The Independent Film Journal (1955)

L to R: Harry Brandt, pres, of Brandt Theatres; Mrs. Anna M. Rosenberg; Victor Borge and Wendy Barrie attend a special fund raising meeting called by the March of Dimes in an effort to raise $400,000 to make up its deficit. One of the projects "will be the gala benefit premiere of 20th-Fox's "Daddy Long Legs" at the Roxy Theatre on May 5. BUFFALO (eont'd.) who will make it his first venture as an independent Hollywood producer. Wm. Brett has been named pres, and gen. mgr. of Skyway Drive-In Theas., operating the Niagara D-i and the Skyway airer. Brett also operates the Commodore theatre on Genesee St. . . . Leon Serin, recently named city mgr. for UPT in Philadelphia, was in town to complete arrangements for moving his family to Upper Darby, Pa. ... Nat Marcus, Warner branch mgr., became a grandfather with the birth of Lee Moss Kutner to his daughter. . . . Buck Ironfield is now covering the Rochester and Syracuse districts for Columbia. He formerly was office mgr. for Fox in Albany. . . . Carl S. Hallauer, pres, of Rochester’s Bausch & Lomb, received a congratulatory letter from 20th-Fox prexy Spyros P. Skouras on the Oscar awarded for development of CinemaScope lenses. . . . George J. Ganimel, head of Gammel Circuit, postcards from Biscayne Key, Miami, that he is “enjoying the sunshine to prolong my existence.” Sal DiGennaro of N.Y.C. succeeded Dave Leff as IFE representative here. He will also cover the Pittsburgh district. . . . Paul Swater, Tech managing director, inaugurated “Housewives’ Matinees” for Thursday in his Cinerama house. Friday matiness have been discontinued. . . . Eddie Meade, Shea publicity head, arranged with the Professional Photographers’ Society to put an attractive exhibit on the mezzanine of Shea’s Buffalo and got the theatre some fine publicity. . . . Mgr. Ben Dargush announces the Center will telecast the Marciano-Cockell bout via closed circuit on May 16. CHARLOTTE L. L. “Doc” Theimer, Bill Talbert of Piedmont Promotions & Booking Service and Max Reinhardt of Reinhardt Ents. have opened Atlas Promotion & Advertising Inc., primarily to exploit pictures for theatres. . . . Thornton Sawyer is new owner of the Pungo Drive-In at Pontego, N.C. . . . Mrs. Max Reinhardt installing CinemaScope in the Capital Theatre, Kenanville. . . . Some 400 exhibitors from the Carolinas attended the M-G-M Workshop at the Hotel Charlotte, in charge of Mike Simons, Metro’s public relations official. A bitter blast against Toll TV was fired by Alfred Starr, former TOA pres., and C. A. Dandelake, pres, of Theatre Owners of N. and S. Car., presided over session devoted to theatre issues and problems. CHICAGO Essaness is investing $100,000 in improvements to the loop Woods Theatre. . . . Jack Kirsch, pres, of Allied of 111. and Variety Club chief barker, was awarded a Copper Placque mined in Israel at recent testimonial dinner which was attended by more than 650 Israel Bond purchasers. . . . Irv Kupcinet reported in Sun Times that friends of Israel, including theatre men John Balaban, Will Hollander and A. N. Pritzker, organized the Mission of Mercy to help celebrate anniversary of Israel’s independence. . . . Gary Crosby and Louis Armstrong signed for stage show at Chicago Theatre, starting May 27. . . . M. D. Howe named house mgr. of Eitel’s Palace, succeeding Edward Wap pier. . . . Will Lamasky, Republic exchange, has a new son named Jay Donald. Grandfather is Sam Lamasky, IATSE business agent and Columbia head shipper. Jovan’s Monroe Theatre scored a beat by securing first loop run of Dr. Salk’s polio short, “Taming the Crippled” in addition to premiere of “To Paris With Love.” Reports good business with the combination at $1.25 admission. . . . J. Jacobson, B&K maintenance director, announced completion of CinemaScope installation at northside Howard Theatre, leaving only the Lakeside, Pantheon and Maryland to be so equipped. . . . Highlights of 23 years of moviemaking are being presented for 15 days at the Clark Theatre during its seventh semi-annual festival. . . . Rock Island, Moline, Beardstown and Greenfield, 111. rejected daylite saving. . . . B&K made big shift in managerial staff, for spring months. . . . Edna Frank, M-G-M office mgr., retiring in June after 34 years with the company. Negotiations under way for out-of-court settlement of trust suits involving Valos circuit’s Geneva Theatre, Geneva, and Sun at Wheaton, 111. . . . Lee Jones retires from management of State Theatre, Pullman, and is succeeded by Henry S. Stevens. State is undergoing extensive face lifting. . . . Sunset Drive-In near Chicago installed CinemaScope and reopened for the season. . . .Ted Stevens named mgr. Roseland Theatre, Chicago. . . . Mgr. Bill Smith making plans for elaborate celebration of 25th anniversary of B&K’s Belmont Theatre. The circuit’s Roosevelt is getting new glass doors for its State St. entrance to complete modernization. . . . Louis Aurelio, formerly with Paramount, joined Abbot Theatre Supply’s sales dept. . . . Charles Hogan resigned as managing director of loop Oriental. Julius Silverstein took over. Raytone Screen Corp., Lombard, 111., offering ozoners its new white, quick drying vinylkote screen paint for application over any painted or unpainted surface. . . . James Coston, circuit owner and trustee of Notre Dame Foundation, reports negotiations under way with Columbia Piets, to film the Notre Dame story. . . . Felix and Lambert seeking improved run for the Vogue Theatre on the northside. Atty. Seymour Simon filed case in Federal Court. . . . Reported that Devon Theatre management added the 400 Theatre on Sheridan Road to its circuit. . . . Sylvan Goldfinger, div. mgr. for Telenews Theatres, won the Variety Club’s gin rummy tournament. CINCINNATI Mid-West Theatre Supply is completely furnishing the new Valley Drive-In on Route 127, about three miles north of Hamilton, 0., for owners Earl Brown and George Turlukis. It will accommodate about 1,150 cars, have a seating area, and 500 in-car heaters will be installed for year-round operation. Present plans are for opening on May 27. . . . John Hewitt and Jerry Jackson are speeding up construction of their new ozoner in Georgetown, O. for early opening. . . . Jay Goldberg of Realart completed arrangements for saturation booking of “Gang Busters” in about 30 theatres the middle of June. Terry Turner, who is interested in the film, will be in to work out the campaign with Goldberg. Plans are shaping up for the May 13 luncheon and fashion show of Variety Club Ladies’ Auxiliary for benefit of Variety Club Foundation for Retarded Children. Ticket chairman is Nora Maius, JE 4608. . . . Frank Mandros, exhibitor of Cabin Creek, W. Va., is hospitalized with a heart ailment. . . . Opening of the Cruise-In Theatre, Miamisburg, operated by Lou Clemmer, was delayed due to late arrival of steel for the new screen tower being built. . . . Gus Babalis is now dividing time between operation of his Belmont Theatre, Dayton, and his summer project, the Cream Whip store. . . . The New Salem Theatre in Dayton, reopened after repairs due to a fire. . . . Jack Needham of Columbus, who books and buys for a large circuit of theatres, just celebrated his 76th birthday. Ed Schulman, mgr. of the Bexley Art Theatre, Bexley, O., is taking over operation of the Little Theatre, Yellow Springs, O., owned by Vernon Berg. . . . U-I has a new apprentice booker— Phil Mink. . . . Comtemplated dinner dance of the Colosseum of M.P. Salesmen is being postponed until the fall, according to chairmen Ross Williams and A1 Kolkmeyer. . . . Lloyd Krause, RKO branch mgr., has “Son of Sinbad” set in all key situations to open around June 1. The film is in SuperScope. . . . Carl Ferrazza, mgr. of Keiths Theatre here, is back in Bethesda Hospital suffering from a leg ailment. . . . Walter Boxer of N.Y. is currently learning exchange operation at the local UA office in preparation for foreign dept, service. CLEVELAND The Euclid Drive-In opened with new wide screen. . . . Majestic in Lima is temporarily closed due to a recent fire. . . . Palace and Marion theatres in Marion are closing due to a controversial tax problem. . . . Strand Theatre in Payne and Strand in Fremont closed for the summer. . . . U-I staffers who attended the affair in Buffalo honoring U-I branch mgr. Dave Miller were W. Rearden, A1 Rosen and H. Lefitt. Among exhibitors in attendance were Jack Horovitz and Leo Jones. . . . Jack Share, UA salesman, is in a Cleveland hospital under observation. THE INDEPENDENT FILM JOURNAL— April 30. 1955 29