The Exhibitor (1960)

have won three first-place prizes of $100 each from WMBR in the Community Club Awards. This has placed WOMPI in a posi¬ tion to win a $500 grand prize to be awarded at the end of December. All of the WOMPI winnings are being used for charitable pur¬ poses. . . . Mary Newport, one of the most active WOMPI members here until a few months ago, is gravely ill in St. Luke’s Hos¬ pital. . . . Douglas Walker, Columbia booker, has been elected president of lATSE Local B-67. Other incoming officers are Carl Kristofferson, Warner Bros., vice-president; Dorothy Edrington, Paramount, secretarytreasurer; Bill Wilson, MGM, sergeant-atarms; and Doris Posten, United Artists, Ida Belle Levey, United Artists, and Philomena Eckert, Columbia, trustees. , . . A1 Hildreth, manager, San Marco, secured the support of San Marco Square merchants for presenting a 22 matinee theatre party for the children. Among those seen at the recent road-show opening of MGM's "Cimarron" at the SW Stanton, Philadelphia, were, left to right, Saal Gottlieb, MGM eastern division manager; Sid Eckman, MGM Philadelphia branch manager; Barney Sackett, radio station WIP; and Jay Emanuel, publisher, MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR; Sackett; and Edward Emanuel, chief barker. Variety Clubs International. NEW HAVEN A judgment of foreclosure against the Middlesex Building Corporation, Middletown, Conn., has been granted in Superior Court to Mike Adorno of the M&D Theatres, and one attorney blamed the situation on the sore plight within the motion picture industry across the country. Attorney Louis W. John¬ son, representing the interests of the Saraceno family in the litigation involving the Middlesex, Middletown, Conn., recalled that the Middlesex, the most important building in the block owned by the corporation, was once the most important theatre in the city. “But except for a dance recital,” he added, “it has been dark for a long time.” Encum¬ bered by notes and mortgages totaling $166,889.91, the corporation’s property goes on the block Jan. 17. It can be picked up by the corporation, which is not considered likely, or by a host of creditors. . . . The Stanley Warner Strand, Hartford, has re¬ sumed Early Bird Matinee price, charging only 50 cents for adult patrons from 10:45 a.m. to 12 noon. . . . Mike Adorno, M&D Theatres, has designated Mondays and Tues¬ days temporarily as foreign film playdates at the Palace, Middletown, Conn., scheduling overseas product on both days under the head¬ ing of “Palace Theatre Fine Arts Festival.” NEW ORLEANS Some recent area deaths were Betty Rae Auslet, 32, who was in the boxoffice of the now extinct Baby Grand, Thibodaux, La., for many years; Robert E. Goodrow, Sr., 65, brother of F. F. Goodrow, Howco Pictures of Louisiana, who died at the family home in Abita Springs, La.; August H. Trog, 71, father of August W. Trog, Warners office man¬ ager; and Mrs. Mary Ann Clement Ryan, 72, mother of Mrs. Ollie Rome, Saenger theatre boxoffice attendant. . . . Also, condolences to Hazel Gerard St. Romain and her husband on the death of their first child shortly after birth. She was formerly cashier at Columbia. . . . Lincoln Fowler has closed the Palace, Vicksburg, Miss. . . . The Century, Morganza, La., and the Pat Drive-In, Vidalia, La., etre now on weekend operation. . . . The Red River Drive-In, Texarkana, closed for the winter. . . . Pop’s Drive-In, Jena, La., also closed for the winter. . . . Wallace E. Turner reassumed operation of the Citronella, Ala., drive-in. . . . The Area Drive-In, Grovehill, Ala., is now open only one day a week. . . . E. E. Shinn, Paramount salesman, recov¬ ered from injuries received in an automobile accident in Biloxi, Miss. . . . Louisiana’s own producing company, Mardi Gras Productions’ “The Dead One”, filmed entirely in and around this city, had a saturation opening in some 90 theatres with local star Linda Ormand appearing in person in some spots. . . . Variety Club held a champagne luncheon fashion show at Jefferson Downs Club, Me¬ tairie, La., for the benefit of the crippled children’s charity fund. . . . Jack Pope added the Joy, Shreveport, La., to his string of op¬ erations. . . . Gulf States Theatres reopened the recently closed Colonial, New Iberia, La., for week-end shows. . .. The Crosby, Crosby, Miss., has closed. . . . A1 Boykins, Warner salesman, became a grandpop. . . . Buddy and Audrey Schaffer became parents for the third time. He is head of Schaffer Film Service and a Popcorn and Supply Distributing Company. . . . Gladys Montreuil, Warners receptionistclerk, became a grandparent for the 10th time. . . . Mrs. Beverly Blocker is leaving United Theatres’ home office to await the arrival of the stork. PHILADELPHIA Mrs. Anna Blaustein, widow of Lou Blaustein, late National Screen Service salesman, is seriously ill in University of Pennsylvania Hospital. Motion Picture Pioneers sent out an S.O.S. for blood to replace that drawn from the blood bank. . . . Reading, Pa., the¬ atre owners have appealed from their 1961 real estate tax assessments including Warner Theatres, Schad Theatres, and others. . . . S. M. Scott, Jr., veteran Milton, Del., exhibi¬ tor and former mayor of Milton, is retiring due to ill health; and has sold the Milton to a group of local businessmen organized as the Milton Development Corporation. They will keep the theatre in part-time operation to fill a community need. . . . Three members of the “family” of the now extinct Loew’s Regent, Harrisburg, Pa., now a parking lot, have been adopted by the Senate, namely: Irene Fleck, assistant manager; Robert Washinger, doorman; and Richard Jackson, clean¬ er. .. . Spike Todorov, manager. Colonial, Harrisburg, is on the mend after a recent hospital siege. ... As publicity for MGM’s “Cimarron”, SW Stanton, a Conestoga wagon journeyed from Philadelphia to Harrisburg to invite Governor David E. Lawrence to the premiere. ... A. Cooper, Franklin Film 16mm distributor, returned from Morovia, Liberia. He expects to return to West Africa in about six months and is rounding up some independent product to handle there. . . . The board of directors of the Young Men’s Christian Association, Coatesville, Pa., have leased the operating rights of the Auditorium to William B. Huffman, manager for the past 12 years. . . . Ronald Gillam announced that the Cayuga is to go on a Polish-UkrainianRussian film policy on weekdays in midJanuary, exclusive with Philadelphia. . . . Having met with success in other theatres, Stanley Warner has scheduled a January Opera Festival at the Ambler and the Sedg¬ wick. Both theatres will present “Aida,” “Madame Butterfly,” “Boris Godunov” and “Tosca” one night a week during the month with admission $1 for each or $3 for the entire series. . . . Friends of the Philadelphia Mo¬ tion Picture Preview Group honored Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Goldsmith’s 50th wedding anni¬ versary at the Capri on Jan. 3. . . . Harry and Bill Sylk have bought out the entire seating capacity of the SW Boyd for Feb. 2, 6, 7, 9, 13, 14 and 15 for the showing of “Exodus” with all proceeds going to various charities includ¬ ing Boy Scouts of America, Golden Slipper Square Club, Hero Scholarship Fund, Junior Chamber of Commerce Christmas Fund, PAL, Salvation Army, Temple University, Uni¬ versity of Pennsylvania, Villanova University, and the Variety Club Tent 13’s Camp for Handicapped Children. All proceeds will be distributed among these, or charity of your choice. The house for these performances is scaled at $12.50, $10 and $5. . . . Hal Marshall, COMING TO NEW YORK? Stay at this modern 25-$tory hotel. Large, beautifully furnished rooms with kitchenette, private bath, from $7.00 daily, double from $10.25. Two room suites from $12.50, LOWER RATES BY THE MONTH NO CHARGE for chil¬ dren under 14 sharing room with parent. Air-conditioning & television available BEACON Broadway at 75th St., New York Oscar Winirab, Managing Diraetor SAVE MONEY Use Filmack's ON PREVUESI Deluxe TEASERETTES NO CONTNACTS NO RKTURNS $2 each Use as Prevues, Advance or Cross Plugs! FILMACK m January II, 1961 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR 17