The Exhibitor (1959)

Year Itch” and “How To Marry a Million¬ aire.” Mrs. Lydia Boda, manager, Hartman, is re¬ covering from a broken shoulder suffered when she fell on the marble lobby floor of the theatre. . . . Anita Sands and Chris Robinson, stars of “Diary of a High School Bride,” were here for interviews. . . . Sam Shubouf, manager, Loew’s Ohio, will award the Queen Isabella Tiara to the Central Ohio girl chosen 1959 Queen Isabella at the an¬ nual Columbus Day celebration. The tiara is sponsored by Marilyn Monroe as a plug for “The Seven Year Itch” and “How to Marry a Millionaire,” coming to Loew’s Ohio. CLEVELAND I. J. Schmertz has been recalled from retirement by 20th-Fox for a limited period of active service in the Cleveland exchange where, until two years ago, he had been branch manager for 30 years, to spark the local exchange into a top position in the current company sales drive. He was honored by the area exhibitors and distributors with a “welcome back” luncheon. In charge of arrangements were Nate Schultz of Allied Artists, M. B. Horwitz of the Washington Circuit, and Marshall Fine, substituting for his father, Meyer Fine, president of Associ¬ ated Theatres Circuit . . . Mrs. Norman Weitman was guest of honor at a farewell luncheon held in the Virginian, Shaker Heights, by the ladies of the Variety Club Auxiliary. Mrs. Weitman is leaving Cleveland for Philadelphia where she will join her husband who recently resigned his post as local Universal branch manager to join Lopert Films as district manager in charge of the Philadelphia, Washington, Pittsburgh, and Cleveland territories. Mrs. Jerry Lipow was in charge of arrangements. . . . The premiere of “Porgy and Bess” at the Palace Theatre on Nov. 4 will be sponsored by the Cleveland Cancer Society. . . . Several driveins in this area are reducing their playing schedules to weekends with the coming of autumn. Among those reported to date are George Manos’ Elm Lane Drive-In, Coshoc¬ ton; Midway Drive-In, East Palestine; and Starlit Drive-In, Newcomerstown. Also Herbert Horstemeier’s Tri-Vale Drive-In, Coshocton. . . . Following the usual pattern, the Old Trail, St. Clairsville, which closes with the advent of the drive-in season, has been reopened by Rainburt Albert. . . . Nat Barach, National Screen branch manager, is spending a major portion of his time these days out in the territory calling on the exhibitors. DALLAS A special for-women-only preview of “The Man Who Understood Women,” 20th-Fox release, has been set at the Inwood. . . . 20th Century-Fox were to hold a luncheon at the Sheraton Dallas Hotel in honor of the theatre exhibitors of the southwest at which time new pictures and plans will be fully discussed. Thomas O. McCleaster, Dallas branch man¬ ager for 20th Century-Fox, will be toast¬ master. . . . Norman Levinson has resigned as southwest press representative for Metro Goldwyn-Mayer to accept the position of general manager and advertising director for the Trans-Texas Theatres, headed by Harold Novy. DES MOINES A group of businessmen have purchased the Anita, Anita, la., from William Proctor for possession on Oct. 1. Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Fries Teenage students from 20 schools were pres¬ ent recently at a combination interview¬ screening when Ross Hunter, producer, U-I's "Pillow Talk," visited Detroit in connection with the film's opening at the Mich’gan. The teens are writers for their various school papers. will manage the house for the new group. . . . Dave Gold, 20th Century-Fox manager, held a luncheon meeting for the press, ex¬ hibitors and circuit representatives outlining the promotion plans for forthcoming films. Other speakers included Frank Larson, Omaha manager; Bob Favaro, publicity representa¬ tive from Minneapolis; and Henry Cowen, Look magazine representative. HOUSTON Jack Webb and his wife are expected to pay a visit to Houston in behalf of his latest film, “30,” as well as visits to San Antonio and Dallas. . . . T. J. Cheeney, assistant mana¬ ger, King Center Drive-In, has moved to Port Arthur, Tex., where he will become manager, Don Twin Drive-In. He was manager, Trail Drive-In here, for eight years. . . . Martin Burnette, Loew’s district manager, has re¬ turned to his home after a visit here to Loew’s State. JACKSONVILLE Mary Hart, local WOMPI president, stated that all the WOMPI delegations from the United States and Canada which attended the sixth annual WOMPI gathering here Sept. 11-13 have sent back highly complimentary letters regarding the conduct of the conven¬ tion. . . . Many exhibitors have reported a healthy climb in boxoffice receipts on week¬ ends since the reopening of schools on Sept. 1 but, at the same time, midweek receipts have dropped sharply at both drive-ins and indoor houses. . . . Albert Joel, formerly at 20th-Fox, is now booking for MGM. . . . Mary Jane Partin, now in the MGM office, formerly worked with 20th-Fox. . . . Two teen-aged, knife-wielding bandits robbed Mrs. Jo Ann Rheaume, cashier at the Southside Drive-In, of $118 in theatre receipts and escaped in a stolen automobile. . . . Leonard Allen, Para¬ mount exploitere from Atlanta, came in to work on exploitation campaigns for “But Not For Me.”. . . . French Harvey, FST conces¬ sions chief, and his assistant, Peyton G. “Sport” Bailey, journeyed to the Miami “gold coast” on business. . . . Sandra Sherman, for¬ merly at 20th-Fox, has resigned from the industry. . . . Kay Porter, a well-known figure on the local Film Row, who is owner of the Temple and the Negro-patronage Brooklyn in his hometown of Perry, was named mayor of Perry at a special session of the Perry city council on September 25. The previous mayor resigned and Porter will serve until the municipal election in July, 1960. . . . Jesse Marlow, formerly of Plant City, is now managing the Lake, Lake City, for owner Bob Cannon, who was recovering from an illness in a Live Oak hospital. . . . Ken Barfield was serving as relief manager of the Funland Drive-In, Tampa, while man¬ ager Chuck Rose vacationed. . . . Glenn Norris, 20th-Fox assistant general sales manager, ar¬ rived from New York to head the company’s exhibitor gathering in the Hotel Roosevelt. . . . The Fran-Lin Drive-In at Mulberry has been shuttered for the fall season. . . . Bill Raulerson is the new manager, Starlight Drive-In, Live Oak. . . . Mrs. Lenore Kirk¬ wood, treasurer of the FST credit union, rep¬ resented her fellow employees at the state convention of credit unions held here at the Robert Meyer Hotel. MIAMI, FLA., NEWS — Crew members of the U.S.S. Tanner, visiting Port Everglades (Ft. Lauderdale), Fla., were invited by manager Hal Stanton to view “John Paul Jones” at the Warner as guests of the theatre. . . . The Center has discontinued weekday matinees and is now opening at 6:45 p.m. with the show starting at 7 p.m. The regular matinee policy is continuing for Saturday and Sunday. MEMPHIS Better Films Council selected “Middle of the Night” as the Movie-of-the-Month for October. It was recommended for adults only, with “The Five Pennies” selected as the Family-Movie-of-the-Month. . . . Film Transit has reinstated service for the Landers, Weona, Ark., at the request of Don Landers. . . . B. D. Bright, Hi-Y Drive-In, Henderson, Ky., advises the drive-in is on weekend operation only. . . . The censor board of Little Rock, Ark., banned “Lady Chatterley’s Lover” from showing in Little Rock. Several months ago, the book was banned from the newstands. MINNEAPOLIS John M. Rohr, owner-operator, Marlow, Pine River, Minn., is celebrating the theatre’s 25th anniversary. Two-for-ones were the order of the day and were used to share the event with patrons. In appreciation of Rohr’s 25 years of contribution to the area, con¬ gratulations were publicly extended by the Pine River Commercial Club and various mei’chants in ads in the local newspapers. NEW HAVEN John T. McGlew of Local 350, IATSE, Meriden, Conn., has been elected a vicepresident of the Connecticut State Labor Council, AFL-CIO. . . . Two Stanley Warner first-runs — the Palace Norwich, Conn., and the Capitol, Willimantic, Conn. — have an¬ nounced new adult price policy, designed to encourage late afternoon theatre attendance. The Palace, Norwich, managed by Edwin Stewart, is now charging only 50 cents for adults from 5 to 6 p.m., Mondays through Fridays. The regular 75 -cent admission price resumes at 6 p.m. The Capitol, Willimantic, managed by Russell Barrett, is now charging 55 cents from 4:45 to 6 p.m., Mondays through Fridays. The regular 80-cent admission price resumes at 6 p.m. . . . The Poli, Springfield, Mass., is first situation on Loew’s Poli-New England Theatres, Inc., circuit, to undergo modernization as part of recently -announced plans by Eugene Picker, Loew’s Theatres, Inc., president. Harry F. Shaw, Poli division manager, reports that the Poli, Springfield, has been reseated — new capacity is 1990, as compared to previous 2334— in an effort to improve viewing. It is assumed that other remodeling projects will get under way within the Poli division. October 21, 1959 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR 23