The Exhibitor (1966)

Trying,'' UA’s filming of the popular stage hit. Also in the sneajk preview rundown was the Stanton's showing of Embassy's “The Sp\ With The Cold Nose.” ST. LOUIS The city will have a host of top film per¬ sonalities here on Feb. 8 for the Teamsters’ charity show at Kiel Auditorium, according to Harold J. Gibbons, president of Teamsters Joint Council 13. Personalities to be on hand are Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr., Milton Berle, Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass, Connie Stevens, the Step Brothers, the Tittle Steps, and Nelson Riddle and his orchestra. The price of the seats will be $250 for front orchestra and $25 for top tiers of the balcony. The event will be on closed circuit television, and Sinatra, head¬ liner, hopes to raise $1 million from these revenues. . . . Roy Muelemann, district man¬ ager for Mid-American Theatres, and his wife Sally had a very pleasant Christmas surprise CLARK TRANSFER , INC. Terminals: • BOSTON, MASS. 100 Gibson Street, Dorchester 617-282-2099 • NEW YORK, N. Y. 610 W. 47th Street 212-246-8815 • NORFOLK, VA. 316 South Main Street 703-545-3832 • PHILADELPHIA, PA. (Executive Offices) 029 North 29th Street 215-232-3100 • RICHMOND, VA. 312 South 17th Street 703-648-6083 • TAMAQUA (Hometown), PA. RD #2 717-668-1727 • WASHINGTON, D. C. 3194 Bladensburg Read, N.E. 202-526-4808 PROGRESSIVE ELECTRIC CONSTRUCTION CO. INC. 240 N. 13th St. • PHILADELPHIA, PA. 19107 35 Years of Theatre Construction and Maintenance BLUmBERG BROS., Inc. Coesiytluncj fin the ^JlteaUe WALNUT 5-T240-41 1305-07 VINE STREET PHILADELPHIA, PA. 19107 Phil Feldman (right), producer of Seven Arts' "You're A Big Boy Now," and Barry Gottehrer, spe¬ cial assistant to New York Mayor John V. Lindsay, at a press conference at Seven Arts' home office, at which Feldman discussed his plans for future filming in New York City. as his son Jim, who had been stationed in Korea, arrived home two days before Christ¬ mas on an unexpected leave. . . . The Arthurs, Arthur Amusement Company, have been in the headlines with their interest in buying the St. Fouis Hawks pro basketball team. They are still conferring with owner Ben Kerner. They have received much publicity as they want to keep the team in St. Louis. . . . Mid-America Theatres has just purchased the Waring DriveIn, Carbondale, Ill., and is changing the name to Campus Drive-In. This brings the total of theatres in the Mid-America chain to 16. . . . Charles Enstall has been transferred from MidAmerica’s Thunderbird Drive-In to the Holi¬ day Drive-In, where he is now manager. Re¬ placing him as manager of the Thunderbird is Edmund Jarvis, a newcomer to MidAmerica. . . . Paul Schultz, former manager of the Capri Drive-In, Wood River, Ill., has been transferred to the aforementioned Campus Drive-In. Leo Mellitello is the Capri’s new manager. ... St. Louis Variety Club has renamed Edwin D. Dorsey as chief barker. . . . Alton, Ill., is going to have another indoor theatre. A shopping center theatre for that area is planned. The theatre will reportedly be similar to the “Cinemas” constructed recently in St. Louis County. SAN ANTONIO Hollywood starlet Joan Freeman arrived on a promotional visit with the local press and public concerning her latest film, “The Reluc¬ tant Astronaut.” The film will open its local run on Feb. 1 at Cinema I in North Star Mall. Miss Freeman will go to Houston where the world premiere of the film will be held at the Majestic. The visit of the star marks the second time Don Knotts’ leading lady has chosen San Antonio for a press party. Last year, Joan Staley, co-star of “The Ghost and Mr. Chick¬ en,” was guest here. . . . Edmund R. Borgan, formerly of San Antonio, has been appointed director of advertising, sales promotion, and public relations for Shop Rite Foods, Inc. A resident of Lubbock, Tex., he was previously an advertising and public relations executive for United Artists and Universal-International in New York. . . . Local theatregoers may see the stage or screen version of “Any Wednes¬ day,” with the screen version at the suburban Olmos. The stage version is being preseated at the San Pedro Playhouse by the San A'ntonio Little Theatre. . . . Alfred W. Rohde, president of Rohde & Co., has accepted the position of general chairman for the south Texas premiere of “Hawaii” on Feb. 15 at the Wonder for the benefit of the Methodist Hospital Physical Therapy department. The premiere will be sponsored by the Northwest Civic Association. . . . Members of the Woman’s Breakfast Club met in the Majestic for a special showing of an outstanding movie. George M. Watson, city manager of Interstate Theatres, and Lynn Krueger, manager of the Majestic, were hosts for the movie. Special guests were Mrs. Enrico Liberto, president of the San Antonio Motion Picture Council, and Mrs. Genry F. Shaper, member-at-large. A luncheon followed the showing. SEATTLE A 1200-seat Cinerama theatre, to be oper¬ ated by Pacific Service Company, Inc., will occupy a major site at the South Center shop¬ ping center now going up in Tukwila, south of Seattle. Target date for completion of all major construction is late summer of 1968, which includes, besides the new theatre, a mo¬ tel, bank, the Bon Marche, a Frederick & Nel¬ son, J. C. Penny, and Best-Nordstrom. A heated, air-conditioned mall will connect all the stores, and parking will be provided for 9,000 automobiles. . . . Mack Partin, United branch manager, attended a branch manager meeting in Denver. Bud Hamilton, United general sales manager from the Oregon terri¬ tory, came up from Portland during Partin’s absence. . . . Zalmain Gross has now centered his firm’s management in Seattle. He has op¬ erations in Juneau, Ketchikan, and other Alas¬ kan towns. . . . “Grand Prix” is opening at the Martin Cinerama Feb. 1 with a benefit for the Spastic Children’s Clinic. The premiere, Feb. 2, will be sponsored by the Western Washing¬ ton Sports Car Council. . . . The northwest premiere for “Hawaii” for the benefit of the March of Dimes will be held on Feb. 14 at the Blue Mouse. The New York Scene continued. and the trip had a most unusual conclusion. It seems that someone forgot to check out where this vessel could land its people, and the captain kept riding up and down that section of water until he decided to take a chance and try to tie-up at the unfamiliar side of the river, which he did nicely. During the trip, Bernie Levy, capable American Broad¬ casting Company theatre vice-president, among others, opined that the feature was a good one and should find favor with the public. The next morning, the Florida Development Commission bade the visitors welcome at a special breakfast, and after that, a mass interview session with the stars; the author of the book, Arthur Hailey; director Richard Quine; producer and screenplay-writer Wendell Mayes; fashion designer Edith Head; etc., was in order. Since we were booked out on a plane that left as the conference was about to get underway, we did get to listen to a preview of what Richard Conte was to say. He related that he’d like to get into direction and produc¬ tion. He’s got a play property, “Jason,” a comedy-drama, which he’d like to do for a major distributor. He might even star in it. It may be made towards the end of the year, and at the moment, he doesn’t have a commitment with anyone on it. He felt that the need for product should obviate any difficulty finding production backing. Aside to Isabel Marks (she’s the wife of that fine entertainment editor of the Portland Oregon Journal, Arnold Marks) : Haven’t had any reaction to the plea that you made on bended knee that the publisher give us a. raise. Will advise if anything ever happens. Best regards, as always. 18 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR February 1, 1967