The Exhibitor (1959)

August 26, 19 59 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR 15 Gus and Louis Kerasotes, pioneer Springfield, III., theatre owners, were honored recently by an anniversary party held at the Oakcrest Country Club in observance of Gus Kerasotes' 86th birthday, and to inaugurate the 50th anniversary celebration commemorating the opening of the Royal, SpringHeld, O., in 1509. Seen, left to right, are State Senator George E. Drach; Nat Natharson, Allied Artists, Chicago; Mrs. Louis Kerasotes; George Kerasotes; Mayor Lester Col¬ lins; Gus Kerasotes; State Representative George P. Coutrakon; Governor William Stratton; Mrs. George Kerasotes; Louis Kerasotes; Father Anthony Serris; and Mrs. Gus Kerasotes. at Miami Beach. ... Its 26th annual golf party was held by Tent Three, Variety Club, Aug. 17. Jack Alexander was general chairman. . . . “Porgy and Bess,” distributed by Columbia, opens Oct. 1 at the first-run Valley. . . . MGM’s “Ben Hur” will move into the downtown Capitol in mid-February. . . . Films continuing to please in the area include AI’s “Horrors of the Black Mu¬ seum,” AA’s “The Big Circus,” MGM’s “North by Northwest,” Columbia’s “Anatomy of a Murder.” Warner’s “The Nun’s Story,” after a six-week run at the downtown Grand, set a precedent by being moved immediately into 15 neighborhood houses here and in Newport and Covington, Ky. COLUMBUS, O., NEWS— Sam Shubouf, manager of Loew’s in Indianapolis for the past two and a half years, has taken over as manager of Loew’s Ohio, succeeding Walter Kessler, who is the new manager of Loew’s Warfield, San Francisco. . . . Manager Robert Sokol, of Loew’s Broad, held “Anatomy of a Murder” for a second week, following one of the biggest first weeks here in recent months. . . . Ken Prickett, executive secretary, Inde¬ pendent Theatre Owners of Ohio, will main¬ tain full-time offices in the Grand Theatre Building, following a change in which he resigned from a similar position with the Indiana exhibitors’ organzation. . . . Rein Rabakukk, former Loew’s Ohio assistant manager, was here before moving to his new post as assistant manager of Loew’s Grand, Atlanta. Rabakukk recently completed two years’ service in the army. CLEVELAND The World premiere of Ross Hunter’s “Pil¬ low Talk” will be held Oct. 8 in the Hippo¬ drome. It opens the following day in the Michigan, Detroit and the United Artists, Chi¬ cago. This will be Hunter’s third world prem¬ iere in Cleveland — his home town. . . . Shel¬ don Smerling, vice president, Eastern Man¬ agement Company, which recently acquired the Hippodrome, announced that his remod¬ eling program will be completed for the world premiere of “Pillow Talk.” This includes a new marquee, new carpets, drapes, interior decorations and renovating of seats . . . Jack Kenehan, manager of States Film Company, is back from a Georgia Bay vacation. . . . Nick Lubich, former salesman for Oliver Theatre Supply Company and National Theatre Sup¬ ply Company is now with Ohio Theatre Sup¬ ply Company which Arnold Weiss recently acquired from Ben L. Ogron . . . Variety Club’s annual golf tournament was held Aug. 24, at the Lake Forest Country Club. Com¬ mittee members in charge of the event in¬ clude David Rosenthal, U.A.; Ted Levy, B.V.; Irwin Shenker, Berio; Jack Silverthorne, Hip¬ podrome; and Marney Weitz. . . . Norman Weitman, Universal branch manager, is send¬ ing circulars into the territory with an eraser enclosed in each letter, suggesting that that it be used to substitute Universal product during the district manager’s Pete Rosian play date drive — Aug. 30-Oct. 30. DALLAS Alfred Sack reported doing nicely after his recent heart attack, is spending a few hours each day at his office. . . . The Brigitte Bardot film, “Love Is My Profession,” at the Fine Arts and Melba, appears destined to set a house record at the former. Manager John Alterman said that the movie was shown to “standing room only” crowds at the opening performances. After the opening crush, Alter¬ man rushed out to buy standards and tapes to control the crowds, never needed at the theatre before. . . . The Coronet, pioneer local art film theatre, is the latest amusement spot to announce a complete program of participation in the fall festival of Arts. Alfred N. Sack, owner-manager of the Coro¬ net, has assembled a full program of first run and return runs of most outstanding music and art films available. Opening the Coronet arts festival Oct. 23, will be “Rashomon.” . . . Bob Williams, head booker for Paramount, back from his vacation. . . . The Variety Club held a “20th Century-Fox Night” with more than 250 barkers and their guests present. There were also some 65 representatives from the local office of the film exchange. Door prize was a share of stock in 20th Century-Fox. Phil Isley, head of the Isley Theatre Circuit is chief barker, presided. . . . Irving Rust, booker for the Jefferson Amusement Company, and his wife, Laura, are vacationing in Monta Vista, Colo., serving as counselors at Philips Science Camp where they took 18 boys and girls for a summer outing. DES MOINES R. M. Phillips, 50, manager of the Algona, Algona, la., died in Fort Dodge, la., recently. He had been attending the funeral of the wife of Milford McClain, district supervisor for Central States theatre company at Fre¬ mont, Neb., and was returning home at the time of his death. Phillips had been asso¬ ciated with the Central States for nearly 20 years. . . . The DeLuxe, Kingsley, la., has been reopened after being closed for several months. Don Page will serve as manager. . . . L. F. Davidson has been named manager of the Capitol, Sioux City, la., by Tri-States. There's 16 PAGES [ of Permanent Reference Data in the PINK Section of this Aug. 26 Issue . . . SAVE IT! JUST ANOTHER SUPERIOR SERVICE FROM THE HOf * TRADE PAPER! (*So our Theatre Subscribers tell us!) DETROIT Robert Bothwell, for 22 years with National Theatres, came to Detroit as a stranger four years ago to take over management of the Fox, succeeding veteran David Idzal. Last week forty of his friends gave a farewell party to the Bothwell family in the Circus Room under the Fox. Since National gave up its lease of the Fox a month and a half ago, he has been on loan to the Woodmount Corp., the building owners now operating the house. He expects his next assignment around Sept. 1. HOUSTON Martin C. Burnette, southern manager of Loew’s, was in for a two day visit at Loew’s State to establish a new pension and insur¬ ance plan for members of the theatre. . . . Homer McCallon, manager of Loew’s State was on an emergency trip to Knoxville, Tenn., where his mother is seriously ill. . . . F. P. Wilke, owner of the Boulevard, suffered a slight stroke. Doctors report he should be completely recovered within six weeks. Mrs. Wilke is operating the theatre during her husband’s illness. . . . Homer McCallon and his wife celebrated their 17th wedding anniversary. He is manager of Loew’s State. . . . The screen of the Alvin Drive In, at Alvin, Tex., just outside of Houston was destroyed by the high winds of Hurricane Debra. The Post Oak Drive-In suffered slight damage to its fence and a small bit to its screen tower, from the stoi-m. JACKSONVILLE Roy Bang, Apopka, Fla., showman, is re¬ opening the Florida, Groveland, Fla., in co¬ operation with Groveland city officials. . . . Edgewood manager George Krevo offered a free hoop to every child attending a special matinee. The house filled before show time and hundreds of children were unable to get inside. . . . New staff members at the Metro office are Gloria Haywood and Nancy Mc¬ Night. . . . Hank Hearn, former J. Arthur Rank salesman, is now associated with Irving Sochin, new owner of the Ribault and Air Base drive-ins. . . . Roy Harding, Imperial projectionist, accepted a temporary assign¬ ment as a news reel sound techriician in the Caribbean area. . . . Mary Hart and Edna Cox have been named as the official dele¬ gates to the local WOMPI when the national WOMPI convention opens here September