Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1947)

{Continued from page 26) local neighborhood houses which are members of the Greater Cincinnati Independent Theatres Association, it was resolved at a meeting of tliat organization, following an edict by Archbishop John T. McNicholas asking members of the Catholic faith to refrain from attending. CLEVELAND "Unconquered" held a fourth week at road show prices. . . . Sam Reichbloom, Ohio and Pennsylvania circuit owner, has moved his family from East Liverpool to Cleveland where he will make his home. . . . Akron independent theatre owners met last week in the office of Congressman Walter Huber to acquaint him with Ascap demands. . . . Nat Wolf, Warner zone manager, was in charge of arrangements and publicity for the Freedom Train's visit to Cleveland. . . . Irwin Shenker, Sanford Leavitt and Alvin' Friedlander, sons of veteran Variety Club members, have taken over from their elders, arrangements for the Variety Heart Fund Charity drawing for a Buick sedan. . .. . Samuel A. Gerson, 61, former local theatre owner, died November 12 in Los Angeles where he has made his home since 1945. , . . William E. Folk, 63, accountant for Associated Circuit, died suddenly of a heart attack this week. . . . Sandord Gottlieb, Film Classics, Inc., branch manager, announces that George Devive, formerly with Paramount, and Sandy Miller, formerly with RKO in Pittsburgh, have joined his sales force ; also that David Gaffney has been appointed head booker. COLUMBUS "Dark Passage" at the Palace had the edge in attendance with "The Lost Moment" at the Ohio following closely. The latter played a six-day engagement, shortened because the Ohio was turned over to the National Grange for degree awards on Thursday, usual Ohio opening day. "Singapore" and "Body and Soul" were holdovers at the Grand and Broad, respectively. The Palace, temporarily without its customary three-day stage show, has been playing revivals in those periods including "Things to Come," "The Man Who Could Work Miracles," and "Pittsburgh." The eight Academy theatres played to fair business with first-runs of "Carnegie Hall." Ohio State Homecoming rallies upped attendance at the Ohio and Palace. . . . Dick Leathers, assistant manager, RKO Palace, has been promoted to assistant manager, RKO Palace, Cleveland. . . . Maurice King McKelvey, 47, associate member of the Variety Club, is dead. . . . Four veteran Loew's employes will be awarded 20-year service emblems: John B. Brobst, Ohio, electrican; Larry Buck and George Lingo, electricians. Broad, and Harry Coleman, projectionist, Broad. . . . Philip Smith, president and general manager of Midwest Drive-In Theatres, Inc., has acquired a Columbus site for a new open-air theatre. PALLAS The new Strand opened November 16 on a second run basis. Approximately $100,000 .was spent in modernizing the theatre that was known as the old Wade theatre. "The Unfinished Dance" opened the house. . . . Interstate has booked "Forever Am ber" at the Melba theatre here. . . . C. C. Hamm, owner of the Majestic in Vernon, was a recent visitor. He recently purchased the Royal in Henrietta from Jesse Young. . . . Frank Benson, Bowie, was on the Row. . . . Wilton Smith, owner of the Sabine at Hemphill, has opened his new theatre in Joaquin. . . . John Franconi celebrated 32 years in the industry this week. . . . Seen on the Row : L. C. Tidball, Ft. Worth ; Hal Gibbons, Handley; Bill Arthur, Granger; R. N. Smith, Mission. DENVER Frank H. Ricketson, Jr., Fox Intermountain Theatres president, has been reelected president of the Central City Opera House Association board of directors. His assistant, Robert Selig, has again been named to the board. . . . Chet Bell, Paramount branch manager, on leave, improves rapidly following operation. . . . C. H. Ausmus has sold the Mesa, Norwood, Colo., to James Olde. . . . Warren Davis moves from Lusk, Wyo., to manage the Mines, Idaho Springs, Colo. . . . Tom Bailey has been named manager of Film Classics for Denver and Salt Lake City exchanges. Robert Herrell remains at the Denver exchange as office manager. . . . Mrs. S. E. Allen will open her new 850-seat Coronado, Lordsburg, N. M., about January 15. . . . Fred Lind expects to open his 600seat $100,000 Ute, Rifle, Colo., about January 1. . . . Selected Pictures has taken over Screen Guild product for the Denver area. DES MOINES A 30-day ban against the seven TriStates theatres in the Tri-State area (Davenport, Rock Island and Moline) has been involked by Catholics in protest to the showing of "Forever Amber." . . . More than 600 cans of milk were collected by the Paramount theatre here during a free showing on behalf of the Friendship Train. Each youngster was admitted to the special show for a can of milk. . . . Larry Henskr, Warner's salesman, is recovering nicely following an operation. ... It is rumored here that Tri-States is planning to buy radio station KSO here. . . . Theatre business here last week was average to below. . . . Bob Hunerberg has bought the State, Hedrick. from Raymond Cook. . . . The theatre at Burt is bein.g converted into a church. . . The 38th anniversary of the Phoenix, Neola, is being celebrated this month by owners Mr. and Mr. R. W. Brown. . . . Excavation will begin soon in Davenport for the $1,500,000 Victore Animatograph Corp., which manufactures motion picture equipment. . . . The new Valley theatre, Missouri Valley, opened November 9. . . . Charles Peterson, owner of the Windsor and Lido, Hampton, is observing 30 years in the theatre business this month. . . . Amateur nights are a regular Sunday feature now at the Earl, Earville. HARTFORD The Astor theatre, 500-seat East Hartford, Conn., has been taken over by two brothers, Peter and Alexander Krenicki, on a lease from Astor Theatre Corp. Mrs. Carl Youngquist, who operated previously, has acquired new interests. . . . Five neighborhood houses of the Hartford Theatres Circuit here have started a series of Saturday morning film shows for children. . . . Eddie Harrison, formerly Springfield, Mass., district manager for E. M. Loew's Theatres, is now reported to be in the hotel business in Maine. INDIANAPOLIS Box office reports were pretty good at the first runs here last week, the bigger houses all doing better than average. "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" was worth $14,000 at the Indiana and a moveover to Keith's, "Song of Love," depending largely on a class audience, brought a nice $12,000 to Loew's. "High Tide" divided a big $25,000 with Ted Dorsey's band, stage attraction at the Circle. Damp, chilly fall weather prevailed. . . . Y & W plans a $150,000 recreation center, including a 800-car drive-in, at Gary. But the latest application for a drive-in here was withdrawn this week after protests developed at the zoning board. . . . The Indianapolis Variety Club will elect officers for 1948 December 8. . . . Grey Kilbourne has gone to the Uptown and Roy Perry to the St. Clair. KANSAS CITY Harry Till, old-time exhibitor, Hamilton, Mo., is having his theatre repainted, improved the front, will hold a contest for a new name, winner to get six months' free admission. . . . Robert Hilton, district manager, Altec Service Corporation, was in Kansas City for conference with S. J. Warkoczewski, field manager, and the local engineering staf¥. . . . Paul Milberger, improving his Gauniter, Kansas City, Kan., will remodel the lobby and stage front, put in new equipment, then new seats. Mr. and Mrs. George Moore are installing new seats and equipment in their Moore, Plainville, Kans. . . . John C. King is remodeling the Royal, Seneca, Kans. . . .Visitors on Film Row included John Brandt, Oregon, Oregon, Mo. ; Frank Kennedy, manager. Bandbox, Neosho, Mo. LOS ANGELES Harriet Golin has been made bookkeeper and booker at the Astor exchange. . . . Vine Murphy, of the Paramount Nace circuit in Phoenix, was on the Row booking. . . . James Edwards has taken over the (Continued on page 30) 28 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, NOVEMBER 22, 1947