The Exhibitor (1954)

NT-2 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR Richard Dizon, manager, Town, Baltimore, Md., got in a great plug for United Artists’ “Suddenly” and a safe driving campaign when he tied up with a towing service, bannered its truck appropriately on its sides, “Accidents Happen ‘Suddenly’,” and, with wrecked car behind, attracted wide attention as it toured the town. word “nigger” is used. Traub made it clear he would have pulled out the film scissors himself if Columbia had not done so. Columbia has agreed to delete the word, not only in films to be shown in Maryland but in every print of the film in the country, said Traub. Joe Grant, owner, Northwood, is con¬ templating a trip to Canada. — G. B. Federalsburg Pearl Bryant, Schine’s Federal, suc¬ ceeded in getting an editorial in The Federalsburg Times which pointed up the new movie season. Leonardtown The Waldorf, Waldorf, Md., has in¬ stalled CinemaScope. The house is now leased from Ike Weiner by Manney Lewis. . . . Johnny Levy is now assistant manager. Plaza, Lexington Park, Md., and Billy Anosen has been switched to the Park. . . . George Morgan Knight, Jr., Motion Picture Exhibitor’s south¬ ern Maryland correspondent, has been named area correspondent for The Wash¬ ington Post and Times Herald as well as for United Press. Joan Bradburn is the new cashier at the Park, Lexington Park, Md. Salisbury Joe McCann, Schine’s Wicomico, had an outstanding campaign on “Rear Win¬ dow” which featured “Rear Window” photo contest for which he tied up with a local photographic studio. The three winners were awarded prizes. In addition, the winning photos were displayed in the camera shop window for a week, with suitable copy. The theatre awarded passes to the run¬ ners-up. The contest was picked up by the local station, roughly, $200 worth of free publicity. The night time disc joc¬ key plugged the contest thi’ee times nightly during his show, which is directly beamed at the high school crowd, sug¬ gesting to wives and mothers that they have their teen-age children or relatives enter the contest. The station also played “Lisa” on afternoon and night time shows. McCann also tied up with a local music store for a window on the pic¬ ture, particularly “Lisa,” and also had a window for a sporting goods store on the binocular angle. The local weekly paper ran its “Inquiring Photographer” using the question, “James Stewart in a current movie sees a crime committed from his ‘Rear Window.’ What is the most interesting thing you’ve seen from your ‘Rear Window’ ? ” The newspaper also gave a two-column scene mat on this, as well as a reader. Pennsylvania Allentown “.4re our children learning that truth and honesty are the basics in the mod¬ ern way of life?” was a question asked of 800 educators by Dr. Hubert H. Race at the opening program of the BusinessEducation program held in the Fabian Colonial. The Colonial, Henry Romig manager, has been the headquarters for the opening session of B-E day for the four years of the educational event’s existence. _ g_ Eynon The Eynon closed indefinitely. Harrisburg The Rio finally closed. Francis DeVerter, who managed the Rio for a number of years, is due for an out-of-town assignment. Assistant manager Harvey Miller has gone over to the Colonial with manager Jack O’Rear. “Brigadoon” came to town at Loew’s with considerable ballyhoo arranged by manager William Riding and assistant Ken Steckline. A traveling six-sheet toured the city and countryside before the film’s opening; a street stunt was staged with a girl garbed in Scottish attire ; heralds were given out in an album contest; and in a tieup a shop featured a “Brigadoon” wedding gown. Lauritz Garman, Balto. Veteran Passes BALTIMORE, MD. — The trade last week mourned the passing of Lauritz Garman, a partner in the ownership of the Uptown, Pikes, and Avalon, who died at Union Memorial Hospital following a pro¬ longed illness. He was an ex-chief barker, Var¬ iety Club, and a former present Allied Motion Picture Theatre Own¬ ers of Maryland, Inc. He was also active in the Masonic order and a Shriner. Philly Art "War” Hits Newspapers PHILADELPHIA— What appears to be an “art film” battle for patronage has hit town, it was observed last fort¬ night with, so far, the newspapers the only ones benefitting from some nice display advertising. Exceptional Films announced a series of “prize foreign pictures, film classics, films of fact and social documentation, of psychiatry and the arts, film poems, experimental films and avant garde ef¬ forts, films by distinguished directors of a dozen nations, etc.,” at the Frank¬ lin Institute, with membership limited and 13 programs through next May. Cinema Guild promises “unusual cul¬ tural films for adults. Ten excellent pro¬ grams for private showing in the com¬ fort and intimacy of the Wayne Avenue Playhouse,” operated by Joe Conway. “You will, as a member, see films by famous directors, by pioneers in avant garde techniques; films of superb art¬ istry; in conception, in scripting, in photography and in recording. Films rarely seen because of their controversial nature. Performances will be held Sun¬ day afternoons and Wednesday nights, once each month. Admission by mem¬ bership only.” In addition, local theatres currently with art policies are the SW Lane and Commodore, the Green Hill, Hill, Studio, Locust, and a few others. Dr. and Mrs. Samuel Goldstein, Paytang, Paxtang, Pa., were in Atlantic City on a combination business and pleasure trip. Kennett Square Dave Brodsky is now doing his own buying and booking for the Auditorium. Luzerne The Luzerne closed due to local conditions. Myerstown Samuel D. Giacomo reopened the Hiway. New Cumberland Frank Freistock opened the Shore Drive-In with capacity for 500 cars. Milgram Theatres, Philadelphia, is handling the buying and booking. New Holland Stanley Peters, who also has the Ritz, St. Clair, Pa., is now doing the buying and booking for the Ritz. Palmyra Stanley Warner Theatres did not re¬ new its lease on the Seltzer. H. R. Seltzer and his wife, owners, are now operating it themselves. Reading Up in Schuylkill Haven, with one theatre, borough council put in force a curfew law, barring youngsters from the streets after nine p.m., except when accompanied by parents, eveiy weekday night. Sunday is excepted. November 3, 1954