The Exhibitor (1966)

once again back the project and is already hard at work organizing a board of outstand¬ ing women to act as advisors. . . . Virginia Stuart Kelly, producer, was here for tv, radio, and press interviews in connection with Uni¬ versal’s “A Man Could Get Killed.” . . . Bill Galligan, former head of Esquire theatre op¬ eration, is now village administrator of Glen Ellyn, Ill. He is better after recent surgery performed at Central Du Page Hospital, Win¬ field, Ill. . . . “Longest Dachshund Contest” is being staged at the Uptown and La Grange in connection with the neighborhood opening of Disney’s film, “The Ugly Dachshund.” . . . Jean Macdonald, your Chicago correspondent, is celebrating the advent of her sixth grand¬ child, Michael John, born to her son, Charles MacDonald, and his wife Jeanie of Winfield, Ill. . . . NAC president Jack O’Brien an¬ nounces it has in swing “the most ambitious membership campaign” ever undertaken by its organization. “Every Member Get a Member” is its slogan. Augie J. Schmitt, Houston Pop¬ corn Supply Co., is membership chairman. . . . Henry Plitt, president of Balaban and Katz, announced that Warners’ “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf” will open at the United Art¬ ists in July. CINCINNATI Gaylord Carter, Hollywood radio-tv-recording organist, was to present the entire musical background for the silent film classic, “The Mark of Zorro,” at the RKO Albee. The pre¬ sentation was to be sponsored by the Cincinnati Chapter of American Theatre Organ Enthusi¬ asts. . . . Ruth Hermann, American Interna¬ tional office staffer, and Edward P. Koenig, are to marry April 30 in Covington, Ky. The bride has been a member of the Row colony for 13 years. . . . New faces on Film Row include secretaries Debra Jasper, UA, and Judy Covey, Tri-States Theatre Services. . . . Charles Pal¬ mer, J. M. G. Film salesman, is the proud grandfather of a baby girl. . . . Film Row ex¬ tends its sympathy to Wilbur Hetherington, UA booker, upon the recent death of his brother, Edward. CLEVELAND Easter Sunday brought out the new clothes, and the weatherman furnished sunshine for most of the day. Local exhibitors brought out their best screen attractions with a little extra for the kiddies in the way of special matinee attractions. . . . The three local re¬ served seat houses offered extra matinees. Dick Wright, SW district manager, sched¬ uled Easter Monday matinees at the New Great Northern for “Battle of the Bulge” and at the Colony for “Dr. Zhivago,” while district manager Herbert Brown of Loew’s an¬ nounced that daily matinees would prevail at the Ohio thru April 17 for the record¬ running “Sound of Music.” . . . James D. Kalafat, Associated Theatres, rapped local re¬ viewers for unfair criticism of the current “Trouble with Angels,” which opened as the Easter attraction at five neighborhood the¬ atres. . . . Joseph E. Levine’s much talked about “The Oscar,” opens April 20 at the downtown Palace, also the Richmond, Wil¬ low, Riverside, and Pearl Rd. Drive-In. . . . Bill and Elinor Fickle didn’t get their Hazel¬ wood Drive-In open for Easter but tried for April 15. . . . Dean Martin’s “The Silencers” held for a fifth week at the Berea, Vine, and Willow. . . . The film version of Mary Mc¬ Carthy’s “The Group” opened at the Loew’s State and Shaker, also in the Detroit on the westside. . . . Work was getting back to nor¬ mal at Loew’s new theatre on the west side after one side wall was blown down during a recent wind storm. . . . The James Bond thriller, “Thunderball,” after 15 weeks in Cleveland, opened at the Lake in Painesville for a holiday attraction. . . . Most of the area drive-ins are still on a weekend policy, wait¬ ing for the weather to warm up. COLUMBUS , O. Excellent Easter business prompted hold¬ overs in all situations, including a fourth week of “The Group” at Loew’s Ohio and a second week of “The Great Race” at RKO Palace. . . . Mayor M. E. Sensenbrenner and Lt. Gov. John W. Brown participated in the first an¬ niversary celebration of Northland Cinema’s showing of “The Sound of Music” at the in¬ vitation of manager Robert McKinley. Over 350,000 patrons have seen the 20th CenturyFox musical since its opening April 7, 1965. . . . James Tibbetts, manager, Boston Cine¬ rama, is the new manager of Grand Cinerama, according to an announcement by Edwin Shapiro, vice-president of Trans-Beacon Corp. . . . Screen players Virginia Mayo and Sabrina are scheduled to appear on the Hart¬ man stage the week of April 25 in “The Loving Couch.” . . . Scheduled appearance at the Hartman of screen, stage and television star E. G. Marshall in “This Winter’s Hobby” was canceled because of script trouble. . . . Harold Warren, Loew’s Ohio projectionist, entered Will Rogers Memorial Hospital. . . . Legislative committee of the Ohio General Assembly recommended installation of facili¬ ties for live and filmed television coverage of legislative sessions, plus radio coverage in both houses of the legislature. Senate and House rules have prohibited live or filmed coverage unless the House speaker and Senate leaders gave permission. Next session of the General Assembly will open in January, 1967. . . . Those Hollywood producers who say American audiences won’t patronize qual¬ ity films had better take another look, said Ron Pataky, theatre editor of the Columbus Citizen-Journal. He pointed to the success of “The Sound of Music,” now in a second year at Northland Cinema, and the 50-week run of “My Fair Lady” at Hunt’s Cinestage. “Those ain’t bad films, fellas,” added Pataky. “Isn’t it funny that the public seems to be respond¬ ing?” DALLAS John Welde and his performing bears, who have appeared in over 20 motion pic¬ tures, will appear on the Animal Fair April 29-May 1 at Dallas Memorial Auditorium. The bears have appeared in the Walt Disney production, “Incredible Journey” and “The Misfit Greyhound.” . . . The First Baptist Church held annual Holy Week services at the Palace, the services being a tradition. . . . Actor Gregory Peck was in the city in the role of chairman of this year’s American Cancer Society crusade. He was somewhat re¬ luctantly drawn into questions concerning movies at a press conference. He voiced some support for some type of film classification system: (set up like a ratings system in Brit¬ ain), afid said he would like to see more op¬ portunity for young Americans in the film in¬ dustry. “If a mistake is made, it should be on the side of being too strict,” Peck said regarding classification. . . . The Festival has booked a Japanese motion picture based on the life of Buddha to open there on May 18 as a test engagement by United Artists. . . . Bill Risener, manager, Inwood, added ex¬ tra matinee showings of “The Sound of Music” during the Easter holiday season. The film, now in its 56th week, had added matinees on Friday and Monday. . . . Andre de la Varre will be in Dallas on April 23 at the Palace in conjunction with the showing of “Grand Tour of Europe.” He will provide the live narration to the two hour color film tour. There will be two showings at 2 and 8 p.m., with only the capacity of the theatre being sold, according to Turner Honea, manager of the Palace. The film and de la Varre also will appear in Houston and Fort Worth. . . . Special matinee showings of “Darling” were scheduled at 12:45 p.m. Fri¬ day through Monday at the Delman. . . . Peggy Wood, nominated for an Academy Award as the best supporting actress for her role in “The Sound of Music,” will be here to take the starring role in “The Golden Warriors,” a play which will have its world premiere here in May. . . . Mrs. Melba Marten, member of the advertising-publicity staff of Interstate Theatres for the past 40 years, will retire and move to California where she will make her home. . . . Two visits will be made to Dallas by Chuck Con¬ nors, Arthur O’Connell, and Ann Ford, who will make a tour of Texas in behalf of “Ride Beyond Vengeance.” The film will have its world premiere at the Majestic in Houston on April 21. The stars will first be in Dallas on April 17 when they will spend the night here and then return on April 23 for a per¬ sonal appearance on the stage of the Palace where the film will open. Miss Ford is not in the film but is being introduced by Columbia as a contract player and a native of Dallas. Her father is a local attorney. Miss Ford attended local schools and was a NeimanMarcus model. . . . Five new appointments and five additions to the staff were announced by J. Ralph Thomson, executive vice-presi¬ dent and general manager of the Dallas Coca Cola Bottling Co. The appointments are George Conner to vice-president and market¬ ing manager, from vice-president and sales manager; Guy Branham to treasurer and fi¬ nancial manager, from treasurer and control¬ ler; John McKissick to sales manager, from assistant sales manager; Marion Cook to plant manager, from production superintendent; C. W. Stampley to controller, from assistant controller. The new additions to the staff are W. Waggoner to assistant controller; H. Hickson to route manager; R. Lyles to route manager; R. Finkly to production line fore¬ man; and T. Farquehar to production line supervisor. ... In Haskell, Tex., Clyde G. Howell has been appointed manager of the Texas. He comes here from Plainview, Tex., where he was manager of a theatre operated by Frontier Theatres of Dallas. He has been with the circuit for 25 years. . . . Norvin Garner, head of Texas Theatres, which re¬ cently took over the operation of the Stanley, Luling, announced that Tom Polka will con¬ tinue on as manager. Polka has been man¬ ager of the Stanley for the past 17 years. New owners plan several improvements. Gar¬ ner plans to acquire 20 theatres for his cir¬ cuit. Frank Chamrod, manager, Leon and Trail d-i, also acquired by Garner, has an¬ nounced he will resign to devote his time to his ranching interests. No replacement has been announced. HOUSTON Fred Smith, owner, Beltonian, Belton, who was in a local hospital, has returned to his home where he is recuperating. . . . Movie actress Myrna Ross, seen in “How To Stuff A Wild Bikini,” was a recent visitor. . . . Gregory Peck started the American Cancer Society’s 1966 April Crusade at a luncheon meeting in the Rice Hotel. He is the society’s national crusade chairman. . . . Andre de la Varre is expected to be in Houston for a 18 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR April 20, 1966