The Exhibitor (1965)

Nat Nathanson, general sales manager of Allied Artists, recently presided at the first national sales convention of the company and The Landau Company at the City Square Inn, New York. On the dais, left to rgiht, are Jack Goldstein, Edgar Hurlock, Paul W. Lazarus, Jr., Steve Broidy, Ely A. Landau, Nathanson, Claude Giroux, Ed Morey, Edwin Lesser, and Roy Brewer. ALBANY Assemblyman James E. Powers, Rochester Democrat, sponsor of a bill creating a fivemember Board of Review to classify “after approval by the Board of Regents” all films shown in New York State as for “General Viewing” or “Adults Only,” accepted an invi¬ tation to debate “Motion Picture Classification” over WCBS, key New York City radio station of CBS. . . . William With, manager, Fabian’s Palace, had a “Mary Poppins” coloring contest for children in a tieup with The Knickerbock¬ er News. Another tiein was the awarding of passes to persons whose names appeared in the paper’s classified advertising section. ATLANTA Judson Moses, who spent 13 years in At¬ lanta, as MGM’s southern division press repre¬ sentative, is being transferred to Dallas where he will take over as the company’s southwest¬ ern division chief. John C. Calhoun is being sent in from Minneapolis to take over the Atlanta spot. . . . MGM is moving its local exchange to 136 Marietta Street. . . . Mrs. Rita M. Foster has been added as secretary at Caputal Theatre Supply Company. BOSTON Winners of the Theatre Owners of New England (TONE) National Screen Holiday Showmanship Contest, which ran to Dec. 31, 1964, were announced by May Green, TONE president; Joe Rossi, NSS local branch man¬ ager; and Carl Goldman, TONE executive secretary. For the best general use of all NSS showmanship materials, first, $100 cash, Richard Kalagher, Strand, Southbridge, Mass.; second, $25 cash, Joseph Bean, Revere, Re¬ vere, Mass. For the exhibitor selling the greatest number of NSS merchant screen ad trailers, first, $50 cash, George S. Phelps, Park, Westfield, Mass.; second, $25 cash, Malcolm Keniston, Plymouth, Plymouth, N. H. For the exhibitor providing evidence of the most effective use of NSS holiday displays and trailers, first, $50 cash, Robert Manley, Warwick, Marblehead, Mass.; second, $25, cash, J. G. Corbett, Winthrop, Winthrop, Mass. For the exhibitor selling the greatest number of NSS Cinemotion Merchant Ads, $25 cash, Walter Brooks, Civic, Portsmouth, N. Y. The cash prizes were to be awarded at the TONE all day midwinter showmanship meeting in Brookline. BUFFALO Mayor Chester Kowal issued a proclama¬ tion declaring Variety Club Week and tell¬ ing the public of the good work being done by Tent 7 in aiding needy children. One of the big events was the salute to press, radio and tv, at which chief barker Tony Kolinski presided. Variety Week came to a climax with the annual award luncheon, at which time Dr. Robert Warner, director of the Chil¬ dren’s Hospital Rehabilitation Foundation, was named Man of the Year by Tent 7. . . . The Rev. Father John Pallas, for many years chaplain of Tent 7, Variety Club of Buffalo, who recently moved from Buffalo to a new pastorate on Long Island, is one of the six individuals chosen to receive Brotherhood Awards on March 1 at the annual Brotherhood Week Award Luncheon in the Staffer Hilton. . . . A1 Wright, Aero Drive-In, Cheektowaga, held an open house celebration to mark the opening of his new restaurant next to his out-doorer. . . . The Catholic school moder¬ ators who were named recipients of the 1964 Magnificat School Crusade Bonus Awards were taken to the Schine Granada to see “My Fair Lady,” and to dinner at the Old Post Road Inn. The event brought some splendid publicity for manager Joe Garvey’s current record-breaking attraction. . . . The motion picture “is the outstanding art form of the 20th century and no restrictions should be imposed upon it,” said Fred Keller, manager, CircleArt, in a talk before the Liberal Forum at the Unitarian-Universalist church. “The public should decide for itself what movies it should see,” declared Keller. Keller said that while he does not believe in censorship in any form, he personally demands quality in films. Keller said, “Art may be offensive to the established order. Only in rare periods has the artist been in step with his society.” Noting the popularity of sex in movies and other art forms, Keller said it is a reflection of the times. Turning to children’s movies, Keller said good ones are few and far be¬ tween. “Children are the most exploited group in America today,” he said. . . . Carl Schaner, new managing director of the Cen¬ tury, United Artists Theatre Circuit, Inc., house in downtown Buffalo, started in the theatre business at the age of 16 as an usher in the J. P. Harris, Pittsburgh. Upon gradua¬ tion from high school, he entered business college for two years, during which time he also worked as an assistant manager and relief manager for Stanley Warner theatres. After graduating from business college, he worked for Stanley Warner from 1955 until 1963, when he was named manager of the Penn, UA Theatres house. Schaner managed the Penn until it closed its doors. He re¬ mained in Pittsburgh until asked to take over the management of the Century in Buffalo, where he succeeded Charles Funk, who re¬ cently was appointed 20th-Fox publicity rep¬ resentative. . . . The Teck, Loew operation in downtown Buffalo, has closed until Feb. 18 to make ready for “The Sound of Music,” coming March 31. The curved Cinerama screen will be taken out and replaced by the straight wide-screen the theatre had for such wide features as “Ben Hun.” Changes in the sound system also will be made for the ToddAO, 70mm Technicolor version of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, said Frank Arena, Loew’s city manager. CHICAGO David Jones, advertising director of Kerasotes Theatres, was elected a member of the State House of Representatives. . . . Chicago’s theatre tax collections for 1964 amounted to $331,832, as compared to 1963’s collections of $295,513. ... Joe Berenson, chairman of Variety Club Gala for Washington’s Birthday, sent out a special letter to club members to send in their reservations for Feb. 21 show of “Love Is a Three Letter Word.”. . . NAC’s 1965 golf tournament, held in conjunction with annual convention, will be held on June 7 at Riverwood Golf Club, Deerfield, Ill. . . . David G. Goldman, who owned Oak theatre, dorpped dead recently from a heart attack. Surviving is his wife. . . . Lester Retchin, i former owner and manager, Howard, passed I away. . . . NAC reports gains in its member¬ ship drive, according to Augie Schmitt, NAC membership chairman. New members from the Chicago area are R. G. Ost, Fred W. Amend Co., Evanston, Ill.; John C. Walsh, American Licorice Co., Chicago; Nello V. Ferrara, j Ferrara Candy Co., Forest Park, Ill.; and Fred T. Reid, Reed Candy Co., Chicago. . . . General Cinema Corp. announces that it will build a $1,000,000 twin movie theatre to seat 1,900 persons in the Ford City Shopping . Center. This will be the second twin develop¬ ment in the Chicago area. Evergreen Theatres I and II recently opened in the Evergreen Plaza Shopping Center. . . . Fred Bunkelnan named to city sales staff at 20th Century Fox exchange. Norman Levy named to city sales staff at Universal exchange. . . . Artie Shaw, author-musician, arrives as distributor of “Seance on a Wet Afternoon.” The film will open at the Esquire. . . . “Greatest Story Ever Told” has been booked by McVickers for March premiere. . . . Sir Billy Butlin, Tent 36, Variety Club, London, England, was a trade visitor. He was the guest of Victor Bernstein, chief barker of Chicago Variety Club. . . . Kenneth Suhre named manager, Roxy, Peru, Ind. . . . American Seating Co. to pay 40 cents common dividend on March 5 to stock of record Feb. 11 . . . Bud Burge, Alliance Embassy staff, Ft. Wayne, Ind., died after a long illness. . . . Dick Ellman, formerly MGM salesman for country sales, has joined Oscar Brotman’s booking agency, Mercantile Bank Bldg. . . . Charles Cooper, director of Englewood, has opened a booking office on Wabash Ave.’s film row. . . . East Side Drive-In, Terre Haute, Ind., was destroyed by fire. Alliance Circuit plans to rebuild as soon as rebuilding program is formulated and weather conditions permit. . . . Kohlberg Theatres is building a new 950 seat hard top in connection with its deLuxe drive-in, LaPorte, Ind. The circuit is also building a 1,000 seat hardtop in Rolling I Meadows area. February I 7, 1 965 i 14 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR