Motion Picture Herald (Mar-Apr 1947)

{Continued from page 38) Catholic High School. . . . Mrs. Lucy H. Love, who has been secretary of the State Board of Motion Picture Censors since Dec. 27, 1939, has resigned. ... Eli Ginsberg, former PRC salesman, is now selling for Dave Molliver's and Frank Hamerman's Principal exchange, covering the up-state territory. . . . Mrs. Virginia Everhart, head inspectress at RKO, left the exchange after 18 years service. . . . Harold Coltun, Columbia booker, moves up as salesman. . . . The Warner Club office members will stage their first post-war dinner-dance on June 6 at the Cedarbrook Country Club. . . . John O. Hopkins, Jr., has returned to his managerial duties at the National, Wilmington, Del. . . . Al Davis, chief barker of the local Variety Club, presented two victrolas and sets of record albums to the Philadelphia General Hospital in behalf of the club. . . . Legal notices filed in local court reveal the organization of the John P. Morgan Co., Inc., organized for the operation of motion pictures ; and that the Stenton theatre has been taken over by the A. M. Ellis independent circuit. PITTSBURGH "The Jolson Story," which proved sensational over a five-week run in the J. P. Harris, is doing just as well in the neighborhood theatres. In three of the suburban houses it was held over for extra days, something that is practically unknown in those particular houses. . . . None of the first run houses appear to have shaken off the slump that enveloped the downtown grosses around the Lenton holidays. The only picture to hold its own, despite excellent weather conditions, being "The Best Years of Our Lives," now in its seventh week in the Fulton. SAN FRANCISCO Weekly grosses took on a rosier hue this week with a group of strong attractions. "Ramrod" and "Calcutta" expect to slice a neat record for themselves with first three days of run building well. "Sea of Grass," "The Macomber Affair" and "Best Years" are competing heavily, all doing well above average. . . . "Trail Street" at the Golden Gate did the biggest business for that house since "Bells of St. Mary's." . . . George Siciliano has taken over the management of the Strand, Modesto, and his former post at the Lyric goes to James Cleveland. . . . Rex Stevenson, city manager for Golden State Theatres, announced the following changes among managers: Harry Fontana, manager of the Strand, moves over to the Granada; Reek Seliziani replaces Fontana at the Strand; Jimmy Edwards, a veteran of 23 years with G. S., takes over the helm at the Amazon, and Dave Davidson has been transferred to the Verdi, replacing E. Clayton. . . . Construction of a $100,000 theatre in San Joaquin Valley is the plan of Bert Henson of Henson Enterprises. . . . Golden States' newest venture, and one of the first post-war theatres to be constructed in the Bay area, is the Lorenzo, which opened at Lorenzo Village. SEATTLE "The Best Years of Our Lives" entered its fourth week at road show prices at the Music Hall and continued to top the Seattle box office parade. "Open City" at the Blue Mouse and "Life and Loves of Beethoven" at the Metropolitan pointed up the everincreasing flow of European films into Seattle. . . . Executives of Film Row threw a party for Tom Aspell prior to his leaving the MGM branch here to assume charge of the MGM branch in Los Angeles. Sam Davis was named to replace Mr. Aspell. . . . Glen Haviland was appointed salesman for Eagle-Lion by Wally Rucker, branch manager. . . . Visitors on Film Row: Rex Thompson, Port Orchard; Lionel Brown, Edmonds ; Elden Pollock, Mount Vernon ; Billy Connors and John Owsley, Tacoma ; Mike Barovic, Puyallup; and Walt Graham, Shelton. TORONTO For five weeks the Tivoli and Victoria theatres, Toronto, have had the one feature, "The Jolson Story," with line-ups regularly in evidence, while the Uptown theatre has continued with "The Egg and I" for a third week and "The Macomber Affair" remained for a second week at Loew's. . . . Shea's opened strongly with "13 Rue Madeleine" and "Deception" took over at the big Imperial, with the British picture, "The Captive Heart," starting at two Famous Players' houses, the Capitol and Victoria. . . . The International Cinema is bidding for another long-term run with "The Way to the Stars" which has completed seven weeks. ... At its 25th annual meeting the Musical Protective Society of Canada elected as its president Angus MacCunn, a company director of Famous Players Canadian Corp., and returned Col. John A. Cooper, Toronto, as secretary-treasurer. . . . The Ontario Board of Censors gave "adult" rating to four features in March, these being "Swell Guy. ' "Smash Up," "Brute Man" and "Private Affairs of Bel Ami." VANCOUVER Theatre equipment business is booming in British Columbia and Alberta. Many spots are installing new projectors, lamps, and sound systems, other theatres are waiting for theatre chairs to arrive from Eastern Canada. . . . The newsprint shortage has hit amusement business. Shortage so acute the Vancouver Sim has eliminated theatre advertising one day each week. A limit of 700 lines per day has been placed for any one theatre. Other B. C. papers also cut theatre space. . . . Daytime grosses have slumped, pulling down the overall average. "The Best Years of Our Lives" on a road-show policy at Odeon-Hastings opened to only normal business, but is expected to build. . . . Both Famous Players and Odeon Circuit recently purchased property in Kamloops for expansion purposes. . . . Del Fox will build a new theatre at Pincher Creek. . . . Hymie Singer, former owner of the State, Vancouver, has purchased the Rio theatre, Victoria, from the Preswick estate. House seats 459. . . . Union organizers are working in Vancouver to form doormen, ushers, cashiers, and janitors and others in amusement business into union. . . . John Ruston, veteran B. C. exhibitor who ran the Royal New Westminster in the early days, died in New Westminster at 73. WASHINGTON Washington theatre business was given added impetus when 75,000 visitors from all over the country arrived for the two-day Cherry Blossom Festival. Holdovers were "Best Years of Our Lives," at RKO Keith's for a sixth week, and "The Yearling," at Loew's Palace for a second week. New openings were "Dead Reckoning" at the Earle; "Trail Street" at Warner's Metropolitan ; "Carnival in Costa Rica" at Loew's Capitol. . . . After the engagement of "Dead Reckoning," Warner's Earle will upset a 22-year tradition, to put in a twin bill, reissues of "The Sea Hawk" and "The Sea Wolf." . . . Bill Fischer, Columbia Pictures, has been promoted to office manager-head booker. . . . The Variety Club Tent No. 11 honored the ladies who worked on their last Welfare Drive by giving them a luncheon on April 19, at the Carlton. AT THE INSTALLATION OF officers of the Variety Cfub of Connecticut. Tent. 31. The affair was at the Taft Hotel, New Haven, Variety headquarters. Left to right, seated, Herman Levy, MPTOA general counsel, and club canvasman; Mayor William Celentano, honorary member; Barney Pitkin. RKO branch manager, chief barker, and C. J. Latta. national assistant chief barker. Standing are Henry Oermalne, canvasman; C. E. Lewis, national publicity director; Harry F. Shaw, canvasman; Col. William McCraw, national organizer; George Wilkinson, doughboy; Carl Goe, canvasman; Arthur Greenfield, property man, and Lou Brown, canvasman. 40 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, APRIL 26, 1947