The Exhibitor (Nov 1948-Feb 1949)

NT-2 THE EXHIBITOR Dan Dandrea, manager, Stanley, Bridgeton, N. J., recently built this impressive lobby display to bally UniversalInternational's jungle production, "Man-Eater of Kumaon". It featured effectively cut-outs and stuffed animals. Thieves broke open a safe one night last week at the S-W Sedgwick, and made off with an estimated $500 to $1,000. Police were notified by Lee Paisleys, manager, after the theft was discovered by cleaners. Police believe the thieves hid in the the¬ atre when it closed, and said they left by a rear exit. Delaware Wilmington The Junior Chamber of Commerce lunch¬ eon, addressed by Maurice N. Wolf, Boston representative, Metro, was attended by Henry L. Sholly, The Exhibitor corre¬ spondent; Reese Harrington, Reese, Har¬ rington; John Koczak, Earle, New Castle; Herman Handloff, State, Newark; Benja¬ min Shindler, Ace; Benjamin Seligman, Strand; A. Joseph DeFiore, Park; Lewis S. Black, S-W Theatres; Helen M. Bar¬ rett, The Journal-Every Evening; Roy C. Hurd, The Sunday Morning Star; Edgar J. Doob, manager, Loew’s Aldine; Robert E. Diem, assistant manager, Loew’s Aldine; Tom Wood Baldridge, MGM exploiteer, Washington, D. C., and John Prince, MGM, Washington. Judges for the Hallowe’en costume party held by Sylvan Shaivitz, manager. Crest, Woodcrest, and Mrs. Elsie Tompkins, as¬ sistant manager, were A. M. Easterbrook, superintendent, Richardson Park school; Mrs. James O. McDonald, wife of the pastor. Calvary .United Presbyterian Church, and Henry L. Sholly, The Exhibi¬ tor correspondent. Richard Edge, manager. Pike, Claymont, was on the sick list. . . . Pike held a children’s special matinee on Election Day and a Hallowe’en costume party for the kiddies. . . . Mrs. John Koczak, Earle, New Castle, was sick. . . . Frank Mack, manager, Ace, and wife held a Hallowe’en party at their home for the Ace staffers. . . . Helen Lesek, veteran Rialto aide, was breaking' in Ruth Dempsey. . . . James “Pop” Deery, projectionist, Rialto, was helping his daughter, Clara, former sec¬ retary to A. J. Belair, president, Rialto, Theatre Company, fix up her new home. . . . Helen Dean, National, spent a day in New York City. — H. L. S. Pennsylvania Allentown “Smiley” Burnette will appear in person here on Nov. 18. Dallas The Himmler has contracted for new projection and high intensity lamps through Vincent M. Tate theatre equip¬ PROGRESSIVE ELECTRIC CONSTRUCTION CO., Inc. 240 N. 13th STREET • PHILADELPHIA 7, PA. THEATRE INSTALLATIONS and MAINTENANCE PHILADELPHIA SIGN COMPANY SIGNS-MARQUEBS 305 BROWN STREET, PHILADELPHIA, PA. ment, Wilkes-Barre. Installation is sched¬ uled to be completed in the next three weeks. Elizabethtown Harry Chertcoff’s Moose was severely damaged by fire last week about 15 minutes after the conclusion of an eve¬ ning performance. Mitchell Garfinkle, Lancaster, general manager, estimated damage at $30,000. Two firemen were in¬ jured while fighting the fire. Most of the damage was done to the stage and fur¬ nishings and to the false ceiling, parts of which fell into the auditorium after tons of water had been poured into it by the firemen. An investigation was being made to determine the cause of the fire, several witnesses claiming to have heard an ex¬ plosion prior to its start. The theatre’s air-conditioning unit was also a total loss. Smoke also damaged an adjoining drug store. The house was built in 1928. Chertcoff announced that the house would be closed for several weeks for repairs. Harrisburg The popular Junior Town talent show for young amateurs was scheduled to be revived on Nov. 6, and continue every Saturday morning thereafter at the Rio, manager, Francis DeVerter. Part of the show is broadcast over WCMB. Ed Smith, who handled the program before the war, has assumed the duties of master of ceremonies. Plans called for entertain¬ ment by Sons of the Plains, cowboy sing¬ ers, and Carl Henke, pianist. Revival of Junior Town was publicized with 10 daily spot announcements over WCMB, a trailer, special valances, and lobby displays. Small -game hunters who took to the woods and fields included Ike Davis, main¬ tenance man, and Earl “Hop” Miller, Colonial. Davis was so anxious to get going that he prepared to hunt a week before the legal opening date. ... A picture of KlvY CII Y Wilmington, Del. (31) — Rialto, “Cry Of The City” (20th-Fox); Loew’s Aldine, “Red River” (UA) ; Warner, “The Velvet Touch” (RKO) ; Queen, “Montana Mike” (UA) ; Arcadia, “Johnny Belinda” (WB); Grand, “I Jane Doe” (Rep.), and reissue. Philadelphia (1) — Aldine, “Isn’t It Ro¬ mantic” (Para.) ; Boyd, “The Loves Of Carmen” (Col.) ; Capitol, “The Inside Story” (Rep.), “Lady At Midnight” (EL); Earle, Walk A Crooked Mile” (Col.) ; Fox, “Cry Of The City” (20th-Fox); Goldman, “Julia Misbehaves” (MGM) ; Karlton, “Sealed Verdict” (Para.) ; Mastbaum, “Johnny Belinda” (WB) ; Princess, “Nich¬ olas Nickleby” (U-I) ; Stanley, “A South¬ ern Yankee” (MGM) ; Stanton, “Night Has A Thousand Eyes” (Para.). Allentown (2) — Rialto “Rachel And The Stranger” (RKO) ; Colonial, “Rope” (WB); State, “Bring ’Em Back Alive” (RKO), “Design For Death” (RKO); Earle, reissues; Cinema, “The Dude Goes West” (AA), “Stage Struck” (Mono.); Midway, “So This Is New York” (UA) . Reading (6) — Embassy, “Apartment For Peggy” (20th-Fox) ; Loew’s, “Red River” (UA) ; Ritz, reissues; Strand, “A Foreign Affair” (Para.) ; Warner, “June Bride” (WB); Astor, “Kiss The Blood Off My Hands” (U-I). Betty Lou Steinmueller, “Miss Harrisburg of 1947” and former secretary to man¬ ager Gerry Wollaston, State, was repro¬ duced on the front page of The Evening News. . . . Manager Jack O’Rear, Colonial, promoted a contest with a downtown lunch counter in connection with “Night Has A Thousand Eyes.” He promised to give a theatre party to waitresses who sold the On hi$ recent visit to Philadelphia to publicize Universal-International's "Kiss The Blood Off My Hands", Burt Lancaster visited the local exchange employes. Later in the evening he appeared on a radio broadcast. November 10, 1948