Motion Picture Herald (Mar-Apr 1947)

(Continued from payc 36) Oriental theatre manager, is on the sick list. . . . Henry Lefko has heen appointed head booker at PRC. . . . SGP booker, Lloyd Goad, has been promoted to salesman. . . . Fred Mercy, Sr., and Jr., of Yakima, Washington, have been renewing acquaintances along the Row. . . . Salt Lake City and Denver have been added to the territory covered by PRC district manager Sam Milner. . . . S. C. Summers has replaced Andy Dodd as Exhibitors Service booker. LOUISVILLE Maurice Reinking, operator of the Swan and Idaho theatres in Terre Haute, Ind., passed away in Sarasota, Fla. Services were conducted in Terre Haute. . . . Sylvester Grove, head of the Parkview Amusement Company, Louisville, is in Hot Springs, Ark., on a vacation. . . . Boyd Martin, film critic for the Louisville Courier-Journal, is directing the Little Theatre Company's presentation of "Julius Caesar." . . . A. S. Daugherty, film critic for the Times, celebrated his 12th anniversary in that capacity. V. J. McKelski has announced plans for the building of a new deluxe theatre in West Baden, Ind. The construction is scheduled to begin immediately. Mr. McKelski owns the West Baden theatre. . . . Complete new Motiograph Model "AA" projection equipment has been purchased by J. F. Carnahan for his Manchester theatre in Manchester, Vance Schwartz, executive of the National theatre ran an extensive advertising campaign for the opening of Universal's "The Egg and I" which had its Louisville debut on Easter Eve. "The Sea Hawk" and "The Sea Wolf," Warner re-issues, are held for a second week at the Mary Anderson. MEMPHIS Very good attendance is reported by all first run houses. Loew's Palace has "The Late George Apley." Loew's States is showing "It Happened in Brooklyn." Malco has "Dead Reckoning." Warner is showing "Stallion Road." Ritz has "The Overlanders." A recent slump in attendance seems to have passed. ... On Sunday", May 11, the 1,100-seat W. C. Handy theatre will be opened in Memphis with W. C. Handy, the author of "The St. Louis Blues" and "Memphis Blues," attending. . . . Memphis Variety Club, Tent 20, will stage a big party in its clubrooms Saturday, April 26. . . . Mid-South exhibitors visiting on Film Row included: Ned Green, Legion, Mayfield, Ky. ; J. W. Seay, Grand, Cardweil, Mo. ; Grady Cook, Gem & Joy, Pontotoc, Miss. ; Leon Roundtree, Holly at Holly Springs, Miss., and Grand at Water Valley, Miss.; John Harper, Harper, Campbell, Mo.: S. D. McRee, Coffeeville, Coffeeville, Miss.; J. F. Mounger, Mart and City, Calhoun, Miss. ; Louise Mask, Luez, Bolivar, Tenn. ; J. E. Singleton, Tyro, Tyronza, Ark. ; and Don Landers, Radio, Harrisburg, Ark. MIAMI Franklin F. Smith is now assistant manager of the Paramount, having left the Boulevard. . . . William Hall, assistant manager of the Paramount, is now manager of the Hialeah, and William Dock has been hired as manager of the Dade. . . . Another all-Spanish film, "La Dama de Las Camelias," opened at the Rex theatre this week, starring Emilio Tuero and Lina Montes. These pictures are popular with Miamians . . . . "The Best Years of Our Lives" opened at the Royal, April 5, and the Colony closed the show after 11 weeks of showing at advanced prices. The Royal will charge the same. . . . Variety Club held its dinner at the Ritz Plaza Hotel April 2. . . . "It Happened on Fifth Avenue" opened at the Wometco Lincoln this week in order to test audience reaction. . . . The new 2,000-seat Miami theatre, Wometco house, opens April 18 and will have the southern premiere showing of the Technicolor picture, "Carnival in Costa Rica." This showing will be in conjunction with "Fiesta da las Americas," and will have as guests presidents and consuls of neighbor countries. Sonny Shepherd is leaving the Lincoln to manage the new Miami. Thomas Rayfield will be house manager and Tim Tyler assistant. OKLAHOMA CITY The Liberty theatre, damaged last week by a backstage fire, has been repaired and is now in operation. New sound and screen equipment was installed. . . . The* Capital theatre is remodeling and installing new seats. It expects to open this weekend. . . . The Warner theatre has a new sign to add to its new marquee recently installed. . . . The Victoria theatre is remodeling completely. . . . Wesley White, formerly assistant manager of a Griffith house in Bartlesville, Okla., has been appointed manager of the new Agnew theatre here. OMAHA Easter shopping and Lent have cut theatre business here. ... So far 25' theatres have pledged support of the Children's Memorial Hospital program and will stage children's matinees. . . . Martin Fecht, Macedonia, Iowa, exhibitor, is having the Community theatre there repainted. . . . Phillip Monsky, Universal salesman, is in Methodist Hospital following a major operation. . . . Allied Independent Theatre Owners of Nebraska and Iowa will meet at the Fontenelle Hotel May 5-6. Regional sessions were held last week at Red Oak, la.,. with Okay Goodman of Villisca, la., chairman, and at Harlan, la., with President Howard E. Brookings, Oakland, la., chairman. Major subject was the Allied Caravan. . . . H. P. Saggau, Dennison, Iowa, exhibitor, plans a new 700-seat house there. PITTSBURGH Moe Silver, zone manager for Warner Brothers, and Maurice Finkel, president of the Allied Motion Picture Theatre Owners of Western Pennsylvania, have called a meeting of theatre men to lay the groundwork tor the organization of a territorial branch of the Motion Picture Foundation which will care for the needy of the industry. . . . The Lenten season cut deeply into grosses here. "The Best Years" being the only film to do better than average business. . . . Loew's have assumed control of the Ritz theatre which formerly was operated by Warners. ... As a result of the terrific business done by "The Jolson Story," the Crown Film exchange is releasing Al Jolson's old story, "Hallelujah, I'm a Bum," which is being shown under its new title, "Heart of New York." . . . The new David O. Selznick Releasing Organization is setting up offices here in the Clark Building. . . . Bert Stearn, after a four-month stay in a Cleveland hospital, is back on the job. SAN FRANCISCO Box office returns taking a plunge this week with Easter shoppers and Lent observers shying away from theatres. Nevertheless, "Best Years of Our Lives" at the FWC United Nations chalking up a record run. . . . "Stairway to Heaven" playing dually to strong grosses at the Tivoli and Esquire. . . . The first banquet and election of officers for the new Variety Club was held this week with Abe Blumenfeld chosen as chief barker ; Jimmy O'Neal, first assistant chief barker ; and Jack Marpole of National Screen, second assistant chief barker. J. Leslie Jacobs is in charge of the moneybags and the crew includes Joseph Blumenfeld, Homer Tegtmeier, Roy Cooper, L. S. Hamm, Herman Kersken, Red Jacobs, Neal East, and Jack Tillman. . . . FWC Theatres hosted the Film Colony Club monthly (.Continued on page 40) CHARTER DINNER, of the Variety Club of Greater Miami, at the Ritz Plaia Hotel. Miami Beach, April 1. Above, in usual order: Marcy Leiberman and Lee Powell, representing Miami Beach; Colonel Mitchell Wolfson, and Richard Sachsel, first and second assistant chief barkers; Colonel William McCraw, national executive director of the Variety C/ubs of America; George C. Hoover, chief barker; and Don Lanning, master of ceremonies. IB MOTION PICTURE HERALD, APRIL 12, 1947