The Exhibitor (1953)

EXHIBITOR NT-3 toy repair program and countless exhibi¬ tors donated their theatres to civic club free movies for kiddies. The Manilla, la., theatre closed for an indefinite period, according to man¬ ager L. R. Howorth. . . . Mrs. Jack Renfro, 'who has been absent as assistant to her husband at the Theatre Booking Service for more than a month, visited. Jack Cook, Falls City, Neb., exhibitor, was responsible for bringing Christmas cheer to needy families in the community. He held a special program with the adrrdssion price an article of non-perishable food. . . . On the sick list were William Wink, Warner salesman, and Deloris McKinney, Republic contract clerk. Exchanges received their usual gifts from Mrs. Esther Green, owner, FEPCO. Regina Molseed, 20th-Fox office manager, held open house for her sister and brother-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. E. M. Kerrigan, on the couple’s 25th wedding anniversary. . . . Frank Harmon, Warner branch manager, spent Christmas with his sister in Dallas. Robert Hoff, Ballantyne general man¬ ager and Variety Club chief barker, was appointed chairman of the new board, Douglas County chapter, Nebraska So¬ ciety for Crippled Children. He was one of the founders of the Omaha Oppor¬ tunity Center and active in the Dr. Lord School. Cyril Schulte, new owner, Stat, Anthon, la., installed wide-screen as has Paul Tramp, Oxford, Neb., and Charles Gibson, Sutton, Neb. . . . Frank Hollings¬ worth is up and around after a brief illness. He operates the Holly, Beatrice, Neb. . . . Bick Downey closed brieffy to install new seats and wide-screen in his Colonial, Hamburg, la. He formerly was at Hastings, Neb. Mr. and Mrs. Harold Dunn, Valentine, Neb., exhibitors many years, are making extensive improvements on their Jewel. Portland The Moyer brothers, operating five state indoor theatres and a drive-in, will open the Valley, suburban Portland, in June, Tom Moyer, newly appointed presi¬ dent, Oregon Drive-In Theatre associa¬ tion, announced. Moyer said the 17-acre, $150,000 outdoor project will be one of the first in the Northwest to feature incar heaters. Plans call for 1000-car capacity, which includes a “balcony” for 200 cars. Equipment is by RCA, with installation by the Modern Theatre Sup¬ ply company. The Moyers, Tom , Harry, and Larry, operate the Gresham and Hood, Gresham; Victory, Milwaukie; Sellwood; Sandy, Sandy; Sunset, a drivein in Hubbard, and the new Valley. Mrs. Elaine S. George, Star, Heppner, Ore., won two $100 prizes for her pro¬ motional ideas on “Kiss Me, Kate” and “Escape from Fort Bravo.” Marvin Fox, city manager, John Hamrick, was an¬ nounced previously as a winner of a $500 prize foi' his ideas concerning “Mogambo, ’’which went to J. J. Parker Theatres. The contest is all part of MGM’s “Lucky Seven.” John P. Byrne, New York MGM executive, and George Hickey, went coast sales manager, were both in on “Jubilee” business. MGM’s “Julius Caesar” starts a road show engagement at the Guild, 400-seat art house, in February. Alan Weider, NW press representative, was in. Martin Foster, Guild manager, re¬ turned from San Francisco where he con¬ ferred with Ted Galanter, MGM execu¬ tive, and Herb Rosner, art house oper¬ ator. He was on a booking and buying trip for both the Giuld and the Century News as well as for his latest thea¬ trical venture. All Star Attractions. The 20th “Annual Sunshine Division Day” was held at J. J. Parker’s Broad¬ way with admission three cans of food. Mrs. J. J. Parker reported more than 4000 cans were collected. The Portland Police department spon¬ sors the annual city-wide drive for its Sunshine division, a year-around, non¬ expense organization maintained by the police to supply immediate emergency aid for needy families until such time as welfare organizations can get into action. Evergreen theatre executives from the Northwest attending the annual yearend meeting in Seattle included Russ Brown, Mr. and Mrs. Lou Metzlar, Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Nyberg, Rex Hopkins, Mr. and Mrs. Ken Hughes, and Louise Todd, as well as other managers from Vancouver, Wash., and Eugene. Dick Newton, Paramount manager, spent Christmas in Seattle with his family. At a luncheon meeting of the Oregon Drive-In Theatre Association, Tom Moyer, Moyer brothers, was elected president. The group, which now has 16 members, elected Alton Bennett, Barbur, as vice-president; and A1 For¬ man, United, as secretary-treasurer. It is a third term for Forman. James Beale, Columbia branch man¬ ager, was in San Francisco along with members of his staff attending a con¬ ference. Morris Sherman, Warren T. Withers, and Charles Burchard accom¬ panied him. Dick Lang, RKO branch manager, was in Seattle for a meeting. . . . J. H. McIntyre, west coast RKO manager, was in. . . . George Jackson, RKO salesman, returned from a Southern Oregon sales trip. Ernie Piro, U-I branch manager, had his son Donald home for the Christmas holidays. He is attending St. Edwards Seminary, Seattle. Another son, David, a third year medical student, is study¬ ing obstetrics at St. Catherine’s Hospital, Omaha. Dale Wilkins, U-I salesman, was in the Eastern Oregon territoiy. . . . George Gessler, Sweet Home, Ore., theati e ownei-, suffei'ed a slight heart attack. . . . Terry Miller, Orecong City, Ore., Liberty, is in the hospital there. . . . James Hommel, former U-I branch manager, who suf¬ fered a stroke early this summer, is still at Veterans Hospital. The Canby closed and is reported for sale by Westen Skow, owner. O. A. Nelson, Moscow, Ida., was the operator. New manager of the Broadway is Herb Royster, veteran Northwest film and legitimate theatre executive. He also becomes director of publicity and pro¬ motion for J. J. Parker houses in Oregon (Astoria, Pendleton, and Port¬ land). He succeeds Keith Petzold, one of Oregon’s youngest major executives. Petzold, 26, has spent 13 of his span as an industryite, starting as a projectionist in Hood River. Petzold becomes general manager of the five Jesse Jones subur¬ ban houses in Oregon, the Roseway and St. Johns, Portland; the Family Drive-In, and two houses in Sweet Home, Ore. Be¬ fore assumming his new position, Royster was manager, Mayfair, Portland film and legitimate outlet, now being rebuilt for CinemaScope, wide-screen and dimension only, and to be renamed the Fox. It is an Evergreen operation. Bud Brodie and Harry Lewis, National Screen Service representatives, Seattle, were in on business. . . . Pinky Shelton, Film Club manager, expanded his opera¬ tions to include a public restaurant. Pinky’s Charcoal Broiler. . . . The Film Club has the new Starlite room, officially opened to members. The Broiler, adja¬ cent, was scheduled to open New Year’s Eve. Les Lee, top Portland chef, is in charge of the kitchen. The Broiler will feature charcoal broiled steaks, chops, shish-kebab, and hamburger specialties. Allan Weider was in working on “Knights of the Round Table,” first CinemaScope film for J. J. Parker’s Broadway. The film was tested for the press and trade on the new Astrolite screen. Will J. Conner, John Hamrick vicepresident, announced that the Liberty has installed an Astrolite screen and a stereophonic sound system. . . . Walter Hoffman, Paramount representative was in working on “Money From Home” and other product. The film was shown New Year’s Eve only at the Paramount. Sf, Louis In Granite City, Ill., the Bel-Air DriveIn opened. The drive-in, with provisions for 500 automobiles and a “theatrette” with 200 seats to accomodate patrons during the winter, also is equipped with in-a-car electric heaters. Louis Jablonow, general manager, Komm Circuit, had Santa Claus on hand to distribute toys to the children. In Steeleville, Ill., the Webster, owned by H. E. Webster, reopened on Christ¬ mas Day. In Equality, Ill., the Strand building, which was destroyed by a fire, probably will not be rebuilt. In Elvins, Mo., the Regal, Edwards and Plumlee Circuit, closed for an in¬ definite period. January 6, 1954