-Fox, is the father of a baby boy named Steven Allen. . . . Pioneer Theatres will name its new theatre at Storm Lakes, la., the Campus. Four resi¬ dents of Storm Lake all submitted the same name on the same date, and received six month passes for the house. Kansas City The members of the arrangements com¬ mittee for the KMTA convention on Oct. 5-6 were announced as follows: Frank Plumlee, George Baker, Bob Shelton, and Sam Abend, of this city, plus Elmer Bills. ‘Doc’ Cook is secretary; Fred Meyn, trea¬ surer, and co-chairmen are Glen Hail, Virgil Harbison, and Dale Danielson. Fred Souttar, manager, Fox Midwest’s district No. 4, St. Louis, succeeds Howard E. Jameyson as manager, district No. 3. John Mernardi succeeds Souttar in St. I ouis. Jameyson, who headed the Kansas City district for 18 years, retired. Los Angeles The Warner Club golf tournament will be held on July 11 at Rancho Don Lugo Golf and Country Club. A barbecue steak dinner is scheduled in addition to the links fete, which will include prizes for the ladies. On hand at Columbia's recent sales meeting in Chicago were, left to right, top to bottom: Ben Lourie, Windy City branch manager; Ben Marcus, midwest division manager; branch managers Joe Jacobs, Omaha; Hy Chapman, Minneapolis; Clark Baker, Des Moines; Tom Baldwin, Kansas City; L. Tillman, San Francisco, and Wayne Ball, Los Angeles; Jerry Safron, western division manager; L. Walton, Seattle; R. C. Hill, Denver; W. Seib, Salt Lake City; J. Beale, Portland, and C. A. Gibbs, Oklahoma City; Jack Underwood, southwestern division manager, and Herman Chrisman, Memphis branch manager. Forthcoming product was discussed. July 1, 1948 NATIONAL