Motion Picture Herald (Mar-Apr 1947)

(Continued from opposite page) Zorn, president of United Theatre Owners of Illinois, held a group meeting of his organization at the Pere Marquette Hotel March 3. . . . Frank Flaherty has been elected president of the Reelfellows Club here. . . . Paramount and Pepsodent have worked out a $200,000 contest on the latest Bob Hope picture, ''My Favorite Brunette." . . . Dick Brill, Warner Brothers publicity man, is carrying his arm in a cast, after slipping on the ice recently. . . . David Kuttner, formerly sales promotion and advertising manager for the Zenith Radio Corporation, has been appointed manager of the MGM record division in Chicago. . . . Bob Hickey, RKO publicity head in this area, is already working on plans for the world premiere of "Trial Street" at Liberal, Kansas, on March 25th. CINCINNATI The 3,300-seat RKO Albee, which discontinued stage shows several weeks ago in favor of straight films, has reverted to the stage show and picture policy, opening February 27 with Bob Crosby and his orchestra as the stage attraction and "The Sweetheart of Sigma Chi" on the screen. . . . Hippodrome Theatres, Inc., has been incorporated here to refurnish and operate the old Hippodrome theatre, a neighborhood house, dismantled as a theatre 15 years ago. A 20-year lease on the property, with privilege of purchase, has been acquired by Jack Frisch, who operates the Sharon, Findlay and Freeman theatres, catering to colored patrons, as will also the new house. Incorporators, in addition to Mr. Frisch, are Saul M. Greenberg, property master of the Cincinnati Variety Club, who acted as attorney in the transaction, and Dorothy Holtkamp. Mr. Greenberg will be secretary of the organization. Approximately 1,000 seats will be installed, and topflight Negro personalities will be presented on the stage, in addition to pictures. . . . Maurice Chase and Herman Hunt, who have been operating the suburban Vogue theatre on a 10-year lease, have purchased the property outright. . . . The Theatre Guild's "Henry V" is playing a two-week engagement at the Taft Auditorium, with the house scaled from $1.25 to $2.50. . . ... J. Henry Davidson, of Lynchburg, Ohio, has opened his newly-completed Mound theatre, at Peebles, Ohio, as a unit in his circuit, with houses at Greenfield, Georgetown and Osborn. CLEVELAND Irvin Deer, representative of the Johnston organization, told the members of the Cleveland Cinema Club at its February meeting last Wednesday in the Higbee Auditorium that they ought to stimulate greater interest and patronage of foreign films for better mutual international understanding. . . . Wade M. Carr, Manley, Inc. district manager, suffered a broken leg and his wife was killed as the result of an automobile accident that occurred near Cincinnati. . . . David Gaffnery has resigned as RKO assistant booker to become head booker for PRC. . . . Motion Picture Council of Greater Cleveland will hold an open forum meeting in the Cleveland Public Library Auditorium March 13, the subject to be: One World — Through Motion Pictures. Moderator will be Mrs. Florence Craig, Director of the Adult Education Department of Cuyahoga County Librarians. On the panel will be Charles Burris, manager of the Telenews theatre, speaking on "International Newsreels ;" E. J. Stutz, manager of the Circle theatre and supervisor of foreign films at the Lower Mall theatre, speaking on "Postwar aspects of the' foreign film situation in Cleveland ;" Mrs. Ruth Thompson, of the Visual Aids Department, Cleveland Board of Education, speaking on "Democracy goes to other countries via the 16mm educational film ;" and Mrs. George Culler, supervisor of motion picture activities of the Cleveland Museum of Art. COLUMBUS Inclement weather has been cutting into grosses, with the Lenten season also a factor in moderate returns at the box office. "Dead Reckoning" did fairly well at the Ohio and "Temptation" gave the Palace a fair week. "I've Always Loved You" attracted critical acclaim at the Board and "Nora Prentiss" gave the Grand an average second week. . . . The Ohio's special Wednesday evening premiere of "The Be ginning or the End" 'has been causing considerable comment, aided by the arrival of the print from Akron via Goodyear blimp. . . . Harry Young, Universal salesman, is recovering at home from injuries suffered when he was struck several weeks ago by an automobile. . . . Austin John Thatcher is the newest associate member of the Variety Club, Tent No. 2. He is manager of the Heart of Ohio Candy Co. DENVER Rocky Mountain Screen Club to hold Sportsmen's stag dinner and party at clubrooms March 11. ... . The San Luis, San Luis, Colo., burned to the ground. Building and theatre had just been purchased by Manuel Romero, who had planned to reopen house. . . . Pat Harrington, Denver music teacher, buys Isis, Victor, Colo., from D. Mavrogianes. . . . Paul Kauzlarich buys theatre in Douglas County high school, Castle Rock, Colo., from William Turnbull, Jr. . . . Frank Ricketson III, son of Frank Ricketson, Jr., president, Fox Intermountain Theatres, named assistant manager of the Mayan. . . . Walter Branson, western division sales manager, RKO, and Sid Kramer, assistant to short subjects manager, here from New York for installation of Albert Kolitz, recently branch manager at Cleveland, as district manager of Denver and Salt Lake City. He succeeds Leonard Gruenberg, who moves to the job of district manager of metropolitan New York. . . . Ralph Batschelet, Paramount manager, heads winning team in Chamber of Commerce drive. . . . J. B. McMahon sells Mission, Mesilla Park, N. M., to Weiss & Son. . . . George Blakeslee redecorating his Grand, Lander, Wyo. PES MOINES "California" at the Des Moines here did the best business last week. It drew considerably more than "Sinbad the Sailor" in its second week at the Orpheum. . . . Milt Overman, Tri-Cities manager for A. H. Blank Theatres 20 years ago, was back in Davenport visiting. He is now a repre (Continued on page 38) Out-going chief, barker of the Baltimore Variety Club, William K. Saxton, center, above, was honored at a testimonial dinner. Among the speakers were Carter T. Barron, national first assistant chief barker, left, and Fred Schanberger, Jr., present Baltimore tent chief barker. MOTION PICTURE HERALD, MARCH 8, 1947 35