The Exhibitor (1966)

to present the first industry showing of “The Fighting Prince of Donegal,” scheduled for one of Disney’s biggest exploitation campaigns. . . . Mrs. O. Glenn Gryder, Howco Films, also used the Preview Theatre for advance screen¬ ings of two new science-fiction features, “Di¬ mension 5” and “Cyborg 2087.” . . . Marvin Skinner, Florida State Theatres booker, hap¬ pily passed out boxes of “It’s A Boy” cigars after Mrs. Skinner gave birth to David Alan Skinner at St. Vincent’s Hospital. . . . Thelma Claxton rejoined Film Row after a long ab¬ sence as she replaced WOMPI Eleanor Moon in the MGM office when Eleanor was granted a maternity leave of absence by manager Bob Capps. . . . Sandra Easley, WOMPI vice presi¬ dent and machine expert at the MGM branch, journeyed to Washington, D. C., for a training course in the operation of a new teletype sys¬ tem. . . . W. O. “Ollie” Williamson, Warner Bros, district manager from Atlanta, spent a few days in the area conferring with theatre circuit leaders and independent exhibitors. . . . Harold Popel, former exhibitor in the West Palm Beach area who is now booking for Wometco Enterprises of Miami, visited with old friends along Film Row after an absence of several years. . . . MCM Theatres of Leesburg and other inland points closed the Lyric The¬ atre, Dunnellon. ... A tentative Aug. 31 date has been scheduled for the grand opening of Meiselman Theatres’ new University Drive-In, which is situated close to Jacksonville Uni¬ versity at nearby Arlington, and Herman Meiselman, circuit owner from Charlotte, came in to make final arrangements for the opening. This will be his sixth theatre in Duval County (Jacksonville and Jacksonville beaches) as he now operates the Town & Country and the Cedar Hills, first-run indoorers; the Royal Palm, Atlantic Beach; and the Midway and Fox drive-ins. . . . Shelmon Masce, manager, State, Tallahassee, a unit of Kent Theatres, has successfully staged a re¬ vival of what was once an important part of every program at major motion picture the¬ atres throughout the world and which today is little more than a nostalgic memory to older movie-goers. Sheldon has brought back — to the delight of Tallahassee motion picture patrons and music lovers — live organ recitals during his intermission periods which fill the State with the humming and singing of appreciative patrons. He features the names of organ players on his marquee along with his screen programs and, in a pinch, he plays the organ himself as he is an accomplished musician. It so happens that he is also the Tallahassee dealer for Hammond organs and has no prob¬ lem in keeping an organ on stage at all times. . . . Miss Madge Jansen, manager of the down¬ town Diana Shop and an honorary WOMPI member, won a company sales contest which entitles her to a free three week tour of six European countries. MIAMI , FLA . In St. Petersburg, Fla., the director of the Museum of Fine Arts announced that the museum was “over subscribed” for its filmlecture series. . . . Three juveniles were seized by St. Petersburg, Fla., police during a free “coupon” showing at the downtown Florida. Police stated that the youths were appre¬ hended in connection with “some disorderly |> conduct, profanity, and one kid with a con¬ cealed weapon” — a steak knife — according to a Youth Aid Bureau spokesman. ... A 600seat theatre, tentatively named the Harbor Cinema, is to be part of the Punta Gorda Mall shopping center, according to an announce¬ ment from T. G. Solomon, president, Gulf States Theatres. The theatre will have stereo¬ phonic sound equipment and a panoramic screen, as well as all modern concession facili¬ ties. . . . Zoning was approved by the Mel¬ bourne’ Planning and Zoning Board for a shopping center that will have a theatre, as well as all other usual shops and stores. The center is planned for an area south of NASA boulevard and west of Babcock street. . . . Site preparation has begun on the South Trail Ventures, Inc., theatre set in the South Trail Shopping Center, Ft. Myers. The 900-seat house is being constructed by Bogard Corp. Theodore Gottfried, Miami, is the architect. The $160,000 theatre will be the only indoor theatre in Ft. Myers away from the downtown area. . . . The Cinema 70 opened in the Palm Coast Plaza (Palm Beach). . . . Harry Botwick, southeastern district manager, Florida State Theatres, announced the closing of the Florida, downtown Ft. Lauderdale. The theatre will not be razed, but will be used occasionally for special attractions. Botwick said the Florida, which switched last year to second-run features, just hasn’t been able to maintian itself prosperously. A clean-up cam¬ paign had been announced several weeks ago for the 30-year old house, which was the last theatre still operating in the “downtown” area. “I think it’s very regrettable,” was the statemetn of J. Wayne Averill, executive vice-presi¬ dent of the Ft. Lauderdale Downtown Business Council. “We are very much in hopes that more consideration will be given to plans sub¬ mitted for the improvement of downtown, such as two-way traffic and more free parking. We hope that after these plans have been com¬ pleted, consideration will be given for the Florida’s return.” . . . Lance Miller, manager, North Andrews Drive-In, Ft. Lauderdale, is the newest member of the Wometco Old Guard organization, having completed seven years with the company. . . . Sympathy was extended to Mr. and Mrs. John Reed in the sudden death of Mrs. Reed’s father, Jules DuBois, Latin-American correspondent for the Chicago Tribune. The veteran newsman suf¬ fered a heart attack in Bogota, Colombia, while there on assignment to cover a news conference given by President Raul Leoni of Venezuela. John Reed is manager, Mayfair, and Mary is a former Wometco theatre em¬ ployee. . . . Andy Sullivan, MGM publicity director, has announced the appointment of Doris Vater to handle all Florida promotions on MGM television, films, and exploitations as of Jan. 1. Currently with Bayside Advertising of Miami, Miss Vater will shortly have her own MGM office in Miami. She assisted MGM in their recent promotion of the world premiere of “Around The World Under The Sea.” . . . Kostroff Rich, Inc., is the newest tenant at Studio City in north Miami. Larry Kostroff and Mickey Rich head the firm which will be able to serve producers who have filming requirements in the immediate area, including the Caribbean, Bahamas, and Puerto Rico. . . . Florida State Theatres broke ground for its new Sunny Isles, the second motion picture theatre to be started in the Miami Beach area in less than a year. The other new theatre is the Bay Harbor “Rocking Chair,” located on Bay Idarbor Island. The new FST house is situated on Interama Boule¬ vard. In an area known as Eastern Shores, The Sunny Isles is the first Dade County theatre to have twin and auditoria, each to have both regular and stereo sound system. The house will be equipped with rocking-chair seats throughout; the larger auditorium will seat 750 and the smaller about 500. Special rain canopies will be provided at the front and sides of the theatre. . . . Gene Sutton, manager, Sunrise, Ft. Pierce, obtained widespread east Florida coverage via the “Florida AAA Motor¬ ist” newspaper on his tieup with the American Automobile Association’s travel department in connection with the central Florida pre¬ miere of “Madame X.” Photos and article in the newspaper called attention to Sutton’s very successful tieup. The unique fashion show-premiere was entitled “Around the World Champagne Style,” and was attended by some 350 persons who were greeted by AAA Travel Department representatives be¬ fore enjoying the film and fashion show against a backdrop of world travel destinations. NEW HAVEN-HARTFORD Paul Macbeth, manager of the Perakos Cinema One, East Hartford, for the past six months, has resigned and will announce a new affiliation shortly. Previously, he was in inde¬ pendent exhibition in Massachusetts, and at one time was general manager of the Hartford Theatre Circuit, suburban Hartford company. . . . Joseph Letizio, former Connecticut State Police Auxiliary officer, has been named man¬ ager of the Perakos Beverly, Bridgeport, fol¬ lowing completion of a circuit management CLARK TRANSFER !, INC. Terminals: • BOSTON, MASS. 100 Gibson Street, Dorchester 617-282-2099 • NEW YORK, N. Y. 610 W. 47th Street 212-246-0815 • NORFOLK, VA. 316 South Main Street 703-545-3832 • PHILADELPHIA, PA. (Executive Offices) 829 North 29th Street 215-232-3100 • RICHMOND, VA. 312 South 17th Street 703-648-6083 • TAMAQUA (Hometown), PA. RO #2 717-668-1727 • WASHINGTON, D. C. 3194 Bladensburg Road, N.E. 202-526-4800 PROGRESSIVE ELECTRIC CONSTRUCTION CO. INC. 240 N. 13th St. • PHILADELPHIA, PA. 19107 35 Years of Theatre Construction and Maintenance BHHDBERG BROS., Inc. Coesuftlu+uj, fan the 'Jkec&e 1305-07 VINE STREET WALNUT 5-7240-41 PHILADELPHIA, PA. 19107 August 31, 1966 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR 17