Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1948)

(Continued from opposite page) Olympia. . . . Joe St. Thomas is the new assistant manager at the Surf, replacing Joseph Rynock, moved over to the Lincoln. . . . Richard Shannon, formerly student assistant at the Parkway, has been transferred to the Center. . . . "Miss Tatlock's Millions" is drawing crowds to the Paramount and Beach, while "When My Baby Smiles at Me" has long lines waiting at the Miami and Lincoln. "Two Guys from Texas" was at the Olympia; "Red River" was at the Town, and "June Bride" played the midnight spot at the Paramount. . . . "A Song Is Born" is having its premiere showing at the Embassy and Variety. The Florida and Sheridan are playing "Race Street." MILWAUKEE Grossing better in its second week than new product making initial bows is "Three Musketeers" at the Towne. Holiday atmosphere put business generally in the higher brackets and the paying customers had plenty to choose from with a bright array of product filling first run houses. "When My Baby Smiles at Me" clicking at the Wisconsin, "Miss Tatlock's Millions" happy at the Palace, "The Paradine Case" dollar-fine at the Riverside, and "Fighter Squadron" a knockout at the Warner. "Johnny Belinda" is beginning to slide in its fifth week at the Strand and is due to come off. . . . Gene Goderski, operator, and brother of Jerry Goderski, who owns the Aragon theatre in Milwaukee, will shortly leave his duties as projectionist to take over management of his brother's new Airway theatre. Steve Karaginas, former manager for Fox Wisconsin, is currently managing the Hollywood, Milwaukee, for Standard. . . . Rumor has it that most downtown admissions will be hiked come Christmas. A check on the neighborhoods shows less tendency to increase, but slight rises here and there. MINNEAPOLIS Suspense films were the best draws as business held at a favorable level. "Kiss the Blood Off My Hands" and "Pitfall" were both good draws, with "Luck of the Irish" also strong. New entries for the coming week include "When My Baby Smiles at Me," "Night Has a Thousand Eyes" and "Station West." . . . Minneapolis Variety tent auctioned imported gifts, novelties and toys for the benefit of destitute children in Berlin. The articles were shipped in by Merle Potter, former club manager, now with the U. S. occupation forces in Germany. . . . Berger Amusement Co. is reported to be negotiating for the sale of the Superior theatre, Superior, Wis. . . . Harry Saveriede, head of Saveriede Theatre Brokers of Minneapolis and Des Moines, was a Minneapolis visitor this week. . . . New owners in the territory include C. C. Moecker, the Pix at Sleepy Eye, Minn. ; Lawrence Frederick, the Waverly, Waverly, Minn. . . . Additional towns in which power conservation dimouts have curtailed theatre signs are Brainerd, Elbow Lake and Bertha, Minn. MONTREAL "Luxury Liner" at Loew's, and "Sealed Verdict" at Capitol are the only newcomers among the big houses, with "Fuller Brush Man" at the Princess and "Julia Misbehaves" at the Palace now doing good business in second week. . . . Box offices generally around town only so-so on account of bad weather. . . . "Jolson Story" now showing at Orpheum. . . . "Quiet Weekend' now in its amazing eighth week at the Avenue, and another British film, "Against the Wind," opened at the Kent after "Hamlet" closed a two-month run. . . . RKO will release 85 short subjects in Canada within the next 12 months. ... J. Arthur Hirsch, head of Consolidated Amusements, reelected president of Quebec Allied Theatrical Industries, and George Ganetakos, reelected vice-president. . . . Revealed that in 1947 the per capita spending on motion pictures in Canada was $6.30, highest on record. . . . Ernest Cousins, of United Amusements, on the sick list. NEW ORLEANS .The annual Shrine Circus played three days here last week and combined with heavy rainfalls to present opposition for the downtown houses. "When My Baby Smiles at Me" opened at the Saenger. Loew's State played "The Three Musketeers." "Let's Live a Little" was the Joy presentation. "A Song Is Born" opened at the Orpheum. "Kiss the Blood Off My Hands" moved from the Orpheum to the Liberty for a second downtown week. "Johnny Belinda" was at the Tudor, and "Two Guys from Texas" at the Globe. The screen version of "The Mikado" played at the Poche. . . . M. H. Brandon, Transway president, was a visitor from Memphis. . . . Dan Brandon, local Transway general manager, was forced to return to his home after attempting to return to his duties too early following a short illness. . . . C. J. Briant, MGM head, was recently installed as chairman of the board of deacons of the First Baptist Church here. NEW YORK New York's Mayor William O'Dwyer will be honored by leaders of the amusement industry on Tuesday, December 14, when amusement division executives hold their annual luncheon on behalf of the Federation of Jewish Philanthropies of New York at the Hotel Astor. Leaders in the film and allied industries, headed by Fred Schwartz, vice-president of Century Theatres and chairman of the FJP amusement division, will be on the dais. . . . Daniel E. Field, midwest exhibitor who is associated with Wolfgang Reinhardt in Midwest Productions, was a visitor from Los Angeles last week. . . . Entertainment industry and trade press representatives attended a luncheon meeting at Toot Shor's restaurant on Thursday to plan the New York campaign on behalf of the United Service Organizations. James Sauter, chairman of the New York committee, presided. . . . Only one picture, an importation from France, opened on Broadway this week. It was "Savage Brigade," at the Apollo. OKLAHOMA CITY "Three Musketeers" is playing the Liberty. The Circle reopened last week with "Red River." "The Best Years of Our Lives" is playing at the Delman, Tulsa. . . . Arthur Lockwood, TOA president, will attend the state convention of the Theatre Owners of Oklahoma at the Skirvin Hotel here December 6-7. , . . The Center theatre here featured a late show of "An Innocent Affair" last Saturday. The Uptown had a preview of "Forever Amber" and "Race Street" last Saturday. . . . The Villa theatre started a new "Kiddie Hour" on Saturday mornings, featuring cartoons and similar product. . . . The Skyview drive-in is showing "One Touch of Venus." . . . George W. Wise and Milton A. Kallis, attorneys for the Department of Justice, have arrived here to begin preparation for the government's anti-trust suit against the Griffith Amusement Co. OMAHA Only winter wheat gained out of Nebraska's big winter snow and ice storm. Most outstate houses either were shut down for most of the week, or might as well have been. Biggest first runs in Omaha suffered only about a 25 per cent below average loss. . . . Hymie Novitsky, a dean of Omaha film salesmen, is in Rochester, Minn., for a physical chekup. . . . Jack Andrews, former Paramount salesman recently with Selznick, has returned to the fold, succeeding Max McCoy, who resigned. . . . Frank Scott will play three pictures in a six-day week at the Gem, Moville, la., which he recently took over. He also plans remodeling. . . . Salesman Fred Fejfar is pinch-hitting while MGM branch manager William Gaddoni vacations in the east. PHILADELPHIA The first road show picture in more than a year, "Hamlet," at Warners' Aldine, started off big with help from the football and holiday crowds, which kept things humming at the box office for all the downtown houses. . . . The old superstition about three times being a charm was borne out last week when house manager Jacob Minsky found his office at Warners' Logan ransacked for a third time. Also last week, thieves forced their way into the Crest and fled with $1,000 from the safe. . . . Warner theatres purchased four two-minute spots on WCAU to run off a trailer to herald the local opening of "An Innocent Affair." . . . Melvin Fox, independent chain operator, was named a member of the Community Information Committee of the Allied Jewish Appeal. . . . Alfred Plough, district manager for the (Continued on following page) MOTION PICTURE HERALD, DECEMBER 4, 1948 31