Motion Picture Herald (Mar-Apr 1947)

ALBANY Prime topics of conversation during the week were the luncheon Monday in the Ten Eyck Hotel to organize the Albany region for the Motion Picture Foundation and the drive launched by S.J. Ullman, upstate general manager of the Fabian circuit, to head off the five per cent amusement tax in Rensselaer, Schenectady, and Albany counties. Exhibitors, distributors, theatre managers and representatives of the industry unions were invited to attend the Foundation meeting. Mr. Ullman has urged a vigorous fight against the impending tax and has urged industry men to contact members of the boards of supervisors to impress upon them the unfairness and burden of a five per cent tax on top of the 20 per cent Federal tax. . . . Frank Shay, lessee of the Crane theatre, Schenectady, and once city manager for Fabian in Cohoes, died in Schenectady last week. dorf theatre in Lynn has a new ceiling, new lighting fixtures and a new paint job. . . . William T. Powell, district manager of the Western Massachusetts Theatres, has also become a radio commentator and will give his views on current motion pictures over Station WBEC. . . . Fred F. Gilmore, who founded the first theatre in Ware, Mass., died recently at St. Petersburg, Fla. CHARLOTTE Directors of Theatre Owners of North and South Carolina met in Charlotte April 14 to arrange for the summer convention, which will be held between June 15 and July 15. H. D. Hearn of Exhibitor's Service was named to the committee on arrangements. . . . "The Jolson Story," which played to full houses at the Carolina the week of April 6-12, was held over at the Broadway week of April 13-19, playing to above the average audiences. . . . The Manor theatre, operated by H. B. Meiselman, bought away from the Wilby-Kincey circuit the two 20th-Fox films, "Boomerang" and the "Shocking Miss Pilgrim." . . . Charlotte has six downtown houses and six in the suburbs, with three big new downtown theatres announced. One of the latest is the $75,000 theatre to be built by Morris Legendre, of Aiken, S. C, who will build a 1,000-seat theatre in North Charlotte at a cost of $75,000. . . . The Visulite theatre held "The Best Years of Our Lives" for a second week. . . . "The Kid From Brooklyn" at the Imperial proved to be above the average. . . . "The Egg and I," which initiated the new Manor theatre on Providence Road in Charlotte, was a big drawing card. CHICAGO Loop business is continuing at a steady pace with the two houses having combination stage shows and movie policies — the B&K Chicago and the Essaness Oriental theatre — leading the parade. The former house is playing "The Guilt of Janet Ames," while latter house has "Boomerang." . . . With Jack Kirsch presiding, the Chicago Cinema Lodge of the B'nai B'rith was scheduled to meet at the Congress Hotel on Thursday. . . . Chicago's two drive-in theatres have opened with "The Razor's Edge." . . . Jack Rose, chief barker of the local Variety Club, announces that the formal opening of the new clubrooms in the Continental Hotel will be held on April 28 simultaneously with the testimonial dinner for outgoing Mayor and Mrs. Edward J. Kelly. . . . W. Van Gelder, veteran Film Row insurance man, is recovering at home from a recent heart attack. CINCINNATI Bingo, conducted promiscuously on a wide scale in nearby northern Kentucky with resultant inroads on theatre attendance, has been banned by police authorities in Covington and Kenton Counties, to include religious, charitable and similar organizations. The order, stemming from an anti-gambling drive, includes any form of the game and cites that violators will be arrested immediately. . . . The 3,300-seat RKO Albee, which switched to straight pictures a few weeks ago, has resumed the former stage show and ATLANTA The Crescent Amusement Company, Nashville, Tenn., which operates theatres in seven southeastern, states, plans to build a $1,000,000 to $1,500,000 theatre and office building in Nashville. . . . Joe Dumas, head booker for Republic Pictures, back at his desk after a seige of illness. . . . O. C. Lam, president, Lam Amusement Co., Rome ; W. E. Griffin, Vienna theatre, Vienna, Ga., and R. E. Hooks, head of Hooks' circuit of theatres in Alabama, all were in the city recently. . . . Mack Jackson, president, CAS, and owner of theatres in Alexander City, Ala., paid Film Row a visit. . . . Gortatowsky Brothers, owners of theatres in Albany, Ga., have taken over the Clair theatre there from J. R. Waters. They now own all the theatres in Albany. . . . Mr. and Mrs. E. D. Martin, Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Thompson, and Ike Taylor, Martin and Thompson theatres, were in the city. BALTIMORE Upswing in patronage for week beginning April 20. Six new first runs opened. Century big with "Sea of Grass." Hippodrome fine with "The Devil Thumbs a Ride," with vaudeville. Keith's excellent with "Song of Scheherazade." New fine with reissued "Alexander's Ragtime Band." Stanley good with "That Way with Woman." Times and Roslyn pleased with "Magnificent Rogue," and "Flame of the Barbary Coast." Little held "I Live as I Please" for second week. Mayfair held "The Red House" for third week. Town held "Best Years of Our Lives" for fifth week. . . . The late Morris A. Rome, theatre owner and attorney, left an estate of $239,124.62. Thirtieth anniversary of Henry D. Matcher as manager of Rivoli celebrated this week. Committee arranging testimonial dinner for F. A. .Horning, president M.P.T.O. of Maryland. . . . Check for $3,000 from Baltimore Variety Club presented to Kernan Hospital for Crippled Children by F. C. Schanberger, chief barker, and committee. BOSTON Benn H. Rosenwald, for the past eight years branch manager for MGM at Charlotte, N. C, has been promoted to city and branch manager for MGM in Boston succeeding Tom Donaldson, resigned. . . . The announcement of the shift of district manager Pitts from the Albany area to the Boston area for MGM is expected soon. . . . Bert MacKenzie, dean of publicity men in New England, with MGM, recently was operated upon at a local hospital and is now back on the job. . . . Donald Jaycocks and Alexander Kilpatrick have become one-half owners of the Tremont theatre, purchasing 50 per cent of the stock from James J. Mage. The Tremont will become a first run house after $250,000 has been spent in improvements and alterations. . . . Arthur Howard, president of Affiliated Theatres, is in the hospital recovering from an operation . . . Frank Lydon has become an associate of Tom Duane in the New England division of Selznick Pictures. . . . Irving Schuffman, veteran of the local film industry who retired several years ago, has joined the staff of PRC to handle the Western Massachusetts and Vermont territory. . . . James Winn, district manager for UA, is back at his desk after a long illness. . . . Frank Bosckette, Star and Premiere theatres of Lawrence, is back on the job after several long weeks of illness. . . . The Wal WHEN AND WHERE May 5-6: Allied Independent Theatre Owners of Iowa and Nebraska meeting in Omaha. May 6-8: Pacific Coast Conference of Independent Theatre Owners annual convention in Los Angeles. May 14—17: Eleventh annual Variety Club International convention at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. May 16: Motion Picture Associates annual dinner dance, Waldorf Astoria, New York. June 23-25: Associated Theatre Owners of Indiana convention at Lake Wawasee, Ind. June 24-26: Allied Theatre Owners of New Jersey annual convention at, the Ambassador Hotel, Atlantic City. July 13-16: Independent Theatre Owners of Ohio annual convention at the Breakers Hotel, Cedar Point, Ohio. 34 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, APRIL 26, 1947