The Exhibitor (1966)

ALBANY Cris Pope, Schine Circuit booker, resumed work after undergoing minor surgery in Nathan Littaauer Hospital, Gloversville. . . . The hard¬ top the Kallets are building adjacent to New Hartford Drive-in is scheduled to open on July 1. . . . George B. Lynch, Schine Theatres chief buyer, returned to his desk after a Florida vacation. . . . William Morgan’s Northway Drive-in, Champlain; and Lillian Henry’s Star Dust near Plattsburgh were among ozoners unlocking the gates for the summer season. One of the Catskill Mountain under-skys, that in Greenville, also relighted. . . . A1 Glaubinger, LInited Artists division manager, Kenneth Reuter, Buffalo-Albany branch chief, and Dave Litto, Albany salesman, visited the twin drivein project under construction at the nearby Village of Menands and were told it will be ready for operation by May 15. . . . Two smaller hardtops are also planned by Cinema Theatres of America for the area. . . . Theatre Network Television, Inc., filed a restated cer¬ tificate showing a change of name to TNT Communications, Inc. Changes of purposes and provisions were also made in papers re¬ corded with the Department of State. BOSTON James Tibbetts, manager, Boston Cinerama Theatre, and previously manager, Loew’s Orpheum, has been promoted to managing director, Grand Cinerama Theatre, Colum¬ bus, O. Edwin S. Shapiro, vice-president of Trans-Beacon, operating the Cinerama thea¬ tres, made the assignment. Paul Peterson is assistant manager of the Boston Cinerama, and Gerald Servant is managing director. . . . Natalie Wood, who became the first film per.sonality to actually accept the Harvard Lam¬ poon’s satirical award of “worst actress of the year,” flew in to set a precedent in demanding the award. While the Harvard Lampoon has been playing this fun game with Hollywood stars for years, none of them have ever taken them up on it. But, Miss Wood did. She flew in to Boston and was “abducted” by the rival Harvard magazine. Harvard Crimson, editors, whisked to Harvard Stadium, greeted by a crowd of 5,000, then reabducted by the right¬ ful proferrers of the award, and presented with a live “Roscoe,” a gilded Harvard man named Elliott Cutler. The Harvard Lampoon has been naming “worst” film stars for 28 years. Recipients include Sal Mineo and Kirk Douglas. This year, the Lampoon picked Mar¬ lon Brando as “worst actor,” and chose Eliza¬ beth Taylor and Richard Burton for “worst picture,” “The Sandpiper.” Miss Wood made an acceptance speech, a spoof of “Oscar” speeches, and after winning the “Roscoe,” presented president Walker Lewis of the Lam¬ poons with the faded sweatshirt she wore in “Inside Daisy Clover.” In her acceptance speech, she said: “I would like to thank all the people who have helped me with my ca¬ reer, all those who’ve given me help and encouragement. Without them, this award wouldn’t be possible.” . . . “John F. Kennedy: Years of Lightning, Day of Drums,” will open at Cleveland Circle Theatre on May 18 through Joseph E. Levine and his Embassy Pic¬ tures Corp. The film is being presented by the John E. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington, D.C. Joseph E. Levine, Bos¬ ton distributor, who went on to Hollywood ind international fame, will head a distin¬ guished delegation coming to Boston for the opening of the picture, among which will be members of the Kennedy family. 18 BUFFALO “The Gospel According to St. Matthew” opened at the Schine Granada. The premiere performance was sold out, sponsored by the Buffalo Jesuit Bureau. . . . Ered Keller, man¬ aging director, Circle Art, put on a stage and screen program when he offered “Oedipus Rex” on the screen and the Brandenberg Chamber Orchestra on the stage. . . . The operator of an amusement machine firm in Lockport, N.Y., announces he will appeal a decision by a State Supreme Court judge who has ruled the state sales tax applies to his ma¬ chines. Howard F. Bathrick said the appeal will be made to the Court of Appeals. Bath¬ rick challenged the sales tax law last year. He opposed section 1105 of the law which exempted machines operated strictly by dimes but imposed the two percent levy on machines taking quarters and half dollars, such as his juke boxes. A hearing was held last January and State Supreme Court Judge Ellis J. Staley ruled the other day in favor of Bathrick. At the same time, however. Judge Steley also luled that under article 1101 of the sales tax law, all coin machines that provide amusement are subject to the two percent tax. “I won the battle but lost the war,” Bathrick commented. “But I will definitely appeal.” Bathrick con¬ tends the tax is unfair because it places the burden on the operators rather than the con¬ sumer as intended. He said he operates about 175 machines. . . . Erank Bassett, Rochester city manager for Schine, declares that the long run of “The Sound of Music” at Kodak Town’s Monroe has been bolstered by a great number of theatre parties. . . . Frank Arena, city manager, Loew Theatres, announces that “Cast a Giant Shadow” has been booked for Shea’s Buffalo and that “What Did You Do in the War, Daddy?” will follow it. The Buffalo is now enjoying a financially successful run on Paramount’s reissued “The Ten Command¬ ments.” . . . The Rochesterian who has seen “The Sound of Music” more often than any¬ one else in Kodak Town is Mark Harloff, chief projectionist at the Monroe since 1929. “I watch it every chance I get and not just for my job’s sake,” said the factotum of the film booth. “I think it is the most entertaining picture I’ve ever seen. I never get tired of it.” Harloff and his co-workers Louis Goler and Fred Hart, have given the film such loving care that the print now being screened is the original one sent to Rochester more than a year ago from the Fox studios. Harloff said he’s had only three breaks in the film during the long run. . . . Gloria Swanson will be honored by the George Eastman House in Rochester in a week of events beginning May 12 in the Dryden theatre. The coming event is the third in the museum’s tributes to film artists. Greta Garbo was honored in 1964 and Harold Lloyd last year. CHICAGO Chicago turned out to honor its celebrityauthor, Jane Trahey, whose amusing book, “Life with Mother,” has been adapted to a movie version. The film will have a benefit showing for Mundelein college on May 27 at the Granada. Miss Trahey, president-owner of a New York advertising agency, was the guest speaker and honored guest at a special meeting of the Women’s Advertising Club of Chicago in the Mid America club. . . . Moviegoers turned out in great numbers for the premiere benefit showing of “Shop on Main Street” at the Highland Park and the pre-showing din¬ ner at the Orrington Hotel, Evanston, honor¬ ing Marie Desmarais, producer-owner of the film. Proceds from the benefit will aid projects of the Evanston Peace and World Affairs Cen¬ MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR ter. . . . “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf” is scheduled for its premiere opening here at the United Artists on July 15. . . . Eleanor Parker, film actress, and Chicagoan Raymond N. Hirsch, treasurer of the Blackstone, were mar¬ ried. The couple first met here when she was publicizing one of her pictures three months ago. . . . Bert Nathan, NAC exhibit chairman, i reports that as of this date 107 reservations out 1 of an available 141 have been received for the upcoming Motion Picture Theatre Equipment and Concessions Industries Trade Show, Sept. , 28-Oct. 1 at the Americana Hotel, New York City. . . . Carnegie Theatre, a part of the Rush St. block recently gutted by fire, will be rebuilt into a new and larger theatre. A 30 story high rise is proposed in the rebuilding program. . . . Holders of Medicare cards will receive Golden Age discounts on tickets to all seven of the Brotman and Sherman theatres. . . . Alliance Amusement Co., Chicago, will build a new indoor theatre in Kokomo, Ind., in the near future. It will be the first house to be built in the town since 1935 and will be named the Southgate. . . . NAC’s officers and board mem¬ bers will hold their mid-year meeting on May 25 at the Sheraton-Blackstone Hotel here. . . . “The Agony and the Ecstasy” film engagement at the Cinestage will end its engagement there on May 3. “Years of Lightning, Day of Drums” opens at the house on May 4 on a continuous engagement following the opening night pre¬ miere. . . . Women’s Variety Club of Ill. held an evening card party in the club rooms at the Pick-Congress Hotel. . . . H.R.H. Prince Philip’s visit to Chicago on behalf of Variety Clubs International brought a record turn-out at a $100 a plate dinner in his honor. Over 1,000 persons were in attendance, producing over $100,000, half of which goes to Variety ■ Club’s charity, La Rabida Sanitarium, the bal¬ ance going to the Prince’s special charities. Officers and directors of the Women’s and Men’s Variety Clubs gave a tea for the Prince . the afternoon of the banquet. David Smerling, ’ chief barker, presented the Prince with a his¬ tory of Abraham Lincoln as a gift from the club. The Prince was presented to the guests by Jack Clark, International Variety repre¬ sentative, Mrs. David Smerling, and Mrs. Madge Raymer. CINCINNATI “A Thousand Clowns” opens at the Times Towne Cinema May 11 with a benefit per¬ formance for Variety Tent Three’s Sunshine Coach fund. Proceeds from the tickets will go : to the fund, Mid-States assuming the expenses of the opening. ... With the exception of “A Thousand Clowns,” patrons were filling the¬ atres to see the nominees and the winners of the Academy Awards. “A Shop on Main Street opened brilliantly at the Esquire. ... Roy White, Mid-States president, is on an ex¬ tended vacation in Elorida. M. M. Berger, MGM office manager, has returned from a spring vacation. . . . Darla Nieberding, A-I office staffer, is newcomer to Eilm Row. She ; succeeds Ruth Hermann who resigned to be married. . . . Pines Theatre, Pine Knot, Ky., after being closed for a long time, is being reopened May 8 by new owner Mrs. Leone j Prater. . . . City Council’s finance committee ] has recommended that Council not change the > present theatre admission tax — three per cent ; on all $1.05 admissions. When federal taxes were removed several months ago, local the : atre owners asked Council to decrease theatre taxes. City Manager W. H. Wichman recom , mended instead that theatre taxes be increased. In 1965, the city grossed $156,000 from the , tax. Theatre owners are not taking kindly to the recommendation and are asking City Council for a hearing to state their case. May 1 1, 1 966 1