Motion Picture Herald (Jan-Feb 1948)

ALBANY The Palace pitted "Cass Timbeiiane" against "Captain from Castile" at the Strand. The former film was discussed by a panel of critics on "Let's Take in a Show" over WOKO, the night after it opened. "Captain from Castile" appeared set for a big gross, in the opinion of manager A. O. La Flamme. "Unconquered," after a rousing first week at road show prices at the Grand, was held for a second week. . . . The Ritz booked "Christmas Eve" and a Charlie Chan feature, "The Chinese Ring." The Warner house played "Heaven Only Knows." . . . Colonial used extra newspaper space to advertise "I Know Where I Am Going." The Women's City Club sponsored benefit performances of it Saturday and Sunday. . . . The Theatre Owners of the Albany Exchange area, affiliated with TOA, held a meeting in Utica. Temporary Chairman Harry Lamont explained the purposes of the district unit and urged Utica area exhibitors to join. A united front in opposition to the extension of the permissive taxes for localities — which includes an amusement levy of five per cent — was advocated by Lamont. ATLANTA Thurman Rogers, Rogers' theatre, Montgomery; Abe Borisky, Temple theatre, Birmingham ; C. A. Pittman, Gadsden ; R. E. Hook, Hook's theatre circuit, Aliceville, and H. Jones, Strand, Sulligant, all were recent visitors in the city. . . . Walter Hickey, one of the real old timers on Film Row, is confined to the hospital. . . . New changes in theatres : R. A. Dye, the new owner of the Eagle theatre, Mounteagle, Tenn., from the former owner, G. C. Davidson; J. N. Well, new owner Hanger theatre, Hapeville, Ga., and James W. Blackwell, new owner of the Linco theatre, Lincolnton. . . . Claude Boyd, formerly with Wilkin Theatre Supply Co., has resigned from that company and is now with Neon Co. . . . J. E. McLeory, Monogram's Charlotte manager, has returned to his home after being confined to the hospital. . . . John R. Moffitt's sale of the State theatre to Harry Shugart has been voided by Judge Eugene Carter. . . . Sam Marino has started in work his newsreel of Georgia to be released each week in theatres in Georgia. BALTIMORE Seven new pictures offered at the first run theatres and business swung into a fair stride with weather excellent. Century good with "Sleep My Love." Hippodrome okay with "Love From a Stranger," plus vaudeville. Keith's very good with fine reviews with "The Senator Was Indiscreet." Stanley good with "I Walk Alone." Mayfair okay with "The Flame." Times and Roslyn very nice with "Bush Pilot," plus "Abilene Town." Town opened good with "The Roosevelt Story," the first performance being given for March of Dimes Fund. New theatre still going good with "Captain From Castile," in its fourth week and the Little likewise with "I Know Where I'm Going." Edward A. Kimple, Sr., Astor manager, in Rome Circuit, is member of September term of the Baltimore Grand Jury. . . . Now recovering from operation at Bon Secours Hospital is Paul Hornig, part owner of the Horn theatre and uncle of F. H. Hornier. Jr., the manager. Maryland theatre in Hick's circuit opens January 25 with stage shows. PICTURE PIONEER MARTIN G. SMITH, Ohio theatre owner, doesn't believe in the secluded life. Mr. Smith, who started his theatre career in Toledo back in 1913, is a joiner. A past president of Allied States Association, he's also been presient of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of Ohio — and, of course, is the perennial president of the Independent Theatre Owners of Ohio; chairman of the Toledo Theatres Association ; member of the Martin G. Smith War Activities Committee ; member of the WPB advisory committee ; member of the city's selective service system. And he's currently a member of the Cornell Clubs of Toledo and New York ; of the Toledo University of Michigan Club, of the Variety Club, the Picture Pioneers, Rotary, Elks and American Legion. In partnership with James Beidler, he operates the East Auditorium, Eastwood, Westwood, Park and Royal theatres. In partnership with the Skirball Brothers, he operates the Pantheon and Palace. All are in Toledo. Married, and with two children, he relaxes sometimes — at home. He's never been to Florida, and doesn't intend to go. BOSTON Despite a heavy snow storm starting Saturday night and building a foot of new snow over already icy surfaces, box office receipts held up very well, with "Gentleman's Agreement" at the Memorial, "The Pirates of Monterey," plus a stage show, at the Boston, and "Sleep, My Love" at Loew's State and Orpheum doing well above average business. "Shoe Shine" went into a successful fourth week at the Kenmore to inaugurate the new policy of showing foreign films. . . . The new staff additions at Affiliated Theatres were further clarified by Seth Field for Arthur Howard. Albert R. Daytz, formerly with the sales department of Warner Brothers' Boston office, joined Affiliated to develop new accounts throughout New England; Stanley Farrington, formerly head booker for Republic here, was appointed to do the booking for Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire theatres; Joseph Hochberg also joined Affiliated to do the booking on Massachusetts and Rhode Island accounts. . . . Independent Exhibitors committees met Tuesday. CINCINNATI An ultra-modern 1,500-seat theatre, to be the largest suburban house in this area, will be a unit of a $1,000,000 business center development in nearby Roselawn, promoted by Louis Wiethe, head of Wiethe Theatres, Inc., and president of Theatre Managers Corporation, which buys and books for more than 40 independent theatres in this territory. A 575-car parking lot will be a part of the theatre scheme. Contract has been awarded to the F & Y Building Service, of Columbus. Potter, Tyler and Martin, of Cincinnati, are the architects for the entire project, which will include stores. Wiethe Theatres, Inc., now operate the Bond, Westwood, Andulus, Roselawn, Jackson, Latonia and Ludlow, suburban houses, here and in the immediate vicinity. . . .. "Visitors" to Film Row recently included burglars who ransacked offices of Republic Pictures, Twentieth Century-Fox and Film Service. The loot was nominal at all three places. . . . The new Caemargo theatre, being built by Robert Straus, is scheduled to open this month. It is the only theatre in the suburban Indian Hill section. . . . Fred Strief, active in film circles, here for several years prior to going to California to manage a theatre, has returned to Cincinnati. His future plans have not been announced. . . . Local film theatres will again have competition from the Zoo Summer Opera, talent and subscriptions for which now are being lined up. . . . C. A. Metro, who recently reopened his Westland theatre, in Portsmouth, Ohio, has again closed the house. CLEVELAND Cleveland Motion Picture Exhibitors Association met Wednesday to hold annual election of officers. . . . M. B. Horwitz, general manager of the Washington Circuit,, and Mrs. Horwitz were in New York last week to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary. . . . Shea's rebuilt Auditorium,. Newark, closed more than a year, has reopened with Dale Tysinger as manager. . . _ Jerry Steel has resumed buying and booking for his Apollo theatre, Oberlin. . . . Reel Film Service, operated by John and Harry Urbansky, has been named exclusive Ohiodistributor for Jam Handy industrial and training films. . . . Pioneer, Ohio, with 900 population, will have its first picture theatre as soon as William Widmer completes remodeling of a storeroom. . . . Charles Markus succeeds Henry Brenner as manager of the Haltnorth theatre. . . . "The Senator Was Indiscreet" opened big at the RKO Palace. . . . Local independent theatres will have March of Dimes collection boxes in theatre lobbies instead of making audience collections. . . . Lima Speakers, Inc., Lima, O., is a new company formed by Horace Shock of Lima, a drive-in circuit owner and operator, to manufacture a new type of in-car speakers. Associated with Shock are Thomas M. Campbell, former RCA sound engineer, in charge of manufacturing, and J. Stuart Cangney, well known independent distributor, is in chargeof sales and advertising. COLUMBUS Near-zero weather, first of the winter,, j kept box office figures down as theatres brought in several strong attractions. The Ohio had "High Wall," with Audrey Totter appearing on the stage for three performances on Saturday ; the Palace brought in "The Foxes of Harrow" : the Broad played "Unconquered" at $1.25 top and the Grand played a moveover run of "The Exily." Surprise of the week was the extraor {Continued on page 30) 28 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, JANUARY 24. 1948