The Exhibitor (1955)

MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR NT-1 OTiWS or inr Chicago Jack Kirsch, president, Allied Thea¬ tres of Illinois, will depart with his wife toi' a Miami Beach sojourn. . . . Jack (lould, former Paramount salesman, joined the H. D. Lee Company. . . . Mrs. Fiorello La Guardia, widow of the Little Flower, visiting friends, at¬ tended a sneak preview of “New York Confidential.” . . . Nate Platt, B and K executive, and his wife celebrated their '29th wedding anniversary. “Kibitzers” of the staff presented Mrs. Platt with a medal for “service beyond the call of duty.” Charles P'eldman, U-1 general sales manager, and Manny Gottlieb, district manager, opened a new branch in Minne¬ apolis. . . . Sunset Drive-In made its spi'ing debut with a huge new so’een. . . . The 500-car 0-C Midway Drive-In, Greencastle, Ind., was scheduled to be placed on sale at the Central National Rank, Greencastle, on March 22. Popcorn prices were lower i-ecently ac¬ cording to the latest report of the Illi¬ nois Cooperative Crop Reporting Service. . . . Ben American Horse, 81, Indian cousin of Chief Crazy Hoi'se, was due here to exploit U-Ps picture by the latter name. The oldster is touring the midwest for the film. . . . Walter E. Heller Com¬ pany, film financiers, declared a 35 cent dividend on common stock payable March 31. Van A. Nomikos, theatie owner and member. Variety Club, is recovering at home after surgery. . . . Arnold Monnette, 2()th-Fox sales, went to Mayo clinic for a checkup. . . . Kosta Lambros leased the Avon for showing of Greek pictures on weekends. . . . Terry Turner, assistant producei', “Gangbusters,” came to exploit the film. Danny Newman, Astor owner, and his wife, Dena Halpeni, will depart soon for Tel Aviv where she will act in plays and also direct them. Newman will be producer. . . . Max Roth secuied distri¬ bution in this area for “Gangbusters.” . . . C. V. Clark was named manager. Lyric and 51 Outdoor, Stevens Point, Wis. .Alvin Frank, veteran theatreman and .\stor manager, put to good use lessons in detective work gained from viewingfilms. He spotted a man in the theatre whose deft actions led him to believe he might he a pickpocket. He called in a strolling plainclothes police friend who recognized the suspect as a professional dip. The fellow received a stiff jail sen¬ tence. . . . Decatur, Ill., went on day¬ light saving by vote of the residents. John Field, Shore managei', observed his 29th year as a theatreman. . . . Harry Rouda, Frolic manager, and his wife returned from a California vaca¬ tion which they took foi Mi’S. Rouda’s couvah'scence. . . . George Kerasotes, Jack Kir.sch, president, Allied Theatres of Illinois, and recently elected Chief Barker, Variety Club of Illinois, Tent 26, is seen recently delivering his first official address at the installation dinner of the Club at the Congress Hotel. seci'etai'y and general manager, Kera¬ sotes Theatres, Springfield, Ill., and his wife took a Miami vacation. Abe Teitel went to New York to secure product for his World Playhouse. . . . Danny Newman, Astor owner, took a business trip to Boston. . . . Sam Levinsohn, used seat dealer and his wife are sojourning at Miami Beach. William Tuttle, MGM makeup chief, here for conferences, gave beauty demonstrations in a department stoi-e. . . . Theatre owner Harry Nepo is better after hospitalization. . . . The Carlton, Carrollton, Ill., has a new wide screen. . . Milton Guinn purchased the Mars, Martinsville, Ill., from Nat Fitzjarrald. Ben Berve, 67, owner, Rochelle Theaties, Ill., <lied here. . . . Judith Lindmark,Essaness staff, is recoveringfollowing hospitalization from a fall on an icy sti-eet. . . . Harriet Stone, B and K Staff, vacationed in Texas. . . . The pio¬ neer Majestic, Jacksonville, Ill., sold re¬ cently by Fox Midwest, is to be converted into a store. Suzanne, daughter of Jack Rose, Man¬ ta and Rose Cii'cuit, will be married at the Covenant Club on April 2 to Bernard Spak. Dr. Louis L. Mann and Rabbi Melvin Goldstein will perfoi-m the cere¬ mony. Murry Rose, son of Jack, and his wife. Union, N. J., will be present. . . . Ralph .4dai-ic was named Ziegfeld assistant manager, following the resig¬ nation of Arthur Belasco, who went to Florida. William K. Hollander, B and K press chief, and his wife celebi-ated 43 years togethei'. They say their finest anniver¬ sary gift is their new granddaughter, Lisa Ann. . . . Tony Padulo, Civic Opera dooi'inan foi 25 yeai's, retired. Asso¬ ciates .gave him gifts and a farewell party. . . . Grace Blaney, Warners stall', vacatioiu'd in Florida. A press conference which served as a kick-off for the testimonial banquet at which Jack Kirsch, piesident of Allied Theatres of Illinois and chief barker. Variety Club, will be honoied for his seivices to the community and to the State of Israel, was a success. On that occasion, April 19, at the Covenajit Club, Jack Benny will he presented with the Shipping Union Sues Columbia Chicago — A .$750,000 suit was filed in Fedei-al Judge La Buy’s court against Columbia by Patrick J. Cullnan, Jr., individually and as piesident. Local 374, International Brotherhood of Longshore¬ men, and S.vlvester A. PTirst, secretarytreasurer of the union. Asher, Gubbins, and Segal! represent the plaintiffs. An injunction is also asked against furtheishowings of the motion picture, “On the Waterfront,” which is named as the basis for the suit. The complaint states that the picture “depicts Longshoremen’s Local union 374” and its officials “as being hoodlums and gangsters” and that the union is “under the control of hoodlums, gang¬ sters and strongarm men who disregard completely the interests of the members” and who “use the union only as a means of extorting and obtaining funds for their own personal use.” The complaint furthur recites, “Said film depicts the illegal, corrupt, and dis¬ honest operations of the officers. . . . through pictures and wards” and “shows that the union and its officers are beinginvestigated by a public investigation commission, ’’and that “through clever and very talented acting and portrayal the officers of the union are represented ... as being stern, callous, brutal, hai'd heai-ted, and savage men. “To maintain and continue the busi¬ ness of said Local, it is necessary that it enjoy and continue to hold the confidence of its members. . . .” and that Columbia “maliciously and wickedly intended to injui-e, cause in-eparable damage to, and desti'oy the business of said Local.” first Eliezer Kaplan award for his suppoit, through Israel bond rallies, of Israel’s economic development program. Kirsch is foi'iner president. National Al¬ lied, and is cuirently a regional vicepresident. Among his civic activities have been chairman, amusement divi¬ sion, Jewish Welfare Fund, Combined Jewish Appeal, B’nai B’rith, Red Cross, Community Fund, March of Dimes, Heart Fund, Boy Scouts, and many othei's. He was founder of Chicago Cinema Lodge, B’nai B’rith, served for two terms as president, and is now honorary chairman of the board. The conference was called by Judge Henry L. Burman, chairman of the board of governors. Greater Chicago committee for State of Isi-ael bonds. Jack Rose, Indiana Illinois Theatres, heads the amusement committee foi the Kirsch testimonial at which 650 are expected. Individual dinner reservations are be¬ ing made through the purchase of a $1,000 Israel bond. Tom Flannery, presi¬ dent, White Way Sign and Maintenance Company, started oflT jmrchases at the press conference with a large block. Kirsch said he was touched and proud to be so honored and added that he takes great joy in participating in the bond program. Abe Teitel, .A. Teitel Film Company, s<-cured distribution of “Davy (Jrockri t , March 30, 1955 MIDWESTWESTERN