The Exhibitor (1956)

MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR 33 One Shut, One Open; Passaic Breaks Even Passaic, N. J. — One of Passaic’s oldest continuously operating theatres, the Lin¬ coln, closed its doors last fortnight and another reopened. Maurice J. Miller, president, Rialto Theatre Company, which owns the Lincoln, said no decision had been reached as to whether the closing would be temporary or permanent. The Lincoln, originally called the Rialto, had been operating nearly 40 years. The com¬ pany, organized by the late Harry K. Hecht about 1925, now leases the Central here, the Plaza, Paterson, N. J., and has an interest in the Allwood. Miller said that the nationwide trend was toward larger theatres. The Lincoln, with only 899 seats, was too small to be operated economically. The Palace theatre, on Market Street, opened its doors to the public the same weekend, after being closed for several months. The new manager is George Dunn, a resident of Jersey City. The theatre is being rented from the owner, Dr. Martin Harris, Paterson. New York (Continued from page 26) Ruth Litt, secretary to Max Fellerman, general manager, Lopert Films; and Flor¬ ence Litt, secretary to Harry Moscowitz, Loew’s, Inc., are mourning the death of their mother, who died suddenly last weekend. . . . Jack Bloom, major circuit sales contact, 20th-Fox, won the Pontiac Catalina from the Women’s Suburban League for Celebral Palsy. ... A plaque in tribute to Harry Garfman, Local 306, motion picture projectionists business representative, was presented by numer¬ ous charitable organizations and hospitals at a testimonial dinner held in his honor last week at the Elegante Restaurant, Brooklyn. One of his many projects was the raising of $6,000 for research to help combat cystic fibrosis, a fatal children’s disease. In conjunction with the Movie Social Club of Brooklyn, Garfman will again distribute toys, candy, and gifts to the youngsters at St. Giles, Beth-El and Brooklyn Jewish Hospitals this Christmas season. Philadelphia The annual Variety Club, Tent 13, din¬ ner honoring the retiring chief barker and welcoming the newly-elected chief barker is set for Jan. 7 in the BellevueStratford Hotel. Outgoing is Maxwell Gilli9, branch manager, Allied Artists, and in¬ coming is attorney Sylvan M. Cohen. . . . At the annual meeting of the board of governors, Stanley Warner Club, Phila¬ delphia division, officers were elected for the ensuing year, including, president, Martin Aninsman; vice-president, Isidore Perlin; vice-president in charge of mem¬ bership, Leigh Smellow; vice-president in charge of welfare, Jayne Netzel; vicepresident in charge of entertainment, Dave Fishman; treasurer, J. Ellis Shipman; and secretary, Helen Mahoney. . . . Dominick Lucente, manager, SW Broadway, set a big pre-Christmas Saturday kiddie matinee for Dec. 15. He promoted three Lionel electric train sets and 15 one-pound boxes of candy to be given to lucky kids. . . . Bob Kessler, SW Benn, arranged for a Old Reading Plaza Leased; Finches Plan To Reopen _ READING, PA— Walter S. Finch, Jr., Shamokin, Pa., and Claude G. Finch, this city, have taken over the lease of the Plaza here, formerly the Orpheum, located in the Masonic Temple Buildings. The theatre has been closed most of the time in the last several years, but is now being re¬ opened as a movie house. The Finches will operate the house as the Plaza. Finch is the son of Walter S. Finch, Sr., lessee many years ago of both the Orpheum and Rajah. In recent years, he has had no theatre in this area. dance marathon in the theatre lobby to bally DCA.’s “Rock, Rock, Rock.” In co¬ operation with neighborhood merchants, 16mm. movies of the stunt were taken, shown later in the stores. . . . Indepen¬ dent distributor Dave Rosen leased the Lyric, Allentown, Pa., for one week for the roadshow presentation of an opera film, Mozart’s “Don Giovanni,” at $1.50 top. The film runs two hours and 45 minutes and 10 shows will be given in the week. You books the picture; and you takes your choice! According to Jack Jaslow there are two versions of “Rififi” available, one in French; one in English. Inciden¬ tally, the pic was doing nicely in its third SW Lane week the last heard of. . . . Iz Segall is now handling, in addition to his other houses, the Palace, Bethlehem, Pa., Congress, Marcus Hook, Pa., and the State, Columbia, Pa. . . . The Bluebird is closed again. . . . Closed since 1944, the Earle, Atlantic City, N. J., built by the Stanley Company of America 30 years ago at a cost of over $1,000,000, will be razed to make room for a parking lot, it was learned last week. . . . Variety Club, Tent 13, is holding a testimonial luncheon on Dec. 17 at the Bellevue-Stratford in honor of Eddie Fisher. The affair will be in¬ formal, and ladies are welcome. The sub¬ scription is $5.00. Pittsburgh Joe Wayne has returned to Warners as north and main line salesman, succeed¬ ing David Weir. Wayne was a Warners booker prior to joining United Artists as Ken Packer, manager, World, Philadelphia, re¬ cently greeted Richard Zindell, local member, "The Depth-Chargers," YMCA skin-diving club, who was injured when an air compressor blew up while his aqua-lung tanks were being filled in preparation for a dive at the request of Civil Defense Authorities. The young man attended a showing of Columbia's "The Silent World," accompanied by Dave Stithy YMCA instructor. a salesman several months ago. . . . Kath¬ erine Bates resigned at the Associated Circuit, with Leila Iler remaining in the reception room. . . . Elmer Hasley, East Pittsburgh and Conneaut Lake, Pa., ex¬ hibitor, suffered a heart ailment and was confined to an oxygen tent for four days in Meadville Hospital. He returned to his Regent Square home here for Thanks¬ giving and was reported greatly im¬ proved. The Grove, Riverside, and Airport Drive-Ins, Wheeling, W. Va., are adver¬ tising Books of Happiness theatre tickets as Christmas gifts. Good anytime at the outdoor theatres, the book tickets, valued at $26.00, are offered for sale at $9.20. . . . Press Old Newsboys are to see the pre¬ miere of a Warners release, Alfred Hitch¬ cock’s “The Wrong Man,” in the Stanley this week. Tickets are available only through the Old Newsboys themselves and again this year, models will be in the lobby to welcome contributors to the fund drive for Children’s Hospital. St. Louis The Joseph A. Brislane Company and Bob McDonald, Manley, Inc., represent¬ ative, moved into new and enlarged quar¬ ters at 3330 Olive Street. . . . Herman Gore lick and George Phillips, Realart, were in Chicago for a sales conference of midwest franchise holders of American International Pictures. . . . Columbia branch manager Clarence D. Hill was in Chicago for a company sales conference in the Drake Hotel. . . . French Miller, Universal salesman, returned to the job after recovering from a heart disturb¬ ance. . . . Mrs. Ethel J. Chilton, Doniphon, Mo., celebrated the 20th anniversary of her Missouri there. . . . The Airway Drive-In installed in-car heaters, while the Manchester and 66 Park-In were preparing to acquire the winter conveni¬ ences. . . . Art Struck, owner, Arlee, Mason City, Ill., marked the 20th anni¬ versary of the house by giving a free show. . . . James W. Rust, 60, veteran industryite recently associated with Na¬ tional Theatre Supply, died. San Antonio Another rock and roll show is being planned as an added attraction on the PROGRESSIVE ELECTRIC CONSTRUCTION CO., INC. 240 N. 13th STREET * PHILADELPHIA 7, PA $ — Theatre Installations and Maintenance HENRY FRIEDMAN Realtor and Insurance Specializing in T heatre Real Estate and Insurance (Member Main Line Board of Realtors) 17 W. Lancaster Ave., Ardmore, Pa. OR 7-5730 THEATRE SEAT COVERS Hayco seat covers for all makes and models of theatre chairs. JACK HAYES SEATING SERVICE ONE MONICA PLACE, BALDWINSVILLE, N. Y. December 12, 1956