The Exhibitor (1950)

EXHIBITOR NT-1 iM'WS OF Tills Philadelphia Crosstown One of the largest single orders ever placed by a public school system for sound motion picture projectors was awarded by the Commonwealth of Penn¬ sylvania to Raymond Rosen Engineering Products, Inc., RCA visual products distributor in Eastern Pennsylvania. The contract calls for immediate deliv¬ ery of 572 RCA Model 400 Senior 16mm. sound projectors, to be used in voca¬ tional education program of the State Department of Public Instruction. The Key, Cross Keys, Pa., outside of Doylestown Pa., will open next week with Melvin Fox handling the opera¬ tion. Fox also opened his Burlington Drive-In, Burlington, N. J., last week. It is understood that Fox and Sam Sha¬ piro have completed an arrangement whereby they will jointly operate the Mayfair and the new Merben, in the Mayfair section. A new house being constructed by Fox will not be completed as a theatre, according to trade gossip. The Pix closed for the summer. . . . Cutting of children’s matinee prices to nine cents by some houses in the terri¬ tory doesn’t seem to have resulted in any boxoffice hypo. . . . The South City DriveIn became a parking lot while The In¬ quirer Musical Festival was being held at Municipal Stadium, with the drive-in running a late midnight show. Business was only fair all around. Vine Street Among the visitors last week were Harry Knobloch, formerly a manager in the city but now in Ossining, N. Y., and Sam Stiefel, the coast producer, who spent much time at 13th and Vine Streets renewing acquaintances. . . . Gloria Swanson came to town last week, meeting exhibitors, attending the screen¬ ing of “Sunset Boulevard,’’ appearing at the exchange, selling U. S. Savings Bonds, and appearing on TV and the radio. She really went to work. . . . “Our Very Own,” RKO-Goldwyn, was screened last week at the Erlen, while U-I’s “Louisa” was screened this week at the Logan. “The Furies,” Paramount, was screened at the Green Hill this week. Robert Adleman, son of New Jersey Messenger Service’s Meyer Adleman, has gone into business for himself, and has formed Robert Adleman and Asso¬ ciates, an advertising writing service, with offices at 608 Commercial Trust building. Bill Brooker, Paramount exploiteer, sent out cards from the coast conven¬ tion. . . . Max Miller left his appendix at Jewish Hospital last week. It was purely personal, ELC having no film concerning appendicitis at this time. Allied Discusses Slump; Asks Family-Type Films PHILADELPHIA — A discussion of the current boxoffice slump high¬ lighted the Allied meeting last week, with about 45 present. Ben Fertel presided, with E. B. Gregory as secretary. A resolution passed raised strenu¬ ous objections to gangster, western, and murder films, with the recom¬ mendation for more family-type films. Allied Booking and Buying Service added the following houses: Ernie Schmidt’s Colonial Drive-In, Espy, Pa.; County View Drive-In, Lakewood, Pa.; Luther D. Holt, and Starlite Drive-In, Tunkhannock, Pa., Marvin and Markey Sands. Jack Jaslow is handling “Mars At¬ tacks the World” and “Rocketship,” the latter not to be confused with Lippert’s “Rocketship XM.” A former exhibitor desires a position as manager with circuit or independent. Alert, progressive, and in the business for 25 years, he offers plenty of show¬ manship ability, etc. Please address Box 45, Exhibitor. A projectionist ' with seven years ex¬ perience is available for an upstate or shore post. He is reliable, and wishes a permanent position, if possible. For in¬ formation, call Exhibitor. C. C. Loftus, well-known industryite, is making available to theatres a tieup where he gets merchants to supply bi¬ cycles, bats, balls, gloves, beach balls, roller skates, uniforms, cameras, etc., to the theatre, with attendant lobby dis¬ play, at but a small charge to the thea¬ tre, as a business builder. The merchants give free tickets with the purchases. He may be reached at 260 South 20th Street, LO 7-1774. ) Circuits Stanley-Warner Abe Zayon, manager, Ogontz, was married recently, and honeymooned in New York State. Larry Graver returned from his va¬ cation, and checked into the Mastbaum as manager. Roy Robbins moved from the Mastbaum to the Aldine, Maurice Conners moved from the Aldine to the Palace, and Barney Cohen from the Pal¬ ace to the Lane. A1 Shulski returned from his vacation, and was checked into the Harrowgate. William Ryder went into the Imperial 2nd Street, and Frank Wolf went into the Vernon to complete the circle. John Plunkett moved from the Orient to the Lindy, and William Bedell, assistant, Parker, became tem¬ porary manager, Orient. . . . John Sassenroth resigned from the company. Dick Kirsh, manager, Queen, Wilming¬ ton, Del., was replaced by Earl Smith, Warner assistant. Kirsh purchased the Pleasant Inn, Mt. Airy, and, after some renovations it will be a modern cocktail lounge. It will be open in the meantime. Rose Katz, publicity office, left the company after eight years. ... A lunch¬ eon was given for Jackie Lutz, contact office, prior to her wedding. She was presented with a wedding gift from the office staff. . . . Ben Kaufman was back in the publicity office working on “Peggy” for U-I. . . . Angelo D’Allesandro, the Warner office boy, finally found an apartment so now he and his Nancy will have a place to live after their August marriage. District of Columbia Washington A special screening of “711 Ocean Drive” was held last week at the De¬ partment of the Interior for members of Congress and interested executives of the various agencies charged with the suppression of crime. The screening was held in conjunction with the current in¬ vestigation by the Kefauver Committee Senatorial investigation of interstate gambling and racketeering. Sincere regrets go to brothers Sidney and Ben Lust in the loss of their sister, who resided in California. . . . Sidney and Celia Lust are spending weekends in their lovely home at Dares Beach, near lovely Prince Frederick, Md., and right on the beautiful blue Chesapeake Bay. Weekend guests recently were Charles and Anne Stofberg. . . . Down to Solomon’s Island for a bit of fishing were Loew’s Carter Barron, Jack Foxe, Orville Crouch, Cracker Barron, and Jack Blank. Around The Territory — Denver Aleshire and son, Luray, Va., motored to Richmond, Va., for a two-day business session. . . . William Dalke, Jr., and family, Woodstock, Va., chose the sea¬ shore for a week’s stay. . . . John Hern¬ don is mighty proud, and justly so, of the thorough renovation of the Visulite, Staunton, Va. The house is now tip-top. . . . Ellison Loth, Waynesboro, Va., mo¬ tored to Lexington, Ky., accompanied by his sons, one of whom will enter summer camp. . . . Lanny Payne, Pitts Circuit, is gradually recovering from illness. . . . Senator Ben Pitts is still nursing a wrenched back. ... Miss Frieda Pollard, Pitts Circuit, is driving a nifty “88.” . . . Dorothy Snellings recently joined the Pitts office. . . . Tommy Pitts is the en¬ thusiastic manager-coach, Junior Rotary team. . . . The 360 Drive-In, Danville, Va., is ticketed for a July 1 opening. . . . Jimmy Pritchett, Martin, Martinsville, Va., advises that his weekly “movie quiz” program is clicking. Bob Folliard, district manager, RKO, was confined to home with a mean case of poison ivy. A1 Folliard, salesman, RKO, did a nifty job with the paint brush about the family billet. ... Joe Brecheen, son of the RKO branch manager, is heading for summer camp in the Shenandoah Valley. . . . RKO’s George Sullivan will spend a week’s vacation on the local scene. June 28, 1950 PHILA.-WASH.