The Exhibitor (1966)

were played during the breakfast, and dis¬ plays were shown around the room as were slides of some of the newspaper ads. Andy Sullivan expressed his amazement at the turn¬ out of managers and declared, “This is the first time an exhibitor has called in every manager from every theatre in his circuit to participate in the launching of a world pre¬ miere, and it certainly proves to the motion picture industry that Wometco and the state of Florida welcome our film industry.” Sul¬ livan concluded, “It is no wonder, with this type of support, that Miami and the State of Florida could well become another film cap¬ ital in the next few years.” NEW HAVEN-HARTFORD Stanley Warner Theatres booked Connecti¬ cut premiere of MGM’s “Dr. Zhivago” for the downtown, first-run Strand, opening May 25 on a reserved-seat basis. . . . Bernie Menschell has firmed up a May 25 opening for the 800-seat hard-top being constructed in the Manchester Shopping Complex, 10 miles east of Hartford, for joint operation by UA Theatres-Menschell Theatres. The theatre will be known as UA Cinema East. . . . Morris Pot¬ ash, formerly artist for the Poli-New Haven Theatres, is now personal manager and busi¬ ness representative for Dave McNeil’s famous Ink Spots. . . . The Pittsfield Drive-In and the Berkshire Drive-In, both in Pittsfield, Mass., resumed operations for 1966. . . . Irwin Cohen, downtown first-run Bijou Cinema, Springfield, Mass., is experimenting with a 50 cents adult admission policy from opening to 1:30 p.m., Mondays through Fridays. NEW ORLEANS The Joy, recently closed for a quick re¬ modeling program, reopened with Universal’s “Madame X”. . . . Manager Bob Ragsdale, Lakeside, hosted 700 nuns at a preview show¬ ing of “The Singing Nun”. . . . Elvis Presley, Nancy Kovack and Sue Ann Langdon w'ere in to promote UA’s “Frankie and Johnny,” which had its day and date opening at 12 neighbor¬ hood theatres and five drive-ins. . . . Ralph Pries, first assistant chief barker, Variety Clubs International, attended the Tent 45 installa¬ tion banquet at Monteleone Hotel as did George Hoover, VC I executive director. Don Kay, president, Don Kay Film Enterprises, is the new chief barker. . . . Sympathy is ex¬ tended to Hazel McNulty, Film Inspection Service, Gertrude Ferguson, former 20th-Fox staffer, and Evelyn McNulty, Universal, all members of WOMPI, on the death of their mother and sister, Mrs. Lillian Ferguson Mc¬ Nulty. . . . Sidney Harp, Thibodaux and Donaldsonville, La., theatre owner, announced the appointment of Charles Levy as manager of the Grand, Thibodaux. The Levy’s are now house hunting there. . . . The Prytania, a unit of Lhiited Theatres and the oldest neighbor¬ hood house in New Orleans, thrilled movie goers recently with a double bill program of “Grand Hotel” and “Dinner At Eight”. . . . Charles Waterall, Jr., will keep the Richton, Miss., theatre closed indefinitely. . . . Lloyd Rushing has acquired a lease on the Navy Point, Warrington, Fla. . . . Percy Duplissey reopened the El Rancho Drive-In, Deridder, La. PHILADELPHIA Warners’ Eddie O’Donnell and his wife, Kathryn, are celebrating their 25th silver wed¬ ding anniversary on April 26. They have two sons and a daughter. O’Donnell has been in the industry for over 25 years. . . . Harry Schmerling, division advertising and publicity manager, Paramount Pictures, and William Kanefsky, manager, SW Stanton, welcomed students of Morton High School and Junior College, Cicero, Ill., who visited to see the city’s historic spots and included a stop at the theatre to see “The 10 Commandments” as part of their tour. Schmerling and Kanefsky unofficially adopted the students for the day of their 800-mile trip. . . . Benny (American) Harris has some “new” reissues available. . . . The Tent 13 Variety Club contingent to the London Variety Club International conven¬ tion got off by plane. Jerry Gaghan, popular Daily News columnist, went along and plans to also visit Europe before he returns. PROVIDENCE In Cranston, R.I., the Park, landmark for many years and the last of the conventional houses in this city, has been sold for an esti¬ mated $60,000. A deed transferring the theatre building from Park Theatre, Inc., to the East¬ ern Investment Co., Inc., was filed recently at the Cranston City Clerk’s office. The theatre will be operated by Park Cinema, Inc., accord¬ ing to Michael Ialongo, treasurer of the new corporation. The house has been shuttered in recent days, but is scheduled to reopen almost immediately. The Park Cinema will operate on a seven-day-a-week basis. The Park was built 42 years ago by the late Peter Nelson, whose son, Charles E. Nelson, is prominent in the theatre business in this state, presently being manager of the popular first-run Elm¬ wood. . . . The recent announcement by George Mitsmenn, Loew’s State manager, that this downtown first-run had engaged the ser¬ vices of the well-known Lee Ann to present organ recitals prior to the showing of feature attractions stirred memories among old-time moviegoers. When Loew’s opened in 1926, Joe Stoves at the “mighty Morton” was a stellar feature. Later, the much-lamented “Maurice” became so popular that encores delayed the motion picture schedule. Loew’s manager George Mitsmenn says he has had many, many requests for the return of organ music. . . . Claudia Martin, the daughter of Dean, is scheduled to make a personal appearance at the Shipyard Drive-In in conjunction with the opening of “The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini,” due to premiere there in the near future. . . . Despite recent protests from neighboring Stonington, Conn., and other communities, the 50-year old film, “Birth of a Nation,” was given two showings at Rhode Island Col¬ lege. Civil rights groups have charged the film distorts and demeans Negroes, while educators regard it as a brilliant example of early film making. Showings in adjoining Connecticut were cancelled when the Norwich and New London branches of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People threatened a protest march. The two local showings were held without any undue inci¬ dents. SAN ANTONIO Featured speaker at a $100 a plate dinner honoring U. S. Senator John Tower on April 30 in the Crystal Ballroom at the Granada Hotel will be former Hollywood screen star turned politician, U. S. Senator George Mur¬ phy. . . . Hollywood film star George Hamil¬ ton was in the city dining with Lynda Bird Johnson, President Johnson’s eldest daughter. The couple has dated frequently. . . . Fire again struck the closed Harlandale and caused an estimated $500 in damages. It was a three' alarm fire and was believed caused by young¬ sters either playing with matches or smoking. The fire was contained in the upper stage area. The Harlandale, owned by Stanley Warner Theatres of Texas, has been closed since 1956, and has had three fires during that time. Fire¬ men were hampered by being unable to gain entrance by the barred doors. . . . “Tiko and the Shark,” romantic adventure film made in the South Seas with Tahitian actors, is having multiple showings on double feature programs at the Josephine, indoor, and the Bandera Road, San Pedro, Towne Twin, Fredericks¬ burg Road, and Trail d-i’s. The second fea¬ ture at each theatre is “Son of a Gunfighter.” . . . It is estimated that since “The Sound of Music” opened on April 7, 1965, at Cinema II, 179,000 people have seen the film. Ted Wag¬ goner, manager of the General Cinema Corp. operation, has an anniversary cake on display in the lobby. . . . An impressive new version of the life of Christ, “El Redentor,” in Eastman Color, is the current attraction at the Alameda. Antonio Del Villar is seen as “Christ,” Maruchi Fresno as “Mary,” and Virgilio Texeira as “Pontius Pilate,” with a cast of thousands. 20 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR April 20, 1966