The Exhibitor (1954)

MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR NT-3 Delaware Wilmington City Council approved the ordinance cutting in half the Wilmington license fee of $600 paid by motion picture thea¬ tres when the measure was presented for its final reading by Pierce V. Marvel, Republican, although Paul G. Donohue, Democrat, voted no. The new license will cost $300 for houses with up to 750 seats, while for cinemas with more than 750 seats there will be a 10-cent charge for each additional chair per year. Theatres paid a $300 annual city license fee before January, 1947, when the fees for all businesses in the city were doubled. The new fee bill will now be submitted to Mayor August F. Walz, whose approval is necessary before it becomes effective. . . . The photo pro¬ ducts plant and laboratory of the Du Pont Company in Parlin, N. J., paid out $1,712,831 in purchases of materials and services and $8,389,128 in payi’oll during 1953, according to an announcement by the firm. The Crest, Woodcrest, Del., not to be outdone by the legitimate theatre, opened with “The Caine Mutiny” film simultaneously with the stage production, “The Caine Mutiny Court Martial,” at the Playhouse, and the coincidental booking got both theatres mentioned in “Of This ’n’ That,” The Wilmington Morning News column by Betty Bur¬ roughs. . . . Morning News sports editor Marty Levin devoted a full column to the 25-years-ago sportswriting efforts of Henry L. Sholly, Motion Picture Exhibitor correspondent. . . . Mid¬ night shows for New Year’s Eve were held at the Rialto, H. S. Eskin’s Queen, SW Warner, SW Towne, SW Grand, and Loew’s Aldine. Pietro A. dalGesso, assistant manager, Rialto, resigned. . . . Paul Robert Baskin joined the Rialto replacing Bill Bederman, resigned. . . . Birthday anniversaries were celebrated by three Rialto projec¬ tion staffers in one week: Oliver P. Jones, Aaron Knopf, and Joseph Piekarski. — H. L. S. Maryland Baltimore Funeral services were held for one of Baltimore’s best-known theatre man¬ agers. He was H. Ted Routson, 58, who died from double pneumonia and other ailments at Sinai Hospital. Burial was at his childhood home of Waynesboro, Pa. Routson, a one-time vaudeville dan¬ cer, came to Baltimore from Philadelphia 25 years ago. Most of his career he w'as associated with the I. M. Rappaport Theatres, particularly the Hippodrome. In later years he had been managing director. Playhouse, and held that capacity at the time of his death. Walter Gettinger, part owner, Howard, and Mrs. Gettinger expect their second “blessed event” in June. . . • Joseph Grant, owmer, Noi'thwmod, is vacationing in Florida. . . . The Baltimore’s Variety Club’s new board of governors took office, including new Chief Barker Jack Whittle. . . . Frank J. Durkee, head, Durkee 'Small fry and their escorts swelled the attendance at the SW Stanton, Philadel¬ phia, recently to see RKO’s puppet fea¬ ture, “Hansel and Gretel.” Record crowds were attracted to the theatre managed by A1 Plough. Enterprises, is expected to leave next w'eek for Florida, to remain the rest of the winter. . . . Frank Scully, formerly of MGM, was visiting in towm from Boston. . . . Max Weinberg, independent producer, and previously with MGM, wms in Baltimore over the w'eekend, visiting wdth Rodney Collier, Stanley’s manager. Weinberg has just returned from Swit¬ zerland. William G. Myers, owner, DeLuxe, has returned from a visit to Pocomoke City, Md. . . . Wilbur Brizendine, vice-presi¬ dent, Schw'aber Theatres, and Mrs. Bidzendine spent the recent holidays in Florida. . . . Bob Rappaport, Towm and Hippodrome, attended the opening night of “South Pacific.” J. Law’rence Schanberger, w^ho w-as as¬ sociated with Keiths for over 27 years, wdll be honored wdth a testimonial dinner at the Baltimore Variety Club on the evening of Jan. 18. Mayor’s Governor Theodore McKeldin, and Baltimore’s Mayor Thomas D’Alesandro, Jr, have promised to attend. Prior to taking over Keiths, Schanberger w^as manager, Maryland, which housed the former twoa-day Keith Circuit vaudeville. He is cur¬ rently associated with St. James Hotel here. Pete Prince, MGM, is general chairman of the affair. This arresting lobby display for 20thFox’s “There’s No Business Like Show Business” was set at the Fox, Philadel¬ phia, where the film is currently rack¬ ing up smash grosses. Milton Schwaber, head, Schwaber Theatres, was in New York on business. — G. B. Leonardtown Mrs. Sadie Van Hoose, concessionist. Park, Lexington Park, Md., who comes from England and is married to a naval officer, spent the holiday season in Nor¬ folk, Va. . . . William Land and his wife. Park and Plaza, Lexington Park, Md., spent the holidays with relatives in Portsmouth, Va. . . . The six Sidney Lust Theatres in Prince George and Montgomery Counties held Christmas parties and admitted kids free if they brought gifts of toys or canned food which was distributed to needy families in the vicinity. New Jersey Camden Local police seized a pair of alleged safe-crackers with a wad of money said to have been stolen from the Crescent, West Collingswood, N. J. Detectives Join the parade of Exhibitors switching to Best for CinemaScope . . . Best for VistaVision Distributed by Superior Theatre Equipment Co. Call or Write HARRY BRILLMAN for Prompt Service 1315 Vine Street. Philo. 7. Pa., LO 3-9020 PROGRESSIVE ELECTRIC CONSTRUCTION CO., INC. 240 N. 13th STREET • PHILADELPHIA 7, PA. • Theatre Installations and Maintenance Ail New Exploitation Pictures — Playing to Big tirosses ... ROSE ROAD SHOWS 1015 New Jersey Ave., N.W. Wash., D. C. ST 3-8940 WANTED: MANAGER For art operation and also house manager or strong, experienced assistant that knows theatre operation of Eastern North Carolina. Write full qualifications and salary expected. Care of: BOX 156 M. P. EXHIBITOR. 246-48 N. Clarion St., Phila. 7, Pa. Jim 1k& MARCH OF DIMES Jo/uiMy 3-31 January 12, 1955