The Exhibitor (1959)

8 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR February 25, 1959 NEWS CAPSULES Loew's Circuit Ups Blackwell NEW YORK— Jerry E. Blackwell, for the past three years assistant manager, Capitol, on Broadway, has been named manager of Loew’s “new” State, also on Broadway. The new State, presently undergoing a million dollar refurbishing program designed to make it one of the world’s finest motion picture showcases, is scheduled for reopening in mid-March. \/ BROADWAY y\ GROSSES Openings, Holiday Boost Returns NEW YORK — Several openings and the holiday boosted returns in Broadway firstruns last week-end. “THE REMARKABLE MR. PENNYPACK ER" (20th-Fox). Paramount ($39,435)* — The opening session was estimated at $35,000. “THE JOURNEY” (MGM). Radio City Music Hall $147,610)* — Thursday through Sunday accounted for $98,000, with the open¬ ing week sure of $165,000. Stage show. “THE HANGING TREE” (Warners). Roxy ($55,405)* — Wednesday through Sunday hit $50,000, with the week bound to top $70,000. Stage show. “NEVER STEAL ANYTHING SMALL” (U-I). Capitol ($33,3503* — The second week was claimed at $30,000. “SEPARATE TABLES” (UA). Astor ($25,630)* — The 10th week was expected to tally $20,000. “BELL, BOOK AND CANDLE” (Col.) Odeon expected the ninth week to reach $11,000. “RALLY ROUND THE FLAG BOYS” (20th -Fox). RKO Palace stated that the ninth week would be $14,000. United Artists’ “The Last Mile” opened at the Victoria, and Buena Vista’s “The Sleep¬ ing Beauty” opened at the Criterion. Figures are unavailable at press time due to the holiday. * Figures in parentheses reveal 1958 averages as compiled by MOTION PICTURE EXHIBI¬ TOR. Industry's Most Complete Saveable Review Section IN THIS ISSUE 1. A1 Capone (AA) 2. Arson For Hire (AA) 3. Gunmen From Laredo (Col.) 4. Helen Of Troy (Reissue) (WB) 5. I Was Monty’s Double (NTA) 6. Land Of The Pharaohs (Reisue) (WB) 7. The Light Touch (U-I) 8. Lovers Of Paris (Continental) 9. The Mating Game (MGM) 10. The Milkmaid (Brenner) 11. Miracle of Saint Therese (Ellis) 12. The Mistress (Harrison) 13. A Place In The Sun (Reissue) (Par.) 14. Some Like It Hot (UA) 15. Stalag 17 (Reissue) (Par.) 16. The Truth About Women (Continental) and 10 SHORT SUBJECTS A Quick Summary of All Important Industry News . . .Condensed for the Busy Executive. FORMS FOR THIS PAGE CLOSED AT 2 P.M. ON MON., FEB. 23 National Training Plan To Improve Projection NEW YORK — Responses from the halfdozen organizations asked to participate with it in the formation of a nation-wide training program to improve motion picture projec¬ tion, will result in that project having a top spot on the agenda of the mid-winter meetings of the board of directors and execu¬ tive committee of Theatre Owners of Amer¬ ica, at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C., on March 1-3, George G. Kerasotes, TOA president, announced last week. Methods of securing exhibitor support for the program, so that it may be rapidly implemented, will be discussed at the meet¬ ing by TOA’s theatre equipment committee, headed by John B. Schuyler of Butler, Wis. Kerasotes declared he had been assured of cooperation in the development of the pro¬ gram by RCA Service Company, Altec Serv¬ ice Company, the Theatre Equipment Deal¬ ers Association, the Theatre Equipment and Supply Manufacturers Association, and the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees and Motion Picture Operators. Offers of cooperation had also come un¬ solicited from the Motion Picture Research Council and the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers. Kerasotes issued the call for organization of a nation-wide training program to enable theatre owners, managers, and projectionists to recognize and correct sub-par projection, after the Motion Picture Research Council released a two-year study of 700 first and second run theatres in 100 U.S. cities, which found that 74 per cent, of theatres visited had inferior projection due to mechanical misalignment of optical equipment. Kerasotes said that Mr. Schuyler’s com¬ mittee felt that a program could be developed quickly and put into operation at minor or no cost to theatre owners, as soon as it could be determined that theatres would co¬ operate effectively with such a program. FILM FAMILY *7\ ALBUM Sick Call S. R. Baskin, Bailey circuit, Atlanta, was recovering from surgery in a hospital there. Sam Kennedy, Atlanta exhibitor, was recu¬ perating at home from surgery. Obituaries Paul R. Aust, former Seattle exhibitor, died recently at Palm Springs, Calif. He had also owned a theatre at Santa Barbara, Calif. Harold M. Brown, Jr., president, United Detroit Theatres, died from a heart attack on Feb. 22 while in California. Mrs. Francine Henry, owner and operator of the Grand, Seattle, died. Clayton Riley Lusk, 86, New York state senator who sponsored the 1921 motion pic¬ ture censorship bill at Albany, died in Cort¬ land, N.Y. Lester I. McJannet, 68, Orpheum stage manager, Seattle, and veteran industryite, died. John Mortenson, theatre concession sup¬ plier, died of a heart attack on a train ap¬ proaching Chicago. George C. Nungesser, Sr., 64, Allied Artists branch manager, New Orleans, and Variety Club, Tent 45, chief barker, died Feb. 15 after a brief illness. Mrs. Nungesser died four months ago. Arrivals Lars McSorley, Allied Artists eastern ad¬ vertising and publicity representative, be¬ came the proud father of a second boy last week, weighing in at six pounds or a little better. He’s named Brandon Padraic. Carr Heads Para. Gulf NEW YORK — Leonard H. Goldenson, presi¬ dent of American Broadcasting-Paramount Theatres, Inc., announced yesterday (Feb. 24) the appointment of Kermit Carr as presi¬ dent of Paramount Gulf Theatres, Inc., a subsidiary of AG-PT operating theatres in the principal cities in an eight-state southern region with headquarters in New Orleans. Carr succeeds Henry G. Plitt, who was re¬ cently elevated to head A.B.C. Films, Inc. Allied Artists recently held two special screenings of "Al Capone" in Washington, D. C. On the left are seen those who attended the showing for the entire House Judiciary Committee held at the Motion Picture Association with producers John Burrows and Leonard Ackerman and Allied Artists' Joseph Rivkin in attendance. On the right are seen William Lawrence, president. Na¬ tional Press Club, with Burrows, Ackerman and Rivkin at the screening held at the National Press Club.