The Independent Film Journal (1955)

Officers of Theatre Owners of America and United Theatre Owners of Illinois discuss the agenda preceding a meeting held in Peoria. L to R: (standing) George Kerasotes, president of UTOI; Charles F. Carpentier, Secretary of the State of Illinois; Ralph Lawler, UTOI v.p.; (seated) E. D. Martin, TOA president, and Alfred Starr, board chairman. DENVER Wolf berg Theatres, with five drive-ins here, established a “car-polishing” service at the East during the day, and if it takes hold will use some of the others similarly. For $5 the theatre provides all materials necessary, along with equipment including a polishing machine, and the car owner cun have expert advice if he wishes. “We’ve been trying to put our drive-ins to profitable use during daylight hours,” said John Wolf berg in explaining the move. . . . Rialto Theatres, Casper, bought the Knox Drive-In, Wheatland, Wyo., from Ted Knox. Rialto also owns the Pamona Theatre in town. . . . John Pietrantonio, Lippert booker, is father to a second son, named Randy. Chill Wills will be in the territory from May 24 to 28 to advertise his latest film, “Kentucky Rifles.” . . . Fay Boyd, mgr. of the Golden, Golden, Colo., was hospitalized with rheumatic fever. . . . The largest screen west of Chicago, 120 feet across, is being installed in the Lakeshore Drive-In here. . . . Carl Mock, theatre appliance salesman, is liaison for a “Fall Festival Tour” that is expected to attract a number of industryites to continental Europe this fall. . . . Glen Wittstruck will soon open his Buckskin Drive-In, with 300 seats, at Ignacio, Colo. Taylor, Tanner and Armstrong opened their new 320-car Tsaya Drive-In at Cortez, Colo. . . . Marvin Goldfarb, district supervisor for Beuna Vista, is at home with the chicken pox. . . . Bernie Hynes, formerly mgr. of the Denver, was back as advance man for opening of Bel-Air’s “Big House U.S.A.” at the Paramount. . . . C. C. Creamer, partner in Mpls. Theatre Supply and pres, of Mile High Corp., which is building the Mile High Drive-In at Deadwood, S.D., expects to open the new 600-car ozoner no later than June 1. John Denman, mgr. of the Denver, and Duke Dunbar. Attorney General of Colo., will be delegates from Tent 37 to the International Variety Clubs convention in Los Angeles May 4-7. Tent 37 has just given another $1,000 to its pet project, the speech clinic of the University of Denver. . . . Paul Rothman, associated with Lee Theatres, is acting as temporary mgr. of the Lakewood, recently bought by Lee Theatres. . . . Harold Remp has been made mgr. of the Monaco Drive-In. . . . Rudolph Jorgenson, recently discharged from the U.S. air force, is managing the North Drive-In. . . . Dorrance Schmidt opened his new 300-ear ozoner at Bridgeport, Neb. . . . Robt. Smith, partner in Steamboat Springs and Oak Creek, theatres, left for Dalhart, Tex., to be city mgr. for J. C. Parker houses there. DES MOINES Fire believed to have started in the Rialto, Bedford, destroyed the theatre and two business establishments. Loss on theatre building, owned by the Mrs. Ella Clark estate, and equipment by the E. W. Kerr chain of Council Bluffs, is estimated at $120,000. . . . Dows Theatre in Dows reopened for a regular schedule of shows. Local business and professional men are contributing to a fund to insure operation. . . . Paul Tobias completed a renovating job at the Strand in W. Liberty. Among improvements was the replacing of newly reupholstered seats six inches farther apart and the center section staggered to improve viewing, also installation of Cinemascope. The Cozy in Morning Sun has a new sched ule for the summer months. Pictures will be shown Thurs., Fri. and Sat., with an occasional double feature, which will also be shown Sun. and Tues., and there will be a late show Sat., starting at 10:30. ... A new wide screen was installed at the Star in Gowrie, reports owner Laurel Nelson. . . . Lime Theatre in Lime Springs discontinued Sat. matinees for the summer season. . . . 'The Clear Lake PTA sent letters to parents of school children asking their cooperation in sponsoring a series of better movies this summer. It is proposed to sell tickets for seven shows to be given at special afternoon performances beginning June 7. New equipment and a wide curved screen were installed at the Town and West-Vue drive-ins in Des Moines, managed by Jack Segal. . . . The 7-T-7 Drive-In near Sioux City completed installation for showing of CinemaSeope and other wide screen-type pictures. Mgr. is Vic Bianchinni. . . . Carl Schwanebeck, mgr. of the Perry Theatres, announced opening of the Corrall Drive-In, east of Perry. A new exit system has been devised for convenience of patrons. DETROIT Matt Haskin, formerly of the Riviera Theatre, is now an operator for Cinerama at the Music Hall, and will continue managing his own firm, Communicating Systems Co. '. . . Jim Olson, in town from Clare on a film buying trip, confirmed plans for enlarging the Grayling Theatre, following completion of a similar addition to the Pines Theatre at Houghton Lake. . . . James W. Padfield reports the Ford-Wyoming Drive-In is reopening with a huge new screen. His old partner, Harry Hiller, will be back in the booth again. ... A lot of good-humored interest being shown in the reducing contest between Joe Sullivan, Film Row projectionist, and Ed MeCaulay of National Film Service. A new lens-centering device applicable to the new screen techniques has been devised by G. M. Studebaker of National Theatre Supply. . . . Sidney Galkins is now operating the Lake Theatre at Oscoda which was formerly headed by William C. Frank. . . . Thanks to Paul E. Glase of the Embassy in Reading, who sends out copies of “Lest We Forget,” a volume which lists showpeople who have bowed to the final curtain. . . . Moe and Helen Teitel are reregistering title to the Warfield Amusement Co., operating the Warfield Theatre. . . . Elmer Kiehler, theatrical architect, whose firm incidentally maintains an office in England, is busy with drivein construction and with the new huge Ford Auditorium. Construction on Detroit’s first dual drivein, The Troy, being built by Brooks brothers of Affiliated Theatres, is progressing toward its mid-May grand opening. . . . Mrs. Francis B. Van Deusen was re-elected pres, of the Greater Detroit Federation of Motion Picture Councils for a second term. . . . Ernest T. Conlon, exec. secy, of Michigan Allied announced a new dues collection setup for exhibitor groups which, if adopted, will cover about 80% of all independent state-wide theatres. Film carriers serving the local area reached an agreement with the Teamsters Union which grants substantial increases to truckers. . . . J. O. (Ollie) Brooks, former head booker at Butterfield, and now in the roadshow distribution field, is convalescing at the home of Fred Bonnem, Columbia salesman, following major surgery. . . . Jack Hagopian is establishing a new organization here, to be known as the Motion Picture Academy. HOUSTON A $2,400,000 expansion program for the coming year has been approved by the board of Claude Ezell & Associates, which operates 21 large ozoncrs in 10 key cities in Tex. The circuit has acquired property in Houston for a 2,000-car twin drive-in and is negotiating for five additional sites in the state. More than $900,000 was spent during 1954 for improvements. . . . Loew’s 1st asst, mgr., Chas. M. Odell, transferred to New Orleans to assist Rodney Joups, 30 years mgr. of Loew’s there. . . . Kirby Theatre’s John Arnold taking advice given at M-G-M Workshop and making good use of poster paper for theatre signs, which he mounts on masonite framed with wood. Reported that Metro, Warner, Paramount and Universal have taken option on a site hero for exchanges, where they would have a mutual screening room and other facilities. . . . Houston theatre owners refused to sign renewal contracts with newspapers pending further conferences on proposed advertising boost. . . . Subbing for Fred Cannata, Horowitz Theas. booker who is ill, are Mrs. Lillian Tramel, secv. of board of directors, and Ed 30 THE INDEPENDENT FILM JOURNAL— April 30. 1955