The Exhibitor (1960)

year was an improvement over 1958,” sne was quoted as saying. “I find that after people finish paying for their TV sets, they start coming to the theatre. My prices are still 35 cents and 15 cents. I know that is out of line, but I just do not want to raise prices as long as I can keep going and make a profit.” MILWAUKEE Some 100 friends of Valentine J. Wells toss¬ ed a little party for him last fortnight. Wells has been a member of the city motion pic¬ ture commission for 21 years. The commis¬ sion consists of nine commissioners and 15 aides, all unpaid, who preview movies and movie exploitation and discuss their merits. They can suggest deletions but have no power to enforce their opinions. He was re¬ cently reappointed to another four year term on the commission and received a signed citation from Mayor Zeidler in honor of his record of community service, and other gifts. Wells praised exhibitors for their coopera¬ tion with the commission. NEW HAVEN Loew’s Theatres Inc. has promoted Alfred Domian, assistant manager, to manager of Loew’s Poli, Bridgeport, Conn., succeeding Matthew (Matt) L. Saunders, who is retiring after 40 years in Bridgeport theatre manage¬ ment capacities. Saunders, will henceforth serve as relief manager at Loew’s Poli and Majestic, Bridgeport. . . . Judge William P. Barber of Tolland County Common Pleas Court, Stafford Springs, Conn., has ordered foreclosure in an action brought by the town of Stafford and borough of Stafford Springs, Conn., against the Markoff Realty Inc., over the long closed Palace, Stafford Springs. The town’s claim is the result of unpaid taxes. Investing clients of the Henry Baker Man¬ agement Company, New York, have pur¬ chased the Plaza Theatre Building, Stamford, Conn., for under $350,000 from the Rena Real¬ ty Corporation, also of New York. The prop¬ erty includes the 1150-seat Plaza, four stores and three second-floor offices. The entire property is under a net lease to Harry Brandt, Brandt Theatres, New York, for $35,000 a year, with 13 years to go. The Baker interests acquired the property subject to the lease. The property is managed by the Samuel Silberman Agency of Stamford. NEW ORLEANS Percy Guitreau and Irving Zellers, owners, Gonzales Drive-In, Gonzales, La., which they had leased out the past two years to Frank Pasqua of the indoor Gonzales, re¬ assumed its operations. Russell Callen, who handled the buying and booking for them has taken it over again. . . . Yvonne Brockhuft, Warner exchange staff, has been on the sick list. . . . Sid Fuhrman, owner of Madisonville. La., and Mandeville theatres is back in swing after illness and expects to reopen the theatres, which have been closed about four months, soon. . . . H. M. Skaggs has resumed full week operation at the Skaggs Drive-In, Amite, La. . . . The membership campaign of Variety Club has reached the half-way mark of its goal of 200 additional members. . . . The Variety Club Ladies Auxiliary held a luncheon meeting while The Tent will hold a mens’ night hoopla on March 14. The Tent held open house during Mardi Gras Carnival Day. . . . Pauline Elliott resigned from Masterpiece Pictures to take position outside of the industry. . . . Loraine Cass, secretary to the manager at United Artists exchange, her husband and her brother-in-law came out of an automobile Al Lidman, with Mel Fox Circuit in Philadelphia since 1926, is resigning to become assistant to the general manager of the 44-house Mike Chakeres Circuit, Springfield, Ohio. accident with minor scratches and bruises, but suffered terrific shock. . . . Leo V. Seicshnaydre, former president, Howco Pic¬ tures of Louisiana, sold his interest to Joy N. Houck, vice-president of the organization. Simultaneously, F. F. Goodrow, independent exchange operator, became part owner, with the name of the organization changed to Goodrow-Howco Pictures Exchange. Goodrow stated that his new connections will not affect his other individual operations, which will continue under the supervision of his “Girl Friday,” Mrs. Georgia Bruno, who has been with him for over 10 years. Goodrow will make his office at the Goodrow-Howco Exchange, 150 S. Liberty Street; while his independent operations will continue at 218 S. Liberty Street. Seicshnaydre will remain with Goodrow-Howco in a sales capacity. PHILADELPHIA John Golder, Jam Handy, hit the road again in the interest of his latest no charge ad film, “American Maker,” in Technicolor and SuperScope for Chevrolet. . . . Alan Trading Com¬ pany held a prevue of the Japanese-made, “Otomi and Yosaburo” at the New Broadway. . . . Neil Heilman announced that he expects to have an Easter opening for his new Hellman, Albany, N. Y. . . . Tri -States Buying and Booking Service annoimced it is now servicing the Caledonia Drive-In, Ortanna, Pa.; the Middletown Drive-In, Middletown, N. Y.; the Newton Drive-In., Newton, N. J.; and the Ledgewood Drive-In, Ledgewood, N. J. . . . A. J. Vanni, SW zone manager, was out of the hospital and recuperating at home. . . . Whitey Molitch, James P. Clark’s High¬ way Express Lines transport executive, was in University of Pennsylvania Hospital. PITTSBURGH Jack Kalmenson, Warner Bros, branch man¬ ager, hosted a trade-showing of “Tall Story” at the Manor. . . . John Harris has already started woi’k on his 1961 “Ice Capades” and has hired six top-rated chore¬ ographers to stage the numbers. . . . Mayor Barr, District Attorney Boyle, and other of¬ ficials were among those viewing “On The Beach” at screenings arranged by UA exploiteer Ed Lurie and Fred Kunkel, manager, Penn, where the picture is currently packing ’em in. The Mayor put his stamp of approval on the controversial film. . . . Max Silverman, Manor manager, pinch -hit for vacationing Bernie Elinoff at the Squirrel. Sitting in for Silverman was Chuck Stofer, Stanley staff. Screen starlet Sandra Dee was scheduled for Pittsburgh appearances, doing the pub¬ licity buildup for Universal’s “The Snow Queen,” cartoon feature in which her voice is used. . . . Dave Kane, Universal exploiteer, was in on a “good-will visit” and talks with local movie editors on forthcoming U prod¬ uct. . . . Bob Johnston and his wife Joan are infanticipating. It’ll be the third child for the Warner’s chief treasurer. . . . TV artist Marty Wolfson tied -up his WTAE Channel 4 “Safety Rangers” program with upcoming Disney feature “Toby Tyler.” A highlight will be a personal appearance on the Stanley stage, heavily crossplugged on the station. . . . Kaspar Monahan, Pittsburgh Press movie editor, interviewed George Peppard, former student at Carnegie Tech Drama School here, who gets his first big screen break in MGM’s “Home From The Hill” in which he is winning acclaim. Pic¬ ture is on the Penn schedule. . . . Miss Mike Pollock, formerly publicity “man” for Cine¬ rama here, has been appointed national pub¬ licity director for Universal’s “Spartacus.” . . . PORTLAND Ted R. Gamble, theatre and television ex¬ ecutive, has become treasurer of Shergari Productions, formed recently to produce CinemaScope and color motion pictures for 20th-Fox release. Gamble is president of the Mount Hood Broadcasting and Tele¬ vision Corp. (KOIN-TV and KOIN-Radio) as well as president of Gamble Elnterprises here. Frank H. Ricketson, Denver and Los Angeles theater executive, is president. Rick¬ etson is a former vice-president of National Theatres and president of Fox-Intermountain Theaters in the Denver area. Although re¬ tired, he still maintains an interest in the¬ atre operation. He is a director of many Denver firms, president of the Central City Opera House Association, and a director of the National Cultural Center, Washington, D.C. Producer-director is George Sherman, noted for such pictures as “Tomahawk,” “Steel Town,” and the soon to be released “Hell Bent for Leather,” a Universal -Inter¬ national release starring Audie Murphy and Felicia Farr. Shooting starts Feb. 8 in Cuerna¬ vaca, Mexico. Mrs. Myrtle Gamble will ac¬ company her husband to the location where she will be a member of the daily rushes review board. The picture title and cast will be announced soon. Gamble advises. K33 whenever Seconds Count J Don’t take chances-Order m SPECIAL TRAILERS i J-Aom. '^DDjdL Old. CDsfismdjabliL 1 1 FILMACK 1327 So. Wabash Ave. Chicago (5), Illinois. PROGRESSIVE ELECTRIC CONSTRUCTION CO., INC. 240 N. 13th STREET . PHILADELPHIA 7, PA. Theatre Installations and Maintenance March 16, I960 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR 21