The Exhibitor (1953)

NT2 EXHIBITOR Des Moines Governor William Beardsley pro¬ claimed the week of Jan. 11 as “Glenn Miller Week” in Iowa and Mayor Donald Drake, Clarinda, la., proclaimed Jan. 13 as “Glenn Miller Day” in con¬ nection with the invitational showing of U-I’s, “The Glenn Miller Story” and the dedication of the Glenn Miller Armory. Clarinda, birthplace of the late Glenn Miller, arranged a series of civic events for “Glenn Miller Day.” James Stewart, co-star, will come to Clarinda for the events. A new method for theatre “Bank Night,” which has the approval of the Iowa, Attorney General as being legal, has been worked out and ready to be tried by Iowa theatre operators. It is felt that perhaps the new Iowa “Bank Night” plan might meet legal requirements in some of the other states. One new feature is that participation cards must be used and provided to all patrons desiring to take part in the drawing regardless if they have paid an admission or not. In other words, there must not be any charge of any kind for participation in “Bank Night.” The second step is that the drawing must be made either at a time when the theatre is open to every¬ one, or when the theatre is not in opera¬ tion. Unless it is at a free show, the drawing must be at a designated time other than regular theatre business hours. A1 Myrick, president. Allied for Iowa and Nebraska, has sent out letters to Iowa businessmen and newspaper editors regarding the future of theatre business in small towns. Myrick stressed that no progressive town can afford to be with¬ out a theatre and pointed out towns where the businessmen are underwriting the motion picture houses. The letter urges the businessmen and editors to work together with the exhibitor. The city of Osceola, la., was without a theatre, with Bob Hutte closing both his Osceola and Lyric because of reduced business and high taxes. It was reported in Catholic circles that Archbishop Joseph E. Ritter, as head of the St. Louis Archdiocese of the Roman Catholic Church, had sent a special letter to the pastors of all churches in the archdiocese informing them that “The French Line,” Fox, does not have the industry’s code seal and that the scenes and songs, including the scant attire of the females, is in violation of the Legion of Decency’s standards of morality. It was stated that the letter instructed the pastors and their assist¬ ants to remind all of the members of the Catholic Church who recently re¬ newed their Legion of Decency pledge, they must remember this solemn obliga¬ tion voluntarily assumed with respect to attendance at any theatre showing “The French Line.” Kansas City Hall Bartlett came in in the interest of “Crazylegs” while it was showing in his home town. The young producer had an extensive schedule of press, radio, and TV interviews. In cooperation with Re¬ public, a letter was sent to members of Wisconsin, Michigan, and Nebraska alumni. Managers of the Tower, Uptown, Fairway, and Granada issued special invitations to see the picture to 20 high school football coaches and teams. Bart¬ lett also conferred with Robert F. Withers, branch manager. Republic. Felix D. Snow, 66, third vice-president, lATSE, died at Providence Hospital following a heart attack. He had been business agent. Stage Employes Local 31, Kansas City, since 1925 and a mem¬ ber of the lATSE general executive board since 1940. Funeral services were held at the Freeman Chapel, with President Richard F. Walsh and other lA officers serving as honorary pallbearers. Although a severe snowstorm last fort¬ night cut theatre attendance by 85 per cent, Loew’s Midland held a preview of MGM’s “Knights of the Round Table.” Edward D. Durwood won an eight-year legal battle arising from the disputed ownership of a theatre circuit in Mis¬ souri and Kansas. The report of referee, Paul Barnett, appointed by the Circuit Court, ruled that Durwood, formerly known as Ed Dubinsky, was the intended victim of a “conspiracy to defraud” and decreed that he was entitled to take over at cost substantial theatre proper¬ ties acquired by his brothers, Irwin and H. W. Dubinsky, while employed by Durwood from 1946 to 1949. It was charged that the two brothers, with other partners, acquired the Starview, Lincoln, Neb.; River Lane, Rockford, Ill.; and Altwood, Wood River, Ill., while em¬ ployed by Durwood, and managed them from St. Joseph, Mo. Barnett’s report ruled that the Dubinskys violated their employment contract by failing to give exclusive time to the business while con¬ tinuing to receive compensation from the plaintiff. If Durwood decides to take the theatres, he will be entitled to rentals from 1949 to the date of purchase, or approximately $384,000 should he buy before the end of 1954. Durwood was also awarded approximately $121,000 from violations of the contracts by his brothers. Los Angeles Joe Messick, California State repre¬ sentative, Treasury Department, pre¬ sented citations to Charles Skouras, head Fox West Coast, and Fred Stein, manag¬ ing director. United Artists Theatres, for “outstanding service to the govern¬ ment in presenting the case of United States Defense Bonds.” Milwaukee All the first-runs in Milwaukee and also the deluxe theatres have changed to one man in the booth instead of two. . . . The Jackson, closed temporarily, was reopened on Christmas Day. Seen were Don Deacon, Dells, Wiscon¬ sin, Dells, Wis. ; Walter A. Baier, Foit, Fort Atkinson, Wis.; William Roob; Ozaukee, Port Washington, Wis.; and Paul Nowatske, Vista, Mukwonago, Wis. Minneapolis Irene Efshen, NSS, vacationed. . . . Bob Weiner, Columbia exploiteer, was in for “Miss Sadie Thompson.” . . . Mannie Gottlieb, U-I district manager, was in. . . . Chet LeVoir, former salesman. Re¬ public, is handling the South Dakota territory for U-I while Fred Bunkelman has been transferred to northern Min¬ nesota and Wisconsin. Helen Feigel is the new clerk and Lois Rosendahl is the new receptionist, 20thFox, replacing Elrene Kunde and Joan Henningsgaard. . . . Leo Murray, 50, former manager, Lyceum, semi-legit house, died. . . . Axel Borreson, former operator, Comfrey, Comfrey, Minn., purchased a clothing store there. Recent out-of-town exhibitors in were Roy K. Rasmussen, Perham, Minn., and F. Lesmeister, Blair, Wis. . . . Ed Vincent, Nicollet, DePere, Wis., shuttered the house and offered the building for sales for conversion to commercial use. . . . Half a century of union activity will be observed by members of Local 113, on Jan. 11. The festivities will include a dinner and dance, according to William Donnelly, business agent. Oklahoma City Mrs. Blanch Camp, assistant cashier. Paramount, spent the holiday with f riends in Waco, Tex. . . . Tom McKean, sales¬ man, Paramount, and his wife were va¬ cationing in Florida. . . . Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Armstrong spent the holiday in Healdton, Okla., with his family. Mrs. Armstrong is biller at Paramount. Mrs. J. W. Fowler closed the Rodeo, Roosevelt, Okla., temporarily. In town were Garland Wilson, Shattuck, Shattuck, Okla. ; C. L. Lance, El Ranpho, Ringling, Okla.; Creal Black, Washita, Cordell, Okla.; H. S. McMurry, Evelyn-Star, Dumas, Tex.; L. F. Hawes, Forgan, Forgan, Okla.; Mr. and Mrs. Earl Rains, Rialto, Fort Cobb, Okla.; Volney Hamm, Mount Scott Drive-In, Lawton, Okla.; Bill Cleverdon, Olustee, Okla.; Jack Hankins, Hankins Drive-In, Lawton, Okla.; J. S. Worley, Liberty, Shamrock, Tex.; J. Rudolph Smith, Royal, Mount View, Okla.; J. Y. Green¬ wood, Greenwood, Boswell, Okla.; R. M. Downing, Crown, Collinsville, Okla.; Glenn Gilmore, Jr., Nusho, Bixby, Okla.; Mrs. Bess M. Wilkie, State, Harrah, Okla.; and V. A. Wilkinson, Joy-Ritz, Comanche, Okla. Omaha Percy E. Doe, 74, who retired six years ago as an exhibitor at Arcadia, Neb., died. . . . Commonwealth started construc¬ tion of a drive-in at Belleville, Kans. Another is underway by Mr. and Mrs. Sam W. Blair, who own the regular thea¬ tre operated by Commonwealth. William Miskell, Tri-States district manager, reported that the annual Christmas shows sponsored by John A. Gentleman Mortuary for children drew a big turnout of small fry to the Omaha and Orpheum, Ernest Van Wey, Gothen¬ burg, Neb., had charge of the Masons’ January 6, 19 5