The Exhibitor (1955)

MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR 27 Comerford, Distribs Defendants In Suit Scranton, Pa. — Claiming violation of the Sherman Anti-Trust Act, the operator of a closed Edwardsville, Pa., theatre last fortnight filed a $600,000 treble action lawsuit against Comerford Theatres, Inc. The plaintiff, Edwardsville Amusement Company, claims Comerford conspired with major film producers and distribu¬ tors in the showing of first-run movies in Kingston and Wilkes-Barre, Pa., before they could be shown in Edwardsville. Ed¬ wardsville claims it had to close its the¬ atre, causing a $150,000 capital loss, and lost from the date of its closing, Feb. 1 last to date, some $50,000 in revenues. Named as co-defendants with Comer¬ ford are 20th-Fox, Columbia, RKO Radio Pictures, Warners, Paramount, United Art¬ ists, and U-I. The suit was filed by at¬ torneys John J. Walsh and John J. Kozloski. Since Feb. 1, 1951, plaintiff contends he has been unable to license and exhibit pictures purchased or rented from the distributors less than 28 days after they were first shown at Wilkes-Barre and seven days after showing in Kingston, in some cases 90 days. Plaintiff also charges conspiracy and unlaful restraint of trade. Fourteen days prior showing would be “reasonable clearance,” it is said, adding that Edwardsville was compelled to close the Grand in February, 1955, and lists its present value at $150,000, asserting the house cannot be used for anything else except a movie theatre without spending a large sum of money in conversion. Thompson has returned to his post in the Comerford accounting department follow¬ ing a lengthy illness. . . . The father of Angela Ryan, Rialto, died recently. Pittsburgh Another political subdivision in Alle¬ gheny County to raise the Sunday movie issue is Franklin Township. A referendum on this question will be put to voters there at the general election. Sunday movies also will be voted on on Wilkins burg borough and in North Versailles Township. . . . Jess Cramblett, owner and manager, Village, Salisbury, Pa., acquired the Roxy here, formerly operated by the Steifel Brothers. George R. Carey, 69, local theatre elec¬ trician whose career backstage spanned a half a century, died last fortnight in St. Francis Hospital after a brief illness. . . . Mrs. Mario Battiston, wife of the Ex¬ port, Pa., exhibitor, underwent surgery at Braddock Hospital. . . . Mrs. Paul Kleeber, wife of the SW circuit accountant, was in Pittsburgh Hospital for surgery. ... A free show at the Manos, Tarentum, Pa., marked the celebration of national Kiwanis Kids Day. Bud Fike, manager, en¬ tertained the community’s youth while Kiwanis brothers were busy on the streets selling copies of a special edition of the Valley Daily News, proceeds of which go to underprivileged children. . . . “The Kentuckian” paintings of local art¬ ist Robert R. Young are being displayed in the lobby of the Penn. C. C. Kellenberg, 20th-Fox sales man¬ ager, was named “Mr. Variety” by Andy Mr. and Mrs. Earl Arnold, manager, Rialto, Allen¬ town, Pa., were recently presented with a $200 U. S. Savings Bond by Ed Gallner, Philadelphia area press representative for MGM, after they were awarded first prize for the promotion of "The Glass Slipper." Battiston, theatre broker, who presented him with a six-inch statuette of the Barker, a special, hand-created plaster job complete with paint and a diamond stud. Kellenberg is a former chief barker of Tent 1. . . . Mrs. John Moriarty, wife of the SW auditor, is home from Shadyside Hospital following an emergency oper¬ ation. . . . Workmen started clearing the property between the UA-NTS-20th-Fox building and the Paramount building for construction of the new 20th-Fox oneand-a-half story building. Reports are that an aluminum fabricating outfit will occupy the present 20th-Fox quarters next spring, and that UA and NTS will remain in present quarters if a new lease is signed. . . . The Penn sneak-previewed “Trial” and the Squirrel Hill sneaked “The Divided Heart.” . . . Dave Leff, for¬ mer local film man who was selling the¬ atre printing here, returned to Buffalo. ... A number of outdoor theatres in the area have gone dark week nights, playing only weekend dates. . . . The anti-trust case brought by the Eastwood, Penn Township, against film distributors and theatres here, is scheduled for hearing soon before Federal Judge Joseph P. Wilson. . . . Margaret McGeever, MGM booker, was confined to her home with a leg injury. St. Louis Fimeral services for Archibald H. Hosier, president, St. Louis Theatre Sup¬ ply Company, were held at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Edwardsville, Ill. Hosier was prominent in civic life and he num¬ bered his friends by the hundreds. Most of them were present or represented at the funeral. . . . State Senator Ed V. Long, Clarksville, Mo., owner, Trojan, Troy, Mo., and Orpheum, Elsberry, Mo., was among the Missourians who received high hon¬ ors at the Washington meeting of the Supreme Council Thirty-third Degree, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite Mas¬ ons of Southern Jurisdiction. He received the thirty-third degree of Masonry. A number of changes in the managerial staff of the Fox Midwest Theatres in the area have been announced. Leon Koch, manager. Grand, DuQuoin, Ill., has been promoted to manager, Capitol, Benton, Ill., while Harold Smythe, assistant man¬ ager, Lincoln, and manager, Illinois, Belle¬ ville, Ill., succeeds Koch at DuQuoin. Dale Thornhill, who had been manager, Capitol, Benton, has taken over managership, Illi¬ nois, Centralia, Ill., succeeding Pete Increased Attendance Stressed At SW Meet Philadelphia — Increased theatre attend¬ ance was the keynote struck by Ted Schlanger, Philadelphia zone manager. Stanley Warner, at a meeting of all SW managers and department heads held here last fortnight. All discussions during the two-day session revolved around this subject. Harry Goldberg, national advertising director, gave a comprehensive explana¬ tion of the COMPO Audience Awards Poll, and detailed the launching of a con¬ test which is to take place in December. An interesting feature was a seminar conducted by Henry Eberle, sound de¬ partment head, who graphically illustrated his presentation with sound and projec¬ tion equipment. Another feature of the meeting was the distribution of prizes for the winners in the recent Stanley Warner National Drive. Birk Binnard, advertising-publicity head, gave a comprehensive discussion on promotion and public relations and the importance of making every effort to de¬ velop the new young screen talent. It was pointed out that processes such as Cinerama, CinemaScope, VistaVision, and Todd-AO act as great stimulants with the public, but people in the business should not wait around for someone to deliver revenues for them. Rather, they should go out and improve attendance with their own hands and through their own contacts and efforts. Every individual was urged to do his very best and not to get out of the habit of working hard. Pekarek, who has been transferred to the manager’s position, Illinois, Jacksonville, Ill., replacing W. W. Hilsabeck, resigned. Carl Lowery is the new manager for the Globe, Christopher, Ill., succeeding Clyde Patton, who has been transferred to the Kansas territory for the Fox Mid¬ west circuit. It is reported that Hilsa¬ beck is joining the managerial staff of another important circuit in the area. San Antonio The J. G. Long Theatre Circuit held a meeting at Bay City, Tex., for the man¬ agers of theatres throughout the state. A special screening was held of 20th-Fox’s “Seven Cities Of Gold.” The group heard a talk by J. G. Long and prizes were awarded the managers for their work in various categories. . . . The Grand and Port, Houston, Tex., recently under lease to Montgomery and Alexander, are now being handled by Texas Theatre Service, owned by Ed Green, which is doing the buying and booking. . . . Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Roberts, owners, Ritz, Richardson, Tex., are preparing to build a drive-in there which will be ready by early spring. It will be equipped for Cinema Scope and wide-screen. Wide-screen and CinemaScope also are being installed in the Ritz. . . . One of the largest purchases of film by a television station in the southwest has been announced by KENSTV. The station purchased for showing 156 “Foreign Intrigue” and 126 “My Little Margie” programs for daytime showing; 33 “My Hero” films starring Bob Cum¬ mings; and 26 “Colonel March Of Scot Novemher 2, 1955