The Exhibitor (1952)

EXHIBITOR NT-3 iiitorv'icw. Contest blanks, available at Kami’s, arc to be mailed to either the Apex or Ontario. Ed Linder, manager, Ontario, was pleased when David Britt, publisher. The Uptown Connecticut Avenue Shopper, ran a box in which he disagreed with a review of a film in a local daily, and recommended the picture. Elmer H. Brient and Sons has the contract for the engineering and develop¬ ing of the Aberdeen Drive-In, to be opened in the early spring. Harry Aikin, in association with the RCA Washington dealer, will have charge of construction. The new open air theatre will have the latest RCA projection and sound. The rest rooms will have Electric-Aire hand dryers, and the snack bar will be fully equipped by the Brient firm. The con¬ tract, is one contract, concerning plans, construction, and equipment, under the Brient Package Drive-In Plan. MGM’s documentary, “The Hoaxters,” was privately previewed by a group of officials. The Dore Schary production was shown to a group which included Senator Alexander Wiley, chairmanelect, Senate Foreign Relations com¬ mittee; Foreman Joseph P. Kelly and members of the federal grand jury; Roy M. Cohn, special assistant to the attorney-general; Robert Morris, chief counsel. Senate Internal Security com¬ mittee; Julius N. Cahn, executive assist¬ ant to Senator Wiley; State Supreme Court Justice Irving H. Saypol; Federal Judge Irving R. Kaufman; Albert E. Whittaker, special agent in charge of the U. S. Secret Service; representatives of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and assistant U. S. attorneys Albert Blinder, John M. Foley, and James B. Kilsheimer, Jr. Gerald Wagner and Jean Imhoff, Lopert Theatres, are enthusiastic about the business that “The Lady Vanishes” is doing at the Dupont. Two art exhibits are currently being featured at that theatre and the Playhouse. At the former are paintings of Ken Noland while the latter has portraits in fantasy of Pietro Lazzari. — Rick LaFalck Delaware Wilmington The Brandywine Drive-In, operated by Mel Ge’.ler and Sam Taustin, closed. . . . Jimmy Reed, former Rialto aide, just discharged from the army after ssrving in Austria and Germany, was in. . . . G. Park Weaver, projectionist, Ace, re¬ calls that Governor-elect J. Caleb Brggs was a membe>’ of the Young Timers Club when Ben Shind’er, manager, Ace, had the Capitol, Dover. Del. Boggs, now completing his third term in the House of Representatives, has been named public relations chairman for the Laurence Roberts Post No. 21, American Legion. Henry L. Sholly, Exhibitor correspondent, was also appointed to the public relations committee by the post’s commander, Ruth H. Bell. — Henry L. Sholly Maryland Baltimore Among those attending the Allied con¬ vention in Chicago are Robert L. Lee, Stanley Baker, and 1. K. Makover. Blanc Aids Philly Anti-Tax Fight Philadelphia — Victor H. Blanc, councilman-at-large, last week sponsored a bill to repeal the 10 per cent municipal amusement tax, which he called confisca¬ tory and responsible for dwindling attendance at all sport and entertain¬ ment events. To replace the amusement tax, Blanc said he would introduce a bill calling for a tax on open land used for the parking of motor vehicles. Such a tax would bring in a revenue of about $5,000, 000 annually, he estimated, at the rate of five cents for each square yard of space. He disclosed that receipts from the amusement tax have steadily declined from a high of $7,000,000 to an estimated $2,850,000 next year. He called the tax confiscatory in that it kept people from places of amusement, not only the movies, but theatres, sporting events, and many other affairs. City Council re¬ cently passed legislation exempting charitable, religious, and educational groups from payment of the tax. Councilman Blanc this week addressed a meeting of Philadelphia exhibitors at the Variety Club, to which representa¬ tives of all amusement enterprises affected by the tax were invited. The mass meeting was called by Morris Wax, president, Philadelphia Theatre Associa¬ tion, to formulate plans to aid in the passage of Blanc’s proposal. Blanc has worked for repeal of the tax, one of the highest city amusement levies in the nation, since he became a member of Council last January. A bandit held up the Harlem, and took $85 from Mrs. Agnes Johnson, aide. . . . Two guests at the weekly meeting of the Allied Motion Picture Theatre Owners of Maryland were Joe Rosen and John O’Leary, both from 2()th-Fox, Wash¬ ington. George Kalusky, projectionist. Garden, cut his hand. The wound, required eight stitches. . . . Robert W. Cramblitt, Wal Washington exhibitors and exchange office personnel recently furnished the background for Miss Jeanette Gonzales when she modeled one of the gowns from .MGM’s “Ivanhoe” to exploit the film on TV and the stage. Seen left to right, are: Edward R. Kushner, chief booker; Jack Dean, booker; John Broumous and Curtis Hildebrand, Roth Circuit; Miss Gonzales; Jack Fruchtman, Leonardtown and Lexington Park, 3Id.; Joseph Kronman, MGM office manager, and Ernest Huyett, MGM Washington exploitation department. In connection with the premiere of “Because Of You” at the Randolph, Philadelphia, l"-I promotional represen¬ tatives, working with Ted V’anett, Gold¬ man Theatres, recently developed several promotional windows on the picture. brook and Crest projectionist, entered Mercy Hospital for surgery. . . . Isador M. Rappaport, Town and Little owner, had Van Heflin as his guest at the Pimlico races. Jack Sidney, Century manager, will be toastmaster at the Press Club’s banquet at the Emerson Hotel. . . . Miss Betty The Safisfacfion of ★ TROUBLE FREE OPERATION ★ BETTER PROJECTION ★ FEWER BREAKDOWNS ★ LESS CARBON CONSUMPTION PLUS BETTER LIGHT A LONGER LASTING EQUIPMENT ★ BIGGER PROFITS Yes — the security and satisfaction of all the above belongs to the exhibitor who has just the right selection of RCA equipment. Let us help you improve your projection, light and sound. Your patrons deserve the BEST. Give them the BEST from RCA and you need not fear any competition. d Write or Phone ELMER H. BRIENT & SONS 925 NEW JERSEY AVENUE, N. W. WASHINGTON, D. C. THE NEW TELEVISION installations AT THE STANLEY THEATRE. PHILADELPHIA STANLEY THEATRE. CAMDEN AND STANLEY THEATRE. CHESTER WERE CONTRACTS HANDLED BY PROGRESSIVE ELECTRIC CONSTRUCTION CO.. Inc 240 N, 13th Street Philadelphia 7, Pa Navember 19, 1952