The Exhibitor (1952)

NT-4 EXHIBITOR Peter Dana, U-I eastern sales man¬ ager, was in visiting. Dana and district manager Peter Rosian left for a meeting in Chicago. . . . Beaver Valley, Pa., theatre men are at odds at the tactics of Jesse Lund, manager, Alliquippa Thea¬ tres, in trying to close drive-ins in the district on Sunday. In the last election, voters okehed Sunday movies at the Tusca Drive-In. Lund insists that all other drive-ins should be closed until voters definitely approve Sunday show¬ ings. The district attorney has refused to act on Lund’s complaint until specific complaints are registered indicating that Sunday shows ai’e strongly opposed by the people in each community affected. The new Brighton, New Brighton, Pa., is admitting one child under 12 free when accompanied by a paid admission on Wednesday evenings. . . . RKO ex¬ ploitation Terry Turner and assistant Don Prince were in to arrange for the exploitation of a saturation showing of “King Kong” in June. . . . John H. Harris, head, Harris Amusements, and Mrs. Harris, “Ice-Capades” star Donna Atwood, are expecting another heir in September. They have twins now. . . . A large group of prominent citizens attended the opening of the new Play¬ house. . . . Bill Rhodes, former Republic salesman, joined KQV in the same capacity. Major-General Frank S. Ross, retired, was in town in connection with “Red Ball Express.” F. Elmer Hasley closed the Main, East Pittsburgh, Pa., after it had been open for weekend showing only. . . . Ave Rothenstein, who operates theatres in Pittsburgh, Evans City, Pa., and Alli¬ quippa, Pa., moved his residence from Alliquippa to Pittsburgh. . . . George Kreamer, auditor, Warners, was in. Among film executives on Film Row were William Saal, Republic, and Maurice Grad, Columbia shorts sales manager. . . . The Clary Multiplier Company moved into the offices formerly occupied by Eagle Lion. Cook and Anderson plan to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their Rialto, Beaver Falls, Pa. Coincident with this celebration will be the 50th year of service of James Carson, who has been with the Rialto and its predecessors the same span of time. The Rialto first opened as the Lyceum, with the late Sam Hanauer as manager. Carson is a printer Jor the (J3eit — THEATRE OPERATING FORMS AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS there is only one experienced source YOU'LL SAVE MANY HOURS-PER-WEEK OP NEEDLESS LABOR BY INVESTIGATING THEM Aik for SAMPLE SHEETS! Sold ONLY to Subscribing Theatres by EXHIBITOR BOOK SHOP 24A-48 N. Clarion Street, Philadelphia 7, Pd. Aldo Ray, in Columbia’s “The Marrying Kind,” recently visited Cincinnati for the film’s opening at the Albee, and is seen with Phil Fox, Columbia branch man¬ ager; Jim Herb, Semebroth Circuit, Dayton, ()., and Don Keesling, Keesling Circuit, Bramwell, W. Va. in the daytime. Bob Higgens, current Rialto manager, plans a big celebration. Fred C. Bogart, an early manager of the Columbia, Warren, Pa., passed on. He was once in vaudeville under the name of Fred Elzor. . . . The man who robbed four downtown theatre aides was finally caught, and admitted the burglaries. ... A near panic in the Rhumba was caused when a gas explo¬ sion in some houses back of the theatre occurred. Ten patrons were hurt when more than 100 moviegoers rushed for the exits. . . . Wayne McPeak has been named manager, Manos, Tarentum, Pa. He had been with the Harris Circuit. Max Silverman has been named man¬ ager, Warner, downtown Pittsburgh, re¬ placing Larry Knee, who resigned to go into the furniture business. Silverman comes from Warners’ Squirrel Hill. George Vujnovic switches from the Boulevard to the Squirrel Hill. Alma Light leaves the Whitehall to replace Vujnovic, and William J. Jacoby be¬ comes manager, Whitehall, from a North Carolina circuit. The Gabe Rubins, Art Cinema and Nixon moved into the Carleton House, newest downtown apartment and resi¬ dential hotel. . . . Jack Blanchard, Loew’s Penn painter, was off for Florida. He has been in the same position at the theatre for 20 years. . . . Bernard Davis resigned as manager, Victor, McKees Aldo Ray, in Columbia’s “The Marrying Kind,” recently assisted in cutting a wedding cake in the lobby of the RKO Palace, Cleveland, when the film opened. port, Pa., and an assistant manager, John Petros, Jr., from Washington, Pa., was promoted to fill the vacancy. Indiana New Castle Kenneth Elmore has been transferred from the Starette, a downtown theatre, to the Sky Drome Drive-In for the sum¬ mer. The spot is featuring pony rides, and this has received considerable space in the local press. Pocket size programs are issued with two merchant ads on the back page, which pays half the cost. Elmore held a Mother’s Day petunia plant tieup which went over big despite cold, rainy weather. Kentucky Louisville In Hazard, Ky., fire swept the Family, causing damage estimated at $20,000. Some 200 persons in the theatre, which had a seating capacity of 450, escaped injury. The theatre was owned by the Virginia Amusement Company. Mrs. Anna M. Steuerle, 73, widow of a pioneer theatre executive, died at St. Joseph Infirmary. Her husband was Joseph L. Steuerle, who opened the Broadway, Ideal, Oak, and other thea¬ tres. According to the Kentucky Revenue, compiled by the Department of Finance and the Department of Revenue, tax revenue on amusement for March, 1952, was $127,474.91, compared to $139,188.34 for March, 1951, indicating decrease of $11,713.43 for March, 1952, over March, 1951. Tax revenue for July through March, 1951-52, was $1,218,806.77, com¬ pared to $1,163,985.97 for July through March, 1950-51, an increase of $54,820.80 for 1951-52 over the same period in 1950-1951. Tim Holt was accorded a commission as a Kentucky colonel. The commission, issued by Governor Lawrence W. Wetherby, was presented to Holt at a dinner given for him by Capitol, Frank¬ fort, Ky., manager Gene Lutes. A meeting of the convention com¬ mittee of the Kentucky Association of Theatre Owners was held at the Falls City Theatre Equipment to further plans for the coming KATO convention. John Nolan, Parkway Drive-In, opened his Fairyland in connection with his drive-in. . . . Frances Wessell, Carroll¬ ton, Ky., stopped over for a visit. Michigan Grand Rapids Walter J. Norris, named advertisingpublicity head, Butterfield Theatres, with headquarters in Detroit, was tendered a cocktail party and testimonial dinner by the Variety Club at the Morton House. He was presented with a wrist watch, while his wife received a traveling case. He originally came to Grand Rapids in 1924 as manager, Empress, now Keith’s. May 21, 1952