The Exhibitor (1954)

NT-2 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR ^Members of the Christmas show sponsored by New York’s Cinema Lodge, B’nai B’rith for the patients of Will Rogers Memorial Hospital, Saranac Lake, N. Y., are seen being welcomed to the hospital by Dr. George E. Wilson, medical director. Seen, left to right, are Ned E. Shugriie, executive director of the hospital; Burton E. Robbins, president. Cinema Lodge; pianist Irving Sacher, in rear; Dr. Wilson; Dario Cassini, singer; Margie Coates, national director of silk and welfare for American Guild of V'ariety Artists and also a performer; “Professor” Ballantine, comedy magician; Buddy Roth, master of ceremonies; and Bob Coffey, harmonica player. Milt Livingston, vice-president and publicity chairman, Cinema Lodge, accompanied the troupe and took this photograph. honored at a luncheon at the Robert Treat Hotel. Executives of the many film companies in New York and office executives attended. New York State Albany Cooperation of Albany Variety Club and Colonie Lions Club in a camp pro¬ ject for underprivileged girls of the area was slated for discussion at a Va¬ riety meeting on Jan. 3. Chief Barker George H. Schenck invited Lions officers to attend the meeting. Possibility of a joint arrangement was suggested when officials of both groups met at Mayor Erastus Coming’s chambers in City Hall for a “Times-Union” picture with Tim Anspach, who conducted a used car dealers’ auction. Last year. Tent 9 received the net proceeds of a similar auction. The Stanley Warner zone offices on the second floor of the Strand building were closed following the departure of Charles A. Smakwitz to his new post for the circuit in Newark, N. J. The third floor, with its screening room, probably will be used for storage pur¬ poses. James Totman, assistant to Harry Feinstein, New Haven zone boss, will supervise the Albany sector, from New Hampshiie. “Hansel and Gretel,” puppet feature which headlined the Christmas bill at the Palace, had an extra pitch for chil¬ dren via a three-day coloring contest conducted in cooperation with Albany Public Market and The Knickerbocker News. A total of 35 prizes were offered to youngsters. Car giveaways by Fabian Theatres accelerated business for single nights in Albany and Schenectady, N. Y., during the pre-Christmas slowdown. Here, Palace and Leland were reported attract¬ ing good-sized houses wdth the pro¬ motion. Newspaper advertising called attention to “Surprise Nite . . . You May Be the Lucky Patron to Take Home the Prize Gift of Your Life!” A group insertion supplemented individual plug¬ ging by Proctor’s Plaza, State, and Erie. Winnei* in Albany was a man present at Palace, already a car owner. The Chevrolet sedan was displayed in that theatre’s lobby for two weeks prior to the big evening. Manager Bill With set up the promotion locally. Guy Graves, Jr., son of Guy A. Graves, Schenectady, N. Y., city manager for Fabian and assistant secretary to Governor Thomas E. Dewey, was ex¬ pected to join the Republican State Committee staff when W. Averell Harriman became chief executive. A post-Christmas week vacationer was Norman Jackter, Columbia manager, who spent it with Mrs. Jackter and their three children in New York City. . . . Milton Levins, head booker-office manager, had charge in Jackter’s absence. Jackter journeyed to Boston for a meeting with Boston and New Haven managers on the handling of CinemaScope pictures and prints. Company’s first such release is “Violent Men.” Jackter spent three days in New York, the week before the Boston confab, on business wdth Liggett and Florin and United Paramount Theatres. A 34-year career in the Paramount exchange ended for Mrs. Marie B. Eddy, cashier and former office manager, when she retired at her own request. Mrs. Eddy is believed to have established the longest record of continuous tenure wdth a distributing company in Albany. The employees honored the veteran at the branch’s Christmas party in Keeler’s Restaurant when manager Dan Houlihan presented a handsome gift from fellow workers and exhibitors. Among con¬ tributors in the latter ranks were the Benton, Kallet, and Schine circuits. Eastern division manager Hugh Owen sent a letter of appreciation when Mrs. Eddy notified the company she planned to retire. Marge Doran, booker’s secre¬ tary and a Paramount payrolee for 30 years, succeeded Mrs. Eddy as cashier. Another long-timer, Viola McKosky, ledger clerk, recently became a member of the Paramount 25-Year Club. Man¬ ager Houlihan presented Miss McKosky with a wrist watch and scroll to mark that milestone. Edgar S. Van Olinda, film critic and columnist, Albany Times-Union, reported on the world premiere of Warners “The Silver Chalice,” Schine’s Pontiac, Sar¬ anac Lake, N. Y., after returning from Harry Goffman, Brooklyn and Queens business representative. Movie Oper¬ ator’s Union, Local 306, was recently the recipient of a testimonial plaque given by tbe IMovie Social Club of Kings County, Inc., Brooklyn, N. Y. In addition, be was presented a gold card signifying life membership in the club, comprised of several hundred projectionists of Local 306. At a recent RKO regional sales meeting in New York City the release of Howard Hughes’ J'echnicolor-Superscope special, “Underwater I” was discussed and a minimum of 32 openings in key branch cities was announced for early February. Nat Levy, eastern-southern division sales manager is seen addressing the session at the Hotel Warwick; and seen on the dais, left to right are Edward L. Walton, executive assis¬ tant to President J. R. Grainger; Walter Branson, world wide sales manager; Herbert H, Greenblatt, domestic sales manager; and Sidney Kramer, short subjects sales manager. At a luncheon during the meeting were, left to right, Milton Platt, assis¬ tant to the midwestern district manager and the eastern central district manager; Se.vmour Poe and Irving Lesser, both producers’ representatives. January 5, 1955