Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1948)

(Continued from preceding page) ager of the Green Lake theatre since its opening, was made supervisor of theatres for the B. F. Shearer Company. William J. Van Alstine is the new manager at the Green Lake. . . . Harry Moore, assistant manager at the Roxy theatre in Everett, was transferred to the Tower theatre in Bremerton, succeeding Ted Heyder, who was transferred recently to the Capitol theatre in Juneau, Alaska. . . . Robert H. Poole, of Los Angeles, has resigned as executive director of the Pacific Coast Conference of Independent Theatre Operators, according to word received on Film Row. . . . Ralph Swan, architect attached to the B. F. Shearer Co., has resigned and has moved to California. . . . Out-of-town exhibitors on Film Row were: Carroll Barney, Arlington; W. B. McDonald, Olympia; Willard Andre, Kent; Eddie Snow, Mt. Vernon ; Walter Graham, Shelton. ST. LOUIS More holdovers than new films held the boards at the first run houses. A double bill of "Johnny Belinda" and "Apartment for Peggy'' started the third week of a moveover at the Missouri. It was a second week for "Red River" at Loew's State and for "A Song Is Born" at the Shubert, and "Night Has a Thousand Eyes ' went to the St. Louis on a moveover from the Ambassador. . . . The amusement tax was not an issue in the recent elections, but its repeal prospects were helped by the result. After the Democratic sweep, it is likely the Republican administration at the City Hall will bend every effort to prepare for the spring elections, which may include repeal of the unpopular amusement tax. . . . Fox Midwest manager assignments: H. M. Burnett, from West Frankfort, 111., to Mt. Vernon, 111.; J. E. DeSilva, from Marion, 111., to West Frankfort; Al Sparguar, from Du Quoin, 111., to Marion, and Ermin Aired, from Centralia to Du Quoin. TORONTO "The Best Years of Our Lives" remained at the Odeon-Toronto for a fourth week in its first regular-price engagement in Toronto, while "Julia Misbehaves" was behaving nicely in its third week at Loew's. Other holdovers were "June Bride" at Shea's, "Rope" at the Imperial," and "Hills of Home" at Loew's Uptown, all for a second week. After playing one week at the OdeonToronto, "The Babe Ruth Story" was transferred to the Fairlawn and Danforth, which are Odeon suburban units . The Famous Players' Nortown and Victoria continued with double bills, playing "Blood and Sand" and "The Gay Intruders" this week to fair business. After one week of "The Vicious Circle," the International Cinema turned to "The Pearl." ... A state of confusion prevailed for theatre-goers because of the three blackouts daily, totalling 165 minutes, because of the power shortage. For the past month, the power cutoffs had been conducted on a regional basis throughout the city, but some improvement was expected in the adoption of a plan, effective Monday, for one switchoff throughout the city three times daily. On account of the hour switchoff at 4 p.m., and the 45-minute cut at 7 p.m. a number of smaller theatres dropped their matinees Monday through Friday and did not start night shows until 7 :45. There are no power cuts on Saturday or Sunday. . . . George H. Peters, Clare Appel and Archie Laurie from Toronto headquarters officiated at the Odeon theatre openings at the twin cities of Fort William and Port Arthur, Ont. . . . Word was forthcoming of the appointment of Vic Nowe, former assistant manager of the Toronto Danforth, as manager of the OdeonHyland, which will open in North Toronto November 22 with "Hamlet." . . . Famous Players Canadian Corp. opened its new Centre theatre at Windsor, Ont., with a doublebill policy, prices scaling to 44 cents. . . . WT. C. Watt is appointed manager of the Toronto Hollywood and he has been succeeded at the Strand theatre, Simcoe, by Jack Silverthorne from the Strand at Till sonburg. VANCOUVER Two downtown Famous Players theatres were victims of box office holdups in the past week. The Orpheum lost $55 and the Capitol $80. . .' . Vancouver first runs, with few exceptions, are experiencing a week of ordinary business. The extra holiday revenue, Thursday, was a help, of course, but for the most part the overall figure is not too impressive. Leaders were "Luxury Liner," Capitol ; "Tap Roots," second week at Vogue; "A Southern Yankee," Orpheum, and "Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House," third week at the Strand. "The Return of Wildfire" at the Plaza got the kiddie trade. . . . "A Nation on Skis," technicolor film about Norway, made by a Vancouver cameraman, Doug Sinclair, is now being shown at the Strand for the third week. The two-reel short is a Warner Brothers' release. . . . It's getting to be a habit with Ivan Ackery, Orpheum theatre manager, to win exploitation campaigns. He won the Quigley Award, the Canadian Moving Picture Digest contest, and now has been declared the Dominion winner in the "T-Man" contest. WASHINGTON Business was fair, with new openings expected to bolster box office receipts. At the Warner, "June Bride"; Loew's Capitol, "Road House" ; Loew's Palace, "When My Baby Smiles at Me" ; Warner's Metropolitan, "Hollow Triumph" ; RKO Keith's, "Station West" ; Loew's Columbia, carryover of "Julia Misbehaves." The National announced a fifth week for "Red Shoes," and "Hamlet" continues a profitable run at the Little and Playhouse theatres. "Henry V" went into a second week at Sidney Lust's Hippodrome. . . . New members of the Variety Club of Washington are: William H. Benedict, Paul Linson and Frederick G. Rippingdale. . . . Walter Earl Davis, salesman at Universal, has accepted a position as branch manager at Film Classics. . . . Max Cohen, local Film Classics manager, is being transferred to the New York office. . . . Local F 13, IATSE, held nominations for officers on November 1. Elections will be held December 6. The following were nominated, and unopposed: Agnes Turner, president ; Sara Young, business agent ; Anne Griffin, financial secretary. ... A "Hawaiian Night" open house was held in the Variety Club rooms November 13, with Alvin Q. Ehrlich acting as "King for the Night. . . . 20th Century-Fox will have a Christmas Party on December 18, in the Fox offices on New Jersey Ave. Says Italy May Restrict Lira Here to explore the possibility of setting up his own distribution organization and to discuss co-production in Italy with a number of American producers, Dr. R. Gualino, vice-president of Lux Films, Italian production and distribution company, said in New York this week that the Italian Government was seriously considering restrictions on the use of frozen lira by American producers and distributors in Italy. There had been many complaints about the manner in which these lira were used, Dr. Gualino said, and the Government now was considering measures. Frozen lira for production would continue to be available, however, he thought. Dr. Gualino, who will spend a month in the U. S., said he wanted to co-produce, using star names to make the pictures acceptable both in the U. S. and Italy. Lux Films recently shot a film, in double version, in cooperation with the British Ortus Film Company. Lux Films in 1948 turned out 12 pictures and distributed 15 — its own product, two American films, "Secret Life of Walter Mitty" and "Body and Soul," and one French picture, "Antoine and Antoinette." The public was reluctant to accept French product, Dr. Gualino declared. Of the 12 pictures his company produced, nine were shot mostly on location as a cost-saving measure. Film business is improved 40 per cent over pre-war with the number of houses more than doubled, he disclosed. January and February, 1948, were the peak months. Dr. Gualino, whose company turned out "To Live in Peace" and "A Yank in Rome," thinks the Marshal Plan will aid producers who may be able to get much-needed equipment. 34 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, NOVEMBER 20, 1948