The Exhibitor (1959)

July 8 , 1959 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR 21 ALBANY Film Row heard that negotiations were being conducted for a five-year renewal by 20th-Fox of the lease it holds on its ex¬ change at 1052 Broadway. . . . Dick Young bowed out as 20th-Fox head booker and was succeeded by Doug Hermans, who had been an assistant for about three years. ... A testimonial dinner was held for Ed Segal, shifted by Warners from Albany manager to an assignment in the Boston branch, and a “welcome back” for the new manager Herb Gaines, who was a local salesman eight years ago. The affair was held at Neil Heilman’s Thruway Motel. . . . Irwin Ullman left Fabian drive-ins to join Neil Heilman En¬ terprises at Philadelphia as general manager of the Lincoln and Andalusia Drive-Ins. He was succeeded by George Lourinia who will supervise the Mohawk, and Saratoga driveins. Sylvester Frydel was promoted to manage the Saratoga. ATLANTA Mrs. Carole Moessner, secretary to branch manager at United Artists, resigned. . . . Burton C. Haney is the new owner of the Macon Drive-In, Lafayette, Tenn. . . . “The Birth Of A Nation” booking at the Fine Art Cinema was blocked by Atlanta censor Mrs. Christine Smith Gilliam. This picture has been banned here since 1944. . . . Bijou Amusement Company, Nashville, Tenn., has reopened the Liberty, Greensville, S.C., with James Sanders, Charlotte, N.C., as manager. . . . The Independent Theatre Circuit will start building a new Skyway Drive-In in Chattanooga, Tenn., at a cost of $250,000. This will replace the old Skyway Drive-In. Don Shaw, former manager of the old theatre will be manager. BOSTON Ten members of the working newspaper press in Boston presented Mr. and Mrs. Joseph E. Levine with a gift commemorating their 21st wedding anniversary. The presenta¬ tion was made at a “Hercules” cocktail party in the Ritz following the press screening of the film. . . . The Astor Theatre has closed its doors in order to install the new Todd AO projection and sound equipment to be ready for the August premiere of Samuel Goldwyn’s production of “Porgy and Bess” which opens August 6 for an extended en¬ gagement. Mr. and Mrs. Goldwyn will meet the press at a party June 29. . . . Larry Wal¬ lace, concessions head. E. M. Loew Theatres, has resigned to join the new Pleasure Island amusement park in charge of concessions. . . . The Capitol, Lynn, closed for renova¬ tions, plans an early fall opening. The crew is working on the repairing of the seats, changes in the orchestra seating and other improvements. . . . Felix Migliaccie, former manager of the Lancaster, has been moved to the West Boylston Drive-in, while Charlie Tierney replaces him. . . . With the State, Webster, on weekends only, the manager has gone over to the Auburn Drive-in. . . . Newton “Red” Jacobs, president of Cory Film Corporation of Hollywood, met circuit heads and exhibitors at a luncheon in the Hotel Bradford following the trade screen¬ ing of his film “Room 43.” He was accom¬ panied by his legal council Paul Schreibman. Having completed negotiations for the fran¬ chise agreements for Cory Films in New York, Philadelphia, Washington and Pitts¬ burgh, the two men left Boston for Chicago to meet the midwestern circuit heads and exhibitors. While in Boston, they signed New England franchise agreements with Joseph E. Levine, president of Embassy Pictures The contract for the American premiere of "Hatikvah" (The Hope), first Israeli film in color, to open in the 55th St. Playhouse Oct. 26, was signed at the meeting shown here. Principals were (left to right) Leo Fuld, im¬ porter of the film; Shoshana Damari, star of the drama; Eli Habib, producer for Habib Film Studios; and Larry Morris, vice-president, B. S. Moss Theatres. Corporation. . . . Ray Feeley, Lexington, Lexington, Mass., is a patient at the Norwood Hospital. . . . The film “Isle Of Levant” was voluntarily withdrawn from the screen of the Capitol, Fall River. NEW HAMPSHIRE NEWS— John Cohen, owner, Tilton, publicly thanked all his past patrons as he closed for the summer and announced his intentions to renovate before the fall reopening. . . . Starway Drive-In, Dover, offered the kids chances on a bicycle. ... A gigantic fireworks display was given at the Keene Drive-In. The grounds have been sprayed to eliminate mosquitos and other insects for the summer. PROVIDENCE, R .1. Due to generosity of Harold Lancaster, man¬ ager, Strand, Pawtucket, and the New Eng¬ land Theatres Corporation, operators of the outstanding local situation, after a successful run, “The Miracle of St. Therese” was brought back to this city for a series of special show¬ ings. . E. M. Loew’s Providence DriveIn has closed. Sears-Roebuck Company, ad¬ joining the open-airer, recently announced that the facilities formerly used for mobile movie patrons is being taken over for Sears customers, and resurfacing operations are already underway. . . . Sara Stamm, back in command of her Newport Casino this season, has now completed plans for a schedule of plays. She announced plans to open July 13. Ben Simon (right), manager, Loew's Metro¬ politan, Brooklyn, greets (left to right) John Lynch, former commissioner of Borough Works in Brooklyn; Chester Allen, president of Kings County Trust Company; and Mrs. Allen, at a special sneak preview of "Shake Hands With The Devil," a drama of the Irish Rebellion, starring James Cagney. Among those scheduled to make personal appearances are Gloria Swanson, Faye Em¬ erson, Virginia Mayo, Jacques Bergerac, Dorothy Malone and Michael O’Shea. . . . Bill Trambukis, Loew’s State manager, en¬ listed the services of the recently-crowned ‘Miss Providence’ to press the button starting up the air-conditioning plant in his house. BUFFALO Because Geneva, N.Y., is the eastern heart of a grape growing area, five Finger Lakes houses had the world premiere, along with Los Angeles, of U-I’s “This Earth I mine.” Jerry Fowler, manager, Geneva, saw the picture at a private preview in Penn Yan, N.Y., for grape growers and winery owners. Other towns that have the film are Penn Yan, Bath, Canandaigua and Corning. . . . The COMPO public relations committee for the Buffalo area includes, — Edward F. Meade, Shea Theatres; Arthur Krolick, American Broadcasting-Paramount Theatres; Charles B. Taylor, AB-PT; George H. Mackenna, Basil’s Lafayette and Gerald M. Westergren, Basil Theatres. CHICAGO George G. Kerasotes, president, TOA and Kerasotes Theatres, Springfield, Ill., an¬ nounced that Illinois theatres will not be subjected to the minimum wage legislation pending before the State Legislature. This was the outcome of meetings with leading members of the Illinois law makers. United Theatre Owners of Illinois cooperated with TOA in these conferences. . . . Theatres are running a Red Skelton trailer for the annual La Rabida Sanitarium benefit collection. . . . Myron Mandy, Will Rogers manager, bet¬ tered a heart attack. . . . Plans are under way for a 1,300 seat indoor theatre in the Meadowdale shopping center, Dundee, Ill. . . . Maurice Stahl purchased the Knox, North Judson, Ind., from Alliance Theatre Corporation. . . . William Keen, manager, Senate, Springfield, Ill., narrowly missed being shot as he pur¬ sued a holdup man who had taken $100 from the cashier. The vanished thief committed the robbery after seeing “A1 Capone.” . . . Les Brown, Variety chief, and Jean Slaymaker, newspaper staff girl, were wed. . . . Mrs. Roslyn Simon, wife of the theatre at¬ torney, Seymour Simon, was again chosen to head the October Community Fund Red Cross joint appeal. . . . Nate Platt, B & K executive, made the children at La Rabida Sanitarium happy with a juke box presenta¬ tion. . . . Irwin Joseph took over the Hilltop Drive-In from H and E Balaban. . . . Variety Club coffers benefited through a gala night by members and friends at Sportsman’s Park harness racing. . . . Dave Malcolm was named chief director of Variety Club’s an¬ nual golf outing to be held at Elmhurst Country Club on Aug. 21. . . . Sergeant Vincent Nolan, new chief, censor board, made an economy move by selecting three policemen to replace officers of higher rank. . . Alliance Amusement Company opened its 54th drive-in at Kankakee, Ill., with Will Ruckner as manager. . . . Great States re¬ opened the Grove, Elgin, Ill., which had been closed for several years. CINCINNATI “Windjammer” is scheduled to follow Cinerama’s “South Seas Adventure” at the Capitol at conclusion of its run, probably in late September. . . . After a slow start, 20thFox’s “Diary of Anne Frank,” being screened at suburban Valley, is beginning to be ap¬ preciated by area movie patrons. . . . Casey