The Exhibitor (1956)

34 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR Columbia's Grainger Dies In New Orleans Officers of the Motion Picture Exhibitors of Florida for 1957, elected at the recent Jacksonville con¬ vention, are seen here. Seated, left to right, are Sheldon Mandell, secretary, St. Johns, Jacksonville; B. B. Garner, president, Talgar Theatres, Lakeland; James Cartwright, treasurer, Florida State Theatres, Daytona Beach; and Elmer Hecht, board president, Wometco Theatres, Miami; and), standing, left to right, four vice-presidents, Mark DuPree, FST, Jacksonville; James Biddle, Fay, Jasper; Arnold Haynes, Naples, Naples; and Bob Dougherty, Floyd Theatres, Haines City. New Orleans — John Howard Grainger, 56, assistant branch manager for Colum¬ bia for the past 12 years, died in Baptist Hospital recently following several years of illness. Services were held at the House of Bultman, after which the body was sent to Nashville, Tenn., for inter¬ ment. Grainger’s career in the industry dated to 1920. He served with the old Goldwyn Company, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, and Monogram Southern Exchange in New Orleans. Active pall-bearers were Huston Duval, Nathan J. Dreyfus, C. J. Briant, John F. Kinerd, Glenn Taylor, and Robert N. Bruce. Honorary pall-bearers were Gas¬ ton J. Dureau, Jr., Harold F. Cohen, Page M. Baker, V. H. Bridges, and Arthur L. Barnett. Survivors include his widow, the former Mary Green, two sons, John H. Grainger, Taos, N. M., and George Grainger, San Francisco, a daughter, Mrs. Mel Despars, Manhatten Beach, Cal., and a sister, Mrs. George W. Taylor, Coronado, Cal. leased the Majestic, Clear Lake, S. D., from J. E. Wilson. . . . Harvey Gifford, Kee, Kiester, Minn., dropped Tuesday and Thursday night showings. ... A new generator and stronger lamps have been installed in the Hartford, Hartford, Wis. . . . Jim Phelps, formerly of Cedar Rapids, la., has been named manager, Firemen’s, New Hampton, la. . . . Richard Myers has been appointed manager, Lake, Clear Lake, la. . . . Officials of the new Herreid Community, Herreid, S. D., are pushing work on the outer shell of the house in the hope that it will be com¬ pleted before winter weather halts con¬ struction. . . . The Thomas circuit closed the Roxy, Ironwood, Mich., leaving only one stand in the Ironwood-Hurley, Wis., area, the Ironwood. New Haven Managers throughout the state have been lining up sponsored Christmas shows to bolster holiday business. . . . The Palace, Middletown, Conn., had The Star Larks on stage for two shows. . . . The Mayfair, Terryville, Conn., gave free ad¬ mission to the first 10 youngsters in line for a Saturday afternoon show. . . . Charles Tomasino, son of Mike Tomasino, former White Way theatreman, was elected to the State Senate and will be feted at the G.O.P. victory dinner at the Waverly Inn on Dec. 10. . . . Franklin E. Ferguson, Whalley manager, is chair¬ man of the 1956 Christmas Seal Sale here. . . . Morris Rosenthal, Loew’s Poli man¬ ager who has been on sick leave, was due to return to his managerial post after a stay in Florida. . . . Division manager Harry F. Shaw, Loew Poli New England Theatres, emceed the special Christmas Lighting Program. On the same show was Faye Emerson. . . . Lou Brown, Loew Poli Theatres publicity director, has been elected to the Board of Gov¬ ernors, Union League Club. . . . Film ex¬ changes are preparing the annual Christ¬ mas parties. HARTFORD, CONN., NEWS— Joe Faith reopened his Carberry, Bristol, Conn., and the Strand, Willimantic, Conn., was relighted by Edward Berube. Both the¬ atres operate on subsequent-run policy. . . . Dayville, Conn., residents, objecting to plans by Erwin Neumann to build an outdoor theatre in that community, have filed a protest with State Police Com¬ missioner John J. Kelley, citing traffic hazards and other problems that would allegedly result from the theatre. Under state police ruling, those persons object¬ ing to a drive-in theatre project are en¬ titled to a Hartford hearing, but no date has been announced. . . . Albert M. Pickus, owner, Stratford, Stratford, Conn., and a TOA vice-president, announced that his theatre’s parking lot would be opened on Sunday mornings for use by those desiring off-street parking during church services. New Orleans Manley secretary Mrs. Corrine Staunton resigned because of illness. Replacing her is Terry Braeltmann, a newcomer to Film Row. . . . Woolner Brothers’ forthcoming production, “Female Fury,” will be lensed in Cuba instead of Central America as first reported. Bernard Woolner, presi¬ dent, Woolner Pictures was in Hollywood completing production arrangements for shooting around the first of the year. . . . Business clubs in Homer, La., joined W. P. Florence in a drive for the sale of season Producer William Wyler was recently given high tribute for his outstanding screen contributions at the Hollywood premiere of Allied Artists' "Friendly Persuasion" at the Fox Wilshire. Samuel Goldwyn, right, presented him with a large silver bowl. tickets which resulted in the reopening of the Paula there. . . . WOMPI program chairman Marie Berglund announced that the club’s December luncheon will be open to members only and will feature the usual holiday festivities. . . . Para¬ mount Gulf president Henry G. Plitt has been appointed a co-chairman of Theatre Owners of America’s standing showman¬ ship committee for 1956-57 in this area. . . . Bijou Amusement Company reopened the Lincoln, Baton Rouge, La., after a short closing. . . . C. L. Thomas, manager, Cave, Delhi, La., notified Transway to suspend service until further notice be¬ cause of a weekend fire. . . . “Oklahoma!” opened in the New Saenger, Shreveport, La., its 31st engagement. House is man¬ aged by Elliott E. Edwards. The worst fire in McComb, Miss., in half a century recently destroyed the offices there of the Pike Amusement Com¬ pany and the Pike Booking and Supply Company, the headquarters of the circuit operated by T. G. Solomon and associates in Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and Miss¬ issippi. The blaze, which razed three two-story buildings in the business dis¬ trict and claimed at least two lives, re¬ sulted in a total loss for the Pike organi¬ zation, including records which cannot be replaced. WOMPI members are Mrs. Martha L. Barkoff, Paramount Gulf, and Mrs. Hulda Marchand and Elizabeth Moore, both of Richards Center, La. . . . WOMPIs are calling for a sewing machine, old or new, for one of their needy families they have taken under their wing. Thanksgiving baskets complete with turkey were, as in other years, presented to their adopted families. Chris Baum, Jr., Exhibitors’ Poster Exchange, with the help of his mother, who saved loose change during the past few months, bought a turkev for one of the baskets. . . . WOMPI “Oscar of the Month” went to Judith Hanmer who cheerfully responded to any request, participating in each and every effort handled by the club. . . . WOMPI president Ruth Toubman has appointed Helen Bila, chairman of the committee from WOMPI, to work on Variety Clubs upcoming cerebral palsy telethon. . . . Kenneth Giddens, president, Giddens and Rester Theatres, Mobile, Ala., purchased a 40 foot yacht which sank in the Gulf December 5, 1956