The Exhibitor (1964)

Theatres He will supervise and promote the UA theatres in Buffalo (Century) and in Pittsburgh (Penn). William Martin will con¬ tinue to manage the Century. CHARLOTTE Theatre ushers, doormen, concession at¬ tendants, and cashiers are exempted from a new 85-cents an hour minimum wage law which went into effect in North Carolina Jan. 1. The new figure, enacted by the 1963 State Legislature, replaces a 75-cent mini¬ mum wage law which had been in effect since 1959. . . . The Durham, N. C. Ministers Association announced that it intends to look into what it terms an increase in pornography and obscenity in motion pictures, television, books, and magazines. The Rev. Harold Elsam, president of the group and chaplain at the Veterans Administration Hospital, said the frequent appearance of pornographic scenes in motion pictures shown here, as well as in television programs and other media, has created a “menace” to the thinking of the residents of the area. He added that the prob¬ lem and its increase and greater acceptance has caused a “great deal of concern” among members of the ministerial body, which plans a special meeting soon to see samples from films, television, magazines, and books, and determine what they can do, if anything, about the situation. He said the possible effects of this increased problem on the spiritual life of the community is a “grave” matter, and that the ministers are interested in doing something to help to “curb the persistent ebbing away of the moral fiber of the community by this menace.” CHICAGO Frances May has been named manager, Teitel’s Globe. . . . Ralph Smitha, general man¬ ager, Essaness Theatres, and Will Holden, district manager, B and K Theatres, are cochairmen for theatre divisions of Crusade for Mercy’s campaign to benefit Red Cross and Community Fund. . . . Victor Bernstein, branch manager, Allied Artists, is receiving congratulations after being elected chief bark¬ er of the Variety Club. . . . Alliance Circuit has opened their CATV antenna service for Pontiac, Ill., now making five stations in service for the antenna division. . . . Bob Campbell, Skyvue Drive-In, Lebanon, Ind., has been receiving congratulations on two recent advents, becoming a grandfather for the first time and being elected to the city council. . . . Pete Panagos, vice-president and promotion manager, Alliance Theatres, and his wife, are the proud parents of a newly bom daughter, Sara. . . . Ben Levy, 59, man¬ ager for theatres in the Balaban and Katz chain, died in St. Luke’s Presbyterian hos¬ pital. Among theatres he managed for B and K were the United Artists, Granada, Nortown, Rivera, Roosevelt, and Congress. He leaves surviving his widow, a daughter, and a son. . . . Clark theatre is selling Cinebook as a holiday gift for movie fans, each priced at $5. The book contains coupons good for $5 in admissions and two free passes. . . . Art theatre has joined Rex Theatre Circuit. Della Gallo, booking office, will book the house’s film programs. . . . Oakland Square, Stanley Circuit, is now running only weekend twin film bills. CINCINNATI The Kilgore Amusement Co., Inc., has taken over the operation of the art Guild under a five-year operating contract with owner, Wil¬ lis Vance. The contract carries an option of renewal for five year extension after the end of the first five. Edward Salzberg, Screen Classics, who will book and buy for the Kilgore company is an art-film authority with nation-wide contacts on art movies and foreign pictures. The new arrangement will give the art house a wider selection of pic¬ tures with continuance of present promotion and management by personnel now running the theatre. . . . The local chapter of Colosseum celebrated its 25th anniversary at a luncheon in Variety Tent Three clubrooms, Vernon Manor Dec. 26. Among these present was Pete Niland, who started the organization in 1938. . . . E. C. Naegel, formerly with American International, is new salesman for the Frank L. Weitzel Booking Service. . . . Wally Allen, who was with the Chakeres Theatres for 10 years, has returned as the circuit’s booker after a 10-month stint with Alexander Enterprises. . . . Phil Chakeres, president, Chakeres Circuit, has returned to his winter home in Miami Beach after a business meeting in the home office in Springfield, O. . . . Ray Nemo, exploiteer for Colum¬ bia Pictures, was in Indianapolis looking after the welfare of Joan Crawford, who was there to promote “Strait-Jacket,” which opens soon in the area. COLUMBUS, O. Ed McGlone, RKO city manager, announced that Stanley Kramer’s Cinerama comedy, “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World,” will open Feb. 19 at RKO Grand. The theatre will close its run of “How The West Was Won” on Feb. 11, to allow time for installa¬ tion of the new single-lens Cinerama sys¬ tem. . . . Samuel T. Wilson, theatre editor of the Columbus Dispatch, attended the un¬ derwater premiere of Warner Brothers’ “The Incredible Mr. Limpet” at Weekie Wachee, Florida. . . . Prospects are dim that the Hartman, sole legitimate theatre, will have any bookings this season and possibly next, said Samuel T. Wilson in his Sunday Dis¬ patch column. . . . Jimmy Rea, operator of the Free Christian Drive-In here on sum¬ mer weekends, was called “a showman for the Lord” by the Columbus CitizenJournal, in announcing his selection as one of the 10 Columbus Men of the Year. Admission to the religious films shown at the drive-in is gratis, but a free-will offering is accepted. Rea makes up any deficits out of his pocket. DALLAS Earl Podolnick, president, Trans-Texas Theatres, led a home office group which participated in the reopening ceremonies of the Hollywood, Fort Worth, Tex., which is managed by Harry Gaines. The theatre was remodeled at a cost of between $150,000 and $200,000 and was reopened on Christmas Day. Patrons were greeted with a new marquee, new lobby, new seats with new seating ar¬ rangements, carpeting, new rest rooms, a tele¬ vision lounge with color sets, new concession stand, new lighting fixtures, new furnishings and fixtures, new drapes, new vending ma¬ chines, and a box office which was moved from the front to the lobby. . . . The Dallas Variety Club and the members of the Women of the Motion Picture Industry held a com¬ bined Christmas dinner and dance at the site of the Variety Club rooms, Holiday Central. . . . The WOMPI Premiere ttes were on hand for the premiere showing of “It’s A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World” at the Capri. . . . Bob Lee, booker for United Artists, who suffered a serious injury in a recent hunting accident has gone home from the hospital but will be under medical care for some time. . . . “Cleopatra” closed its longest Texas run at the Tower on Christmas Eve. . . . A Leonard Chance memorial fund has been started here to assist the family of the late longtime employee of the Variety Club who recently died after weeks of expensive care in a local hospital. Funds are being accepted by the Variety Foundation of Texas. . . . Tom Carlisle, production assistant on the UA film, “From Russia With Love,” is scheduled to visit Dallas on a promotion tour in behalf of the film on Jan. 21. . . . Tom Merriman, winner of the Academy Award and Cannes Festival Award for his industrial films, has been named musical and creative director of Studio Ten Productions, a new commercial production studio which has been opened here. . . . Carl Foreman, who wrote the screenplay, produced and directed “The Victors” for his Highroad Production Co., was a three day visitor in the Dallas -Fort Worth area in behalf of the film. He hosted a press conference here at his suite in the Sheraton Dallas Hotel and a luncheon at the Chaparral Club. . . . Dr. Norman Vincent Peale was also in the Dallas-Fort Worth area speaking both in Dallas and Fort Worth. The Peale-bio motion picture, “One Man’s Way,” with Don Murray in the title role, will also receive some promotion dtiring the clergyman’s stay. . . . The Perry Como coast to coast television show will originate i from Dallas on Jan. 23 and will feature a number of Hollywood name stars. They in¬ clude Jimmy Durante, Dorothy Provine, and Russ Tamblyn. The show will originate from the State Fair Music Hall. DES MOINES C. A. Caligiuri, manager, Paramount ex¬ change, is the new chief barker of Variety Tent 15 for the coming year. Caligiuri suc¬ ceeds R. G. Olson, Universal manager, who served in the post the past year. Elected to serve with Caligiuri are Don Knight, as¬ sistant general manager of Tri-States Thea¬ tres, first assistant chief barker; Art Stein, Central States, second assistant; Charles Stark, Des Moines Register and Tribune, property master; and Joe Jacobs, Columbia manager, dough guy. . . . The State, Lake Park, la., was damaged in a recent fire which originated in an adjoining bowling establishment. A fire wall helped contain the blaze, but the roof of the theatre was damaged along with some of the theatre equipment. DETROIT In Saginaw, Mich., the Michigan, which has been dark for some time, has found a new tenant in Kenneth Stevens. The 1248 seat auditorium was relit the Christmas week end. Clark Theatre Service of Detroit buys and books. Stevens also operates the Northland Drive-In, Clare, Mich. The tenant at the Music Hall, devoted to Cinerama, is about to change. After a 50week stay, “How the West Was Won” moves out. The next releasee is Stanley Kramer’s UA single-lens “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.” The newcomer moves in Feb. 11. . . . Cashier and ticket machine will be replaced by counters and tellers. The Della, Flint, long a part of W. S. Butterfield Thea¬ tre’s circuit, largest in Michigan, has been sold. It will be transmuted into a bank. 20 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR Janaary 15, 1964