The Exhibitor (1952)

NT-2 EXHIBITOR The Shane Di'ive-In Andover, 0., re¬ cently acquired by Frank and Louis Slavik, is all dressed up with a new con¬ cession stand and playgrounds. . . . Sol Gordon, Monogram salesman, is the headquarters for Hawaiian orchids for Mother’s Day theatre giveaways. Among the state theatres who will distribute the flowers to the ladies are the Maple Di'ive-In, Zanesville, and the Family Drive-In, Steubenville. . . . Robert Bial, Luthi Sign Company, Red Cross Film building chairman, is making a tour of the building for Red Cross flood relief. A. B. Cass, manager, Columbia’s Toronto branch, spent a day here with Herbert and Jack Ochs, closing a deal for the six Ochs-operated drive-ins in Canada. . . . Jack Vogel, architect, Vogel Building Company, Wellsville, O., was in. The Maryland, a Modern Theatres circuit house, is trying out a new policy, presentation of a 35-minute travel series in conjunction with the regular feature program. First of the series, to be offered intermittently during the summer, was presented, and consisted of four subjects, “Romantic Riviera,” “Coast of Devon,” “Visiting Italy,” and “Glimpses of Algiers.” “Hy-Bid-N’-Take,” a merchant-theatre business builder promoted by Arthur I. Morrison and Associates, Old Arcade, was given a clean bill of health when Joseph H. Crowley, City Law Depart¬ ment, stated that in his opinion the scheme “does not constitute a lottery as defined by state law or city ordinance.” The promotion is an auction in which merchants pass out “stage” money in denominations related to the amount of purchase. This money is used in the theatre to bid for merchandise. Henry Greenberger, Community Cir¬ cuit, and Chief Barker, Variety Club, is home recovering from a minor operation. . . . Loew’s publicity director, Ted Barker, was in St. Vincent’s Charity Hospital for a check-up. Sam Fritz, back from 18 months in the navy on a repeat performance, is managing the Lorain-Fulton. He suc¬ ceeds Charles Marcus, now managing a theatre for Paul Gusdanovic. . . . Nat Wolf, Warner Theatres’ Ohio zone manager, is back from Texas. Detroit Mac Krim, Sol Krim, and Mr. and Mrs. Jack Zide were at the Variety Clubs International convention in Las Vegas, Nev. Earl J. Hudson, president, United Detroit Theatres Corporation, was re¬ elected president. United Cerebral Palsy Association. . . . Dave Idzal, managing director, Fox, had a new 30-foot Walker plastic molded screen installed by National Theatre Supply. . . . Charles Barnett, 58, Broadway-Capitol projec¬ tionists, died of a heart attack. His wife, a son, Nathan, and a daughter survive. John Wagner, manager, FordWyo¬ ming Drive-In, has disclosed plans for a new 650-car drive-in to be built near Sheybogan, Mich. Because of restric¬ tions, only facilities for 300 cars will be made available. Oscar Gorlick, manager, Carmen, suburban Dearborn, is resuming his law practice. His father, Phillip, owner, Carmen, will operate the theatre alone. . . . Michael Zide, Columbia booker, is enlisting in the navy. . . . Community Theatres closed the Grand, leaving the Lancaster on the same street open. . . . Dave Idzal, manager, Fox, is planning a Florida vacation. Indianapolis Patrons of Mannie Marcus’ Ritz are still commenting on the delightful Japanese atmosphere created for the showing of the Japanese-made RKO release, “Rashomon.” Against a backdrop of bamboo, cherry blossoms, and Japanese lanterns, all of the personnel were attired in gay, oriental costumes. An added note of interest was a Japanese war bride, Kaoru Esch, who arrived from Tokyo. In the authentic evening dress of her native country, she made a very pleasing hostess for the event. The usual coffee was served by one of the girls, who, though blonde and blue-eyed, made a pretty picture in her costume. Dave Cockrill, head, Greater Indiana¬ polis Amusement Company, came here from Denver to get matters straightened out after the M. D. Brazee resignation as general manager. Brazee is helping out until a replacement is named. Robert L. Hudson, Sr., Hudson Circuit, Richmond, Ind., leased his Indiana, 700-seat house, to the Richmond Civic Theatre to use a week for each of its seven annual productions. . . . Trueman Rembusch spent a week in Florida. . . . Tom Walsh has been appointed general manager, Greater Indianapolis Amusement Company. He was formerly with the Comerford Circuit in Eastern Pennsylvania. . . . John Micu, State, Fort Wayne, Ind., was in Detroit. Mrs. Robert Hand, Melody Drive-In, Bass Lake, Ind., is visiting her sister at Oak Ridge, Tenn. . . . Mort Pfeffers, representing the Sydney B. Weill Com¬ pany, New York City, was a business visitor at Realart. . . . Louise Munson, Columbia, will sail on the S. S. America for Ulm, Germany, where she will visit friends. Salesman K. L. Dotterer, 20th-Fox, is anticipating a trip to the west coast. . . . Secretary Mary Wehrling, 20th-Fox, spent the weekend at Lake Shafer. . . . Donna Snelling succeeds Katherine Rusie in the booking department at 20th-Fox. . . . The Hudson Circuit, Richmond, Ind., will open Kendalville, Ind., on May 9. National Theatre furnished all the equipment for the project. . . . F. X. Merkley opened a new drive-in in Columbia, Ky. Ed Resener, manager, Swan, Terre Haute, Ind., received an award from the Y and W Circuit for the greatest boxoffice increase over a comparative period last year, and Max Lofton, Y and W, was a winner for the greatest increase in concession receipts. Visitors included: Forrest Songer, Family Drive-In, Rockville, Ind.; Wil¬ liam T. Studebaker, Logan, Logansport, Ind.; A. Richey, Alhambra, Knightstown, Ind.; Arthur Clark, Vonderschmitt Circuit, Bloomington, Ind.; Kenneth Law, Cozy, Argos, Ind.; Joe Millions, Veedersburg, Ind.; Fletcher Brewer, State, Lafayette, Ind.; J. Sloan, State, Windfall, Ind.; A1 Borkenstein, Wells, Fort Wayne, Ind.; Mrs. Hilda Long, Hippodrome, Sheridan, Ind., and Harry Van Noy, Van Noy, Middletown, Ind. There was to be an entire week of demonstration of the “Movie Cone” soft ice cream machine at the National Theatre Supply showrooms for exhibi¬ tors in Indiana and Kentucky. The machine is the product of National Theatre Company, and the demonstra¬ tion was held by NTS’s Robert Haire and Bennett Larson, Rochester Dairies, Rochester, Minn. Pittsburgh George Carey, Loew’s Penn stage electrician, was coming along after an operation in the Mercy Hospital. The Association of Stock Exchange Firms held a preview of “What Makes Us Tick” in the Duquesne Club. Several prominent exhibitors were invited. Joe Murdock, former manager for theatres in Uniontown, Pa., resigned as manager, Astor, Syracuse, N. Y., when the Brandt Theatres took over the lease. The lifting of the TV freeze has brought predictions from men in the know that it will be a year and a half before any new station will be on the air in Pittsburgh. . . . Sympathy goes to manager Lyle Harding, Sheridan Square, in the loss of his father-in-law. National Canvassman John Walsh, delegates Norman Mervis and Sam Speranza, and Chief Barker William Finkel were off to the Variety Clubs International convention in Las Vegas, Nev. . . . Carl Betz, former WCAE radio announcer, has been signed by 20th-Fox to a seven-year contract, with the usual options. . . . Ike Sweeney, manager, Republic, screened “Hoodlum Empire” for the press. . . . Warner Theatres booked “The River” into its downtown Warner following a long-run engagement at advanced prices in the Art Cinema. Charles Kurtzman, Loew’s New England district manager and a former local theatre executive, is recuperating in a Boston hospital after an operation. May 7, 1952