The Exhibitor (1966)

course in New Britain and Hartford. . . . Perakos theatres in Connecticut — there are seven hard-tops and two drive-ins — are plan¬ ning “Back to School” kiddie shows in early September. . . . Cliff Grief, assistant to Ray McNamara, Hartford resident manager for New England Theatres, Inc., regional affiliate of ABC (American Broadcasting Company), has returned from a Newport, R.I., vacation. . . . The People's Drive-In is the new name for the Rogers' Corner Drive-In, Pleasant Valley (between New Hartford and Winsted, to the north of Hartford). . . . James M. Totman, New England zone manager for Stanley War¬ ner Theatres, met with Robert E. Carney, resident manager at the deluxe Strand, Hart¬ ford. . . . Sam Rosen, partner in Lockwood and Gordon Connecticut Theatres, got back from an extended stay in Mexican waters. . . . Norman Bialek, partner in the Nutmeg The¬ atre Circuit, is home from a European trek. . . . The Maurice Bailey Whitney, Hamden, has blossomed forth with a handsome new front, including marquee, masonry, lobby doors, and carpeting. Lou Adsit is the house manager. . . . Doug Amos, general manager of Lockwood & Gordon Theatres, came in from Boston for the Connecticut premiere of UA’s “Battle for Khartoum” at the Cinerama Theatre, Hartford. . . . Dave Titelman, MGM Connecticut branch manager, is urging early response to state collections for the Will Rog¬ ers Memorial Hospital Campaign. . . . Red¬ stone Theatres have started construction on the 1100-seat Cinema III, a sister theatre to the company’s deluxe Cinema I and II com¬ plex on Riverdale street in West Springfield, Mass. The project marks first time a theatre threesome is built in New England. All three, of course, are to be operated as first-runs. Cinema II is equipped for Cinerama. . . . James M. Totman, Stanley-Warner Theatres zone manager, anticipates a late September completion date for the 1200-seat Cinema, being built in the Danbury Shopping Plaza, on Candlewood Lakes, some 65 miles to the southwest of Hartford. The theatre will have a New England motif, complete with lobby antique displays and a covered walkway, with benches, from the parking area, the latter accommodating some 5,000 cars. ... A com¬ bine representing Connecticut independent theatre interests has acquired the 410-seat Chesire, downstate Chesire, from Josph DiFrancisco, retiring industry pioneer, for an undisclosed sum. The new owners — Franklin E. Ferguson, general manager of the Bailey Theatres, New Haven; and Leonard E. Samp¬ son and Robert C. Spodick, Nutmeg Theatre Circuit, will completely remodel the facility, to be known as the Chesire Cinema. Ferguson will continue his association with the Bailey circuit, and Sampson and Spodick will con¬ tinue to operate their own circuit, which has theatres in New Haven, Norwalk, Wilton, Fairfield, and Westport, all in southwestern Connecticut. . . . Harry L. Levine, 52, projec¬ tionist at the Capitol Theatre, Lynn, Mass., for 33 years, died. NEW ORLEANS Gulf States Theatres announced that con¬ struction on a new theatre in Houma, La., will soon get underway. The deluxe 800 seater will be located in one of the town’s big shopping centers. The Fox, Gulf States year old possession there, will be converted to an office building after the new house is in operation. Gulf States is also building a 600seat theatre, the Harbor Cinema, in the Punta Gora Mall shopping center, Punta Gorda, Florida, which is expected to open by Christ¬ mas. . . . Sympathy is extended to Mr. and Mrs. Prewitt, Jr., Temple, Texas, and Mrs. W. A. Prewitt, III, McComb, Miss., on the death of Mrs. O. J. Key, mother of the elder Mrs. Prewitt and grandmother of Prewitt, the III. . . . Johnny Miller, of the Johnny Miller Show on WVUE-TV, Channel 12, has joined the local Variety Club, Tent 45. He was active in the recent Sunshine Coach fund drive of the tent. . . . Variety Club and its ladies auxiliary held a game social and it is planned to hold one each month with proceeds to be used to augment the tent’s charity treasury. . . . Don Kay, chief barker, Variety Club Tent 45, announced that the telethon will be held Sept. 17-18 from Municipal Auditorium over WWL-TV Channel 4. Barbara James, Variety International Public Relations Research, will coordinate the staging of the telethon; and Mayor Victor H. Schiro, will be honorary chairman. . . . The WOMPI’s monthly visit with the senior ladies of St. Anna’s Home called for a special celebration when one of the residents celebrated her 100th birthday . . . WOMPI Dottie Dittman, MPA, is on pleasure journey to Europe and post-carded from gay Paree. PHILADELPHIA Walt Woodward, formerly with Electrical Research Corporation and a Philadelphia area theatre manager, now retired and living in Miami, Fla., with his wife, “Aunt Fanny,” was in an automobile accident in which his standing car was hit by a truck. She was badly shaken up and has to wear a neck brace while taking daily treatments. . . . Prices in Philadel¬ phia legit theatres are going up this season with a $9.00 top reported. . . . The Gold Ball¬ room of the Hotel DuPont, Wilmington, Del., reopened after considerable refurbishing. Orig¬ inally opened in 1918, the ballroom was closed to the public for about five weeks for the major phases of modernization and renovation. SAN ANTONIO Bill Rau was making plans for the formal opening of his new Valley-Hi D-I on Aug. 26. The opening feature is “The Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines.” Rau also operates the Bandera Road D-I and the Alamo Booking Service. . . . Condolences are being offered to Gene T. Cole, city manager for Gulf State Theatres, on the recent death of his father, L. P. Cole, 76, in San Angelo, Tex. . . . David A. Stoffle, manager, suburban Jo¬ sephine, Cinema Arts Theatres operation, was the subject of a picture story in one of the local dailies on his finding an owl in a laundry basket in the backyard of his home. Soffle is aiding in mending an injured wing and said the owl has become friendly and is responding to treatment. . . . The Equipo Sales Co., oper¬ ated here for the past 20 years by E. G. Olivarri, has changed its name to Texas Theatre Supply and is expanding his theatre supply business. He has an export business to Mexico and handles the sales, rebuilding, and exchange of all types of theatre equipment. He is as¬ sisted by Manuel Ayela who is also a projec¬ tionist at the Woodlawn as well as president of the local motion picture operators’ union. . . . Ronnie Slavin has joined the staff of the Josephine as usher-ticket taker. His father, Gene Slavin, is a projectionist at the Josephine. . . . Alvin Krueger, manager, suburban Laurel, where the roadshow engagement of “The Blue Max” is now current, has announced a new policy of 10 showings weekly with matinees on Saturday, Sunday, Wednesday, and holi¬ days. Previously, there were matinees on Mon¬ day, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. . . . Vivian Scoggins, secretary to Tom Powers, city manager for Cinema Arts Theatres, has as her house guest her son, Capt. John Anthis, his wife Paula, and son Larry. Capt. Anthis is to return to Fort Bragg, N. C., prior to his assign¬ ment to Vietnam. . . . Betty Quinney’s son, Melvin, Jr., has enlisted in the Navy and left for San Diego, Calif., for boot camp training. Mother is cashier at the Josephine. . . . Ten knowledgeable film fans will share the $150 top prize awarded in the Express-News “Torn Curtain” contest. Prizes were offered readers who could name the largest portion of the 50 screen thrillers Alfred Hitchcock has made in his long career. His 50th picture is “Tom Curtain” now current at the Majestic. The 10 contestants all listed the 50 pictures and shared in the $150 top prize, each receiving $15. The 10 runners-up received an album of the sound track of the film, and the next 15 runners-up received two tickets to see the film at the Majestic. The Motion Picture Associates Foundation is honoring JACK BERESIN on the occasion of his seventy-fifth birthday SATURDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 17 Bellevue Stratford Hotel Philadelphia, Pa. • Proceeds to the Welfare Fund of the Motion Picture Associates Foundation • For Reservations Don Hicks Norman Silverman and Tickels contact: Paramount Pictures or 6535 N. 2nd St. Fox Theatre Bldg. Phila., Pa. Phila., Pa. NEW JERSEY MESSENGER SERVICE, MEYER ADLEMAN, President Black Tie One Hundred Dollars Per Couple 18 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR August 31, 1966