The Exhibitor (1957)

15 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR Schine, Distribs Sued By Competing Exbib Albany — U. S. District Court Judge James T. Foley was to reserve decision at the conclusion of testimony in the $660,000 anti-trust suit brought by Web¬ ster Rosewood Corporation, Hazelrose Corporation, and Max and Belle Fogel against four Schine corporations, J. Myer Schine, Louis W. Schine (since de¬ ceased), and John A. May, alleging “the continuous combination and conspiracy” in restraint of interstate trade in the licensing of pictures in Rochester, 19421950. The eight major distributors were named co-conspirators. A lengthy complaint alleged “the con¬ tinuous combination and conspiracy in restraint of interstate trade and com¬ merce in motion pictures, in the licensing thereof and in the exhibition thereof in Rochester, N. Y., the unlawful restraint of interstate trade and commerce, and the making of contracts in restraint of inter¬ state trade and commerce in motion pic¬ tures for exhibition in Rochester” be¬ tween 1942 and 1950. Specifically at issue was the charge that the Webster, built in 1927 at a cost of some $200,000, suffered serious dam¬ ages because it was forced to play films behind Schines’ older State, despite the fact the former equalled or exceeded the latter in every respect. The situation was due to “Schines’ monopoly power, the power that it had with motion pic¬ ture distributors.” Francis T. Anderson, attorney for plaintiffs, claimed. Judge Foley gave the contending at¬ torneys, Francis T. Anderson of Philadel¬ phia, for plaintiffs, and James O. Moore, Jr., for defendants, until May 30 to file briefs on the question of admissability of the consent decree concerning the Schine operations, entered June 24, 1949. Foley did so after heai’ing Anderson plead for admission of the decree, and Moore urge its non-admission. The case was adjourned for a week on May 24. It was resumed June 3. Albany Sixteenth annual golf tournament of Variety Club will be held at Shaker Ridge Country Club, June 24. The day will be climaxed by a dinner, at which 150 are expected. Golfers probably will number 80 to 90. Former chief barker Nate Winig, who has helmed a number of tournaments for Tent 9, announced that a prize will be awarded every person attending the dinner. Joe Sheber is again in charge of prize solicitations. . . . Only 600 attended the annual stockholders’ meeting of New York Central Railroad, in Fabian’s 3,660seat Palace. A closed-circuit telecast of improvements made to the Central’s prop¬ erties was a feature of the day-long sesssion. The theatre, rented for the occasion, omitted screenings for a day and a half. Manager William With and assist¬ ant manager Stanton Patterson were in charge. . . . James Blackburn, presidentbusiness agent, Stage Employees Local, and Edward Wendt, holder of a similar position with the Projectionists Union, made arrangements to attend a District 19 (New York State) meeting of IATSE in Buffalo, June 9. NEWS OF THE TERRITORIES . . . Barney Ross, whose film "Monkey On My Back," released through United Artists, was playing the State and Orpheum, Boston, arrived recently for press interviews to help plug the picture. Seen, left to right, Walter Milliken, city censor; Ross; Mrs. Ross; and Harry Segal, UA branch manager. Boston David Kaplan, manager, Translux, Bos¬ ton, came to the conclusion that many of his patrons enjoyed dance music other than the rock and roll style and booked a short each week, featuring a well known dance band, along with his regular pro¬ gram. “This softer music brings back many pleasant memories to the adult music lover and the shorts are being received cordially. Who knows? Perhaps today’s youngsters may enjoy this type of music, and these shorts could pave the way for new-found interest in big bands,” he said. . . . Sadye Gotz, office manager, Levenson Circuit, was recently elected president, Business and Profes¬ sional Womens Group of the Boston Chap¬ ter of Hadassah. . . . The Lincoln, Quincy Point, Mass., has changed to a weekend only policy for the summer months. . . . Things are humming at the United Artists office with business so brisk that branch manager Harry Segal was forced to add two more telephone trunks to the switch¬ board. With the additional trunks, the phome number is changed to HA 6-6540. Segal and his booking and sales staff are lining up playdates for United Artists Week from June 30 to July 7. . . . 20thFox booker Larrie Lucie was married to Marilyn J. Botano, Lynn, Mass. . . . There is an unconfirmed report that a permit for a new drive-in in Abington, Mass., on Route 58 has been granted to Daniel Murphy, Jr., son of Dan Murphy, owner Theatre Wishing Well Helps School For Deaf BR ATTLEBORO, VT.— Spent I.atchis, owner, Latchis Memorial, was approached by a committee from the Brattleboro Quota Club, asking if he would allow the use of the attractive fountain in the lobby of the theatre to be used as a wishing well to col¬ lect coins from theatre patrons to benefit the fund for the Austine School for Deaf and Dumb Children. Latchis immediately gave liis con¬ sent, and at the end of three months $400 was withdrawn from the bottom of the well. Variety Camp Drive Plans Albany Dance Albany — A Camp Thacher Emergency Fund Drive, launched by the Variety Club to assure the raising of a minimum $10,000 for continuance of the free twoweek vacation program for needy boys, made a brisk start. Within three days, $100 was on hand from sale of tickets for a dance to be held at Shaker Ridge Country Club, Colonie, July 16. First goal fixed for the affair was $5,000, repre¬ sented by the sale of 1,000 tickets at $5. However, there was later talk of market¬ ing of 2,500, which would yield $12,500. Jack Spitzer, Variety member and a director of Albany Boys’ Club, which conducts the summer camp in cooperation with Tent 9, gave a $500 check to com¬ mittee chairman Jules Perlmutter for two tickets. Spitzer, an automobile agency owner, also promised he would obtain the services of comedian Joey Adams to en¬ tertain at the dance. Adams’ appearance was said to be assured. Edward Rothbard, Variety barker and president of Shaker Ridge Country Club, was among the first to suggest the dance, as a means out of the dilemma in which Tent 9 found itself when the annual Denial Drive fell far short of the mark. About $5,000 was collected during that effort. of the Loring Hall, Hingham. The spot in Abington is opposite the Weymouth Air Base. . . . The Plaza, Salem, closed since 1952, reopened with a policy of three changees a week. The theatre is owned by Manuel Solovicos, a Salem restaurant owner, whose two sons, James and Teddy, will operate the theatre along with Ray¬ mond White, a son-in-law. New projec¬ tion equipment and a CinemaScope screen has been installed by Massachu¬ setts Theatre Equipment Company. Phil Bloomberg, former owner, Plaza, is hand¬ ling the buying and booking for the new owners. ... A severe fire damaged part of the concession building at the Round Hill Drive-In, Springfield, which close/! COMING TO NEW YORK? Slay at this modern 25story hotel. All rooms outside exposure. Large, beautifully furnished rooms with kitch¬ enette, private bath, from $6 daily. Two room suites from $10.50 SPECIAL MONTHLY RATES! Air-conditioning & television avoilobl* • Broadway at 75th St., New York Oscar Wintrob, Managing Director June 5, 1957