The Exhibitor (1952)

NT-4 EXHIBITOR got $157.14 for a two-day appearance in person at the Astor on April 9 and 10, 1938. Now they get $10,000, some¬ times more, for two days. “We were better off when we made $157.14 in two days,” lamented Costello. Manager Larry Levy, Loew’s, is staging a contest with the Maier’s Bakery for selection of “Miss Sunbeam,” a child between four and 10 years of age, for the title, matching the name of Maier’s Sunbeam Bread. The selec¬ tion will take place on Loew’s stage on May 24. The prizes include a round trip to Paris and return for the winner and both parents, and $1,000 extra for expenses. Many other prizes are ottered. Several hundred boys and girls wrote four-line jingles for Mother’s Day be¬ cause Larry Levy, manager, Loew’s, offered prizes for the poems. Paul E. Glase, manager, Embassy, had a couple of balloon salesmen, in circus clown outfits on the sidewalk in front of the Embassy for “The Greatest Show On Earth.” Miss Margaret Stallman, daughter of manager J. Leser Stallman, Astor, played a leading role in the freshman play at Beaver College, Jenkintown, Pa. John Kenley, who used to promote stock shows at the Orpheum, will operate a stock company this summer in a York, Pa., theatre. A $55,000 fire destroyed the old Rex, southeast Reading. The building, out of service for many years, was operated for some years by the late Frank Gould. Robesonia A fashion show was staged in the Pioneer by the borough schools. Scranton The U. S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit refused to set aside the income tax conviction of a wealthy Scranton businessman on the basis that the jury was “prejudiced” after seeing a crime movie during the trial. In writ¬ ing the opinion for the court, Judge Austin L. Staley stated, however, “that Bernard Bispeck, manager, Senate, Harrisburg, Pa., is seen recently greet¬ ing Bud Abbott and Lou Costello at the station as they arrived to make some personal appearances in connection with WB’s “Jack and the Beanstalk.” TRADE SCREENINGS Philadelphia MGM — (1233 Summer) May 15, 11, “Glory Alley,” (Leslie Caron, Ralph Meeker, Gilbert Roland); 19, 11, “Scaramouche” (Stewart Granger, Janet Leigh, Eleanor Parker, Mel Ferrer) (Technicolor). RKO— (250 North 13th) May 27, 2:30, “The Wild Heart” (Jennifer Jones, Cyril Cusack, David Farrar) (Made in Eng¬ land) (Technicolor) (Selznick). Warners— (230 North 13th) May 21, 2:30, “The Winning Team” (Ronald Reagan, Doris Day, Frank Lovejoy); 28, 2:30, “Three For Bedroom C” (Gloria Swanson, James Warren, Janine Perreau) (NaturalColor). films about crime and the underworld are probably not the best entertainment for juries engaged in a criminal case of any kind.” During the trial in 1950, the jury had been alowed to see “The Damned Don’t Cry.” After reading the entire script of the film, Judge Staley said, “It is indeed a lurid tale. A few isolated sentences in the dialogue allude to mistakes in income tax returns and to lawful ways of reducing taxes.” But, he added, “We fail to find anything in the film that could fairly be said to incite ‘prejudice’ against the defendant.” Virginia Richmond Congratulations go to Sam Pulliam, Grand manager, whose wife presented him with a six pound, 12 ounce baby girl, Mary Louise. . . . Arthur Jeffries, UA exploiteer, was in working on “The River,” Loew’s. . . . Martha Dunivan, State, was out on account of poison ivy. . . . Walter Joyner, relief manager, Neighborhood Theatre, Inc., is still on the critical list following illness. . . . Howard Keel, MGM player, was grand marshal of the parade in Winchester for the Apple Blossom Festival. Horace Woodburn, assistant manager, Grand, was sick for several days, and Richard Kilgore came over from the Westover to help out. . . . Joe Usolini, Carillon manager, was also at the Colonial during the sickness of Charlie Hulbert, manager. . . . Frank O’Brien, Floyd Stawls, Bob Hatcher, and Robert Eagan attended the meeting of the Fabian Circuit in New York. . . . George Stitzer, assistant manager, Byrd, spent part of his vacation painting his house. . . . Charlie Hulbert, Colonial manager, is press agent for the Virginia Chrysan¬ themum Society as well as one of its most active members. Sam Northington, manager, Century, Petersburg, has a new assistant, Carl Vaughan. . . . Howard Rubin, Peters¬ burg city manager, Neighborhood Thea¬ tre, Inc., recently visited relatives in New Jersey. . . . Morton G. Thalhimer, president, Neighborhood Theatre, Inc., and Mrs. Thalhimer returned from a tour of Europe. When Paramount’s “The Greatest Show On Earth” opened at the redecorated, refurbished, and rechristened Shore, Atlantic City, recently, there was a gay time, and among those present were, top, William Hopkins, Harry Waxmann, Moe Koppelman, Mrs. Elizabeth V. Ziegler, Ben Stern, Ben Blumberg, Her¬ man Hirschorn, George Hamid, Carl Singer, and Max Chasen. In the bottom shot, part of the parade ballyhooing the film is shown. Carl Moore, son of Morton Moore, Byrd projectionist, is the new relief manager for Neighborhood Theatre, Inc. . . . Fred Schmidt, veteran theatre man died at 78. . . . Charles Taylor resigned as manager, Center, Hampton, and was succeeded by Claire Sheehan, former assistant manager, Paramount, New¬ port News. . . . Lou Golding, Fabian district manager, was a visitor. . . . Lloyd Sparks resigned as manager, Bucking¬ ham, Arlington, with Marguerite Liles shifted from the Glebe to succeed him. Floyd Davis, Ashton, was appointed manager, Glebe. The Richmond Film Society presented “That Hamilton Woman” at the John Marshall High School Auditorium. . . . Arthur B. Holmes, Colonial, vacationed in Florida, with Herbert Lane substitut¬ ing. . . . Vernon Thacker, State, was laid up with blood poisoning. Stuart Attkisson subbed. . . . Sam Bendheim, Jr., general manager, Neighborhood Theatre, Inc., is back home after several weeks in the Johnson Willis Hospital due to a slight heart ailment. _ g Variety Club Tent 13, Philadelphia The local contingent came back from the Las Vegas, Nev., convention enthused because Jack Beresin had been chosen Variety Clubs International Chief Barker. Beresin went on to the coast for a spell before returning here. All the local barkers were active in the pro¬ ceedings. May U, 1952