The Exhibitor (1955)

MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR NT-1 news or mi: Chicago Tom Flannery, White Way president, did such a splendid job on the Hotel Sherman round-the-block canopy that it was unveiled with fanfare. Mayor Dick Daley flipped the switch to set it aglow. A crane lifted atop the marquee beauti¬ ful chorines who tossed flowers down to the crowd. Bill Hollander, B and K press chief, and his wife went to New York for the confirmation of their granddaughter, Gail Florsheim. . . . Floyd Hauhe and Vernon Miller, who bought the State, Alton, Ill., are refurbishing the house. Miller is manager. Robert Duncan, 64, factory superin¬ tendent, Federal Sign, died, leaving two sons. . . . Kenneth Hibler closed, tem¬ porarily, his Eastern, Fort Wayne, Ind. . . . Hal Bowers’ Town, Lovington, Ill., was damaged by a booth fire, which caused temporary closing. First prize winner in Variety Club’s raffle was Harry Goldman, United Artists exchange manager, who received an auto¬ mobile. Other lucky ones, who took matched luggage, household utilities, and other articles were: A. Benesch, Steve Broidy, Tom Flannery, M. M. Gottlieb, John Kincaid, J. L. Keeshin, Robbie Mack, Herzl Mendelsohn, Ann Segal, and M. O. Wells. Getting their idea after watching “Marty” at the Chicago, Bert and Sid Shinderman are tossing a “Belles and Bachelors” five-day vacation at their Nippersink resort. It's for the unmarried, only. . . . Little Cinema was opened by the Quimby circuit, Fort Wayne, Ind., as the town’s first art house. ... A heart attack took the life of projectionist George A. Bee, Sr., while on duty in the Midwest booth. He had been a projec¬ tionist for 42 years. His son, George, and brother, Frank, are operators. Also surving is the widow. Interment was in St. Mary’s cemetery. The Circle, Hagerstown, Ind., was sold to a food market by Young Amusement Company. . . . Several theatremen are negotiating for a lease on the Stadium, Evanston, Ill. Formerly a movie house, it has been closed since the folding of the Showcase, a legit enterprise. . . . Arthur Samore temporarily shuttered his Ashland, Ashland, Ill. . . . Charles Hogan, who books for the Riverside, Coston Enterprises, was the guest of James Coston at his Eagle River, Wis., summer home. Illness caused Paul Musser to close his Lyric, Casey, Ill. He was unable to find a qualified operator to take over during his absence. . . . Bill Waring, Jr., widened the screen of his Waring’s Auto Drive-In, located between Carbondale and Murphysboro. Ill., to 80 feet. . . . Hector Bishop, United Artists’ Chicago branch manager Harry Goldman, at right of poster, was visited recently by starlets Marian Carr and Yvonne Doughty, who visited the exchange during their national junket drumbeating UA’s “Kiss Me Deadly.” manager, Coronet, Evanston, returned from another hospital stay. Tom Riordan carried on during his absence. . . . Kerasotes Theatres installed an aluminum screen at its outdoor, Decatur, Ill., said to be the first of its kind in northern Illinois. . . . S. J. Gregory, president, Alliance Amusement Company, is back from a west coast trip. Jerry and Ray Marks, and Martin Rosenfield, owners. Sunset and Double Drive-Ins, are building what may be the world’s largest outdoor. They are trans¬ forming an old stone quarry site into an al fresco setting, with a 2,500 car accom¬ modation, and 1,000 lawn chairs for those who don’t drive, at an expense of $750,000. Streetcar facilities will serve the non-drivers. Marvin Stout acquired and reopened the Dupo, Dupo, Ill. . . . With fat checks rolling in from writing Warners’ “Drag¬ net,” Dick Breen sent $5,000 to Fordham University, whose authorities helped fi¬ nance him through college. . . . Floyd Burdette, owner, Bel-Air Drive-In, Rich-, mond, Ind., donated proceeds of a show to the town’s high school athletic department. Henry Alsher relighted the Nox, New Haven, Ill. . . . Irving Mack, Filmack head, spent some time in his New York offices. . . . James Jovan, Monroe man¬ aging director, who flew to Europe with his son Eddie to make contacts for his Globe Film Company, spent several days in London, Paris, and Rome, and was last heard from in Athens. Another son, William, is managing the Monroe during their absence. . . . Russell Kelley reopened the Bel-Air Drive-In. Versailles, Ind. William Asturrizoga is putting himself through the American Institute of Bank¬ ing by night cashiering at the Astor. High scholarship won him an award at a recent Institute banquet. . . . Chester Reid reopened his Aloha, Clifton, Ill., fol¬ lowing improvements. . . . M. J. Metzner, who rose rapidly in B and K ranks, was named Howard manager. Milton Reingold, Devon owner, is pro¬ ceeding with plans to reestablish the 400, closed for several years. Brilliantly lighted posts will be erected on an unusually wide sidewalk, in addition to a new marquee. to signal thousands of motorists on the Sheridan Road main highway. The house, which is in the business and office block recently purchased by Reingold, will be modernized. Balaban and Katz ticket-takers are gleaming in brand-new navy blue suits, with gold buttons. “We look like admirals,” one of the gatemen commented. The suits will be cleaned every week. . . . Wilbur Rccke, Tazewell manager, Wash¬ ington, Ill., for seven years, took over the lease from Sam T. Traynor, who purchased the Eureka and Washington from Bailey Enterprises. A. Keuss, Jr., is closing his Town, New Athens, Ill., for the summer. . . . David L. Smith, Miller manager, Woodstock, Ill., who came from the Riverside, Milwaukee, promoted splendid cooperation from mer¬ chants after he was told on his arrival it couldn’t be done. . . . Whether “The Miracle,” banned by the Chicago police censor board, can be shown will be decided June 15 by Judge Harry Fisher. Controversy over the film was referred back to Judge Fisher by the Illinois Su¬ preme Court for a ruling on the question of obscenity. . . . Burton Steinhauser, veteran projectionist at the Indiana, Terre Haute, Ind., died. Chris Demos, Jeffery manager, is not only bringing success to his house, but to the entire business district in which the house is located, through cooperative merchant advertising, with a full-page spread in the Sunday neighborhood sec¬ tion of the Chicago Tribune. Count Leonardo Bonzi came to boost IFE’s “Green Magic.” . . . Albert Pick, Jr., was chosen to succeed the late Rich¬ ard J. Finnegan as president of La Rabida Sanitarium, Variety Club’s prin¬ cipal charity. . . . Theatre attorney Thomas C. McConnell returned from con¬ ferences in Washington. . . . E. C. Ballard was named Colfax manager, South Bend, Ind. . . . Nick Romano, Gateway pro¬ jectionist, is still at home following a heart attack suffered several weeks ago. Denver The new 600-car Mile High Drive-In, Lead, S. D., was opened, and in spite of the all-day rain a good-sized crowd was on hand for the first show. The drive-in was equipped throughout, includ¬ ing the concession stand, by the Minne¬ apolis Theatre Supply, and all equip¬ ment is of the latest design. Two Century projectors throw the picture on a CinemaScope screen. The ozoner has an unusual setting, located in the Black Hills, sur¬ rounded by evergreen-covered slopes. One unusual feature is that when the lights are turned on in the Homestake gold mining operations atop a nearby hill, just to the left of the screen, the effect is to place a crown on the drive-in. Partners in the drive-in are Leonard Steele, Jr., Deadwood, who will be manager, and C. C. Creamer, Robert Lahti, and Robert Lundquist. Jack Rose, booker and buyer, flew in from Denver to attend the opening Robert Demshki has returned to the managership, Centennial. He managed the ozoner part of last year also. . . . June 8, 1955 MIDWESTWESTERN