The Exhibitor (1955)

•*! MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOlt Regent manager Richard Josephs, right, Paterson, N. J., recently held a benefit performance for victims of the devastating floods of last month. Admission was canned food, an impressive haul of which Josephs and his associates are seen inspecting. A predominently juvenile audience jammed the theatre. N.Y. Film Festival Planned For 1956 New York — An international film fes¬ tival “bigger and more impressive” than any held elsewhere in the world is now being planned for New York next year, Mayor Robert F. Wagner revealed last week at a Waldorf Astoria luncheon hon¬ oring the Convention and Visitors Bureau. The Summer Festival held in the last few months, aimed at attracting visitors from out of town, was proof of the city’s ability to offer the best in entertainment, the Majmr said, noting that 25 new films were premiered in the period, compared with five the year before. Stanley Warner executive vice-presi¬ dent Samuel Rosen, a member of the Convention and Visitors Bureau, attended with many other industry leaders, includ¬ ing Sol Schwartz, RKO Theatres presi¬ dent; Eugene Picker, vice-president, Loew’s Theatres; Max Fellerman, Lopert Films; Harry Goldberg, Stanley Warner publicity head; Robert Shapiro, Para¬ mount managing director; Irving Evans, Radio City Music Hall vice-president; H. L. Smith, Columbia; and Jack Payton, Warner Theatres. cartoons and playing games. . . . Milton Dorriety is the new manager, Joy DriveIn, Milton, Fla., a Fred T. McLendon unit. Dorriety was formerly projection¬ ist at the circuit’s Milton indoor and, more recently, manager of the company’s Ga-Ana, Georgina, Ala. . . . W. L. Foster has reopened the Rex, Prichard, Ala., after a brief closing by A. W. McCraw. Arthur Barnett will handle the buying and booking. Ruth Toubman, secretary. Southeastern Theatre Equipment Company, and a member of WOMPI, became a naturalized American citizen. . . . New seats and airconditioning are being installed in M. A. Connett’s recently acquired Strand, Kos¬ ciusko, Miss., which he will operate on a full schedule. The Pix, which he took over also recently, will operate four days a week. . . . Lloyd Ledbetter, executive vice-president and chairman of the board, lATSE Local 589, Vicksburg, Miss., has offered his services to the police there to bring marauders to justice who recently battered the projection equipment in the Rivoli Drive-In, in addition to taking 100 or more speakers. ... A poster displayed in the lobby of the Saenger announces the complete sell-out of seats for the Rocky Marciano-Archie Moore heavyweight championship fight. The Saenger has a seating capacity of about 3,000. Frank Olah, owner. Star, Albany, La., and associate owner, Skyvue Drive-In, New Orleans, won first and second placeawards in the Manchac Bass Rodeo, an annual Labor Day event. Olah brought in the haul fishing from an outboard motor boat. . . . Among the first nighters at the opening of Louis Adolph’s new Venice, Venice, La., were William Cobb, Ralph Reid, and Fred Goodrow. Reid is handling the buying and booking. New York The Paramoimt exchange took second place in the Barney Balaban sales drive. . . . Mrs. Estelle Kulick, wife of Sidney S. Kulick, Bell Films, is recuperating at Beth David Hospital from a recent oper¬ ation. . . . Business Education Films an¬ nounces the availability of their 1955-56 catalog, listing more than 190 titles of rental motion pictures. . . . Managers of two Walter Reade theatres received cash awards for the fifth and final week of the “Jack Harris Drive,” it was annoimced last week by Walter Reade, Jr., president of the circuit. Mike Dorso, Community, Kingston, N. Y., won first and the main weekly cash award, and Bob Hynes, Strand, Plainfield, N. J., took second place. Managers of all of the nearly forty Reade theatres have participated in the drive, which concluded Sept. 7. The grand prize of $1,000 will be awarded at a managers meeting at Mayfair House, Oakhurst, N. J., on Sept. 29. , . . William J. Quinn has purchased the Rome, Pleasantville, N. Y., the Cameo, Brewster, N. Y., and the Amenia, Amenia, N. Y., from the St. Cloud Theatre Circuit, Washington, N. J. These theatres will be operated under the name of the William J. Quinn Theatres, Inc. Quinn and his wife will personally book and operate the theatres. Philadelphia John P. Bethell, 70, area sales repre¬ sentative, Radio Corporation of America, in the motion picture field, died last week in Hahnemann Hospital. . . . Frank Kovaletz, manager. Paramount, Wilkes-Barre, Pa., was named to the executive staff of the Concession Division, Disneyland, Ana¬ heim, Cal. His Paramount successor has not been disclosed. . . . Ted Vanett and George Beatty, Goldman circuit, went to New York to confer with MGM execu 3] EXHIBITORS: To serve you better, we have moved our office and terminal to 305 N. 12th Street Philadelphia 7 Lombard 3-3944, 3-3945 IN THE HEART OF FILM ROW (Opposite National Screen Service) And you can help us serve you! Please make certain your film is checked every day before 12 Noon. NW JERSEY MESSENGER SERVICE PHILADELPHIA MEMBER NATIONAL FILM CARRIERS, INC. S-faGe Wail Coveri'nGS PalufiTifi Decoiufinc Murals paraTnouTil Qfcoratin^ Ull H. 13 STREET PHILADELPHIA 7, RA. < 5Ll0rVN ■ »IRNAI* JtltMAW PROGRESSIVE ELECTRIC CONSTRUCTION CO., INC. 240 N. lath STREET • PHILADELPHIA 7. PA. • Theatre Installations and Maintenance September 28, 1955