The Independent Film Journal (1954)

DETROIT Robert E. Lubeek was named amusement editor of The Detroit News. . . . Myrle Burch bought a third interest in Northwest Studios, manufacturers of stage equipment, after some years as mgr. of the Detroit branch. . . . Walter Bridge of Bronson is taking over the Swing Theatre, Athens, Mich., formerly operated by L. E. Hoag. . . . William H. Green, pub. chief for the Music Hall, has been named midwest di¬ rector of advertising and exploitation for Cinerama theatres and will maintain head¬ quarters here. . . . An expansion of actvity for Central Shipping Bureau, which services local theatres on film deliveries, is being planned by mgr. Charles Simpson. Bion Rockwell, owner of the Bay Theatre in Sutton’s Bay, made his first trip to Detroit in a year, to buy film and visit the exchanges. . . . United Detroit Theatres is opening its first CinemaScope release at the Madison, ‘ ‘ A Star Is Born. ”... Whitney Theatre at Ann Arbor, onetime legit, is to be razed, and a new house will be built by Butterfield to serve the campus trade. . . . Alden Smith ’s Mutual Theatre group is taking over film buying for three Detroit houses — the Cinema run by Ster¬ ling Theatres, and the Rex and Seville, both in the Van Houdt Circuit. . . . A1 Dezel worked out an unusual tiein with the Michigan Railroad Club for the showing of “The Titfield Thunderbolt.” . . . Charles Zack cooked up a community tiein, with passes for all doners to the local blood bank, offered by the East Side Drive-In Theatre. Kilbride Circuit held a farewell party at the Alhambra following last show under the old circuit management. Ben Robins is taking over the house, which will be the Watch These Dates! Oct. 27: Kansas City — Allied ITO of Kansas-Missouri — Hotel Aladdin. Oct. 30-Nov. 4: Chicago — Theatre Owners of America convention — Hilton Hotel. Oct. 31-Nov. 4: Chicago — TESMA Trade Show — Conrad Hilton Hotel. Nov. 3: Montreal — Quebec Allied Theatri¬ cal Industries annual meeting. Nov. 8-9: St. Louis-Missouri-Illinois Thea¬ tre Owners convention — Chase Hotel. Nov. 14-16: Charlotte — Theatre Owners of N. and S. Carolina — Hotel Charlotte. Nov. 16-17: Indianapolis — Allied Theatre Owners of Indiana fall convention — Marott Hotel. Nov. 17: New York — Motion Picture Pio¬ neers annual dinner — Hotel Astor. Nov. 19-20: Chicago — Colosseum of Motion Pictures Salesmen of America annual convention — Drake Hotel. Nov. 21-23: Jacksonville — Motion Picture Exhibitors of Florida convention — Roose¬ velt Hotel. Dec. 5-7 : Oklahoma City— Theatre Owners of Oklahoma convention. Dec. 6-8: Memphis, Tenn. — MPTO of Ar¬ kansas, Mississippi and Tennessee — Gayoso Hotel. Dec. 7 : Boston — Independent Exhibitors, Inc. Convention — Hotel Bradford. Top prize winners in the five-week President's Drive conducted by Walter Reade Theatres, receive their checks at a luncheon meeting for managers of all 40 theatres in the circuit, at which more than $4,000 was distributed. L. to R.: Edwin Gage, circuit v.p.; Joe Sommers, city mgr. in Kingston, N. Y., who finished third; Frank Deane, mgr. of the Woodbridge Drive-In, Woodbridge, N. J., second; Mrs. Ann DeRagon, mgr. of the Paramount in Plainfield, N. J., who received $1,000 for first place; and Walter Reade, Jr., pres, of the company. nucleus of a small new independent circuit. . . . Mgr. Sy Schecter is taking over man¬ agement of the Cinema, art house,, succeed¬ ing Larry Leins. . . . Earl Cook and Vernier Gage are taking over booking for the Read¬ ing Theatre at Reading, Mich. . . . Woods Theatre had a minor fire in a storage room and made a quick switch to emergency standby power when lightning struck — with patrons not even realizing anything was amiss. . . . The booth staff of the Music Hall were hosts to the management and others in a backstage party to celebrate the millionth customer to see Cinerama here. HOUSTON Trail Drive-In advertises only theatre restaurant in Houston. . . . Saturday Fun Club rates a combine ad of Alabama, Village, Garden Oaks and Santa Rosa theatres. . . . Ft. Worth Drive-In advertises new low fall and winter admission prices. ... New season at Community Theatre, Galveston, includes a professional director, transportation to thea¬ tre from airport, also baby sitter and toy room — according to Jack Cohen, publicity chairman. KANSAS CITY Mr. and Mrs. Ray Wench, operators of the Regent and Nile theatres in Winfield, Kans., have taken over management of the Star Theatre and Skyline Drive-In in Clay Center, Kans. from Kenneth Ehert. . . . The Jamesport, Mo. Theatre Company has been incorporated by several Jamesport people and by A. V. Spillman, W. L. Reed, R. Haver and R. Tedlock. . . . F. L. Lowe in¬ stalled new chairs in the Civic at Brookfield, Mo. . . . Chief Theatre at Oberlin, Kans., owned by Henry Beardsley, has new equip¬ ment. . . . Tiger Theatre at Carthage, Mo. suffered heavy fire damage. . . . Chas. Knickerbocher, formerly operator of the Liberty at Columbus, Kans., has joined the sales staff of Alexander Film Co. . . . Geo. Sproule installed new lenses and a screen in his Cor¬ ral at Wichita and is remodeling the bldg. At a board meeting of Kans.-Mo. A ITO in K. C., Bev. Miller, pres., led a discussion of the problems created by distributors who have passed the burden of absorbing recent tax cuts to the exhibitor in higher rental charges and through claims on concession profits where film doesn’t pay off. Elmer Huhnke, treasurer of the Ia-Nebr. AITO, spoke on film buying. . . . K. C. Film Row will participate in the city’s annual visiting day for teachers and will conduct a tour of film exchanges. MIAMI Tommy Knowles is now mgr. of the Variety, replacing Sally Brower who left for Tampa. . . . Norman Wittchen advanced from asst, to mgr. of the Embassy, with Carl Knowles as his new asst. . . . Claughton anti-trust trial going into the 5th week. . . . Sonny Shepard worked up a good gag for selling “Man with a Million.” He had a local paper send a reporter around town with a $1000 bill and everyday a story ran on the experience of trying to purchase items with a big bill. Harry Ivronowitz of Wometco publicity accompanied the re¬ porter and reports that the promotion helj:>ed at the box office. Herb Rubenstein and Gordon Spradley, mgr. of the Lincoln and Town Theatres, promoted plenty of free space to sell ‘Johnny Dark” by offering a trophy at the local Stock Car Race Track. . . . Bob Green, director of personnel for Wometco, started a Bowling Team which has developed into an 8 Team mixed League, competing for the Wolfson-Meyer and Troupers Club trophies. He also inspired the 2 Team Soft Ball League, with Joe Mallak of Wometco ’s Accounting Dept, as mgr. . . . Wayne Roger, mgr. of the Normandy is doing a big job in selling the public on his new wide screen. MINNEAPOLIS Marvin Engler, representing the Engler family interests, will rebuild the Star Thea¬ tre, suburban house recently destroyed by fire. Loss was estimated at $50,000 but the new building will cost considerably more. . . . Joe Floyd, operator of a conventional theatre and drive-in at Sioux Falls, S. D., and his associates, Eddie Ruben, head of Wellworth circuit, and Ruben’s son-in-law, Larry Bentson, have dropped plans to build a TV station at Rapid City, S. D. . . . CinemaScope and stereophonic sound have been installed in the State at Spring Valley, State at Springfield, Harbor at Two Har¬ bors, Metro at Pine Island, and Main Street at Sauk Centre, all in Minn. . . . Don Quincer started preliminary grading on his new drive-in at Wadena, Minn., which is scheduled for a spring opening. About 11 miles away at Verndale, Minn., Jimmy Rangaard, operator of the Staples at Sta 28 THE INDEPENDENT FILM JOURNAL— October 16, 1954