The Exhibitor (1955)

MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR 23 cision in the case will be presented to Federal Judge Samuel Perry, in whose court suit was filed, attacking the action of the police censor board, which banned the film. Mrs. June G. Brenkert, 61, wife of Karl Brenkert, founder, Brenkert Light Pro¬ jection Company, died in Detroit. . . . Wally Heim, promotionist. United Artists, was best man at the wedding of James Michener and Mari Sabusawa. They met when Michener came here to plug the movie version of his “Bridges Of TokoRi.” . . . The ladies of Variety Club spon¬ sored a Hallowe’en party which was largely attended by members and guests. There was entertainment and a buffet supper. . . . Lee Affbleck was named York manager, Elmhurst, Ill. . . . Amend Sears opened his new Silver Drive-In, Linden, Mich. . . . Rollin Stonebrook, former Palace manager, returned to the lure of the theatre. He has joined the Pioneer Theatre Circuit, Cherokee, la. Nominations for the Variety Club crew of 1956 have been made as follows: Harry Balaban, E. L. Goldberg, Jack Kirsch, Sam Levinsohn, William Margolis, Nat Nathanson, Lou Reinheimer, Jack Rose, John Semdalas, Ralph Smitha, and Dave Wallerstein. They were named by the 1955 crew. According to the by-laws, other nominations may be made at the time of the election, which were to be held in the clubrooms. Congress Hotel, last week. . . . The Chicago is the latest to contract with AGVA for its welfare program. This means that all stage acts are now insured while going to and from the theatre, while on stage, and during rehearsals. . . . Variety Club theatre col¬ lections for La Rabida Sanatarium, its main charity, brought more than $50,000. . . . The annual Hallowe’en party of Var¬ iety Club, in which the Women’s Variety Club participated, was held last week. An open house party for members, wives, and guests was held earlier. . . . The first movie produced entirely in Israel, “Hill 24 Doesn’t Answer,” will be premiered today (Nov. 2) at the Ziegfeld. Cincinnati Mrs. Louise H. Huss, widow of Frank W. Huss, pioneer theatre owner, died at her home here. Her husband acquired his first local house in 1905 and founded Associated Theatres, now operated by his son, Frank W. Huss, Jr. The circuit in¬ cludes the downtown Royal, built in 1909, and oldest local house in continuous oper¬ ation. ... In on business were T. O. McCleaster, 20th-Fox division manager, and Duke Hickey, U-I publicity. . . . Columbia reported saturation area bookings for “Count Three And Pray.” ... In an early morning break-in of the nabe Covedale, thieves looted vending machines of $100 in cash. COLUMBUS, O., NEWS— Rein Rabakukk has been appointed assistant man¬ ager, Loew’s Ohio. Rabakukk formerly was a member of the staffs of Loew’s Theatres in Boston and Syracuse, N. Y. . . . Arthur H. DeBra, director of com¬ munity relations. Motion Picture Associa¬ tion, was guest speaker at the opening meeting of the Columbus and Franklin County Motion Picture Council. DeBra’s subject was “Making Movies of To¬ morrow.” . . . Norman Nadel, theatre editor, Columbus Citizen, invited a panel Seen at a meeting in Denver setting up the new Rocky Mountain division by Paramount were, left to right, Neal East, western division man¬ ager; Hugh Owen, Paramount vice-president in charge of sales; Phil Isaacs, former branch manager in Washington, D. C., who is manager of the new division; and Jim Ricketts, Denver branch manager. of local lawyers to act as a jury in a preview of MGM’s “Trial” at Loew’s Broad. Nadel ran a feature with art on the lawyers’ discussion following the screening. The stunt was arranged by manager Robert Sokol, Broad. . . . Jarma Lewis, seen in MGM’s “The Tender Trap,” was a visitor in advance of the opening of the picture. Miss Lewis attended school in Columbus during World War II. . . . Manager Walter Kessler, Loew’s Ohio, acted as a stand-in for Jane Russell in the presentation of a trophy to Mrs. Gladys May, waitress at Kuenning’s “19” Restaurant here. Mrs. May won the title of “Miss Perfect 36” in a contest open to all Ohio waitresses and conducted by the Ohio State Restaurant Association. Cleveland Ray Essick reports that last minute complications prevented from materializ¬ ing the deal to acquire the RKO 105th Street which, he previously announced, would be operated by the Essicks. The house, scheduled to reopen on Oct. 15, therefore remains dark. . . . Meyer Fine, president. Associated Theatres Circuit, is still in the Mount Sinai Hospital, where he underwent surgery. . . . Jack Ochs, booker, Ochs drive-in circuit, flew to Florida to look over the recently acquired Tampa and Dania theatres, and also to investigate other deals. . . . Andrew Martin, owner. Royal and Dayton, Akron, O., was again elected president. Greater Akron Independent Theatre Owners As¬ sociation. Others elected were vice-presi¬ dent, Louis Ratener, Montrose, Magic City, and SkyView Drive-Ins, and secre¬ tary-treasurer, Rino Alessio, Lina. Arthur Spaeth, drama and movie critic, David Idzal Resigns From Fox Management DETROIT — David M. Idzal, man¬ aging directoi'. Fox, announced his resignation. Idzal said he would re¬ main in Detroit as a consultant in promotional and other activities deal¬ ing with show business. Idzal first took over the reins as Fox managing director in 1928 as di¬ vision manager, and three years later as managing director. He is succeeded by Robert Bothwell. Idzal will remain at his desk until November. Kentucky Allied Unit Names First Officers Louisville, Ky. — The first annual elec¬ tion of officers and directors of the Allied Theatre Owners of Kentucky, Inc., was held last fortnight at the Seelbach Hotel here, with the following elected as initial officers of the organization: president, E. L. Ornstein; vice-president, Joseph M. Reiss, and secretary and treasurer, Fred Switow. Directors named were district one, W. E. Horsefield, Luther Herron, Arthur Morris, and E. L. Ornstein; for district two, Ro¬ bert T. Enoch, Wilbur O. Fields, Louis A. Arru, Joseph M. Reiss, Jack Powell, and Fred T. Switow; for district three, Mrs. Hallie Fisher, Vance Schwartz, and Floyd D. Morrow; for district four, Anna Belle Ward and Charles L. Seale. A resolution favoring federal control of film rentals and other trade practices was voted on and approved by the new asso¬ ciation, and the national director was in¬ structed to advise the National Allied board meeting in Chicago next week of the sentiment of the Kentucky unit. The next directors meeting was scheduled for ATOK headquarters, Nov. 17. The News, speaking before the members of the Motion Picture Council of Greater Cleveland, defended the alterations made in screen versions of popular books and plays. “Different media require differ¬ ent treatment,” he told the members dur¬ ing a question and answer period follow¬ ing his talk as guest speaker on the subject, “How a Critic Judges a Picture.” Spaeth also came out unequivocally against movie censorship, claiming that any censorship of communications media is an inroad against democracy. . . . The Cleveland Cinema Club held a meeting last week in the Higbee Lounge. Lunch¬ eon followed the morning business session. Mrs. Sallie Swisher is the club’s current president. Denver As a result of the recent death of Tom Brennan, Northern district manager. Fox Inter-Mountain Theatres, the district headquartering in Denver has undergone a shuffle. Ray Davis, manager, Denver metropolitan district, returns to the north¬ ern district, taking with him Boulder, Longmont, and Ft. Collins. Davis man¬ aged the northern district for 16 years. The subsequent-run houses in Denver are added to the southern district, which is managed by Harold Rice, while the Denver first-runs will be supervised by Robert Selig, division manager. Ralph Batschelet h^ returned to the company as manager of merchandising. . . . Clar¬ ence Olson, former branch manager. United Artists, has been named district manager. United Film Service Rocky Mountain district. . . . Planning to attend the conventions in Chicago in the early part of November are Mr. and Mrs. Sam Langwith, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Anderson, Jean Gerbase, Joe Stone, Mrs. Ruth Wolfberg, Tom Smiley, Jack Wodell, L. J. Albertini, all of Denver; Mr. and Mrs. Neil Beezley, Burlington, Colo.; Mr. and Mrs. Fred Hall, Akron, Colo.; Mr. and Mrs. James Peterson, Littleton, Colo.; Mr. and Mrs. J. K. Powell, Wray, Colo,; and Dr. and Mrs. F. E. Rider, Wauneta, Neb. November 2, 1955