The Exhibitor (1953)

A ROBBER who accosted a cashier in a west coast theatre must have been surprised when the aide grabbed his gun, knocked him down, and had a headlock on him by the time police arrived. ★ NOTV THAT a production company has okehed drilling for oil on its property, it probably won’t be long before an ex¬ hibitor will go into one of its exchanges, hand the booker the date book, and say, “Fill ’er up.” A THEFT of speakers from an eastern drive-in was solved when police looking for some culprits who stole some watermelons found the speakers instead. ★ WHEN THE screen tower of a midwestern drive-in caught fire, the auto viewers stayed in their cars, and watched the fire fighters at work. ★ THEN THERE is the story of the elderly lady who complained to the manager dur¬ ing the engagement of a 3-D film that she couldn’t enjoy the picture because it was out of focus and blurred. When asked if she had used the glasses offered her at the door when she entered, she declared that she thought what was being offered her was a free sample of candy. H. M. M. INDEX Vol. 50, No. 12 July 22, 1953 Section One Editorial . 5 Feature Article — “The Women Of The Picture Industry Are Pro¬ gressing” . 6, 7 New York News Letter 8 The International Scene 14 People . 16 This Was The Week When . 16 The Score Board 18 In The Newsreels . 19 The Tip-off On Business 20 Physical Theatre PT-1 — PT-18 Section Two The Servisection . SS-1 — SS-8 THE COVER PHOTO Seen at the anniversary luncheon of the Women of the Motion Picture Industry, Dallas, are, left to right, Dorothy Lamour; Verlin Osborne, club president, and Colonel H. A. Cole, who had the original idea for the club a year ago. Vol. 50, No. 12 July 22, 1953 Wise Words The plight of the small exhibitor in this period of tech¬ nical change, which has heen the reason for attention in these columns before and which has resulted in commendation for Exhibitor from important theatremen’s organizations, was again brought forcibly into the spotlight at a dinner tendered several distribution executives by the Motion Picture Associates of Phila¬ delphia on the occasion of their promotions within their com¬ panies. The name of Robert Lynch is well-known to most segments of the industry because for more than four decades he has heen a respected member of the distribution fraternity, and while it isn’t often that he hi'eaks into the trade news columns, what he does have to say generally is of importance. The MGM division manager in Philadelphia spoke of several things, but what was most significant was this comment: “The records indicate that well over 5000 theatres have closed to date. All of us distributors should keep in mind that a closed theatre has no value whatsoever to us as distributors. Speaking for my¬ self as a distributor, I am doing everything possible and will continue to do so in trying to keep theatres open and in business.” The Lynch sentiments undoubtedly echo company policy. It is interesting to note also that in the recent INTERNATIONAL LAUREL AWARDS of EXHIBITOR, MGM for the fifth con¬ secutive year was voted the fairest company in the business. Cer¬ tainly, one of the reasons for this is that it realizes as does Lynch that a dark house is a lost account, and from a lost account comes no revenue. It would be well if every distributor felt the same way. Currently, trade headlines are being punctuated by reports from some exhibitors that their business is ahead of last year. These are the exceptions. Unless distributors are more realistic and unless the federal admissions tax is dropped, there will he more waves of theatre closings throughout the land. A JAY EMANUEL PUBLICATION. Founded in 1918. Published weekly by Jay Emanuel Publica¬ tions, Incorporated. Publishing offices 246-248 North Clarion Street, Philadelphia 7, Pennsylvania. New York office: 1600 Broadway, New York 19. West Coast Representative: Paul Manning, 9628 Cresta Drive, Los Angeles 35, California. Jay Emanuel, publisher; Paul J. Greenhalgh, general manager; Herbert M. Miller, editor; A. J. Martin, advertising manager; Max Cades, business manager; Marguerite Gibson, circulation manager; George Nonamaker and Mel Konecoff, associate editors. Subscription rates: Each of six sectional editions (New England, New York State, Philadelphia— Washington, Southern, Mideast, Midwest— Western): one year, $2; two years, S3. 50; three years, S5. International edition: one year, $2.00 in United States and pos¬ sessions, S3. 00 in Canada and Pan-American countries, 55.00 in all other countries. General edition: one year, $7.50 in United States and possessions, $10 in Canada and Pan-American countries. $15 in all other countries. Address all correspondence to the Philadelphia office