The Independent Film Journal (1952)

PHILADELPHIA “House of Wax’’ had its local premiere on April 24 at the Mastbaum, the only the¬ atre in this city to install the WarnerPhonic sound system. . . . First to show a fulllength 3-D film by a major studio was the Randolph Theatre, which opened with Co¬ lumbia’s “The Man in the Dark’’ on April 15. . . . Warner Theatres headquarters were moved from the Earle Theatre Bldg, to the company’s 13th & Market St. location. . . . Two of this city’s top movie houses of yesteryear are now up for sale. The Aldine and Palace are slated to be chopped from the Warner local holdings. . . . Harvey Keater has been named mgr. of Walter Reade’s Eatontown Drive-In on Route 35 at the Eatontown, N. J. Circle, to succeed Don logha, who was transferred to the circuit’s Lawrence Drive-In at Trenton, N. J. . . . The Stanton Theatre here is scheduled for a remodeling job. Danny Kaye, currently appearing in “Hans Christian Andersen’’ at the Mid¬ town Theatre, was in town April 20 to at¬ tend the testimonial dinner to Jack Beresin, Variety International chief barker and pres, of ABC Vending. Proceeds from the affair will be used for building a recreation hall for Philadelphia Variety Club’s camp for handicapped children. . . . The Roosevelt Theatre will reopen soon with first run pictures direct from downtown and will also feature the new 3-D films. . . . Burton Stanley, who managed the Haverford Thea¬ tre for 20 years, is in Montgomery County Home recovering from a stroke. . . . The Earle Theatre is waiting for a wrecker to rip through its structure, which means that the Carmen is this city’s only remaining vaudeville house. Comerford Theatres will utilize equipment made by the Victor division of RCA to pre¬ pare 14 houses for 3-D programming at an early date. PITTSBURGH H. B. 1097 was introduced in the Penn. House, co-sponsored by Reps. Waterhouse (R) and Andrews (D). This bill would exempt theatres from operation of the En¬ abling Act, pui-suant to which municipali¬ ties have levied a tax on admissions to motion picture theatres. It has been re¬ ferred to the Committee on Municipal Cor¬ porations for subsequent hearings. ... Si Fabian, pres, of StanleyWarner, and his associate, Samuel Rosen, were welcomed to Pittsburgh with a luncheon at the William Penn Hotel. In an address to district theati'e men, Fabian advocated an “all purpose” theatre which would be adaptable to all 3-D processes as well as closed circuit TV, and added that big business could be done with good pictures in any medium. Warner’s “House of Wax,’’ now playing at the Stanley, is breaking all house records. . . . Columbia’s “Fort Ti, ” 3-D in Techni¬ color, is due at the J. P. Harris in May. . . . Ralph During, Paramount exploiteer, will attend the Variety International con¬ vention in Mexico City. ... A new drive-in near Greensburg, Pa. is being planned by Bernard H. Buchheit, formerly with the Manoa Theatres. PORTLAND-SEATTLE 200 exhibitors from key cities in Oregon met to organize an Oregon chapter of Theatre Owners of America. Alfred Starr, national TOA prexy ; Herman Levy, gen. counsel, and Mitchell Wolf son, past pres., were on hand and hosts for the all-day session included Art Adamson, Adamson Theatres; Jesse Jones, Jones theatre chain, and Ray Grombacher, Esquire Theatre. New body will immediately increase membership and unite in protesting admission taxes. . . . There are now some 51 drive-in thaters in Oregon, either operating or under construc¬ tion. ... A 300-car ozoner is being built by Sterling Theatres at Port Angeles, Wash., equipped with Simplex XL projec¬ tors from National Theatre Supply. . . . Western Amusement is building a 450-car project at Enterprise, Ore. Craig Turner was named office mgr. at Warner’s, rejilacing veteran Guy Maxey, who is ill. ... A motion incture class was established at the University of Washing¬ ton. . . . Allen Amuse. Co. announces im¬ mediate construction of a drive-in near E'llenburg, Wash. PROVIDENCE Some 50 friends gathered at the SheratonPlaza Hotel on May 1 to celebrate the 100th birthday of Abraham A. Spitz of Cranston, who midoubtedly is the oldest active exhibitor in the world today. Judge Janies E. Dooley, old friend and associate, was in charge, aided by Edward Fay and Meyer Stanzler of R. I., and Ralph Snider and Sam Haase of Mass. . . . Tom Dowd, who resigned as mgr. of the Beacon Hill Theatre, Boston, becomes managing dir. of Lockwood & Gordon’s Avon Theatre here, effective May 16. The Majestic Theatre is being ecpipped with WarnerPhonic 3-D system and will make its debut early in May with showing of “House of Wax.” ... In conjunction with presentation of “The Clown” at the Boro Drive-In, Professor The Guesser, noted clown attraction, made a Saturday night appearance and free balloons were given to the kiddies. . . . Community Theatre has made arrangements to present newsreel films of local origin. Fires, accidents, civic events and other important happenings in the state will be screened. ... A special give-away program, featuring Mr. Zero, was offered at the Castle as a Saturday matinee attraction. ST. LOUIS The $525,000 anti-trust suit of the Egyptian Theatre Corp., owners of the Egyptian Drive-In, against Marlow Amuse. Corp. of Herrin and Murphysboro, Ill. and John Marlow, was dismissed by Judge Fred L. Wham. . . . C. Justus Garard, owner of the Royal Theatre, Warsaw, Ilk, the Wood¬ bine at Carthage and the New Dallas in Dallas City, was elected Mayor of Wai'saw. . . . A large neon sign with 16-foot letter¬ ing, was installed at the 66 Drive-In on U. S. 66 south of Springfield, Ilk, owned and operated by Kerasotes and managed by Bill Ford. The 265-seat Fox Theatre at Hutsonville, Ilk reopened under new management. . . . Hariy Blount booked Cohimbia’s 3-D “Man in the Dark” for showing at his Starlite Drive-In, Potosi, Mo., May 24-30, and in¬ vited exhibitors in the area to see it. . . . Great States’ Majestic in E. St. L., Ilk, managed by Vincent 0 ’Leary, has a new air-conditioning system. . . . H. P. and 0. M. Arnold, owners of the Macon DriveIn at Macon, Mo. have designated Tuesday as “Buck Night” and Monday as “Bumper Night.” The ozoner, which accommodates 400 cars, also has seating for 200. . . . Pirtle’s Starlight Drive-In, east of Beardstown, Ilk, is also having “Buck Night” on Tuesdays. Installation of 3-D equipment for showing of “House of Wax” is progressing at the Ritz Theatre, Belleville, Ilk . . . The big 3state parley for members of Kansas-Missouri Theatres Assn, and MPTO of St. L., E. Mo. and S. Ilk, to be held May 5-6 at Osage Beach, Lake of the Ozarks, will cover 3-D, a report by gen. counsel Herman M. Levy of TOA on the Senate small business hearings and Federal tax on admissions, fol¬ lowed by an open forum for exhibitors. . . . Certificate of Incorpation recently granted to Clay County Theatre Corp., Kansas Ctiy, Mo., to conduct a general motion picture business. . . . The 21-stoiy American Hotel and Theatre Bldg, at 7th & Market is to be torn down to make way for a 1500-car park¬ ing garage. . . . Mr. & Mrs. George Faith, owners of the Linn Theatre, Linn, Mo., have taken over the M.W.A. Theatre and plan to reopen the 200-seat house soon. . . . Joseph Lyman, 63, owner of the Princess Theatre, White Hall, Ilk, passed away. Val Portwod, mgr. of the Lory, High¬ land, Ilk had a contest on the ten best films of the year shown at the theatre. Winners received theatre passes. . . . Harold Lawson is now mgr. of the Skyway Drive-In at Mattoon, Ilk, owned by Mattoon Theas. Co. (Continued on page 32) An around-the-clock premiere marked the gala opening of "House of Wax," Warner's first motion picture incorporating Natural Vision 3-D photography, WarnerPhonic sound and WarnerColor. A record number of screen stars and leaders from all walks of life participated in the 24-hour celebration at the downtown Paramount Theatre in Los Angeles. Shown here (1 to r): Jerry Zigmond, United Paramount Theatres div. mgr.; Jack L. Warner, production chief; Mrs. Orr and William T. Orr. THE INDEPENDENT FILM JOURNAL— MAY 2. 1953 31