The Exhibitor (1966)

United Artists exploiteer Max Miller is seen here presenting a scroll about the film, "A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Forum," to Mrs. Harry MacArthur at a screening party that he hosted in Washington. Present at the party were representatives of the White House, the State Department, and the local and national press. Mr. Miller's tailor was commended by all present. ALBANY Bishop Edward J. Maginn, apostolic ad¬ ministrator, recently dispatched a letter that was read to Roman Catholics in the 14-county Albany Diocese at the Sunday Mass in which the Legion of Decency pledge was renewed. The letter began, “The frequency with which motion pictures are presented in theatres and even in our homes by television makes more urgent than ever the obligation of each of us to select and judge with Christian maturity.” Bishop Maginn said that he realized it was “difficult to make recommendations which would apply to everyone for every film made.” His mention of motion pictures seen on tele¬ vision served to emphasize the fact that the diocesan weekly, “Evangelist,” prints the offi¬ cial ratings for pictures shown over Albany’s television stations. . . . An editing snip elimi¬ nated the words “as a buying and booking account” in the report that Thornton Theatres had acquired Reggie Clark’s Palace, Lake Placid. Clark, a funeral director, is still op¬ erating the film house. . . . Rose Norcus is booker in the new 20th Century-Fox branch. She used to serve as a local United Artists date setter. . . . Harold Sliter, formerly group manager for Schine Theatres in Lexington, Ky., resigned from Panther Theatre Corp., operating the old Schine circuit. He was once director of advertising, promotion, and pub¬ licity at its Gloversville home offices, and is the son of Frank Sliter, who is now living in retirement at Menands, near Albany, after many years of service as 20th Century-Fox salesman. Harold is now working for a Lex¬ ington tobacco company. . . . Daphna Reznick, 19, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ben Reznick, who operate six upstate New York motion picture theatres from a base in Cobleskill, will be married to Merv Weinstein, 23, a New York City architectural student, on June 9 in Great Neck, N.Y. BUFFALO Melvyn Berman has been appointed chair¬ man of the Buffalo Variety Club permanent dethon committee, members of which arc Richard Aaron, Harold Bennett, Nate Dickman, Michael Ellis, Jr., Thomas W. Fenno, James J. Hayes, Myron Gross, and Robert King. Ex-officio members are Peter G. Becker, Albert J. Petrella, Alex Lebovitz, Dr. Robert 16 Warner, and Barbara Quinlivan. . . . Paul Grummitt has been elected president of the Buffalo Moving Picture Machine Operators Local 233. Other 1967 officers are Alec Cohe, vice-president; Carl Patterson, recording-cor¬ responding secretary; Kenneth Kavanagh, busi¬ ness representative; Thomas Griffin, treasurerfinancial secretary; Thomas Gilmartin, sergeant-at-arms; trustees, Arthur Ehrlich, Ed¬ mond Ostrowski, and Frank Krenn; executive board-at-large, Floyd Stevens, David Hunter, Jr., and Krenn; delegate to the Buffalo Central Labor Council, Joseph Heckt. . . . Jo-Mor Theatres of Rochester put on a gala Christmas party in the Downtowner Motel. John Martina and Morris Slotnick, heads of the circuit, hosted the party, which was attended by all employees. . . . The children at the Rehabilita¬ tion Center of the Children’s Hospital, prin¬ cipal charity activity of the Variety Club, were made happy when the Women of Variety, Tent 7, staged their annual Christmas Party at the hospital. Mrs. Gertrude Fisher was party chairman and Mrs. Joanne Reuter, co-chair¬ man. Sam Geffen, Tent 7 canvasman, ap¬ peared as Santa Claus. . . . Mannie A. Brown, head of Mannie Brown Associates, announces that his organization now is distributing Pathe Contemporary Films in the Buffalo exchange area. . . . The installation ceremonies for the 1967 officers of both the Variety Club of Buf¬ falo and the Women of Variety will be held early in January. The co-chairmen are Melvyn Berman and Albert J. Petrella. . . . George J. (Chief) Meyer, an assistant manager at the old Empress and Webster theatres, died in the Rochester General Hospital. . . . Dennis Carey, formerly assistant manager, Granada, a Panther house in north Buffalo, has resigned and accepted a position as assistant to Frank Arena, Loew city manager, at Shea’s Buffalo. CHARLOTTE The Center, Durham, N. C., at a banquet honoring the Duke University football team, presented to Bob Matheson, a defensive back, the annual Center Theatre Trophy, awarded annually to the player voted by his team mates as the most valuable player during the year. Manager Charles H. Lewis made the presenta¬ tion. . . . An all-cartoon program was shown at 10 a.m. Dec. 3 at the Dunn, Dunn, N.C., the only admission being a new or useable toy, to be distributed to needy children at Christ MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR mas. Manager James Yates said the Dunn Chamber of Commerce cooperated in the project. ... A Volkswagen with lights out driving into an exit of the Tower Drive-In at Rocky Mount, N.C., collided head-on with another car driving out of the exit, resulting in considerable property damage and injury of one of the drivers. CINCINNATI Film Row bookers were guests at a delight¬ ful Chistmas dinner party given by Ohio ex¬ hibitors Henry Davidson, Lynchburg; Harley Bennett, Circleville; and John Hewitt, West Lnion, at Jack & Klu’s Steak House. . . . Ross Spencer, office manager for Columbia’s local exchange, is observing his 25th year with the company. At an informal ceremony, Martin Kutner, eastern division sales manager, pre¬ sented him with a watch as a. memento of the anniversary. . . . Hy Carmen, UA advertising manager, and Bob Rehme, field representative, held a seminar for area exhibitors showing future releases “A Fistful of Dollars” and “For a Few Dollars More” at the Guild. . . . The Kennegan Co., local printing firm whose by¬ line is “showmanship in printing,” is sending all its customers the 1 966 — 67 “MGM Lion Power” brochure. . . . Dr. W. E. Day, owner of the Pleasant Valley Drive-In, Olive Hill, Ky., has announced his candidacy for Lt. Governor of Kentucky on the Republican ticket. Beside his interests in theatres, Dr. Day is well known throughout the state as an out¬ standing business man in various other enter¬ prises. DALLAS As part of a four city promotional tour in behalf of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s Cinerama release, “Grand Prix,” Joakim Bonnier, presi¬ dent of the Grand Prix Drivers Association and a racing driver himself, visited Dallas. He is also owner of three Formula I racing cars which were used in the film and will be part of an exhibit of racing cars to be shown in 50 cities. It will come here in early February. The cars will also be on display in conjunc¬ tion with the film in Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio. The film is scheduled for the Capri in a road show engagement. . . . Services were held here for Albert E. McClain, 63, manager of the Jefferson D-I. He had been with Rowley United Theatres for the past 34 years. Survivors include his wife and a son. . . . Hollywood’s newest grandfather is Chill Wills, whose son Will, who makes his home in Dallas, and his wife Lugay became the parents of a baby son. . . . George Roy Hill, director, was in Dallas in behalf of “Hawaii,” which opens a roadshow engagement on Dec. 21 at. the Inwood. . . . Key members of the produc¬ tion team of producer-director Robert Wise were here recently for the special showing of “The Sand Pebbles” at the Inwood. The group included Robert Anderson, screenplay author; Saul Chaplin, associate producer; William Reynolds, film editor; Murray Spivak, sound mixer; and Mike Kaplan, assistant to Wise. . . . Talent Unlimited has been established here by Ann Palmer and Joyce Luther to offer to those making motion pictures in the local area acting talent. Miss Palmer appeared in two films being shot here, “Mars Needs Women” and “Bonnie and Clyde.” The new service will of¬ fer facilities for the preparation of a three to five minute audition film by local actors and actresses or character players. . . . Jack Scanlan, public relations director for Columbia Pictures’ Dallas office, was in charge of the visit of the 12 Slaygirls on a promotional tour for the new Dean Martin film, “Murderer’s Row,” which opens at the Majestic on Dec. 21. . . . During the last three years there have been December 21, 1966