Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1948)

(Continued from page 26) United Artist home office, is transferred back to the local exchange, where she was formerly branch manager's secretary. . . . Ed Hinchy, head of the Warner contract department, was here. . . . Peter Wellman's new Belmont theatre, Youngstown, is headed for a pre-Christmas opening. . . . Norman Levin, former Republic branch managers, and his family left to spend the winter in Florida. . . . "Hamlet" advance seat sale continues as strong for the third week as for the opening week, roadshow manager Robert Wile reports. Picture is showing at Loew's Ohio theatre. COLUMBUS Satisfactory grosses were racked up in the post-election week at most houses, with "Sorry, Wrong Number," at the Ohio, and "Johnny Belinda" at the Palace providing top money. "Red River," after a big first week at the Ohio, went to the Broad for a second week, something that hasn't happened for the past several weeks. The Grand brought in "Ruthless" to fair business. The Palace has resumed its split-week stagescreen policy with the Harmonicats as the top flesh attraction for the inaugural week. Carmen Cavallaro and the King Cole Trio are booked for Palace stage dates. . . . Columbus Diocesan Council of Catholic Women recommended that parish councils list for their members local showings of approved films and send at regular intervals messages of praise to theatre managers who show outstanding films. "Indecent movies" were condemned. ... A blue law which has prohibited Sunday movies in Cambridge, Ohio, was upheld by the voters, 3,099 to 2,846. Cambridge is the only city of its size in the state to retain the old blue laws. Twice before the issue has been brought befor the people and each time it failed. DALLAS Business holding steady, though busy football weekends and early Christmas shopping keep some away from theatres. Telenews junked hold-for-release, "The Dewey Victory," for pre-election short, " The Truman Story," until "The Truman Victory" arrived. News house is now carrying "Sofia," Johnny Belinda" at Majestic. "Apartment for Peggy" at Palace. "The Loves of Carmen" moved from Palace to Tower for holdover week. Melba has "San Francisco," a reissue. . . . Bob O'Donnell, Variety Clubs of America chieftain and Interstate vice-president and general manager, will be honored with testimonial dinner December 4 by Variety Club of Texas. Rumor is that Bob Hope will head star-studded program of people who have known Mr. O'Donnell through the years. Mr. O'Donnell firmly denies all stories originating in Hollywood and New York recently that he plans to leave Texas for West Coast production or distribution. DENVER Frank Culp, in theatre business for 31 years, has retired and gone to Florida to live. Mr. Culp built the Granada, later sold it; was with Fox Intermountain 21 years, with his last assignment manager of the Tabor. He is succeeded at the Tabor by Jack Copeland, Rialto manager ; Robert Lotito moves from the Webber to the Rialto, and Fred Hufsmith, assistant at the Tabor, has been made manager of the Webber. Mr. Culp was given a farewell party at the Rocky Mountain Screen Club, and Mr. and Mrs. Culp were presented with farewell gifts. . . . Sam Appelman, RKO salesman, escaped with head lacerations, stitches and body bruises when his car was demolished when it left the road after hitting some loose gravel. He was hospitalized five days. . . . Eagle-Lion is making room in remodeled exchange for exhibitors wanting to check bookings or phone other exchanges. Room will have two desks and phones. PES MOINES Patrons of the Orpheum theatre, Cedar Rapids, did not see the opening scene — murder by strangulation — of "Rope" last week. That part of the picture was deleted upon recommendation of the city's "review and advisory committee," which acted after the Sioux City Parent-Teacher council had objected to the picture and asked for a ruling on it. The committee previewed the picture upon request of Mayor Dan J. Conley and advised the deletion. . . . Orville Scott, manager of the Mayfair, Shenandoah, has resigned after 10 years with the theatre. . . . The Gem, Moville, has been sold to Mr. and Mrs. Frank Scott of Greenwood, S. D. . . . R. H. Dunbar is the new branch manager at Warners. He replaces Paul Webster, resigned Oct. 29. HARTFORD Frank Flood has been elected president of the New England Warner Club, zone social organization for Warner distribution and exhibition employes. Other officers include James Bracken, vice-president; Jeanette Shields, vice-president ; Mary M. Pieper, vice-president; Evelyn Stack, secretary; Joseph DeLouise, treasurer; J. A. Bracken, chairman contributions and loans ; and Henry O'Donnell, board of governors. . . . Joe Glassman, 66, originator of neighborhood theatres in Connecticut's Capital City, is dead. For many years he operated a drug store here and in addition to organizing other neighborhood theatres in Hartford, he founded and built the Rialto theatre. He retired from business about three years ago. . . . Jack A. Sanson, manager of the State theatre, at Manchester, Conn., has been appointed local United Nations Week campaign chairman. INDIANAPOLIS The state executive committee of AMVETS has recommended an amusement tax to pay for a bonus favored by -"Oters in a referendum at the November 2 election. . . . Shirley Wilcox, former New Albany exhibitor who resigned as Collector of Internal Revenue here to make the race, was elected State Treasurer on the Democratic ticket. . . . Jules F. Goldman, former office manager, has been made city salesman on the Warner staff. Ned Tilman succeeds him as office manager. Irvin Levinson succeeds Mr. Tilman as first booker and Don Forsha succeeds Mr. Levinson as second booker. . . . Harold G. Reckley is installing new seats, screen, booth, front and lobby at the Chateau in Greencastle. . . . James Parsons, formerly Ross-Federal manager here, has joined the Screen Guild sales staff. . . . Tom Baker, head of Affiliated Theatres, has gone to St. Petersburg, Fla., for the winter. . . . Loew's has discontinued Saturday midnight shows, started during the war. . . . The elections and bad weather put a crimp in film business last week. "Good Sam" took a fair $12,500 at the Indiana, but "Loves of Carmen" settled for $11,000 at Loew's. KANSAS CITY Subsequent run theatre operators are bemoaning low receipts, but see little that can be done about it — very few try added features such as triples, very few try cutting prices. . . . Fox Midwest had a good week with "Apartment for Peggy" at the three first-run Fairway, Tower and Uptown. It was moved over for another week at the Esquire. . . . Jack Shriner, owner of the Gem theatre, Kansas City, is ill at Menorah Hospital. . . . The board of directors, KansasMissouri Theatre Association, will meet November 18 to complete committee organizations for the projects and activities previously decided upon by the association and the board, including the setting up of a committee to receive complaints, in the association's constructive purpose to help in adjustment of differences and avoidance of litigation. LOUISVILLE Three of Louisville's six first run theatres brought in new twin bills, while one brought in a reissue and the other two retained their current programs. Loew's held over "Red River" and "Manhattan Angel," while the Mary Anderson continued the run of "Johnny Belinda." The Scoop brought in a reissue of "Flowing Gold." In with the new programs were the Rialto, with "One Touch of Venus," joined with "The Code of Scotland Yard"; the National with "Texas, Brooklyn and Heaven" and "The Vicious Circle," while the Strand featured "Night Time in Nevada," coupled with "Angel in Exile." "Apartment for Peggy" and "Night Wind" was moved to the Brown following a week's run at the Rialto. . . . The Scoop advertised new low prices with matinees at 34c, evenings at 45c, with children going for 20c at any time. . . . Willis Hopewell, chief engineer of the Switow Amusement Co., is enjoying the warm breezes of the Florida Coast. . . . Frank Riffle, sound engineer of the Falls City Theatre Equipment Co., has returned from an extensive trip through the Northeast section of the state, where he contacted numerous exhibitors in various parts of the territory. MEMPHIS Downtown stores have inaugurated a practice of staying open until 9 on Thursday nights in Memphis. And first run theatres report that as a result Thursday night was the best night of the week. Also they report that the big Thursday night crowds did not cut down on attendance on other nights. . . . First run business was steady in Memphis. Loew's Palace showed "Kiss the Blood Off My Hands"; Loew's State, "One Touch of Venus"; Malco had "Sealed Verdict"; Warner played Moonrise"; Ritz and Strand had double features. . . . Melody theatre, a new show at Leachville, Ark., will be opened within the next two weeks. . . . Wilson theatre, new show at Wilson, Ark., was opened (Continued on opposite page) 28 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, NOVEMBER 13, 1948