The Independent Film Journal (1954)

CINCINNATI (cont'd.) a full day of golf and other events with a lunch and steak dinner as part of the festi¬ vities. Tickets, including all costs, are $10 each. . . . UA’s “The Moon Is Blue” has entered its 14th week at the World Theatre, Columbus, and indications are that it will continue there for some time further. DENVER About $15,000 damage was done to the East drive-in, owned by the W olfberg Thea¬ tres, in a, rain, hail and windstorm last week. The force of the wind ripped many of the speakers from their foundations. . . . Harold Cunyus, owner of the Roxy, has taken over operation of the closed Alpine. He renamed it the Uptown, installed a CinemaScope screen, along with some other remodeling, and will put the theatre back in operation. . . . Pete Meiers is building a 250-car drivein at Lusk, Wyo. Joe Stalman has sold his stock in the Douglas Amusement Inc., operating the Mile High drive-in, Douglas, Wyo., to his three partners. . . . The screen tower at the Rapid drive-in, Rapid City, S. D., owned by the Black Hills Amusement Co., was blown down in a 100-mile-an-hour windstorm. DES MOINES Neal Mullinex has been voted by the board of directors of the Elma Theatre Corp. in Elma to lease the new theatre when com¬ pleted. He will purchase the projector, screen, seats and other equipment for the leased building. Construction of the building is in progress and is expected to be finished in September. ... As a start toward a complete renovating program at the Rapids theatre, Rock Rapids, a new screen was installed re¬ cently. Plans for stereophonic sound are in the offing. . . . Howard and Esther Bayer are selling the Schleswig Theatre in Schles¬ wig. Two Iowa theatres have been closed within the past month due to lack of business. They are the Monroe Theatre in Monroe, owned by R. P. Davis, and The Tama Theatre in Tama, owned by W. W. Mansfield. . . . Bill Britt, Palace Theatre employe in Vinton, la., foiled the attempt of a short-change artist recently when the man tried to claim Admiral John Dale Price and director John Ford are being seen oft by producer Leland Hayward, as the two men leave to scout locations for Warner Bros.' "Mister Roberts." he had been given the wrong change. . . . A flash fire in the projection booth at the Varsity Theatre, Des Moines caused an esti¬ mated $1,500 damage. Firemen said an old British film — “Quartet” — not filmed on safe¬ ty film, burst into flames. No one was in¬ jured and the fire was quickly extinguished. The theatre was able to open again the fol¬ lowing night. DETROIT Charles W. Snyder, former executive sec¬ retary of Allied Theatres of Michigan, has been elected first zone commander of the American Legion for Michigan. . . . Sol Krim, owner of the Krim Theatre, hied to Stratford, Ont., to become a principal backer for an American tour by the Shakespearean Festival held there. . . . Howard Sharpley and Ambrose LoPrestoa, who operate the Hillsdale Drive-In at Hillsdale and the Civic Theatre at Jonesville, have leased the Sky¬ line Drive-In at Morenci, with option to purchase, from former operators D. Lee and Katherine McLain. Herman Boose and Harold Dodds, former¬ ly with the Oxford, Mich., Theatre, have leased the State Theatre at Lake Orion, formerly operated by Emmett Dalton, Flush¬ ing exhibitor. . . . Joseph II. Peckis is now managing the Veterans Theatre, formerly known as the Atlanta, at Atlanta, Mich., operated for a local veterans organization. . . . Jack Howard, manager of the Ric Theatre at Richmond, Mich., has begun pub¬ lication of a 32-page weekly shopping and entertainment guide for his community. . . . Clive Waxman, manager of Independent Ex¬ hibitors Theatre Service, has confirmed can¬ cellation of plans for the annual golf outing by Variety Club of Grand Rapids “due to lack of local interest.” HOUSTON One-pound cans of coffee are being given away one night a week to the first 100 families attending the 7 o’clock performance at the Tower Theatre. . . . Houston audiences will get their choice of heavy drama or light comedy when “The Caine Mutiny” and “Liv¬ ing It Up” open the same day at the Majestic and Metropolitan Theatres. . . . River Oaks showed a sneak preview of the British com¬ edy “Always a Bride” together with their regular showing of “Sunderin’’ to a large audience. . . . The world premiere engage¬ ment of “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” is still playing to capacity houses in its third week at the Loew’s Theatre, Houston. INDIANAPOLIS Schuler Baird has opened his New Albany, Ind., Drive-in Theatre. . . . Dale Scudder, manager of the Circle Theatre, staged a sports parade in downtown Indianapolis as the introduction of “Johnny Dark” the weekly attraction. . . . Affiliate Theatres, an¬ nounce the closing of the Key Theatre, at Red Key, Ind. . . . Abe Gelman, formerly with Columbia Pictures, has joined Republic Pictures, succeeding Herman Morgan, who resigned to enter the insurance business. Indianapolis Variety Club, Tent No. 10, will hold its annual golf tournament at the Broadmoor Country Club September 13th. . . . The Lyric Theatre, gave the American Legion Convention special admission to the theatre Saturday and Monday. . . . Manager Johnny Stearn, at Keiths’ admitted free any Howard Dietz, (r.), M-G-M vice-president in charge of advertising, receives a plaque from Dr. Daniel A. Poling, editor of the "Christian Herald" for "The Student Prince," named Picture of the Month. youngsters until noon, if accompanied by one of the parents, to see “Living Desert” Thurs¬ day and Friday. KANSAS CITY Robert Hershberger, mgr. of Tiger Theatre in Columbia, Mo., has organized a Culture of Columbia group whose members may see 20 films on a $10 annual pass. Member¬ ship expected to reach 200 in this university town. . . . Mi*, and Mrs. Dewey Kiser are new owners of Courtier Theatre in Gallatin, Mo., which has been operated by Mr. and Mrs. John Courtier for 36 years. . . . The Vogue at Richmond, Mo., closed for some time, is being remodeled for the Natl. Guard. . . . Leo Calvin is new mgr. at Dickinson’s Plaza in Burlington, Ivans. The Strand, Emporia, Kans., has a new 25-ton air conditioning unit. . . . Warrensburg, Mo. saw its first 3-D at the Star, man¬ aged by George Wilhoite. . . . Kansas theatres recently installing new equipment include Augusta., Augusta ; Mainstreet, Chanute; . Mac, McPherson; Strand, Emporia; State, Columbus; Star, Lyons; Palace, Kingsley and Northrup, Syracuse. . . . Mrs. Maude Jones, who had handled the business of her brother, the late Tlios. C. Hall, exhibitor, died at Moberly, Mo. . . . The screen was des¬ troyed and equipment badly damaged at State Theatre in Iv. C. by vandals in an early morning entry. July’s high temperatures boosted attend¬ ance at Iv. C. theatres. Holdovers included “The High and Mightly,” “Knock on Wood,” “Magnificent Obsession,” “Fanfan the Tu¬ lip,” and “Apache.” “Genevieve” is in its 4th month. . . . Fox Midwest gave the opening of “Francis Joins the WACS” a big build-up for the 4 K. C. theatres. . . . Missouri the¬ atres with new equipment included the Prin¬ cess, Aurora; Marty-Ann, Milan; Plaza The¬ atres at Milan and Trenton; Casino, Boonville, and Uptown, Sedalia. . . . Allied Art¬ ists have moved to 18th and Wyandotte. MIAMI Curtis Miller is moving to Miami to be the assistant general manager of the Claughton houses. . . . David Kaye, who has been serving as assistant manager of the Olympia Theatre, has left for Norfolk, Va., where he will manage a house. . . . Herb Rubenstein, manager of the Parkway Theatre, is honey¬ mooning with his new bride Jackie Fred THE INDEPENDENT FILM JOURNAL— August 7. 1954 32