The Exhibitor (1952)

EXHIBITOR NT-3 Harry Berney, of the comedy team of Slate and Berney, dropped in to see publicity director Jack Kahn at the Warner Theatres home office. They were in an army entertainment unit seven years ago, and this was their first reunion. Charles Rich, former Warner district manager and now an independent film distributor and theatre owner, was in. . . . Mort England, who has theatre games and premiums, has moved from his old offices. He is now in the Screen Guild building. The world premiere of Republic’s “I Dream of Jeanie” at the Fulton on June 4 will be the highlight of “Welcome Week.” The Chamber of Commerce will conduct an elaborate program of civic activities honoring stars Ray Middleton, Bill Shirley, Muriel Lawrence, and Eileen Christy. The Pittsburgh premiere is to be followed by similar openings at the Circle, Indianapolis, on June 5, and the Rialto, Louisville, Ky., on June 6 with the picture slated for a series of 40 premieres throughout the country. Campaign plans for the widespread pro¬ motion were outlined during discussions among the Chamber of Commerce, repre¬ sented by Robert J. McCully, general “Welcome Week” committee; John Walsh, advertising and publicity direc¬ tor, Fulton, and William Martin Saal, executive assistant to Yates. In coopera¬ tion with the United States Air Force, the stars will open the Greater Pittsburgh Airport on May 31. The governor has declared June 4 “Republic Day” in honor of Republic and “I Dream Of Jeanie.” The stars will also participate in a program which includes a steam¬ boat race, a festival of bands, fireworks displays, and the like. Prizes are to be awarded for the best “Showboat Days” costumes, with awards being made to the best-dressed man and woman and boy and girl. To handle the Pittsburgh premiere and the series of premieres to follow, Republic has instituted a show¬ manship committee consisting of Saal; Steve Edwards, Republic’s director of advertising and publicity; Mickey Gross, recently appointed studio publicity director; Beatrice Ross, exploitation manager, and Dennis Carlin, advertising manager. Jack Keegan, Greater Indianapolis Amusement Company, will handle the premiere at the Circle, while Charles Krebs, Fourth Avenue Amuse¬ ment Company, will handle the opening in Louisville, Ky. The City of McKeesport, Pa., had a collection of $44,344.30 in amusement taxes for the year ending on Jan. 7, . . . The Sunset Drive-In Theatre, Inc., was incorporated at Freeport, Pa., with owners listed as Nelson Bond, Althea Bond, and Nettie C. Williamson. It is expected to open next month. Mr. and Mrs. Dirwood Coe plan to make their home on the Waynesburg, Pa., Drive-In property. . . . Sammy Speranza, Variety Club delegate to the national convention in Las Vegas, Nev., took his two-week vacation at this time, and planned to visit Los Angeles, San Francisco, and other west coast spots. . . . Nat Levy and Sid Kramer, RKO home office executives, were in for con¬ ferences with branch manager Dave Silverman. Shirley Shuster resigned her position at National Screen Service and has gone to California. . . . Wenard Hough and his father, Opera House, Windber, Pa., are back from their annual fishing trek. Clare Hall, owner, Clarence, Clarence, Pa., is touring Europe, and was reported in Switzerland for Easter. His daughter, Vivien, is running the theatre while he is away. Art Silber and Bob Abel, operating as Abel and Silber, 625 Girard Avenue, Philadelphia 23, Pa., are now repre¬ senting Dari-Delite Corporation in the state. The company operates attractive, modern soft ice cream stores from coast to coast. Theatre men or drive-in opera" tors interested in adding to their revenues can get in touch for areas still open for development. Josef Leytes, producer-director of “Faithful City,” was in. Kentucky Louisville Joe McHugh has been added to the staff of Falls City Theatre Equipment, replacing Charlie Wells, Jr., who re¬ signed. He is a brother of Thomas P. McHugh, employed at the Falls City Theatre Equipment for approximately 11 years before resigning to accept a position with the Internal Revenue Department. Jane Robertson, wife of R. H. Robert¬ son, coowner, Majestic, Springfield, Ky., was scheduled to enter a hospital for surgery. Out-of-town exhibitors seen included: George Lindsay, Lindsay, Brownsville, Ky.; Louis Baker, Star, West Point, Ky.; R. L. Gatrost, Victory, Vine Grove, Ky. ; Bob Encoh, State and Grand, Elizabeth¬ town, Ky. ; J. E. Thompson, Sunset Drive-In, Bowling Green, Ky. ; E. L. Ornstein, Rialto, Marengo, Ind. ; H. L. McKinney, Moon-Lit Drive-In, Clarks¬ ville, Tenn., and Jim Atterbury, Town Hall, Winchester, Ky. John M. Arnold resigned as manager, Lou Arru’s Twin Drive-In, to accept a similar position at the Dixie Drive-In, Miami, Fla., for McCommas. He has been replaced at the Twin by Frank Boise. The Art, Knifly, Ky., owned by Luther Knifley, closed for an indefinite period, will probably be reopened in the not too distant future. Freddie Jefferies has been added to the personnel of Falls City Theatre Equipment. In town were; Oscar Hooper, Arista, Lebanon, Ky. ; Price Goomer, New Harlan, Harlan, Ky. ; Mrs. 0. J. Minnix, London, Ky. ; Donald Young, Gypsy Drive-In, Bardstown, Ky. ; James Totten, Lakeview Drive-In, Pendleton, Ky. ; A. H. Robertson, Majestic, Springfield, Ky. ; J. E. Elliott, Jr., Cardinal, Hodgenville, Ky., and R. L. Gaines, Riverview DriveIn, Carrollton, Ky. The Oak Theatre, controlled by Amusement Enterprises and managed by Bill Reiss, has been scheduled for a general remodeling. . . . Work is pro¬ gressing nicely on the remodeling of the Ideal, managed by Joe Reiss. Herman H. Gocke, lawyer and theatre executive, died. He was 82. Gocke was president and a director, Ideal Amuse¬ ment Company, owner, Ideal, Park, and Oak. He had been active until he be¬ came ill last August. A. W. Stanisch is the new resident manager, Shelby and Burley, Shelbyville, Ky. The Burley and Shelby are con¬ trolled by Chakeres Theatres, whose main offices are in Springfield, 0. Tom Goodman, owner-manager, Dream, Corydon, Ind., was a visitor, and advised that in addition to running his theatre he is a sales representative for Monogram. Judge Macauley L. Smith ruled that the allegations filed by Floyd D. Morrow, drive-in owner, to pre¬ vent Daylight Saving Time from going into effect did not constitute a cause of action. The decision sustained a demurrer by Frank W. Burke, assist¬ ant city attorney. Morrow’s counsel said he would ask the Court of Appeals to direct Jefferson Circuit Court to issue a temporary injunction banning “fast time.” Morrow sought the injunction since fast time is scheduled to continue under a city ordinance until June 19, when a new state law banning daylight time goes into effect. Michigan Ann Arbor Mayor William E. Brown, Jr., recom¬ mended a 10 per cent amusement tax on admissions of 25 cents or over. He suggested to City Council that the pro¬ posal be placed on the Aug. 5 primary ballot. At the April 7 election, voters defeated a proposal to place an amusement tax on all entertainment admissions. Ohio Bellefontaine Miami Valley Theatre Enterprises, Inc., and Radio Corporation of America are co-defendants in a fight for the control of Bellefontaine’s closed Belle. Dan Gutilla, owner of the real estate, filed an action last October seeking a writ of possession and cancellation of a 10-year lease on the alleged grounds of nonpayment of $500 a month rent. Judge Elmer L. Godwin, Common Pleas Court, has given both sides the right to file briefs, indicating that a final decision will be due in this month. George Levy, formerly of Bellefontaine, is president, Miami Valley Theatre Enterprises. RCA is holder of a chattel mortgage on the theatre’s sound equipment. May 7, 1952