The Exhibitor (1950)

EXHIBITOR NT-1 NEWS OF THE New York City Crosstown John J. O’Connor, chairman, motion pictures division, Special Gifts Commit¬ tee of the Laity, announced last week that it has raised $23,333 of its $35,000 quota for the 1950 appeal of New York Catholic Charities. O’Connor said the committee will continue to solicit special gifts until the quota is met. The Little Carnegie last fortnight ar¬ ranged for student rates for the show¬ ing of Columbia’s “Faust and the Devil” Mondays through Fridays. The discount represents a savings of 25 cents for the afternoon shows and 60 cents eve¬ nings. . . . Nick John Matsoukas, direc¬ tor, Skouras Theatres Community Serv¬ ice Department, last foi'tnight announced the scheduled appearance of Pat Meikle at the Grand and Calderone, Queens and Nassau County. Meikle, star of DuMont Television Network’s “The Magic Cottage” and station WABD’s “Your Television Baby Sitter,” made personal appearances. Bernard Jacon, vice-president in charge of sales, Lux planed out to Chi¬ cago and St. Louis last fortnight on the bilingual (English and Italian) film, “Without Pity.” . . . The Capitol’s exploitation campaign on MGM’s “The Big Hangover” last fortnight laid spe¬ cial emphasis on tieups with high schools, junior high schools, and public schools in Manhattan and the Bronx. The Capitol invited the valedictorians of the schools to be their guests on opening night. They were greeted by Harry Greenman , managing director, and girls were presented with corsages of gardenias and boys with carnations. Each brought a guest. A letter writing contest was also held in a tieup with Monarch-Saphin Company. A lamppcst made of wood and compoboard and painted illumination was set up in front of the theatre with poster read¬ ing: “Lean against this lamp-post if vou’re woozy from laughs after seeing ‘The Big Hangover.’ ” The Cameo and Avon, Newark, N. J., and Grant Lee, Palisades, N. J., are now booking and buying through the Harold S. Eskin Amusement Enterprises. The accounts were formerly handled by the Liggett-Florin Booking Service. . . . The Garden Autotorium, a drive-in located on Routes 6 and 10, Ledgewood, N. J., is expected to open soon. . . . The Essex and Astor, Newark, N. J., and the Peekskill, Peekskill, and Colonial, Pough¬ keepsie, are now booking and buyingthrough the Liggett-Florin Booking Service. . . . The Skyway Drive-In on Route 25, Greenport, L. I., is slated to open shortly. Operator is the North Shore Features, Inc., and the car capa¬ city is 400. Harry Brandt Reelected ITOA Head for 17th Term NEW YORK — At the annual election of ITOA officers held last fortnight in the Coral Room of the Hotel Astor, Harry Brandt was re¬ elected president of the organiza¬ tion for the 17th consecutive term. Others elected were David Weinstock. Max A. Cohen, William Namenson, and Julius Sanders, vice-presidents; Leon Rosenblatt, treasurer; J. J. Goldberg, secretary; and J. C. Bolte, Jr., sergeant-atarms. The Association voted to assign the laws and legislation committee the task of investigating various group health and accident insur¬ ance plans, and to report their findings later so that the ITOA may adopt the best plan. Elected to the ITOA board, in addition to the executive officers, were Maurice Brown, Sam Einhorn, Norman Elson, Sam Freedman, William Girden, Emanuel Hertzig, Ben Knobel, Murray LeBoss, Abe Leff, Albert Margulies, Edith Marshall, Irving Renner, Ray Rhonheimer, Jack Rochelle, Abe Shenk, Irving Steiner, and Ben Weinstock. Named associate direc¬ tors were I. Goldmark, I. Gottlieb, Maurice Parks, Ben Rossasy, MurJoseph Kasdin, Sam Koenig, Harry Kridel, Larry Ivurtis, Dave Mate, ray Schoen, and Bernard Zimetbau m. MPAA’s Advisory Unit for Foreign Films held its second free trade screen¬ ing for an imported motion picture last week. B. Bernard Kreisler is executive director of the unit. The film was “The Stranger of San Mareno,” produced in Italy. . . . John B. McCullough, MPAA’s director of conservation, represented the Association at the National Conference for Industrial Safety which President Truman called to Washington last week. Sal J. Scoppa, 60, veteran labor leader in the New York film production field, died of a heart attack last fortnight. He was one of the founders and for many years business agent, IATSE Local 52, Valedictorians of high schools, junior high schools, and public schools of Man¬ hattan and the Bronx recently were welcomed as guests of New York City’s Captitol by managing director Harry Greenan for a showing of MGM’s “The Big Hangover,” new Van Johnson star rer. Here is one of the many store window displays promoted recently by manager Lester Pollock, Loew’s Rochester, for MGM’s musical “Annie Get Your Gun.” New Yrork Studio Mechanics, which was established in 1924, prior to the forma¬ tion of the first west coast studio unions. Since 1949, Scoppa had been handling special assignments for the IATSE general office, in the fields of film pro¬ duction and television. Scoppa is survived by his wife, Josephine, and three sons, Salvatore J., Jr.; Peter R., and Justin R. Scoppa. At a luncheon meeting of the Variety Club members and International Vari¬ ety heads last fortnight, it was sug¬ gested that the local tent make the Variety Club’s Will Rogers Hospital its charity objective. This will be con¬ sidered by the tent’s crew and barkers at a meeting. . . . Morris Lev last week resigned as publicity director, Rialto, to become director of advertising and publicity for the World of Mirth Shows. . . . Sol Friedberg, U-I home office at¬ torney, became a father last week for the third time when his wife gave birth to a son at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Far Rockaway, L. I. . . . Gradwell L. Sears, UA president, last fortnight enteredtv hospital for a check-up and rest. Sam Pinanski, national chairman, industry participation, Independence Bond Drive, announced the appointment last week of Myron Siegel, Cinema Circuit executive, as chairman, New York special events committee. Siegel will work closely with the Treasury Depart¬ ment in planning theatre tours of the Liberty Bell replica and on other theatre activities of the bond drive in the New York area. . . . Producer I. G. Goldsmith and his wife, Vera Caspary, left for the west coast last week after delivering a print of “Three Husbands,” their first picture under the banner of Gloria Films, to United Artists. ... In connection with the 50th anniversary convention of the American Booksellers Association, the Saturday Review of Literature arranged with U-I to sponsor a private showing of “The Rocking Horse Winner” at the Park Avenue last week for delegates tf> the convention and leading book pub¬ lishers in New Y'ork. Boy Scouts in District 6 last week sponsored a theatre party at the RKO Strand, Far Rockaway, L. I., with pro¬ ceeds going toward purchasing equip¬ ment for boys attending the National Scout Jamboree from June 30-July 6 at Valley Forge National Park, Valley Forge, Pa. June H, 1950 NEW YORK