The Exhibitor (Nov 1948-Feb 1949)

Nr-4 THE EXHIBITOR Olyphant The rebuilt Granada, seating 1,600 on one floor, was opened last w'eekend with a gala celebration. Civic leaders, Comerfcrd Circuit heads, and members of the film colony were on hand to witness the premiere. Reading House employes staged a lot of parties among themselves, with dinners, gift giv¬ ing, and dancing, some starting near mid¬ night, and running into the wee hours of the morning. Richard Walsh, president. International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employes and Motion Picture Operators, will be honor guest of Local 661 at its banquet and 20th anniversary celebration on Jan. 8. A ban¬ quet will be served in the Mt. Penn Tower Hotel, with a number of visiting projec¬ tionists’ union officials as guests. Lewis G. Yost, projectionist. Rajah, has been elected chairman, United Labor Committee of Reading and Berks County. ^ cjoin the 'it-' MARCH nPnr INFAIfTit.K OF 1 DIMES I NATIONAL FOUNDATION FOR INFANTILE PARALYSIS' Want a "foolproof" system to control PETTY CASH? • Vouchers ore podded 100 lo o pod ond ore 3x5 inches. Each voucher slip is numbered as a Mfeguard against theft. A large envelope designed for the filing of voucher .dips each week, and the recording of each transaction for ready reference, in the future, is avo^iable. Sold only for the service of subscribing theatres. In ordering enclose the proper remittance in cash, ttamps, or check. All forms are sold under a 5day money-back guarantee. THE EXHIBITOR BOOK ^ SHOP Conihu trJ iit n S>’ri ire ij Cotirtct y lo Siil’frriheri hy JAY E M A N U E Ly PUBLICATIONS, INC. 1225 Vine Street • Philadelphia, Pa. He is vice-president, Reading Federated Trades Council, and active in the projec¬ tionists’ union. Larry Levy, manager, Loew’s, effected a tieuo with a store across the street from the theatre through which buyers of •■articles in many departments received a free photo of one of the five stars in “The Three Musketeers.” Anv person who col¬ lected, through five purchases, a complete set of the five stars’ pictures received a guest ticket to see the picture in the the¬ atre. The Green store placed the display advertising. Manager Levy put across an¬ other advertising promotion, a collie dog contest, sponsored bv the Berks Cotmty Dog Training Club. Prizes to winners in¬ cluded three engraved plates, seven blue ribbons and medallions, and guest tickets to Loew’s showing of “Hills Of Home.” Final judging of dogs entered in the corttest took place on Loew’s stage, with Dr. Thomas Snvder, Oley, this county, Ameri¬ can Kennel Club, as the licensed judge in charge. Photos of entries had to be submitted in advance. The dog training club and Loewi’s used large display adver¬ tisements to publicize the affair. All dogs entered were collies of the “Lassie” type. The Astor, J. Lester Stallman manager, placed a large decorated Christmas tree in its lobby, with other Yule adornments. Folks who said “Merrv Christmas’’ around here took their lives in their hands. Business was so flat on some of the rush pre-Christmas shopping days that the intake at candy and popcorn counters was bigger than at the boxoffice, but now managers are feeling better again, looking forward to good business in January. Manager Larry Levy, Loew’s gave away a beautiful collie puppy to a child winneir at a Santa Claus matinee on the stage. The animal was nreviouslv displayed in the window of Kaufmann’s big Penn Street furniture store. Labeled “Lassie, Jr..” the little canine was given away as publicity for “Hills Of Home.” The Rajah has gone back to its top re¬ cording band policy for Thursdays to Sat¬ urdays, inclusive. A cold wave is no time for furnace trouble, but that’s what manager Bernard B. Keeney, Rajah, had to face. Engineers completed repairs on the plant in the Rajah just in time for the New Year’s holiday shows, as well as for holiday social affairs in other parts of the Shr fil¬ ers’ big building. Richland The Neptune held a contest for ama¬ teurs under the auspices of a committee interested in forming youth clubs. Three cash prizes were awarded to the best contestants. The Trade Screening Guide Is A Regular Feature Oj Thi.s Publication. Tamaqua A new drive-in is under construction at Still Creek near here. Joe Petrole, Hazleton, is owner. It will have a 600-car capacity. Equipment wfill be complete Motiograph with the lighted post type junction box, and new Motiograph 115 ampere H.I. lamp. Opening is sched¬ uled for May 1. Entire equipment is being furnished by Vincent M. Tate, WilkesBarre, territorial Motiograph dealer. Wellsborc Both the Arcadia and the Bache Audi¬ torium were open during the Christmas ki:y city Wilmington, Del. (26) — Loew’s Aldine, “Hills Of Home” (MGM); Rialto, “Un¬ faithfully Yours” (20th-Fox); Warner, “Blood On The Moon” (RKO) ; Queen, “The Best Years Of Our Lives” (RKO) ; .Arcadia, “The Gallant Blade” (Col.) ; Grand. “Mark Of The Lash” (SG),“Sword Of The Avenger” (EL). Philadelphia (27) — Aldine, “Hamlet” (U-I); Boyd, “The Kissing Bandit” (MGM) ; Capitol, reissues; Earle, “Words .And Music” (MGM); Fox, “Unfaithfully Yours” (20th-Fox); Goldman, “The Three Musketeers” (MGM) ; Karlton, “Joan Of Arc” (RKO) ; Keith, “Mexican Hayride” (U-I); Mastbaum, “Adventures Of Don Juan” (WB) ; Princess, “Paisan” (MayerBurstyn) ; Stanley, “Hills Of Home” (MGM) ; Stanton. “Moonrise” (Rep.) ; Trans-Lux, “The Red Shoes” (EL) . Reading (1) — Ritz, “The Far Frontier” (Rep.), “Blondie’s Secret” (Col.); Warner, “Adventures Of Don Juan” (WB) ; Astor, “Every Girl Should Be Married” (RKO) ; Embassy, “The Paleface” (Paramount) ; Loew’s, “Words And Music” (MGM). holiday season in this Tioga County seat community. Larry Woodin, manager, is quite elated over the booklet, “Ballyhoo,” just issued by the Strong Electric Cor¬ poration. Contained in the booklet are two photographs of early Woodin-operated theatres, and one of his handbills of the early showing of movies of 1880 in New York. The Arcadia also held its 22nd annual free Christmas morning party for nearly 1,000 local children sponsored by the theatre and the local banks. In the past 22 years, the Arcadia has played host to over 25,000 children at Christmas morning shows. This was the 44th annual free Christmas show for children staged by the Woodin family in its theatres from the early days of the century, an annual event from the early days of the industry. Larry Woodin has again been granted the franchise for all “Miss America” contests in Pennsylvania for 1949, with the excep¬ tion of Philadelphia. Wernersville Without explaining its reason, Wemersville Post, Veterans of Foreign Wars, took display space in Reading newspapers to announce that it is discontinuing its weekly “Bingo” games. Variety Club Philadelphia, Tent T3 It is reported that among the honored guests at the dinner on Jan. 10 for retir¬ ing Chief Barker Michael Felt and incom¬ ing Chief Barker Edward Emanuel will be Vice-President-elect Alvin Barkley, U. S. Attorney General Tom Clark, U. S. Sen¬ ator Francis Myers. Rev. Daniel A. Poling, D.D., LL.D., chaplain. Chapel of the Four Chaplains, Grace Baptist Temple, presi¬ dent-editor, Christian Herald magazine, and president. International Society of Christian Endeavor, and other dignitaries. Entertainment will also be a feature, with top stars of radio, stage, and screen on hand. The New Year's Eve party was a huge success, with music furnished by Jack Lewis. January 5, 1949