The Exhibitor (1955)

MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR NT-3 c'ial introductory price of 75 cents for adults and children under 12 free. . . . Harry P. Vonderschmitt, 77, Indiana ex¬ hibitor who started in 1918, passed on at Bloomington, Ind. Survivors are his wife and a daughter. . . . Richard Orlikoff, theatre attorney, is beaming over his first child, James Edward. Dallas The Golden Jubilee Banquet honor¬ ing Claude C. Ezell was attended by more than .350 members of our American motion picture industry, representatives of the Dallas Variety Club, which he founded, and other well known dignitiaries. George Murphy, MGM star and good-will ambassador for the industry, served as toastmaster. Speakers for the evening included RKO ex-President Ned Depinet; Variety’s John Rowley; Wil¬ liam Gehring, general sales manager for 20th-Fox, representing Spyros Skouras, who was ill; Judge William McCraw; and Interstate’s R. J. O’Donnell. All lauded Ezell’s part in the growth of the film industry and each recalled hu¬ man interest stories which had happened as their paths had crossed through the years. Many of those attending the ban¬ quet were also in town for the three conventions, Texas Allied Theatre Own¬ ers Association, Texas Drive-In Theatre Owners Association, and the MGM Ex¬ hibitor Workshop. Cleo Moore, star of Columbia’s “Wo¬ men’s Prison,” was at the Rialto for a lobby party preceding the opening of the pictiu’e here. . . . Carl D. Levy, Beau¬ mont, Tex., general counsel, Jeflferson Amusement Company, was on hand to address the Texas Diive-In Theatie Owners Association convention. He talked against the proposed toll televi¬ sion, offering a rebuttal to the advan¬ tages of the system as outlined by its backers. . . . Shooting has been completed on “Hung Jury,” first full-length pro¬ duction by a new Dallas film company. The film is being produced by Norwanda Productions, Inc., and Universal Produc¬ tions, Inc., headed by Mrs. OHie M. Jones and Bill Locklin. A Dallas pre¬ miere of the film is scheduled for May 1, after it has been edited and a musical score added in Hollywood. This is the first .‘)5 mm. feature film pioduced in Dallas, according to Mrs. Jones. Nearly 100 exhibitors and other theatre executives were on hand to greet Steve Broidy, Allied Artists’ president, and Morey R. Goldstein, vice-president and genei-al sales manager, when they launched a 14-city tour, during which they tell the stoiy of the new Allied Artists. There was an eaily morning screening at the Tower Theatre of the ■■.\n Annapolis Story” and “Seven Angry Men.” There was a luncheon at the Town and Country Restaurant arranged by James A. Prichard, southern division sales manage!-. At the luncheon, Bi'oidy and Goldstein discussed the company’s plans for those pictures screened as well as three forthcoming productions, “The Big Combo,” “The Warrioi'S,” and “Shotgun.” .4t the luncheon each was giv¬ en a big lO-gallon Texas hat, making them boiiorai-y 'I'exan.s. John C. Elinn, dii-ectoi' of arlvertising and publicity, is accompanying them on the entiie nation¬ wide trip. Leo F. Samuels, Buena Vista presi¬ dent, and Charles Levy, director, adver¬ tising and publicity, were in and met with Caid Walker, executive vice-presi¬ dent, who ari'ived from Hollywood; Douglas Desch, Buena Vista southwest district sales supervisor; and Ed Terhune, Buena Vista field man, on forth¬ coming product. Denver The trustees of the Cooper Foundation Theatres at a recent regular meeting authorized the building of a new 1200seat theatre in Greeley, Colo. The ground was purchased several years ago, and the theatre itself is expected to cost about $.300,000. Pat McGee, general man¬ ager, states that he expects the theatre to be in operation on or about Oct. 1 of this year. Alberta Pike has given up hei lease on the Vogue, which she has been operat¬ ing as an art house the past seven years. She returned the house to the owner, Fred Brown, and has returned to work for Fox Inter-Mountain Theatres. Brown will continue to operate the house as an art theatre and has secured Merf Evans as manager. Evans, manager, Lakewood, is an inventor of a low cost .3-D and Cinemascope lens, which he has been using at Lakewood. . . . With ;i strike in progress at the Gallagher Transfer Company, principal transporter of film in the region, bookers have had to resort to other methods of transportation for their product. Realart has moved to 2081 Bi-oadway, with Hal Fuller now acting as their sales representative in the Denver and Salt Lake City areas. The American Releas¬ ing Corporation made a similar deal with Fuller. Laura Haughey will be office manager and booker foi the two com¬ panies. . . . Robei-t Quinn, formerly in Denver as a Paramount field publicity man, returns in a similar capacity for Warners. The past two years he has been western division manager and ad direc¬ tor, Stanley Warner Theatres. Seen on Film Row were Wilbui Wil¬ liams, Claude Graves, and Dick Koenig, Bouldei-, Colo.; Bud Brown, Phillipsburg, Kans.; Glen Wittstruck, Meeker, Colo.; Mrs. 0. D. Stevens and Mrs. R. H. Magor, Pine Bluffs, Wyo.; C. E. Mc¬ Laughlin, Las .Animas, Colo.; Mrs. Bert Lewis, Holyoke, Colo.; Dr. F. E. Rider, Wauneta, Neb.; Robert Smith, Steam¬ boat Springs, Colo.; Herbert Gum per, Center, Colo.; J. K. Powell, Wray, Colo.; Goo)-ge Kelloff, .Aguilar, Colo.; John Murray, Springfield, Colo.; Mitchell Kellotf, Ti'inidad, Colo.; Palmer .Allen, Moi-rell, Neb.; J. H. Roberts, Fort Morgan, Colo.; John Sawaya, Trinidad, Colo.; John Burton, Scottsblutf, Neb.; George and Harold McCoi-mick, Canon City, Colo.; Mr. and Mrs. Fred .Anderson, Eaton, Colo.; Irving Gilman, Salt Lake City; E. Merl Gwin, Benkelman, Neb.; Neil Beezley, Burlington, Colo.; Carmen Romano, Louisville, Colo.; Jim Kennedy, Bi-ighton, Colo.; Nervin Reed, Glenrock, Wyo.; and Ru.s.s Daiilerman, Salt Bake City. Des Moines .An 18-year-old usher was ari-ested for attempted arson in connection with two fires at the Des Moines, here. Both fires were put out before any extensive dam¬ age resulted. The usher, Eugene Showers, told police he set the fires because he was reprimanded by theatre officials for not doing his work. In both fires he aided in extinguishing the blaze. . . . The Jesup Lions Club, operator, theatre at Jesup, Iowa, has decided to close the house. The club said it would like to reopen the theatre if arrangements could be made for the showing of CinemaScope or some other wide screen projection. . . . Kenneth Moore, Logan, Iowa, has purchiised the Logan from Alan Gardner, who had operated it for rtvo years prior to the sale. Kansas City Don Clark has been named to succeed Chuck Decker, who resigned as head booker and office manager. Allied Artists, it was announced by R. M. Copeland, exchange manage!-. Clark, for the last four years, had been a booker for Para¬ mount. Prior to that he was a booker for Columbia. Thirty-two managers from the Com¬ monwealth Cii-cuit, consisting of only outdoo! men, convened for the MGM Workshop and thei! own convention. The meeting opened with Bob Shelton, p!-esident. Commonwealth, making some pertinent remarks about the Common¬ wealth, family and the virtues and am¬ bitions that Commonwealth desires to see in effect in drive-in operations this spiing. Shelton said, “Commonwealth is a family that believes in ideas and the execution of ideas can only come about th!-ough the cooperation of every man in the organization. M. B. Smith, directo! of advertising, acted as master of ce!-emonies during the sessions. He spoke to the managers about the f!-eedom of ideas and Commonwealth’s desire to see their manpower have a chance to gamble with all of the showmanship at their command. The theme of the meeting was a search in all departments for new angles that will help improve the cus¬ tomer’s impressions of drive-in operatio!is. Coui-fesy and sei-vice a!-e to get exti-a attention and d!-ive-in managers we!-e encouraged to stress slanted ap¬ peal toward family entertainment. The quality of the motion picture, the man¬ ager’s knowledge of it, and the angles used to stress its entertainment values will leceive high attention this year. Manage!-s we!-e also e!icoU!-aged to sur¬ vey policy with a!i extremely critical eye and to "let youi voices be heaid i!i the highest channels of your organiza¬ tion!” K. K. King, ma!iager, Rialto, Searcy, .Ark., j)!-esented the Brown and Bigelow calendar idea which is beingtested in nine towns in the company. F!-ed Muhmel, head, concession depart¬ ment, gave a detailed talk on new equip¬ ment and ideas. He displayed some clever 14-inch circles in five colors plugging vai-ious concession items. Dick Wommack, manager. Pawnee Drive-In, Noi-th Platte, Neb., gave a !-esume of “gagt and giiiimit-ks” whic-h ea!i be USe<l to fu!-llier showmanship et1'oi-ts, Maitin March 30, 1955