The Exhibitor (1954)

MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR NT-1 ivisws or rnr: Chicago Sam Brodsky, U-I country salesman, retired after 30 years of service. . . . Robert Jacobson joined the IFE staff. . . . Engraved watches telling of their 25 years of service were awarded by Columbia to Mun Da La.no, office man¬ ager; Sam Lamansky, head shipper; and Emanuel Hester, assistant shipper. Ben Cohen, a little past the 65 retire¬ ment milestone, retired from The Chic¬ ago Tribune art department where he had specialized in show business draw¬ ings. He has now branched into the freelance field. Eddie Fitzgibbons went to the Para¬ mount studios where he conferred with the other regional publicity men. . . . Gil Bartell, Filmack, holidayed with his mother in New York. . . . Manager Henry Stevens visited relatives in Wisconsin after closing the Twin DriveIn. . . . Erwin Noyer, Nortown man¬ ager, was well received in an address before the Rogers Park PTA. Irwin Long, formerly with IFE, was named booker at Walt Disney Produc¬ tions. . . . Jim Shields, chief in the B and K accounting department, came back from a vacation. Peter K. Stamison, 82, owner, former Oriental, which he sold 35 years ago, passed on. He is survived by his widow and three sons. . . . Ralph Boice, owner. Strand, and Centennial, War¬ saw, Ind., announced he will give the latter house, which he bought in 1951, a $50,000 remodeling. Morton Marks, toy tycoon, who has a host of friends among theatremen, sent a truckload of gifts to La RabidaJackson Park Sanitarium to brighten Christmas for the youngsters there. . . . Charles Beninati installed a wide-screen in his Ritz, Carlyle, Ill. . . . Max Roth added distribution of DCA films. Theatreman James Coston and his wife are visiting their six grandchildren in California. Coston was recently elected president of the Police Pension Board on which he has served for many years. . . . Ray Bell closed his Roxy, Stonington. Ill. . . . Sam Kaplan, manager, Albert Dezel, Inc., announced the film was appointed to distribute “Intimate Relations” in Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin. E. E. Alger and H. R. Alger held a cocktail party in connection with the opening of their new theatre offices in the Art Theatre Building, Peru, Ill. The Negoa, Negoa, Ill., was reopened by Kermit A. Bushur under the sponsor¬ ship of local merchants. . . . A1 Morey resigned as head of Officials Films here and joined Kling Films. . . . John Balaban, B and K chief, back fi'om his hotel holdings at La Ouinta, Cal., reports the spot has become a Mecca for the movie colony. Seymour F. Simon, theatre attorney, has announced his candidacy for aiderman of the 40th ward. He has the backing of the regular Democratic or¬ ganization. He was graduated from Noi’th western University in 1935 with Phi Beta Kappa honors and was winner of the Kirk Oratorical Contest. In 1938, he was awarded the Northwestern degree of Doctor of Jurisprudence after lead¬ ing his class in scholarship for the three-year term. From 1938 to 1942 he was special attorney for the anti-trust division of the Department of Justice. He served in the Pacific area of the Navy from 1942 to 1945 and was award¬ ed the Legion of Merit. He started his law practice here in 1946 and since then has won several theatre suits. Among his memberships are Variety Club, Standard Club, Chicago Bar Associa¬ tion, Albany Park Post American Legion, and Albany Park Bert Roller Chapter American Veterans’ Commit¬ tee, of which he has been chairman. Dallas The Capitol, Amarillo, Tex., was gutted by an early morning fire, which also damaged a hotel and several stores. Owned by the Coon Estate, the theatre was operated by Trans-Texas Thea¬ tres, Inc. Denver Ethel Merman, who makes Denver her home, and Mitzi Gaynor were here for the opening of “There’s No Busi¬ ness Like Show Business” at the Centre. They were introduced to the crowd by Frank H. Ricketson, Jr., president. Fox Inter-Mountain Theatres. Miss Mer¬ man was also present at the opening of the theatre during a spring snow¬ storm earlier this year. The New State is being torn down by Norman Probstein, who bought the house from Fox Inter-Mountain Theatres, to make way for a parking lot. This is the second house on Curtis Street that Probstein has torn down for a parking lot. Civic Theatres closed their four thea¬ tres the day before Christmas so the employees could be at home with their families Christmas eve. . . . Sandra LaBarbara has been added as secretary at Buena Vista. Marylee King, booker, is setting up a system to do the booking at the Denver office for the exchange centres of Salt Lake City, Omaha, Kansas City, and Des Moines. Kenneth Lane Gwin, son of Mr. and Mrs. E. Merle Gwin, owners of the Zorn, Benkelman, Neb., has been nom¬ inated as a candidate for the newly set up United States Air Force Academy. Wayne Barton, formerly in the thea¬ tre business in this territory, and lately in Phoenix, Ariz., has sold his interests there and is looking for a location in this area. . . . Seen on Film Row were Delbert Stewart, Torrington, Wyo. ; Miss Marie Goodhand, Kimball, Neb.; Neal Breezley, Burlington, Colo.; .1. K. Powell, Wray, Colo.; Lauren McCon¬ nell, Imperial, Neb.; and Larry Starsmore, Colorado Springs, Colo. Des Moines The lowa-Nebraska Allied have ap¬ pealed directly to Walt Disney for more favorable terms in buying Dis¬ ney films, pointing out that under his new set up his representatives deal only with first-runs and important circuits. Leo Wolcott, chairman of the lowaNebraska Allied board, stressed that for many years the sub-runs and small town houses have played his films, even if they lost money on them, because “we felt your productions were of the wholesome, family type which did so much to raise the motion picture to its once high estate in public esteem.” Wolcott wrote, “We do trust that you will create ways and means whereby these small theatres will be offered your productions, as released, at rentals they can afford to pay.” The association also called upon the film companies to make a number of pictures available to the small exhibitors at fail', flat, and profitable rentals the houses can afford to pay, before the freshness of the pictures are gone. Those listed included MGM’s “Gone With the Wind” and “Julius Caesar;” Paramount’s “White Christmas;” 20th-Fox’s “There’s No Business Like Show Business;” War¬ ner’s “A Star is Born;” U-I’s “Sign of the Pagan;” Columbia’s “The Vio¬ lent Men;” Disney’s “Living Desert” and “Vanishing Prairie;” and U-A’s “Sitting Bull.” Kansas City The Barlow, Bird City, Kans., owned and operated by L. D. Barlow, has been sold to Paul Wheeler. . . . Rube Melcher, former owner. Popper’s Supply, died. The KMTA spring convention will be held on March 2 and 3 instead of March 8 and 9 as previously announced. The date has been changed in order not to conflict with the MGM Ticket Selling Workshop. . . . John Scott, who was a booker for Republic for about 15 years, has returned to his old job there. George Gabbert has resigned. R. P. Brous, president. Fox Midwest Theatres, has announced the sale of the State, West Frankfort, Ill., subject to a lease to Elf ran Theatres, Inc., Jack¬ sonville, Ill. The Jayhawk, Salina, Kans., has also been sold, subject to a lease to W. D. Fite. Los Angeles Among the many Christmas parties held on the Row was the annual Yuletide celebration of the Warner Club at the exchange. . . . Harry Rackin, Exhibitors Service, is recuperating from surgery at the Queen of Angels Hospital. . . . Over 450 Film Row Club members and their friends attended the Christmas dance held at the Hollywood Athletic Club. . . . Walt Disney’s Buena Vista Film Distribution Company has opened new offices on the Row’ with Wendell Bjorkman, formerly of RKO, in charge and Peter Thorne as Los Angeles sales representative. Recovering at Kaiser Hospital was Ben Judell, independent distributor, who sustained injuries when he was struck by a vehicle while crossing the street. . . . Jack Dabbs, general manager, Mill Januar'if 5, 1955 MIDWEST-WESTERN