The Exhibitor (1956)

26 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR Boston Archbishop Honored By Variety Boston — Archbishop Richard J. Cush¬ ing received the Great Heart Award at the annual Variety Club of New England banquet, attended by more than 1,000 friends and members. Walter Brown, chairman of the dinner, introduced toast¬ master James Cagney. The first speaker was Philip Smith, president, Smith Man¬ agement Company, and Variety chief barker, who paid tribute to the guest of honor. Arthur Lockwood, president, Lockwood and Gordon Enterprises, noted that Cush¬ ing has been “a devoted friend and a tremendous factor” in the success of the Children’s Cancer Research Founda¬ tion and the Jimmy Fund, both sup¬ ported by the Club. Mayor Hynes told the Variety members, “ . . . you have chosen well tonight.” Lieutenant Governor Whittier also noted the Archbishop’s many charitable activi¬ ties. Dr. Sidney Farber, director of scien¬ tific research, Children’s Cancer Re¬ search Foundation, made the Award pre¬ sentation to the prelate. The words of the plaque read, “His Excellency, Richard J. Cushing, Archbishop of Boston, Faithful shepherd, Kindly priest. He has fulfilled the universal ideal for searching for spir¬ itual truth. His deeds have brought the greatest good to the greatest number.” Chicago The 10 -ton penthouse air conditioning unit atop the Vision caved in suddenly with estimated $10,000 damage. The col¬ lapse was attributed to weakening of sup¬ porting beams. Fortunately, the mishap occurred at 5 a.m. and no one was in¬ jured. The auditorium was not damaged and shows went on without interruption. . . . Martin Davis, White Way Electric Sign and Maintenance Company execu¬ tive, observed his 25th anniversary with the firm. . . . Jerry Cohen returned to Pantheon management, after filling in at the Chicago while manager Charles Nes¬ bitt was on vacation. . . . The Tower, closed for three years, was reopened by Stanford Kohlberg, operator, Starlite Drive-In. . . . Abe Teitel, president, A. Teitel Film Company and World Play¬ house operator, was cited by Italian con¬ sul-general Count Ludocio Barrattieri for bringing to Chicago, in 1933, the first Italian produced film, “Quo Vadis.” . . . Reports of increasing membership, sound financial condition, and the start of clubroom remodeling were on the agenda of Variety Club’s May monthly meeting, presided over by chief barker Jack Kirsch. . . . Sir Carol Reed, here for his latest picture, “Trapeze,” released by United Artists, said he wants no part of TV, which he considers a peep show played for a few people in a living room. Real drama or comedy, he contends, re¬ quires a large responsive audience as much as it needs actors. Cincinnati In to bally “Foreign Intrigue” and “Trapeze” were Edward Borgan and How¬ ard Pearl, United Artists publicity, and Wally Jones, for Columbia’s “Safari.” Also in were James Frew, U-I district man This is one of the many displays which heralded the opening of Republic's "Magic Fire," Monroe, Chicago. This one was set up in the lobby of the Bismarck Hotel. ager; William C. Mansell, Warners district manager; and Ray Frisz, Chakeres Cir¬ cuit, Springfield, O. . . . Lillian Ahern, Paramount cashier, has been transferred to booker; Louise Vinson, former assistant cashier, now is cashier, and Mary Carens, ledger clerk, becomes assistant cashier. . . . Tom Morris, 20th-Fox West Vir¬ ginia salesman, has been transferred to the Dayton, O., territory. . . . James Levendusky, MGM booker, became the father of a daughter. . . . Mid-States Theatres’ Oakley Drive-In is scheduled for a late June opening. . . . Tri-State Theatre Service is booking and buying for the Lane and Lane Drive-In, Williamsburg, Ky., Foster Lane, owner. . . . Judith Ann Wiethe, daughter of Louis Wiethe, owner, Valley, will be married June 16 to Cap¬ tain Carter W. Clarke, Jr., U. S. Army. . . . Mary Edwards, MGM cashier, was a recent bride. COLUMBUS, O., NEWS— Walter Kess¬ ler, manager, Loew’s Ohio, presented a collection of pressbooks to the Ohio State University Theatre Collection, housed in the university’s museum. . . . Adrian Awan, 20th-Fox exploitation representa¬ tive, was here to arrange a pony giveaway contest in connection with the showing of “Mohawk” in Loew’s Broad. . . . Wally Jones, the hunter who served as guide for the Columbia company making “Safari” in Africa, was scheduled for local interviews. . . . Clarence Greene, producer of United Artists’ “Unidentified Flying Objects,” was due in for inter¬ views. Judge To Decide Schine Suit On Basis Of Briefs BUFFALO — Briefs have been filed in Federal Court in the 18-year-old government anti -trust case against the Schine Theatres Circuit and the mat¬ ter now awaits the decision of Federal Judge Harold P. Burke. The law firm of Raichle, Tucker, and Moore, repre¬ senting the Schine interests, filed the briefs. The government’s third brief, and apparently the last, was filed in March. Judge Burke will decide the case on the basis of the briefs, testimony taken during a two-day retrial of the Schine defendants on criminal and civil contempt charges last January, and on evidence submitted during the original trial in Buffalo before the late Judge John Knight. Stage Shows Boost Theatre Business Charlotte — Southern Attractions, Inc., which specializes in stage shows for motion picture theatres, is celebrating its 21st year of continuous operation and, according to T. D. Kemp, Jr., head of the company, its best year. Established in 1934 as a stage booking adjunct to Paramount-Wilby-Kincey The¬ atres, Southern Attractions was acquired by Kemp in 1949 and has since branched out into other fields of booking and pro¬ motion. Recent name attractions booked by the company in large auditoriums include Victor Borge, Fred Waring and His Pennsylvanians, Liberace, and several ice shows. “The right stage shows in theatres,” says Kemp, “are still doing tremendous business . . . particularly in the smaller towns, its the stage show that keeps the house in the black.” Shows currently being booked by Kemp and his staff in movie houses throughout the south include Johnny Mack Brown and his Hollywood show, Fuzzy St. John and his show, Phillip Morris Dungeon of Death, Hot from Har¬ lem Rock and Roll Revue, Smiley Bur¬ nette, Jimmy Jackson’s Show of Shows, Dr. Jelkyl and His Weird Show, Little Jimmy Dickens and the WSM Grand Ole Opry Gang, Lash La Rue and Western Revue, and Former Governor Jimmie Davis and the Sunshine Boys. Cleveland Marie Weigler, United Artists’ branch manager’s secretary for the last 12 years turned her desk over to her successor, Mildred Wilchli. . . . Republic made sev¬ eral personnel changes, In an economy move, head booker Sheldon Schermer was let out and Joe Krenitz, salesman, takes over the booking department. This leaves all selling in the northern Ohio territory to branch manager Jules Livingston and Justin Spiegle. . . Herbie Burke, who has been managing the Savoy, Toledo, O., returned to his old profession, burlesque, and is now playing in Indianapolis. . . . Fritz Witteborg closed his Grove, Colum¬ bus Grove, O., for the summer, and War¬ ners shuttered the Pastime, Coshocton, O., until fall . Herbert Ochs in¬ stalled CinemaScope in all six of the Canadian drive-ins he operates. At the recent premiere of C. V. Whitney's War¬ ners release "The Searchers," Allen, Cleveland, were, left to right, John Wayne, Mr. and Mrs. Louis Seltzer, and Ward Bond. Seltzer is editor Cleveland Press. June 6, 1956