Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1948)

(.Continued from opposite page) ing department, Wometco theatres, is recuperating after a siege in the hospital with a virus infection. . . . The Brandt theatre circuit, which operates the Flamingo, has received a permit to begin construction on a $700,000 theatre at 41st and Biscayne Waterway, Miami Beach. It will accommodate 1,200 persons. . .. "The Dude Goes West'" at the Town, and "Good Sam" at the Paramount, made up the midnight show bill. . . . "The Babe Ruth Story" at the Miami and Lincoln, and "Johnny Belinda" at the Paramount and Beach theatres, have been the top grossers of the week. MINNEAPOLIS Theatre business enjoyed a nice pickup in the last week, with comedy features doing very well. "A Song Is Born," "Apartment for Peggy" and "A Southern Yankee" all did better than average, as did "Coroner Creek." Operators hope to continue the pace with "Johnny Belinda," "June Bride" and "Cry of the City," moving in for the following week. . . . L. J. Ludwig, Jamestown, N. D., operator, has completed plans for a 450-car drive-in there, which will cost $50,000 to $60,000. Another such project is planned at Bemidji, Minn., in a deal involving L. A. Briggs, Minneapolis, and the C. J. Burns Co., Aberdeen, S. D. Briggs, a real estate man, said he represents an Ashland, Wis., client, and has 11 other properties under negotiation as possible drivein locations. . . . Tri-States Theatres will stage a "Courteous Drivers' Week," with motorists selected by traffic patrolmen being given two free admissions to a Tri-State house. . . . Buck Rauenhorst has opened the Murray theatre at Slayton, Minn. . . . An extensive redecoration and remodeling project has been completed at the suburban Edina theatre. . . . W. A. Lindquist is planning a new theatre at Mott, N. D., and the new theatre at Adrian, Minn., will be opened by Percy King sometime this month. . . . Jens Borreson has reopened the Comfrey, Comfrey, Minn. NEW ORLEANS Republic's "Angel on the Amazon" opened at the Saenger November 11 for its premiere showing. "Julia Misbehaves" was at Loew's State. "Station West" opened at the Orpheum. "The Loves of Carmen" moved to the Liberty. "The Doctor Takes a Wife" was at the Joy. "Pitfall" played the Center. At the Tudor was "Gung Ho" and at the Globe "Rose of Washington Square." "To Live in Peace" opened at the Poche'. Double billed at the Strand were "Jack London" and "Colt Comrades." "A Night at the Follies" continued for a second week at the Rio. . . . Ed Ganucheau, head booker for Theatres Service Corp., is confined to the local Lakeshore hospital. . . . Exhibitors visiting Film Row last week included E. Hicks, Clayton; William Terrell, Amite; Charles Waterall and wife, Beaumont; Ed Jenner and wife, Laurel, and Milton Guidry, Erath. . . . Catherine Ladner is the new clerk at Universal. NEW YORK Three new films, including a French importation, opened on Broadway this week. They were: MGM's "The Kissing Bandit,'' starring Frank Sinatra and Kathryn Gray son, at the Capitol; Warner Brothers' "Fighter Squadron," with Edmund O'Brien and Robert Stack, at the Strand, and "Mile. Desiree," a French-made comedy, at the 55th Street Playhouse. . . . Arthur H. Lockwood, president of the Theatre Owners of America, upon his arrival in New York from Boston, announced that TOA's officers and directors will meet in Washington January 28-29. . . . Helene Lax, former film publicist in New York, will leave for Chicago shortly to take up her new duties as head of the copy writing department for Filmack Trailers. ... A film information service will be inaugurated at the main New York Public Library shortly, it has been announced. The service will advise the public on films and keep files of reviews. It will also stock literature on motion pictures, which will be available for reference. OKLAHOMA CITY The Home theatre, Oklahoma City, has inaugurated a new admission price for children of 20 cents anytime. The theatre has also opened a new parking lot for theatre patrons. . . . Lewis R. Barton, owner of the Lewis R. Barton theatres circuit in Oklahoma, has been appointed chairman of the 1949 March of Dimes drive in Oklahoma Count}7. ... "A Song Is Born" has been held over at the Center theatre, Oklahoma City, for the second week. OMAHA The film industry at last has a representative in the Iowa House of Representatives. He is Republican Howard Brookings, owner of theatres at Oakland and other Iowa towns and past president of the Allied Independent Theatre Owners of Iowa and Nebraska. . . . Gaylord Howard's new drive-in at Worthington, Minn., is now slated to have a 500-auto capacity instead of 350. . . . Mr. and Mrs. Walter Austin, Orchard, Neb., bought the Plains theatre, Plainview, Neb., from C. A. Craig. . . . Lester Versteeg is entering the film business with the purchase of the Virginia at Springfield, S. D., from Mrs. H. I. Maggnett. . . . Jake Gillen, youthful owner of the White River theatre White River, S. D., was killed in an auto accident. . . . A. F. Cummings, MGM's home office manager of exchange operations, was here for a weekend. . . . Assistant booker William Laird has been promoted from assistant booker at Universal-International to salesman. PHILADELPHIA Fox theatre, marking its 25th anniversary, is enjoying its biggest draw since "Gentlemen's Agreement" with "Road House." The picture broke three attendance records at the house during its first week and continues just as strong for a second. . . . Warners' Mastbaum chalked up six strong weeks with "Johnny Belinda." . . . Joseph Farrow, formerly at MGM, is the new office manager at RKO here, succeeding Addie Gottschalk, who has been promoted to city salesman. . . . Jay Emanuel, independent circuit head, is serving on the Board of Philadelphia Friends of Yeshiva University for the school's annual fund drive. . . . Lewen Pizor, president of United MPTO here, is recuperating at his home following an emergency appendectomy at Temple Hospital. . . . Lou Berger was confined to Mt. Sinai Hospital with an ailment. . . . Morry Schwartz, who opened his own independent Variety Film Exchange, announced that he has over a three years' supply of reissues to start off. . . . Norman Silverman has taken over the post as Republic branch manager. . . . The Himmler, Dallas, Pa., installing new projection and high intensity lamps. . . . The Park, Reading, Pa., is completing a program of redecorating and refinishing its front and lobby. PITTSBURGH A crowd of 750 attended the twenty-first annual banquet of Variety Club Tent No. 1 in the William Penn Hotel, honoring John H. Harris and Sam Fineberg, the retiring chief barker. . . . Jimmy Totman's Erie district won the Warner Brothers nine-week showmanship drive for a second straight year. . . . F. D. (Dinty) Moore, who resigned as New England sales manager for Warners, is now associated with Sam Fineberg in the theatre supply business here. The amazing "Johnny Belinda" stayed for a fifth week at the Warner. It has grossed more than $70,000 during its stay in the Stanley and Warner. . . . Al Glaubinger has quit the RKO Radio branch at Erie. ... "A Song Is Born" was held for a second week in the Fulton, and "Kiss the Blood Off My Hands" went into the Senator for a third week to pave the way for "Road House" in the J. P. Harris. . . . Film Row was well represented at the opening of the new Manos theatre in Monessen. It has a seating capacity of 1,100. SAN ANTONIO "Apartment for Peggy" was at the Aztec; "That's My Man" at the Josephine; "Johnny Belinda" at the Majestic, and "Bambi" at the Texas. . . . Visitors to the Alamo City recently included : Tom London, Hollywood; Joseph Chamoun, Ybor City; Mrs. Addison Burkhalter, Fort Worth; Maurice Levy, Dallas; L. S. Arnold, Bishop; Franklyn Trevino, Pearsall, and Paul J. Poag, Del Rio. ... A new V-type marquee at the Texas, which includes a map of Texas and a star pointing out San Antonio, is a novelty along Film Row. SAN FRANCISCO Ward Pennington moves here from Kansas City to become Paramount exchanges' new sales manager. . . . Frank Woods of Lippert Circuit, took an extended tour of their Northern California theatres. . . . The local Monogram exchange was one of the top winners in the recent Monogram billing drive. Office employees all shared in the prizes. . . . Workmen have hoisted the first section of KGO-TV's 508-foot television tower into place. The ABC television transmitter and studio site is situated in Sutro Forest on the north slope of Twin Peaks. . . . Robert Folkoff, theatre accountant, is out of the hospital. SEATTLE Top crowd-drawer was "Johnny Belinda," held over for a third week at the Music Box. . . . L. O. Lukan, who has been man (Continued on following page) MOTION PICTURE HERALD, NOVEMBER 20, 1948 33