The Exhibitor (1964)

on Feb. 25. . . . Local WOMPIs have joined together through president Ida Belle Levey in sending congratulatory messages to Grace Blaney, president of the new Chicago chapter, prior to the group’s charter and installation dinner on Feb. 15. . . . Lillian Woodruff, local WOMPI service chairman, awarded a special citation to Betty Healy for her de¬ votion to the March of Dimes charity drive. MIAMI, FLA. Flames gutted the Florida, Hollywood, leaving only the walls of the 26-year-old building standing. The theatre had been closed for an hour, and no one was in the building when it burned, in the early morning hours, according to manager Hal Stanton. Estimated damage was close to $250,000, for both building and contents. Investigators suspected electrical problems in the rooftop air conditioner. Fire¬ men from Hollywood, Dania, West Hollywood, and Miramar fought successfully in 34-degree temperatures to save the rest of the block. Lt. Joseph Mannes of the Hollywood Fire Dept, said, “The heat was terrific. As the first truck arrived, the heat blew the front door out sending glass clear across Hollywood Boule¬ vard.” Hal Stanton, manager, stated that al¬ though no location had been specified, Florida State Theatres would build a new theatre in Hollywood. . . . Mary Lawrence, Sunset, was first prize winner in the quarterly “ManagerPlus” contest, this being her second time to win. NEW HAVEN-HARTFORD Stepping up import content, RKO General, Inc., owner-operator of WHCT-TV (channel 8), Hartford, has bought a group of awardwinning pictures from Russia, India, and Italy for presentation via America’s first over-the-air subscription tv experiment. These films will be shown in Hartford for the first time via subscription tv. Bulk of prod¬ uct in recent months, of course, has consisted of domestic reissues or subsequent-run at¬ tractions . William Decker, Stanley Warner Hartford resident manager, envisions a six-week delay in American bow of Ger¬ man-developed Wonderama, introduced via Continental Distributing’s, “Mediterranean Holiday.” Film will have its premiere at the John Turner, of one time Philadelphia branch man¬ ager, United Artists, was recently named metro¬ politan manager in New York for the company succeeding D. J. Edele, who has been named division manager of the newly created central division. downtown, deluxe Strand. . . . R. Charles Tolis, Tolis Theatres, hosted Meriden’s school¬ boy patrol at a screening of Walt Disney’s “The Sword in the Stone,” at the Meriden, Meriden. . . . Peter Perakos, Jr., office man¬ ager, Perakos Theatre Associates, is a Re¬ publican candidate for the New Britain Board of Tax Review in the April city election. Perakos is currently serving as New Britain’s city comptroller, a post he has publicly recom¬ mended be abolished. . . . Bucky Harris, Universal field exploitation force, visited Con¬ necticut drama desks ahead of “Captain New¬ man, M.D.” NEW ORLEANS Rene Brunet, owner, Famous, held a March of Dimes matinee at the theatre. There was no set admission, but all proceeds went to the MOD. . . . Mrs. Catherine Bonneval, United Artists, was reelected president of Local F-57, Exchange Employes. Others who have returned to office are Mrs. Catherine d’Alfonso, Warners, secretary; Anna C. Leg¬ gett, MGM, treasurer; Joe Springer, Warners, business agent; Mrs. Lillian Gracianette, United Artists, and Armand Portie, MGM, sergeantsatarms. Mrs. Leona Schmitt was elected vice-president. . . . The husband of Anna Sinopoli, Universal booker, is back in the hospital with a heart condition. . . . Charles Varnado, for the past four years sales manager at Warners’ Boston exchange, is back with the local branch on the sales force, where he succeeded Ed Fitzgerald, who was moved to Atlanta as branch manager. . . . Mrs. Gloria Lutenbacher, Joy Theatres staff, was welcomed into the WOMPI fold. PHILADELPHIA Variety Club Tent 13 will hold a sweet¬ heart’s Valentine Dance in the clubrooms on Feb. 15. . . . Publicist Hal Marshall and 20th-Fox branch manager Sam E. Diemond held a seminar on “What A Way To Go” and presented the new look in “Cleopatra” ad¬ vertising designed for the broader release of the film at the Vine Street Screening Room followed by a luncheon. . . . Warner Brothers will hold a trade screening of “Ensign Pulver” at the SW Logan on Feb. 18. . . . On the sick list was Joseph Suskin in University Hospital. SAN ANTONIO The Gulf States Theatres, with headquarters at McComb, Miss., have taken over the Kelly, Lackland, and Parkaire Drive-Ins, which have been operated by the Stanley Warner of Texas circuit, with headquarters in Dallas. Jim DeNeve, general manager for Gulf States, was here to take over the theatres. No an¬ nouncement has been made who will be in charge of the theatres. Gulf States has 70 theatres or more in Louisiana, Texas, Florida, Mississippi, and Alabama. . . . Herman Sollock, manager of the Woodlawn, operated' by the Cinema Arts Theatres, has placed some 25,000 discount coupons at local churches and schools for those who may wish to see the Woodlawn attraction, “Lilies of the Field.” . , . Slim Pickens, the cowboy, who last ap¬ peared here as a rodeo rider with Rex Allen at the San Antonio Livestock Exposition sev¬ eral years ago, was back in the city on a promotional tour for “Dr. Strangelove, or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb.” . . . “How The West Was Won” has been booked at the Aztec for showing on March 26, according to Norman Schwartz. The film will not be shown in the original Cinerama version. There will be three show¬ ings daily. Work is nearing completion on the new and modern concession stand being installed in the lobby of the Aztec. . . . Mr. and Mrs. Eddie Martinez were winners in the recent H.E.B. Food Stores “Who’s Minding the Store?” contest held in con¬ junction with the Jerry Lewis film shown at the Texas. The prize included $100 in cash and $100 in grocery gift certificates, with Martinez serving as manager of one of the food stores for a day. . . . Top winner in the Fall Film Festival Contest, sponsored by the San Antonio Express and Evening News and Interstate Theatres was Lois Parkhouse. She received a $100 cash prize. Second, third and fourth place winners are Eanes B. Brophy, recipient of a six month Interstate Theatres pass for two; P. J. Poloskey, who received a three month movie pass; and Mrs. Arlene Brackeen, who was awarded a two month pass. . . . Russ Harvey, star, producer, and director of “No Man’s Land,” which was filmed here several years ago, is now build¬ ing a studio here for the production of films. He recently completed another picture, “Dungeon of Horror,” at the Pat Boyette studios, which is to be released soon. You only need three of the above letters to spell more profits from your concessions — and they are ABC. (And we do the job from A to Z) ABC VENDING CORPORATION BERLO DIVISION 333 SOUTH BROAD STREET, PHILADELPHIA 7, PA. Offices in all Principal Cities 18 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR February 12, 1964