Motion Picture Herald (Jan-Feb 1948)

(Continued from page 28) recently condemned to make way for a new theatre, to be constructed by Leo Reese. House will seat 600. . . . Jack Lane, manager of Brentwood's Delta theatre, announced his candidacy for councilman in that locale. . . . A huge celebration to raise $100,000 for a new YMCA in Medford, was the occasion for a quadruple theatre party in Robert L. Lipperts' four Oregon houses. ST. LOUIS The new city admissions tax is going on to admission prices throughout the city, and the patrons are taking it like gentlemen. This is credited to the thorough publicity campaign, theatrical and otherwise, which persuaded St. Louisans the tax is a civic and not an industry matter. . . . The tax sets first run prices at 52 to 78 cents and neighborhood prices correspondingly at the odd penny. . . . The New Year's weather slowed down motorists and cut into expected grosses. First run houses were happy the rest of the week, with "Good News" at Loew's State and "Wistful Widow of Wagon Gap" at the Fox. The St. Louis, Missouri, and Shubert had healthy holdovers in "My Wild Irish Rose," "Daisy Kenyon," and "Road to Rio." . . . The city is considering a bill to restrict distribution of handbills on the streets. . . . Dead: Adolph H. Wittmann, 57, projectionist at the Shaw theatre and a member of Motion Picture Machine Operators Local 143 since 1911. TORONTO Toronto had a belated taste of the New York snowstorm with the result that grosses were off for a couple of days but bounded back when the sidewalks were cleared. Queues formed at Loew's for "Green Dolphin Street" and the fans gave much active support to "Road to Rio" at Shea's, while patronage built up for "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" at the Imperial theatre. "The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer" was good for a holdover at the Tivoli and Eglinton theatres and "Her Husband's Affairs" pulled well at the Victoria and Capitol theatres. The International Cinema held "A Midsummer Night's Dream" for a second week and prepared for first run of "The Raider," Astral release of a British picture. The Kino did very well with "Russian Ballerina." . . . Arthur Silverstone, formerly with United Artists in Great Britain, was welcomed at a luncheon this week as general manager in Canada of 20th Century-Fox, succeeding Syd Samson, who has gone to Arizona for his health. . . . Bill Risewick, manager of Shelly Films, Limited, resigned as president of the Canadian Kennel Club after seven years. . . . The Rio theatre in downtown Toronto staged the first all-night film show in this city, but is not likely to repeat. VANCOUVER The first run theatres here got some of that Christmas turkey this year and downtown exhibitors are singing happy days are here again. The holiday trade boosted grosses enough to make it the best all-around week since August at the local deluxers. "Fun and Fancy Free" was the leader at the Capitol. Paradise with "Christmas Eve" and a western was also healthy. "Nicholas Nickleby," British import, gave the Vogue much better than average week. "Thunder in the Valley" at Orpheum also very good. . . . Odeon's B. C. supervisor announced the following managerial switches: Al Mitchell moves to the Hastings and trades jobs with Al Jenkins who now takes over managership of the Plaza, Jack Armstrong of the Paradise, Vancouver, is promoted to manage the Odeon at the Trail, B. C, succeeding Elliott Brown, who returns to Vancouver to a house not yet designated. Al Narvey of the Lonsdale, North Vancouver, changes positions with Bob Matherson of the Cambie, Vancouver, Herb Campbell, who was formerly with Famous Players, is appointed manager of the Oak Bay, Victoria, replacing Douglas Redgrave, resigned. The appointment of two new managers for the West Vancouver and Victoria, new theatres, will be made shortly. . . . Bert Whyte has opened his 300-seat New Hamiota theatre at Hamiota, Manitoba. House will be in competition with the Orange Hall theatre, operated by Dick Woods. ... A complete revision of British Columbia theatre and film regulations is planned by the Provincial Government at this month's session of parliament. WASHINGTON Washington theatre businesss picked up New Year's week, with fine, clear weather on New Year's Eve helping to stimulate business. Holdovers included "Good News," for a second week at Loew's Palace ; and "Tycoon," for a second week at RKO Keith's. New openings included "My Wild Irish Rose," at the Warner ; "The Upturned Glass," at the Metropolitan ; "Daisy Kenyon," at Loew's Capitol. Carryover was "Green Dolphin Street," at Loew's Columbia. In addition to midnight shows at the downtown houses, the following neighborhoods also played to New Year's Eve patrons : Apex, Penn, Naylor, Senator, Atlas, Apollo, Avenue Grand, Bevery, Sheridan, Tivoli. . . . "The Great Mr. Handel" broke a Christmas Day house record at the Little theatre. . . . Theatremen who are active on the Brotherhood Week committee this year are: Frank La Falce, Information and Publicity; A. Julian Brylawski, Theatre. Eagle Lion Plans More Ad Aids Eagle Lion Films will continue and expand its policy of sharing with all theatres advertising and promotion costs, dollar for dollar, over normal house budgets on every major film released by the company, Max E. Youngstein, advertising-publicity-exploitation director, promised at a regional sales meeting in Dallas last weekend. Mr. Youngstein told the assembled sales and executive personnel from the New Orleans, Memphis, Oklahoma City, Atlanta, Charlotte and Dallas territories that the company had pledged not to cut budgets in any way, but rather to augment and increase all sums allocated for promotion to any amount thought suitable. The two-day meeting was also addressed by Harold S. Dunn, assistant general sales manager, and Frank Soule, in charge of branch operations. Eagle Lion Will Offer 60 Films For Year 1948 j Eagle Lion plans to release 60 features during 1948, an increase of four over the 56 distributed during 1947. Eleven of the features are already completed and ready for release during the first three months of 1948. Four others are scheduled to go into production this month, and at least 10 others are ready for final script treatments. Ready for release are: "T-Men," "Adventures of Casanova," "The Man from Texas," "Prelude to Night," "Corkscrew Alley," "Mickey," "Northwest Stampede," "The Noose Hangs High," and three British features, "The Smugglers," "The October Man," and "Take My Life." Forthcoming product includes: "Kenny," a romantic drama based on the novel by Louis Bromfield, starring Cathy O'Donnell. "The Enchanted Valley," Cinecolor outdoor production, with Alan Curtis, Anne Gwynne and Charley Grapewin. "Draw Sabres," a romantic drama of a U. S. Cavalry regiment in the Indian Wars, starring Dennis O'Keefe and Randolph Scott. "Beggar's Choice," based on the novel by George Axelrod and starring Joel McCrea. "Montana," romantic outdoor adventure, to be produced by Bryan Foy, vice-president in charge of production. "New Girl in Town," comedy-romance based on Aubrey Wisberg's novel. "Catch Me Before I Kill," starring Tom Conway. "Prince Valiant," based on the comic strip, to be filmed in color. "Career in Manhattan," starring Richard Basehart. "The Ballad and the Source," the Rosamund Lehman novel, a Walter Wanger production. "Dynasty," based on the Taylor Caldwell novel, produced by Walter Wanger. "Closeup," a semi-factual production. "Sons of the Musketeers," to be produced in Italy and starring Turhan Bey. "The Spiritualist," romantic adventure starring Mr. Bey. Breakdown of the 56 features Eagle Lion distributed in 1947 shows that there were 23 black-and-white features produced in Hollywood ; one black-and-white produced in Canada ; two color features ; one musical ; six reissues of Edward Small "Screen Masterpieces"; 19 Westerns, and four British Goldman $375,000 Damages Upheld by Circuit Court The $375,000 in triple damages awarded William Goldman in December, 1946, must be paid the Philadelphia circuit owner by Warners and 10 other companies, the U. S. Third Circuit Court in that city ruled Tuesday. Mr. Goldman has charged the companies with discriminating against his Erlanger in distributing fiyst run films. The award covers the period between November 9, 1940, and December 8, 1942. Mr. Goldman has another suit pending in Federal Court in that city for triple damages for the period between December 8, 1942 and December 18, 1946. 30 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, JANUARY 10, 1948