The Exhibitor (1955)

28 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR AA Sales Meeting To Study New Films New Orleans — First of a series of Allied Artists regional sales meetings on the company’s expanding production and dis¬ tribution program has been scheduled for Nov. 13-14 here by Morey Goldstein, vice-president and general sales manager, who will preside. Release plans will be outlined by Harold Mirisch, vice-presi¬ dent. Discussions will center on “Gunpoint,” Fred MacMurray starrer; Walter Wanger’s “The Body Snatchers”; “The First Texan”; William Wyler’s “The Friendly Persua¬ sion”; “The Come On”; “The Four Sea¬ sons;” “Shack Out On 101;” “World With¬ out End,” and other forthcoming product. Sales personnel attending will include James Pritchard, southern division man¬ ager, and branch managers James Hobbs, Atlanta; William Finch, Dallas; W. G. Carmichael, Oklahoma City; Bailey Pritchard, Memphis; Henry Glover, New Orleans; and Gene Dyer, Charlotte. floor of the same building. . . . All driveins in the Twin Cities area have closed for the season. Owners said it was the most successful season in history. . . . Over 200 pledge cards have been received by North Central Allied from independent theatres for participation in the Audience Awards Poll. Louis London purchased the Roxy, Kelliher, Minn., from Paul Carriere, who moved to Hallock, Minn., to operate the Grand for his brother, Joe. . . . Mrs. George Miller has been named manager. King, Ida Grove, la. . . . The Commercial Club backed the reopening of the LeRoy, LeRoy, Minn. . . . Harold F. Borresen, manager. State, Winona, Minn., resigned to take over the managership of the 3,700-seat Paramoimt, San Francisco. Charles Weiner, 63, sales representative, Buena Vista, died of a heart attack while attending a company sales meeting in Los Angeles. ... Joe Behan, booker. United Artists, resigned. . . . Paul Berg, man¬ ager, Rochester Outdoor Theatre, Ro¬ chester, Minn., has been named manager, recently reopened Hollywood, South St. Paul, Minn. . . . Rollin K. Stonebrook, Evanston, Ill., has been named manager,, Arrow, Cherokee, la., owned by Harold Field’s Pioneer circuit. W. H. Lestico has leased his Time, Kenyon, Minn., to Leonard Blais, Fari¬ bault, Minn., projectionist. . . . Alfred A. Keel has purchased the Lake, Turtle Lake, N. D., from Gus Samuelson. . . . Mrs. George Miller has been named manager. King, Ida Grove, la. . . . The Dows, la.. Chamber of Commerce has taken over the Legion hall for a weekly show, following the closing of the town’s theatre. . . . Marvin Maetzold, head shipper, Colum¬ bia, was honored at an office party for 25 years of service with the company. Hy Chapman, branch manager, presented hirn with a wrist watch, a gift of the company, and the office staff gave him 25 silver dol¬ lars. . . . Sam Pietz, owner of the theatre at Hosmer, S. D., is building a new house to replace the present structure. This sidewalk 'teen-age jazz session was ar¬ ranged recently as bally for Warners' "Pete Kelly's Blues" at the SW Stanley, Newark, N. J., by manager George Birkner. New Haven Florence Mussman and Burt Jacocks aro operating the Branford, Branford, Conn., for I. C. Jacocks, Jr. . . . Patricia .A.nn Bracken, daughter of James A. Bracken, local Stanley Warner executive, was mar¬ ried to George Thomas Colville. . . . Con¬ dolences were in order to MGM branch manager Phil Gravitz on the recent loss of his mother in Brooklyn, N. Y. . . . Columbia arranged to have Aldo Ray do personal appearances in Connecticut, at the E. M. Loew, Hartford; State, Waterbury; Hi-Way, Beverly; Bridgeport and Garde, New London. . . . Jack Mullen is the new booker. United Artists. . . . Re¬ ports indicate that the work on the pro¬ posed highway through the Meadow Street area will be delayed because of the flood repairs. Appropriations for the purchase of the property also must be acted on, and it doesn’t look like much will be done presently. . . . The Moosup, Moosup, Conn., reopened after being closed for the sum¬ mer. . . . Lou Brown, Loew Poll New England publicity chief, was to be made a member of the Pioneer Club and at¬ tended the festivities in New York re¬ cently. HARTFORD, CONN., NEWS— Attorney George Le Witt’s plans to build a drivein at Berlin, Conn., received another set¬ back when resident, Howard M. Culver, got permission from the Court of Common Pleas to appeal the Zoning Commission’s decision giving LeWitt authority to con¬ struct the theater at the corner of Route 5 and Deming Road. . . . Bill Powell, di¬ vision manager. Smith Management Com Union Pickets House In Contract Dispute New Castle, Pa. — Representatives of lATSE, Local 451, picketed the Penn after a contract collapse when mediators failed to bring the two parties together. Leo Mickey, manager, continued operation of the theatre. Paul Walters, Local 451 presi¬ dent, said that the union had been trying to negotiate with the theatre to renew the old contract for the last 14 months. Mickey said the theatre company. As¬ sociated, “is seeking relief to cope with economic conditions,” and desired a 25 per cent cut in wages or reduced man¬ power. He said the Penn was operated by a two-man booth, when other theatres in New Castle, including first-run houses, are operated by one-man booths. pany, was here to supervise installation of in-car heaters at the Meadows Drive-In. . . . Peter Perakos, Jr., has been named manager. Arch Street, New Britain, Conn., which has reopened under lease from the Glackin and LeWitt interests. . . . Sperie Perakos, general manager, Perakos The¬ atre Associates, said that Livio Dottor, now manager, Plainville Drive-In, Plainville. Conn., will move to the Arch Street when the outdoor theatre closes for the season. . . . Joseph S. Boyle, for 28 years with Loew’s Theatres, Inc., recently man¬ ager, Loew’s Poll, Norwich, Conn., left the industry to join the editorial staff, Nor¬ wich, Conn., Bulletin. New Orleans Rene Brunet, owner, neighborhood Im¬ perial, told us by phone that he assumed ownership of the Famous, a unit of United Theatres, and that he will take over the management and operation on Jan. 1. . . . Warners’ new southern district manager, Grover Livingston, was here on his in¬ itial visit with branch manager Lucas Conner and personnel. . . . The interior of the Patio, suburban showcase owned and operated by Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Sendy, is being redecorated. . . . Manuel Lee Ro¬ berts, who followed the roadshow route of both moving pictures and stage shows for many years, recently cashier. Civic, died last fortnight. He was also well known among many Hollywood western stars, who he represented as advance man on their personal appearances here. . . . O. O. Cummings, operator of a motel near This shows a portion of the crowd of over 200 exhibitors, distributors, supply dealers, radio, TV, and press representatives who attended the recent dedication of the new United Artists exchange at 210 South Liberty Street, New Orleans. November 9, 1955