The Exhibitor (1960)

ST. LOUIS Albert Friedland, projectionist, St. Louis, died while at work at the theatre. . . . Her¬ man Buechel, 69, former shipper at 20th-Fox and the old Fox Film Company 38 years prior to his retirement in 1958, died. . . . Sam T. Echols, Sr., Irondale, Mo., who in 1921 patented the first Sno Cone machine, died. . . . Harvard O’Laughlin, business agent. Moving Pictui-e Operators Union Local 143 for the past eight years, retired and has been suc¬ ceeded by Herbert Butz, who has been presi¬ dent. A1 Savage has become president; Joe Ellenbracht moving up to recording secre¬ tary and Charles Haselhorst was elected sergeant-at-arms. . . . Charles Beninati, owner and manager, Ritz and Car-Breeze Drive-In, Carlyle, Ill., recently assumed the managership of the Bond, Greenville, a unit of Frisina Amusement Company. . . . Mid¬ American Theatres announced that the for¬ mer Mounds Drive-In. between Collinsville, Ill., and East St. Louis, will reopen with a new name, the Falcon. . . . The Granada was held up and robbed of approximately $300. . . . Frank Wagner, Columbia shipping clerk, returned from the hospital where he underwent surgery. . . . The Marquette Cor¬ poration is now operating the recently re¬ opened Marquette, which was dark for three years. . . . Vincent O’Leai'y, manager. Majestic, East St. Louis, has taken over booking for Publix Great States in the St. Louis trade area. Izzy Weinshienk, formerly district man¬ ager, became manager. Grand, Alton, Ill. SALT LAKE CITY Several hundred patrons were routed at the Uptown by a small fire behind the screen. . . . C. W. Parry, Kanab, Utah, one time prom¬ inent motion picture exhibitor of Ogden, Utah, has repurchased his famed Parry Lodge, which has been used for location by many film companies working in the area. . . . War¬ ren Butler, manager, Rialto, continues in a local hospital recuperting from a serious illness. His place is temporarily filled by Gene Walkingshaw. . . . The Ute Drive-In on the main highway between Salt Lake City and Provo has reopened after some heavy snows caused them to close for some days. SAN ANTONIO George M. Watson, city manager of the Interstate Theatre Circuit, and Jack S. Chalman, publicist for the circuit here, returned from a trip to the home office of Interstate in Dallas. . . . Egan Klein and Donald McConville, New York office of Columbia Pic¬ tures, were here to confer with Fernando J. Obledo at the local exchange on several big campaigns planned for forthcoming Columbia Spanish releases. . . . Sylvan K. Barry, owner, El Capitan Drive-In, reported that vandals broke into the snack bar of the drive-in and inflicted about $500 in damages. . . . The Texas, Hillsboro, Tex., has installed a larger generator and larger projection lamp to provide better quality screen fare for patrons showing returning interest in the theatre’s offerings. New vent pipes also were installed, according to James Trantham, man¬ ager. . . . The West, George West, Tex., which had been closed, has been reopened for busi¬ ness. . I . Charles Knauff, Bandex, Bandera, Tex., has reopened the Plaze, Boeme, Tex., which he has leased from Leon Glasscock. . . . T. J. Jackson, builder of screen towers and Robstown, Tex., theatre operator, was in the city constructing a new screen tower for the El Charro Drive-In. The old screen tower was blown down recently when a squall line ripped through the city. . . . The Alameda has started a new screen game for its patrons called Fortunenado. . . . Statewide Drive-In Theatres, the Alamo, Mission Twin, Rigsby, and South Loop 13 held a five Lucky License Numbers Night, offering $500 in cash. . . . Tomas Garcia, assistant manager, Aztec, is a Boy Scout master and led his troop in a local parade. ... A week’s face lifting of the Palace, Jacksonville, Tex., was completed without disturbing the normal show schedule. Yet the theatre received all new carpeting, all seats were reupholstered, the house was repainted inside and out, and a new V-shaped marquee was installed in place of the old fashioned marquee. Frank York, city man¬ ager, East Texas Theatres, supervised the renovation program, which was carried on late at night and during morning hours. . . . The Carver, Austin, Tex., now operates three days a week. . . . Cass Edwards, 74, who built the first theatre in Alpine, Tex., died. SEATTLE Reinhold Loewe, veteran labor-union offi¬ cial, was appointed by Mayor Clinton to the Board of Theatre Supervisors to fill the unexpired term of Ralph Grossman who re¬ signed to run for City Coimcil. . . . M. Bolling has taken over the operation of the Dream, Sedro Woolley, from Joe Lilyquist. . . . Viewdale Drive-In, Wash., Wenatchee, will open I March 17. . . . Don Conley, Buena Vista divi | sion manager, was up from Los Angeles. ... i Sale of the Egyptian Theatre Building, located | in the heart of the University District, to ac¬ commodate expansion of an adjacent Pay ’N Save Drug store was recently announced. The theatre building was purchased by Northwest Investment Company who plan major re¬ modeling in excess of $200,000 for the drug company. The Egyptian will continue in op¬ eration until construction begins, about Aug. 1. . . . The Music Box, Tacoma, one of the Hamrick chain, was temporarily closed. . . . Warren Slee, 20th-Fox publicist, was in Spo¬ kane and Portland working on publicity for forthcoming openings. . . . Opening of many northwest drive-ins were canceled because of the recent untimely snow storm. Patricia Brooks, daughter of 20th-Fox office manager Jim and Mrs. Brooks, became the bride of Donald Greetsham at a home wed¬ ding. . . . Saffie’s Theatre Service has been appointed by the R. A. Gardiner estate to do the booking and buying for the Lido, Mt. Vernon, and Oak and Blue Fox Drive-In, Oak Harbor. WASHINGTON Recent closings included the Easton Play¬ house, Easton, Md.; Brookneal, Brookneal, Va.; Opera House, Frederick, Md.; Rex, Baltimore, Md.; and Strand, Staunton, Va. . . . Area reopenings and openings were the Lee, Richmond, Va.; Arcade, Waynesboro, Pa.; Red Run Drive-In, Red Run, Pa.; Walker, Richmond, Va.; Family Drive-In, Frederick, Md.; Tidewater Drive-In, Hayes, Va.; Stock¬ ade Drive-In, Williamsburg, Va.; Triangle Drive-In, Triangle, Va.; Blue Star Drive-In, Petersburg, Va.; Coswell Drive-In, Appamattox, Va.; Village Drive-In, Village, Va.; Fredericksburg Drive-In, Fredericksburg, Va.; York Drive-In, Tabbs, Va.; Kilmarnock DriveIn, Kilmarnock, Va.; Pitts Drive-In, Warrenton, Va.; Pitts Drive-In, Front Royal, Va.; Pitts Drive-In, Manassas, Va.; Pitts Drive-In, Culpeper, Va.; Pitts Drive-In, Orange, Va.; 340 Drive-In, Waynesboro, Va.; Opera House, Salisbury, Md.; Bellwood Drive-In, Rich¬ mond, Va.; Plantation Drive-In, Suffolk, Va.; Anchor Drive-In, Newport News, Va.; and Cavalier Drive-In, Elkton, Va. Glen Grainer, recently of the Trans Lux, has accepted a position as assistant manager at Warner’s Ambassador. . . . Harry Lohmeyer, manager at Warner’s Ambassador, who was injured in an accident recently, is recuperat¬ ing nicely at home. . . . Tommy Mudd, booker and buyer of Lust Circuit, is home recuperat¬ ing after a recent illness. . . . Barbara Hines, the “Who Girl” in Columbia’s “Who Was That Lady” was a visitor in connection with the film’s opening at RKO Keith’s. While in town she was escorted by Sid Zins, Columbia Exploiteer, who covered the press, radio, and television personalities getting a lot of ex¬ posure for the picture. . . . Frank LaFalce, Warner’s district manager, reports that “BenHur” will open on a reserved seat policy at the Warner on March 16. . . . Jack Halsley, former assistant manager at Warner’s Metro¬ politan, has been moved into the publicity office under Frank LaFalce. r , y MORE PROFITS PER CAPITA FOR YOU! ■mm VENDING COMPANY Div. of A.B.C, Vending Corp., 333 S. Broad St.^ Phila. 7, Pa. • Offices in All Principal Cities i j Address Inquiries to 333 S. Broad St., Phila. 7, Pa. ■liil 22 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR March 16, I960