The Exhibitor (1950)

EXHIBITOR NT-3 Falls, N. Y. . . . Rosemary Peck and James Spall were married on June 25. She is clerk at Warners. Exhibitors seen on Film Row were : E. E. Smith, Devon, Francisville, Ind.; Ben Fuller, Miami-Grand, Union City, Ind.; Guy Hancoak, Prewitt, Plainfield, Ind.; W. R. Norton, Key, Red Key, Ind.; Robert L. Hudson, Jr., Hudson Circuit, Richmond, Ind.; William Studebaker, Logan, Logansport, Ind.; Joe Million, 410 Drive-In, Veedersburg, Ind., and Mary Baker, Rex, Montezuma, Ind. Pittsburgh Sid Jacobs, Warner Theatres’ district manager for West Virginia, returned from a prolonged vacation in Florida fit as a fiddle, and ready for work. He took his vacation at this time because of ill health. . . . The father of Charles Kosco, 20th-Century Fox branch mana¬ ger, Buffalo, and former salesman in the Pittsburgh zone, and of Joe Kosco, exhibitor in Brockaway, Pa., passed away in Buffalo. He had just returned from a pilgrimage to Rome. . . . John Wilhelm, booker, 20th-Century Fox, spent the weekend in Buffalo, where he started for that company as poster clerk and then as student booker. . . . Paramount screened “Sunset Boule¬ vard” at the Shadyside to an invited audience. Gloria Swanson made a per¬ sonal appearance and was in town doing special exploitation work. She appeared on numerous radio stations, and was filmed for television. . . . Dave Kimmelman, Paramount branch manager, and his gang, returned from Hollywood full of enthusiasm. Two cowboy personalities, both asso¬ ciated with television, were making per¬ sonal appearances with circuses. “Hopalong Cassidy,” Bill Boyd, was heading the Cole Brothers Circus. “The Lone Ranger” was to appear with the Police Circus. Both circuses were held at the ball park, Forbes Field, which seats 35,000. . . . Harry Kalmine, general manager of all Warner Theatres, was in conferring with Moe Silver and his staff. . . . Charlie Baron, former MGM exploiteer here and recently Eagle Lion exploitation representative, was a cas¬ ualty in the recent Eagle Lion Film Classics merger. Others eliminated in the merging of the two exchanges in¬ cluded salesman Donald Chaban, George Curtz, booker, and two office workers of the Film Classics exchange. . . . Mary Ellen Smith, RKO, resigned to journey to Hollywood to marry James Robertson, former Pittsburgher. . . . Paul Prugar, assistant manager, Kenyon, was wedded to Barbara MacCalmory. Ruth Knee is Perry Nathan’s new secretary at National Screen Service. . . . Monogram sold two drive-ins firstrun on “Blue Grass of Kentucky,” the Maple and Twin Hi-Way. . . . Frank Russo has taken the operation of the Rialto, Evans City, Pa. It was formerly run by A. Rothenstein, who built a new theatre. Lou Hanna will handle the buying and booking. . . . The Folly, Erie, Pa., closed until fall. The Gem, Erie, is operating part-time. The Lake¬ side Drive-In, a few miles east of Erie After having completed a six-week pro¬ duction schedule in Italy, stars and crew of “Teresa” returned last fortnight to begin the New York sequences of the story, and seen from left are: John Ericson, Pier Angeli, Stewart Stern, the author, and director Fred Zinneman. on route 5, opens on June 30. Cooper¬ ative Booking Service will buy and book for it. The Whiteside Drive-In near Warren, Pa., is practically isolated by road re¬ pairs on Route 6. A 15-mile detour has blocked off the road between Youngsville, Pa., and Warren. The theatre is accessible via a back road along the river. . . . Allied Theatre Owners of Western Pennsylvania is booking the Chesterfield reel, “Partner Perkins,” with the theatres allowing the organi¬ zation to keep the revenue paid by Chesterfield. National Screen Service is handling the physical distribution. Dick McCool, former Manos and Du Bois, Pa., manager is opening his own drive-in near Hanover, Pa. It will be an RCA package deal, with an estimated cost of $75,000. . . . The John Bellos have a son, Thomas John Bello. Father is manager for Blatt at Albion, Pa. Grandfather is manager at Nanty Glo, Pa. . . . Bill Basle, Washington, Pa., in¬ stalled air-conditioning at his theatre. The John A. Reillys observed their golden wedding anniversary recently. Reilly is a veteran in the industry, hav¬ ing started in 1909 with the old Row¬ land Film Exchange. . . . Godfrey Maurice N. Wolf, field assistant to H. M. Richey, Loew’s, recently accepted* on behalf of MGM, a plaque awarded to the company for “The Stratton Story” by the National Federation of Women’s Clubs, and presented by Mrs. Joseph R. Chesser at the Federation’s convention last week at the Statler Hotel, Boston. Lefton, now in the furniture business in Indianapolis, was a visitor on Film Row. He was a film salesman here for years. . . . Saul Perilman, Warner sales¬ man, had his car struck by lightning while it was parked in a lot near the Paramount exchange. A rear window was completely wrecked. Lou Perette, Mahoningstown, Pa., ex¬ hibitor, spent some time fishing in Wisconsin. Visitors on Film Row included: Bart Datolla, New Kensington, Pa.; Bill Basle, Washington, Pa.; Eddie Fon¬ taine, SRO district manager; Bill Michaelson, publicity man for Gloria Swanson; Tom Schraeder, Beaver Falls, Pa.; J. Marlin Way, DuBois, Pa.; Char¬ les Mervis, Roosevelt, Pa.; Rudy Navari, Eastwood, Pa.; Bill Serrao, New Ken¬ sington, Pa. ; Gilbert Gellman, Swissvale, Pa.; Fuzzy Lund, Carmichaels, Pa, and Mike Winograd, Rochester, Pa. Warner Theatres executive Lou J. Kaufman was in for a visit. Indiana Kendalville An expansion and remodeling project to increase the seating capacity of the Strand from 730 to 973 seats was an¬ nounced by Cleon Point, manager. In¬ cluded will be modernization of Main Street frontage as well as complete re¬ modeling and redecoration of the in¬ terior. The work, authorized by Robert L. Hudson, Hudson Circuit, Richmond, Ind., for more than 20 years operator of the theatre, will be in charge of A. M. Strauss. Remodeling work is expected to start in about six weeks. The theatre will be closed only a short time while the work is under way. Monticello Services were held for Mark Alexan¬ der, manager, Lakes, for the last 20 years. He died in a Lafayette, Ind., hospital, where he had undergone sur¬ gery three weeks ago. He came to Monticello from Rockville, Ind. Kentucky Louisville R. E. Pulliam, National Carbon Com¬ pany, left for a vacation in San Fran¬ cisco. . . . Mrs. Gratia Locke, coowner, Savoy Amusement Company, has been confined to St. Joseph’s Infirmary. . . . M. G. Thomas, district manager, Altec, with offices in Cincinnati, was in town. . . . Complete Motiograph projection and sound equipment for American Drive-In Theatres’ new 1800-car Twin Drive-In has been furnished and in¬ stalled by Falls City Theatre Equip¬ ment. Veteran exhibitors seen on the Row included : Andy Anderson, Hartford, Ky. ; Ralph McClanahan, Estill and Ir¬ vine, Irvine, Ky. ; Lewis Baker, Star, West Point, Ky. ; Mrs. Clyde Marshall, Columbian, Columbia, Ky.; R. L. Gaines, Riverview Drive-In, Carrollton, Ky. ; Edwin St. Clair, St. Clair, Lebanon Junction, Ky. ; Fred May, Royal, Car June 28, 1950