The Exhibitor (1954)

NT-2 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR Kansas City R. R. Thompson, former salesman, Warners, has been appointed the new branch manager for Buena Vista Films, covering the Kansas City, Omaha, and Des Moines territories. He replaces Jack Frost who died recently. R. M. “Bob” Shelton has been named president, Commonwealth Theatres. His connection with Commonwealth started 22 years ago as manager for the circuit houses in Warrensburg, Mo. He was then transferred to Kansas City as film buyer for two years, after which he became general manager. Roy Holloway has purchased the Kesner, Leroy, Kans. The theatre was previously owned by the late Ray Miner and has been run by his wife since his death. , . . Edna Johnson has been em¬ ployed as the new bookkeeper. Popper’s Supply, replacing Belle Bowman. . . . Howard E. Jameyson, recently appointed board chairman. Commonwealth Circuit, has been awarded a gold lifetime National Theatres pass. The pass was presented by National Theatre president Elmer C. Rhoden. Los Angeles Howard Schreiber, son of Alex St.hreiber, who operates the Paradise, is spending his honeymoon in Honolulu. . . . Robert Kronenberg, Manhattan Films, returned from New York, where he closed a deal for the distribution of 26 new releases. . . . John P. Filbert, Jr., J. P. Filbert Company, is engaged to Jmarry Lillian Anderson, MGM. They ^plan an early spring wedding. A1 Lapidus has moved his popcorn plant from its old location to Washing¬ ton Boulevard and Vermont Avenue. . . . Ben Levin, General Theatre Com¬ pany, was in from San Francisco for the holidays. . . . Celebrating his birth¬ day was Dave Bershon, Leimert, Leimert Park, Cal. . . . Sherrill Corwin, presi¬ dent, Metropolitan Theatres, is vacation¬ ing with his family in Hawaii. . . . Jack Sherriff, Realart, acquired a new Buick. Back at her post after a bout with the virus was Gladys Camp, Warners booker’s stenog. . . . Fred Stein, Met¬ ropolitan Theatres, was in Lompoc, Gal., to attend the opening of the newly ac¬ quired Lompoc. ... In town to buy and book were Joe Markowitz, La Paloma, Encinitas, Cal.; Hugh McKee, Montrose, Montrose, Cal.; George Page, Fair Oaks, Arroyo Grande, Cal.; and Clare Allison, Wilshire, Fullerton, Cal. Gregoiy F. Duffy, 55, president. Met¬ ropolitan Engraving Company, Metropol¬ itan Mat Service, and Cinema Arts, Inc., died of a heart attack while playing golf at the Bel-Air Country Club. Active in many fraternal organizations, he was a member of Variety Club Tent 25. He is survived by his widow, two sons, two brothers and five grandchildren. Milwaukee Jack Frackman, manager, Republic, IS back on Film Rov. after a siege in Dorothy Haley, Mary Creighton, and Paula Grubstick recently presented a check for $1,750 to John Parsons, chief barker. Variety Club, Tent 32, for the benefit of the Tent’s Blind Babies’ Foundation. The proceeds come from the sale of Christmas cards in the San the hospital. . . . Ralph Farrington, Fen¬ way, Fennimore, Wis., has sold his thea¬ tre. Theatre Service is now doing the buying and booking. Jack Frost, well known salesman in the territory, died. . . . Harry Oshan, branch manager, Columbia, was vacation¬ ing in Florida, and also vacationing from Columbia was Dave Chapman, who went to Mexico. Oshan’s son, Alan, is engaged to be married to Marilyn Podell, daughter of Morris Podell. Harry Weiss, salesman. Paramount, was honeymooning in Flolrida. . . . Ray and Oliver Trampe returned from a two day convention of the National Film Carriers Service at Chicago. . . . Dick Grede threw a party for the em¬ ployees of the Blue Mound Drive-In, Elm Grove, Wis., at the drive-in. Ethel Wilson, formerly manager. Bay, is now assistant cashier, Columbia. . . . Ralph Gromley, pioneer stage hand, Milwaukee, fractured his skull, fallingdown the stairs of the AFL Theatrical Stage Employees’ Union office while attending their Christmas party, and died shortly thereafter at the hospital. Ruddy Leddy was a Film Row visitor. . . . Gran Enterprises purchased the Century. The sale was approved by Federal Judge Robert E. Tehan for $92,000. This theatre was in bankruptcy reorganization in the Federal Court. . . . John Falco, district manager. Standard Theatres, Beloit, Wis., was named pres¬ ident, local Association of Commerce, with strong approval from The Beloit Daily News. Sol Hankin, district manager, Warner Theatres, many years ago, and film salesman, theatre manager, and state rights owner, is in the Jewish Hospital, St. Louis, after suffering a stroke. Minneapolis The local office of Buena Vista is preparing a releasing schedule for North Dakota and South Dakota situations on “The Living Desert,” “Stormy,” “The Vanishing Prairie,” and “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.” . . . George Engelking, booker. Paramount, has resigned and moved to California. . . . Harris Dudel son, Buena Vista midwest division man¬ ager, was in to call on Chai-les M. Wei¬ ner, local representative. Two members of the Paramount sales staff, Ernie Lund, city salesman, and Forrie Myers, sales manager, were pre¬ sented watches and pins for being with the company 25 years. The presentation was made by Byran D. (Buck) Stoner, midwest division manager. . . . Three MGM officials were in to testify at the Vo k t ail. They are C. M. Reagan, vicepresident in charge of sales and distri¬ bution; Jay Eisenburg, assistant general sa’cs manager, ard Burtis Bishop, Jr., midwest sales manager. Charles McCarthy, manager of MACO’s Dakota, Grand Forks, N. D., died at Grand Forks. He also had man¬ aged houses for Minnesota Amusement at Sioux Falls, S. D.; Austin, Minn.; and Mitchell, S. D. Well known in the industry, McCarthy at one time operated Film Transfer, here. . . . The Row also was saddened by the death of Jack Hayward, operator. Gem, New Richmond, Wisconsin. Joan Clemente, stenographer, War¬ ners, is engaged to Don Schwartz. . . . Jeanette duChene is the new stenogra¬ pher, Independent Film Distributors, re¬ placing Audrey Olson, who has joined Wei worth Amusement Company, here. . . . Evelyn Lukes, cashier, UA, is en¬ gaged to corporal Jim Glader. . . . Lois Hanson, stenographer, UA, is engaged to Virgil Lundberg. . . . Dorothy Wilk, former office manager. North Star Pic¬ tures, and her husband, Reno, operator of drive-ins in the territory, are on a tour of the southern states and the west coast. They plan to be gone about three months. Recent out-of-town exhibitors on the Row were Bob Berquist, Chisholm, Minn.; Howard Henry, Westhope, N. D,; Joe Carriere, Hallock, Minn., and Drayten, N. D.; and Bernie Larkin, Madelia, Minn. . . . Herb Greenblatt, RKO do¬ mestic sales manager, was in. . . , Gerry Holdvogt, assistant cashier, Columbia, is engaged to Dennis Stalberger. . . . Jean Salzman, inspectress, Columbia, married Don Seep and has left the exchange. They are living in Virginia. Ethel Curtiss, former contract clerk, Columbia, has joined the office staff of 20th-Fox, Washington. . . . Muriel Woodfill, clerk 20th-Fox, is engaged. Oklahoma City On the day Mr. and Mrs. Glen Thomp¬ son, Thompson Theatres, were to have left for Florida, Mrs. Thompson fell and broke her hip. She is in St. Anthony hospital. . . . Jim Hudgens, office man¬ ager, Columbia, has been transferred to Houston, Tex. as office manager. . . . Henry Walje and Tom Dyer have sold the Star, Minco, Okla., to C. J. Micholicka and George Walje. . . . A. D. Smith has sold the Mars, Dawson, Okla., to Earl Frederick . Walter White sold the Alex, Alex, Okla., to Clyde Wallace. . . . Reggie Pappas, branch manager Buck Weaver’s secretary. Para¬ mount, spent the New Year’s holidays in Tulsa, Okla. . . . Delveta Armstrong-, Jamiary 12, 1955