Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1948)

(.Continued from page 30) three years ago, actual start of construction was delayed because of scarcity of building materials. . . . Second week of "Hamlet," playing a roadshow engagement at Loew's Ohio, outgrossed the first week by 20 per cent, according to roadshow manager Robert Wile. COLUMBUS "Julia Misbehaves" at the Ohio was the box office topper of the week. All attractions were aided by Armistice Day, which coincided with opening day at the Ohio, Broad and Palace. "Race Street" at the Palace, and "Sealed Verdict" at the Broad had four-day and three-day runs, respectively, with "The Saxon Charm" moving into the Broad on Sunday, four days in advance of schedule. Booking of "Canon City" at the Grand forestalled a planned moveover of "Race Street." Competition was furnished by week's run of "Carousel," which opened the Hartman's stage season, and by the opening concerts in the Columbus Philharmonic Orchestra series. . . . New antinoise ordinance which prohibits commercial street sound trucks has been introduced in City Council. Present ordinance has been declared unonstitutional. . . . Harold Faught, former manager of the Colony and Forum theatres, Hillsboro, Ohio, is now manager of a new jewelry store at Jackson, Ohio. . . . Rural zoning, approved by voters in 16 of Franklin County's 18 townships, will limit location of drive-ins and theatres in those townships. . . . Executive committee of the Ohio Fair Managers' Association has approved the Ackerman Road site for the state fairgrounds. . . . Academy theatres plan to show "Jassy" as a first run attraction next month. DENVER Thomas C. Smiley is now general manager for Selected Pictures. He was with MGM at Cincinnati as salesman for 17 years. . . . Local Eagle Lion exchange on top in William Heineman sales drive, says M. R. Austin, local manager. . . . Richard Fulham quits Republic as salesman to go to Dallas as Eagle Lion salesman. . . . Gibraltar Enterprise theatre directors meeting at Denver headquarters December 5-8. Directors include Ed Schulte, Casper, Wye; William Ostenberg III, Scottsbluff, Neb.; Ed Ward, Silver City, N. M. ; Tom Murphy, Raton, N. M. ; E. John Grere, Santa Fe, N. M., and Charles R. Gilmour, Denver, who is also president and general manager. . . . Harry Barnes and Charles Ring opening Crook, Colo., to motion pictures via the 275-seat Pine. . . . Merle Gwinn, RKO salesman, resigns and buys Zorn, Benkelman, Neb. . . . Lloyd Taylor buys Trenton, Trenton, Neb., from Max Campbell. . . . Dick Stafford, Universal head booker, moved to similar job at Kansas City. PES MOINES Business was good here last week. A four-day school holiday during a teachers' convention helped swell attendance. Best performer was "A Song Is Born" at the RKO Orpheum. It was paired with "Gentleman from Nowhere." "Julia Misbehaves," at the Des Moines and Roosevelt, was another good drawer. . . . E. Garbett has moved his Iowa United Theatres office into the quarters formerly occupied by Republic. . . . Jim Bey is new assistant manager of the theatres at Storm Lake. . . . Articles of incorporation have been filed in Scott County for Davenport Orpheum, Inc., of Des Moines, an office of the firm which operates a theatre by that name at Davenport. The firm is capitalized at $50,000. . . . Two teen-aged brothers have been appointed to manage the Thornton, Thornton. They are Richard and Donald Dorenkamp. Richard graduated from high school a year ago; Donald is a high school senior. . . . The State Theatre Co. of Holstein is planning to erect a theatre building at Mapleton. HARTFORD "Johnny Belinda," held for a fourth week at the Warner Regal, Hartford, continues to do a terrific business. The film has been playing to big houses throughout this territory. "Apartment for Peggy" went into a second week at Loew's Poli Palace. . . . The Perakos circuit opened its newest Hartford area house, the Elm, a 1,100-seat house, at West Hartford, Conn. Vincent Capuano is manager. He formerly worked for the Warner circuit at Danbury, Conn. . . . Maxwell Alderman, executive secretary of Allied of Connecticut, will attend the Allied convention in New Orleans November 29-December 1. Also attending will be Zelig Fishman and Al Bookspan of the Fishman Theatres, and Mrs. Bookspan. . . . Frances Grand of the Astor theatre, Bridgeport, Conn., is recovering from pneumonia. INDIANAPOLIS A plan by Joseph P. Finneran, Columbus, Ind., exhibitor, for a giveaway quiz show to compete with radio was the highlight of the Associated Theatre Owners of Indiana convention November 10-11. Participants would be selected from theatre audiences and the program transmitted to theatres throughout the state by a telephone hookup. . . . Trueman Rembusch was reelected ATOI president, along with other members of his official family : Sam Neall, vice-president ; Marc J. Wolf, treasurer, and William Carroll, secretary. . . . W. Ballard Long, 60, operator of the Hippodrome theatre at Sheridan, Ind., died November 12. . . . Manny Marcus reopened the old Cozy under a new name, the Alamo, last Friday. It will specialize in action and western films. . . . First run business bounced back last week, after the election slump. "Red River" took a fine $16,000 at Loew's, and held over. "Johnny Belinda" also was above average with $14,000 at the Indiana. KANSAS CITY "Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House" was to open at the Plaza Friday. "Road House" is a moveover to the Esquire from the Fox-Midwest first runs. "Naked Fury" is at the Kimo, to be followed by "Jenny Lamour." Kansas City was in for a series of holdovers : "Johnny Belinda" at the Paramount, and "A Song Is Born" at the Orpheum. . . . The Fox Mid-West first runs, the Fairway, Tower and Uptown, have shifted opening day to Friday from Thursday. . . . Film Row visitors : Mr. and Mrs. Roy Handley, Taonganoxie ; Mrs. Thelma Richardson, Mt. Vernon ; H. F. Higgins, St. Mary's; C. E. Cook, Maryville; Mr. and Mrs. J. R. Crocker, Lyndon ; Bob Egender, Waverly; Herman Gould, Lincoln; Leo Hayob and George Hayob, Marshall; Glenn Hall, Cassville; Dale Neeley, Dighton; R. C. Davison, Pattonsburg; Homer Strowig, Abilene, and Elmer Bills, Salsburg. LOUISVILLE The downtown houses had somewhat of a variety to offer local patronage with some new programs, holdovers and reissues. Capacity crowds at the Mary Anderson warranted a third week for "Johnny Belinda." "Julia Misbehaves" and "Leather Gloves" were scheduled to continue at Loew's. The Scoop showed "Tight Shoes' 'and "Swing Your Partner," and the Brown doubled "Four Feathers" with "Drums." In with new programs were the Rialto with "A Song Is Born" and "Bodyguard." The National had "The Girl from Manhattan" and "Blonde Ice," while the Strand featured "The Luck of the Irish" and "The Creeper." . . . New equipment has been purchased by J. T. Kennedy, Jr., for his new acquired Stanton, Stanton, Ky. . . . Seen on Film Row: F. X. Merkley, Columbia; Edwin St. Clair, Lebanon Junction ; Homer Wirth, Crane; Guy Roehm, New Albany; G. M. May, Corydon ; J. T. Kennedy, Jr., Stanton ; Oscar Hopper, Lebanon. MEMPHIS First run attendance continued steady in Memphis. Loew's State played "Road House." Loew's Palace had "Julia Misbehaves." Malco showed "Loves of Carmen." Warner led the attendance parade with "June Bride." Ritz and Strand showed double features. . . . Eyes of exhibitors and distributors in the mid-south area are fixed on the industry-wide open meeting which will be held at the Hotel Gayoso in Memphis, Deember 9. Arthur Lockwood, TOA president, and Herman Levy, general counsel, enroute home from the Oklahoma convention, will speak at the Memphis meeting. Max Connett, Newton, Miss., chairman of the Tri-States Theatre Owners committee studying conciliation, will make a report. . . . Variety Club of Memphis entertained visiting barkers, their families and friends at a football party last Saturday night after the Tennessee-Ole Miss football game in Memphis. . . . Melody theatre, Leachville, Ark., held its formal opening November 13. . . . Dennis Duke, booker, was promoted to office manager of Columbia. . . . "Rope," which was recently banned in Memphis by censors, was banned this week at Dresden, Tenn., in west Tennessee. . . . Silver Star theatre, West Helena, Ark., was reopened this week by Macon and Sheared, owners. . . . Savoy theatre, Macon, Miss., was sold by J. K. Holcomb to Joe Winkler. . . . Drive-In, North Little Rock, closed until Spring. MIAMI Robert Hower has replaced Alec George, who joined the Air Corps, as assistant at the Paramount theatre. . . . The Tivoli is being remodeled with new seats and new RCA sound and projection equipment being part of the major changes. . . . Miami drive-in theatre is building a double-faced highway billboard. . . . Frank Rubel of the purchas (Continued on opposite page) 32 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, NOVEMBER 20, 1948