Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1946)

SPOTLIGHT ALBANY The pre-Christmas slump is on in earnest throughout the Albany zone. . . . The Palace followed Fox's "Margie" with Metro's "Undercurrent," as topper, "Betty Co-Ed" being the second picture. The Strand had "Mr. Ace," plus "Down Missouri Way." The Warner house has been playing many singles in recent weeks. The Grand booked "San Quentin," for which there was a heavy pre-engagement radio campaign and personal appearances the opening day by Eddie Gargan and Dewey Robinson, of the cast. Barbara Hale and Bill Williams, likewise RKO performers, made an appearance Saturday. They also attended the Variety Club motion picture ball at the De Witt Clinton Hotel. Bucky Harris, Albany exploitation director for RKO, and Alan Wieder, Buffalo exploiteer, worked on the local setup. The Ritz, fourth downtown house, presented "The Killers" and "Blondie Knows Best," after a week of reviving "If I Had My Way" and "Shadow of a Doubt." William Shartin, recently named district manager for Eagle-Lion in Albany, Buffalo, Cleveland and Cincinnati, made his first business trip to this city. PRC distributes Eagle-Lion films. Shartin worked for Warners and United Artists in the Midwest, being Chicago district manager for Warners at one time. The Grand, Fabian house, dropped special Saturday morning shows for children, after a month's experiment. Films classics were presented through the Motion Picture Association. ATLANTA Paul C. Plaginos, son of Frank L. Plaginos, who built the State theatre in 1924 and the Royal theatre, Gainesville, Georgia, has been named manager of the four theatres operated by the Georgia Theatres. . . . E. L. Reynolds has taken over the management of the Summerville and Salisbury theatres in Summerville, S. C. . . . J. T. Schlock and LeRoy will soon open their new theatre in Dover, Tennessee. . . . The management of the Saenger theatre, Pensacola, Florida, cooperated with the DAR at a kiddie show for the benefit of the toy fund. . . . Elmo Booth and W. H. Booth, of Hollandale, Miss., have been ordered by the Atlanta office CPA to halt construction of their theatre in Hollandale. . . . Howard L. Chaffin, former major in the Army, has resigned from the National Theatre Supply Company, and will return to the Army as major. . . . PRC are moving into their new quarters as well as the Kay Film Exchanges. . . . Charles Durmeyer has taken over as new chief barker of the Atlanta Variety Club with other officers for the year of 1947. BALTIMORE Business boomed up Thanksgiving Day and several days thereafter, then suddenly fell away badly but picked up when the lights went on again Saturday evening, December 7. "Undercurrent," proved strong enough for a second week at the Century. "Nocturne" opened big at the Hippodrome. "Two Years Before the Mast" went into a fine second week. "Wake Up and Dream" opened very strong at the New theatre, liked by women and children but not so good with men. "Deception" proved good enough for a second week at the Stanley. "The Cockeyed Miracle" opened fairly well at the Valencia. "The Great Mr. Handel" opened very strong at the Little. "I've Always Loved You" rolled right into an eighth week at the May fair. The Roslyn and Times had strong opening with "Mysterious Mr. Valentine," with "Woman of the Town." Baltimore Variety Club, Tent No. 19, elected officers night of December 6, including : Fred C. Schanberger, Jr., succeeding William K. Saxton as chief barker and Mr. Saxton elected delegate to national organization. Others include : Frederick Schmuff , first assistant chief barker;' Mark Silver, second assistant ; Chauncey B. Wolfe, secretary and W. Spaulding Albert, treasurer. Directors are: Samuel Tabor, R. C. Embry, Leon Back, William G. Myers, Al Vogelstein and J. Stanley Baker. At national organization the two national canvassmen will be Rodney Collier and Frank H. Durkee. Besides Mr. Saxton other delegates chosen are L. C. Garman, Bernard Seaman and Chauncey B. Wolfe. . . . Lionel H. Keene, former owner of three neighborhood theatres in Atlanta, Ga., visited Baltimore, his former home town. Walter Huston appearing in "Apple in His Eye," at Ford's, was guest of honor at cocktail press reception given by William K. Saxton, Loew's city manager. BOSTON Joe Di Pesa, publicist for Loew's State and Orpheum and Art Moger, publicist for Warner Pictures form, with Floyd Bell, public relations man, a committee named by WHEN AND WHERE January 7: Television Broadcasters Association annual meeting, Waldorf-Astoria, New York. January 22-23: Allied Motion Picture Theatre Owners of Western Pennsylvania 26th annual convention, William Penn Hotel, Pittsburgh. January 26-28: Theatre Owners of North and South Carolina convention, Charlotte, N. C. the War Nurses Memorial Committee in New England to visit the newspapers and enlist the support of the latter in the drive to raise $400,000 in New England toward the erection of a permanent Memorial at Washington to the memory of the War Nurses and Medical Women of World War Two. The production of "Henry V" finally closed after a run of 35 weeks, longest in the history of Boston. . . . Jack Markle has gone with the picture to Philadelphia — Markle formerly operated the Coolidge Corner theatre here Al Swerdlove, manager of Film Classics of New England, was in New York this past week for conferences with home office executives. . . . Joseph Mansfield is the new publicist in Boston for PRC. . . . Mansfield was formerly assistant publicity director at the RKO Theatres here. ... James Winn, district manager for United Artists, who has been on the sick list for a year, has recovered and is back again. . . . Ed McConnell, former manager of the Regal theatre at Franklin, N. H., has taken a position as manager in Newington, Conn. . . . Eddie McDonald is back from four years' service in the armed forces and has joined the Floyd Bell Associates with whom he was connected before World War Two. . CHICAGO The dimout had definitely been affecting business with both outlying houses and loop theatre managers complaining. . . . Abe Montague, vice-president and general sales manager for Columbia Pictures, headed the list of distributor dignitaries, who attended the testimonial dinner to Jack Kirsch, on the double occasion of the fourth anniversary of the Illinois Allied Booking and Buying Circuit, and Mr. Kirsch's 44th birthday December 6. The national Allied head received a sterling silver candelabra set. Mayor Edward J. Kelly headed the list of government representatives. Through the courtesy of Spyros Skouras, Fox Movietown Newsmen took newsreel shots of the entire evening's festivities. . . . The Reelfellows Club, comprising all Chicago film salesmen, will hold their annual election of officers in the Variety Clubrooms December 17. John Tozzie .opened a 632-seat house called the Roxy in Toluca,' 111., Thanksgiving Day. Si Greiver is booking films for the house. . . . Danny Newman, has resigned as publicity man for the World Playhouse theatre, to devote his time to other interests. He has been succeeded by Charles Teitel, son of the World Playhouse owner. . . . Ervin J. Sedlack, former manager of the Warner Bros, circuit's Frolic theatre, was a recent visitor to Film Row. Sedlack, now owns the Celeste theatre in Celeste, Texas. . . . Sam Teller, 63, former manager of the Commercial and Webster theatres, died of a heart attack December 5. He is survived by his widow. CINCINNATI The 3,300-seat RKO Albee, which recently inaugurated a stage show and picture policy after several years of straight pictures, made box office history with Mickey Rooney as the headliner of a vaudeville bill, which piled up a record gross at this house, leaving a mark which probably will not be ex(Continued on page 47) 42 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, DECEMBER 14, 1946