Motion Picture Herald (Jan-Feb 1948)

ALBANY The Palace played "Tycoon" and "Mary Lou," while the Strand presented "The Voice of the Turtle." . . . The Ritz has begun a policy of booking Universal first runs at 50 and 65 cent admissions. "The Wistful W idow of Wagon Gap" and "The Lost Moment" comprised the initial bill. The Grand pulled "The Wreck of the Hesperus" and "Campus Honeymoon" and put in "Arizona" and "Texas." Another house to cut short an engagement was the Colonial, playing "The Story of Tosca." "On Approval" and "Wanted for Murder" were moved in. . . . Mr. and Mrs. David Rosenbaum, of the Capitol in Elizabethtown, checked into Film Row en route to Florida. . . . The Variety Club presented "The Glass Menagerie," a stage play, at the Strand February 24. ATLANTA Visitors in the city booking: Paul Overstreet, with M. G. Weaver, Collinsville ; J. H. Thompson, Hawkinsville ; O. C. Lam, Rome; Col. T. E. Orr, Albertsville ; W. H. Griffin, Cullman; P. L. Taylor, Columbus; Wallace Smith, with C. J. Carter, Brookhaven; R. C. Cobb, Fayette; and H. C. Hartman, Louisville and Hurtsboro. Ala. . . . Frank Jene, office manager, United Artists, resigned from the company, Charlie Touchon appointed to replace him. . . . Business in the theatres is way off due to 11 days of rain and cold. . . . Benton Bros., owners of the Benton Film Express, will take over the shipping department of Film Classics shortly. They have also taken over Eagle Lion's shipping department. . . . Morris Fieldin advised that he has sold his Dixie theatre, Sebring, Fla., to Jack Bockette, owner of several other theatres in Florida. . . John Harrell, formerly in the booking department of Martin's theatres in Atlanta, has transferred to the home office in Columbus, Ga. . . . Linda Bryant, formerly with Eagle Lion, in the book department, has moved over to Film Classics in the same capacity, and Dick Reagan, former booker with Film Classics, is now office manager. BALTIMORE Good weather started off week beginningFebruary 19 and business held to a good level. Seven new productions at six first run theatres. Century good with "Three Daring Daughters." Hippodrome very 'good with "Woman from Tangier," plus Sammy Kaye stage show. Keith's very nice with "Albuquerque." Stanley good with "My Girl Tisa." Town very fine with "Cary and the Bishop's Wife." They rearranged the title in Baltimore so the patrons would not think it was a serious drama. Roslyn and Times very good with "Case of the Baby Sitter," plus "Road to Utopia." Mayfair brought in the reissue, "Green Hell." New theatre held "Call Northside 777" to very good business, and the Little held up well with the second week of "Barber of Seville.'' . . . City Council referred back to committee permit to build theatre in the 5400 block, Reisterstown Road. BOSTON A sudden break in the weather which swept away nearly all of the snow in the Hub and suburbs helped out grosses sub stantially. Although no particularly bright spots showed up at any of the first run houses, business was generally above average. "The Senator Was Indiscreet" held for four days on a second week to good business, being followed by "Night Song." . . . "Panic," the French film, started a second week to excellent business at the Kenmore. The Department of Public Safety censors who forbid the Sunday showing of the film still are sticking to their guns about the Sunday ban, although Boston censors okayed the picture with only a few minor changes. . . . New accounts at Affiliated Theatres bring the total to 55. Latest to be signed up are Oscar Goldberg of the Weymouth in Weymouth, Mass. ; William Deitz, of the Palace and Gem in Artie, R. I., and the Thornton in Riverpoint, R. I. ; Rose Fasano of the Cummings in Fitchburg, Mass. . . . Kenneth Robinson joined the sales staff at United Artists. He was form erly connected with Paramount here. . . . Ben Domingo of Keith Memorial and Keith Boston houses, represents the Hub industry for the 1948 Red Cross drive. WHEN AND WHERE March 9-10: Theatre Owners of America officers and directors meeting at the Hotel Ambassador, Los Angeles. March 13: Associated Theatre Poster Exchanges meeting in Minneapolis. March 22-23: North Central Allied annual convention at Minneapolis. April 6-8: Annual convention of the Pacific Coast Conference of Independent Theatre Owners at the St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco. April 12-17: International Variety Clubs 1948 convention at the Roney Plaza Hotel in Miami Beach, Fla. May 7-8: Independent Theatre Owners of Iowa and Nebraska convention at Des Moines, la. June 23-25: Associated Theatre Owners of Indiana annual convention cruise on Lake Erie. June 28-30: Allied Theatre Owners of New Jersey annual convention at the Hollywood Hotel, West End, N. J. CHARLOTTE Frank Irvin, Salisburg, N. C, has been appointed manager of the Broadway here. He succeeds Ely Dreylinger, who has resigned to accept a position as manager of the Broadway Open Air theatre in Richmond, Va. . . . The Center theatre, operated by Martin Street, Charlotte, opened in Fort Mill, S. C, February 20. The house seats 700. ... Bill White, manager of the Southeastern Theatre Supply Company, Charlotte, is ill with pneumonia in Memorial Hospital here. . . . Kenneth I. Tredwell, Jr., has been named assistant program director of radio station WBT. CHICAGO Beginning of Lent, coupled with several days of spring weather, hurt business here. "Desire Me" started a first run policy at the Monroe and opened big. House redecorated and recarpeted throughout for new policy. . . . "Shoe-Shine" at the small-seater World Playhouse doing exceptional business. . . . Opening of "Call Northside 777" at the Chicago not up to expectations. . . . E. L. Walton, Republic division sales manager, came in from New York to pinch hit for branch manager Bill Baker, who has been ill. . . . Charlie Schoof, formerly with Downtown Shopping News, is now affiliated with the Monroe theatre as ad and publicity director. . . . Bernie McCarthy, formerly with UA and RKO sales departments, in town looking for a first run outlet for his independent film, "Killers All." CINCINNATI Among the activities on the agenda of the Cincinnati Variety Club, Ten No. 3, is a "Whopper Night," devoted to entertainment, food and the auctioning off of various articles donated by the members. . . . Stage shows recently inaugurated at the RKO Albee are meeting with a hearty public acceptance, this being the only local theatre offering this type of entertainment. . . . The Chakeres Theatres Co., with headquarters at Springfield, Ohio, announces plans for early reopening of the Shelby theatre, at Shelbyville, Ky., dark for several years. . . . The City Council, at Salem, Ohio, is preparing to pass a three per cent admission tax ordinance. . . . The Town theatre, at Minerva, Ohio, reopened early in the month, following a three-week shutdown due to a scarlet fever epidemic. . . . The Fairbanks theatre, Springfield, Ohio, unit of the Chakeres circuit, will play "Henry V," March 4 and 5, at roadshow prices. . . . The Lyric theatre, in Hamilton, is scheduled to be razed to provide part of a site for a new department store. CLEVELAND Fine weather, with temperature in the hight 50's, stimulated theatre attendance, especially in the neighborhoods. . . . Variety Club has installed large screen television equipment. . . . Members of the Cleveland Police Department who have rendered night service to downtown theatres when off regular duty have been ordered to discontinue this service as being contrary to the law which provides that policemen are on city duty 24 hours daily. This was a wartime {Continued on following page) MOTION PICTURE HERALD, FEBRUARY 28, 1948 29