The Exhibitor (1960)

Oklahoma City exchange, is being upped to head booker. . . . The “Premierettes,” 10 members of the Women of the Motion Picture Industry, have volunteered to serve as hostes¬ ses for two special events at Interstate The¬ atres. The events are the opening of “The Royal Ballet” at the Wilshire and the exclu¬ sive southwestern opening of “Exodus” at the Tower on Dec. 21. . . . Jerry Brewster has been elected president of the local Wainer Club. Other officers include Alice Newland, vice-president in charge of welfare; Betty Crouch, vice-president in charge of entertain¬ ment; Ruby Platter, vice-president in charge of membership; Julia Albro, secretary; Carl Sims and Mary Deeds, treasurers; Bill Crump contributions, loans, etc.; Ed Williamson, H. C. Vogelpohl, and William Crump, board of Governors. DENVER Another small town theatre closed in this area, the Star, Guernsey, Wyo., owned by H. L. Bower. . . . Ground leveling is under way for the newest Compass Drive-In, a huge affair as yet unnamed, to be located in north¬ west Denver suburbs. Wolfberg Theatres, the owners, now operate six others in this area. . . . The Fox, Sidney, Neb., has a nev.'^ man¬ ager, Glenn Carroll, who formerly managed a theatre for Fox Midwest in Cape Girard¬ eau. Elmer Haines, former manager. Fox, Sidney, resigned to take a position with the Home Town Stamp Co . Larry Good enough became house manager of the Denver to replace Joe Archeletta, who resigned to return to his former position of house man¬ ager of the Paramount. Goodenough has been assistant manager of the Fox operated Center. . . . Robert Selig, Fox Intermountain proxy, is working hard to bring an Italian Film Festival to Denver in 1961 in connection with Italy’s Trade Festival set for next year in the Mile High City. . . . Larry Tajiri, Denver Post drama editor, has had quite a healthy response to his articles about dubbing. Read¬ ers eight to one write him saying they’d rather see foreign films with subtitles than with dubbed voices, declaring it detracts from the real personalities of the players. . . . City Hall is exploring posibilities of an ad¬ missions tax to finance capital improvements in the Mile High City. With daylight savings soundly beaten at the polls, Denver theatres have another worry facing them. . . . Frank H. (Rick) Ricketson, Jr., well known Denver former theatre executive, is chairman of the advisory council of United Community Funds and Councils of America. LONDON Observations by Jock MacGregor CHRISTMASING at New York’s Hampshire House is Anglo Amalga¬ mated’s Nat Cohen. He has cause to celebrate. Never has the company had such a year. Hit has followed hit, and he has with him what he claims is “the most ambitious and comprehensive line up of British pictures ever aimed at the American market.” Over a drink before leaving London he told me he believed Peter Rogers’ “Carry On Nurse” had created an entirely new audience for British comedies in the United States. Even where British humor had not been previously appreciated, it has enjoyed long runs. Other pictures have already benefitted from its success. Now Nat is convinced that 1961 will be the biggest year ever in the U.S., not only for Anglo, but also for other British companies aiming at the market. During his three weeks in New York, Nat will be meeting top executives to complete nego¬ tiations for a big batch of American product for distribution in the U.K. and for several large scale co-productions to be made in London. He will also finalise distribution arrangements for completed pictures which include the comedies, “Carry On Constable,” “Carry On Teacher,” “Watch Your Stern,” and “No Kidding,” “The Concrete Jungle,” which stars Stanley Baker and Sam Wanamaker and is claimed to be the toughest picture ever made in Britain, and Michael Powell’s intensely dramatic suspense thriller, “Peeping Tom.” Nat will later move to the Beverly Hills Hotel for talks with James Nicholson and Samuel Arkoff of American International whose entire product is distributed by Anglo in the U.K., and will finalise arrangements for further co-productions to follow the internationally suc¬ cessful “Horrors of the Black Museum,” “Circus of Horrors,” and the soon to be released “Konga.” SOME STARS conveniently forget their humble beginnings, but not all. Not many years ago, Shirley Anne Field was among the starlets who, dressed as “Miss Christmases,” collected toys for children’s homes at the Variety Club’s Christmas lunch. She was greatly touched and revealed that she had been in such an establishment. This year, established as a star, she will take Variety’s gifts to the National Children’s home, Alresford, whose governor was an of¬ ficial at the home where she was a child resident. . . . Congratulations to Irving Allen on being elected chief barker of the Variety Club of Great Britain. . . . Following the Royal premiere of “Spartacus” which was attended by Princess Margaret, John Davis hosted a supper party at the Mayfair. Many politicians, titled socialites, and stars attended. Milton Rackmil and Kirk Douglas were the guests of honor. The following night, many were again on parade in even¬ ing dress for another three hour marathon, Fellini’s much heralded “La Dolce Vita,” which Columbia is releasing here. It is playing concurrently at the Columbia and Curzon Cinemas — an interesting booking which offers a capacity of 1200. The film is being shown three times daily and will be withdrawn from the former in February to make way for “Pepe.” . . . Happy Birthday, “Ben-Hur”! 12 months of absolute capacity at the Empire is the proud record. In addition, 40,000 have attended the special student screenings in organized school parties. The epic is also playing in Birmingham, Glasgow, Manchester, and Dublin, and opens in New¬ castle in January. . . . The first Christmas Cards arrived from Warner’s Carl Schaefer in Hollywood and Towa’s Nagamasa Kawakita in Tokyo. Happy Christmas! DETROiT Distribution personnel was considerably shaken up. Earl England, buying and booking Cooperative Theatres of Michigan, was hos¬ pitalized. He was replaced by Henry Zapp, until recently a long-time employee, who had departed to pastures other than movies. John Dembek for many years with Co-op, replaced salesman Jack McMahon of UA. McMahon moved to MGM in a similar capac¬ ity, taking the post of Carl Bruss, who was removed from the sales force to take over advertising and publicity duties for the branch here. . . . After 38 years. United Detroit’s Broadway Capitol closed its doors. Con¬ struction was immediately begun on the house replacing it, which will be named the Grand Circus. . . . The culmination of two years of research and hard work was seen in the announcement that the Variety Club Growth and Development Center, Inc., was well over the top for the current period. JACKSONVILLE Clayton Gillam, former Ohio exhibitor, began an assignment as relief manager at the Edgewood. . . . The Park, St. Petersburg, has been acquired by Ed Dove. . . . The King’s Bay Drive-In at St. Mary’s, Ga., formerly op¬ erated by Emory Robinson, owner of the local Arlington, is open again under the manage¬ ment of Mrs. Gene Hernandex. . . . Mrs. Al¬ fred Davis Stevens, one of the most active members of the Motion Picture Council for many years, died here. . . . Harry Clark, who entered the industry a few years ago as a teen-aged warehouseman for Florida State Theatres, has received his latest promotion to a film salesman’s post on the staff of Bob Bowers, Allied Artists manager. He replaced Hal Jordan who returned to his hometown of Charlotte, to work as a salesman for United Artists. . . . Booker Ray Chambers has moved from Paramount to the Allied Artists book¬ ing office. . . . Sandra Smith, formerly of Cal¬ ifornia, is now in the Warner Bros, booking department here. . . . Bill Alig has had a new concrete wall constructed around the Volusia Drive-In at Daytona Beach. . . . The Crown Drive-In, Titusville, has been reopened by SAVE MONEY ON POEVUES Use Filmack's Deluxe TEASERETTES NO CONTNACTS NO RETURNS $2 each Use as Prevues, Advance or Cross Plugs! FILMACK David E. BRODSKY Associates fHEATRICAl INTERIOR DECORATORS 142 N. 13tti St. LO 4-1188—89 Philo. 7, Po painting • DRAPERIES • MUBALS stage SETTINGS • WALL COVERINGS PROGRESSIVE ELECTRIC CONSTRUCTION CO.. INC. • 240 N. 13th STREET * PHILADELPHIA 7, PA. Theatre Installations and Maintenance December 21, I960 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR 37