Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1948)

(Continued from preceding page) Warner theatre circuit here, marked his 35th weding anniversary this week. . . . Warner Theatre in Atlantic City, a first run during the summer season, reconditioned its stage and orchestra pit to house concert and show attractions during the winter season. . . . Goldman's Karlton gets "Joan of Arc" December 22. . . . Approximately 50 neighborhood houses are serving as collection centers in the "Food for Israel" campaign which is headed by Michael H. Egnal, film exhibitor. . . . George Rudloff is back as assistant manager of Warners' Queen, Wilmington, Del. . . . The new Silver, Coatesville, Pa., -is expected to be ready for opening this month. . . . Kenneth Steckline leaves Loew's, Reading, Pa., to become a student assistant manager at Loew's, Washington, D. C. . . . Philip Frantz new manager of the Hollywood, St. Clair, Pa., succeeding A. J. Ragsdale. . . . John Banke takes over the operation of the Neutral. Simpson, Pa., owned by the late Steve Trumbetis. PITTSBURGH Thanksgiving week started out very poorly here with four holdovers and one house playing reissues. However, things picked up on the holiday and the houses playing late shows were jammed. . . . The critics didn't like "The Three Musketeers" in Loew's Penn, but it opened strongly. The Stanley removed "Let's Live a Little" in favor of "Fighter Squadron" and the picture brought out the best promotion in this city in many years. Henry Burger, Warner Brothers publicity director, arranged for a Piper Cub and a few Army vehicles to parade through the downtown district. . . . "When My Baby Smiles at Me" went into the J. P. Harris and appears to be headed for a long run. It superseded "Road House" which did great business for two weeks and which was transferred to the Senator. . . . Sam Milberg came from Detroit to take over RKO's Erie territory. He succeeds Al Glaubinger. . . . Jimmy Sippey, Screen Guild salesman, has been transferred to that company's branch at Dallas. . . . "Hamlet" was held for a fourth week in the Ritz. . . . Fred Wallace, manager John Walsh's assistant at the Fulton, is seriously ill in a local hospital. SAN ANTONIO "Road House," at the Aztec, shared equal honors with "The Man from Colorado," at the Majestic. "Hatter's Castle" clicked at the Josephine, and "The Crusades" was brought back to the Tejas for a subsequent engagement. . . . Lee Morgan was in town from Hollywood. . . . Visitors along the Mexican Film Row included Jose Carabaza, Laredo ; Frank Idas, Big Wells ; Eddie Reyna, Victoria; Silvero Valencia, Aransas Pass and Gregory, Texas. SEATTLE Television made its debut in Seattle on Thanksgiving Day, when station KRSC-TV broadcast a local high school football game. ... At the same time, the first request for legislation dealing with television reached the Seattle city council as the Washington State Restaurant Association asked the council to fix a reasonable license fee. R. W. Dale, the association manager, protested as excessive a fee of $5 per day for each set, which, he said, the city has indicated is applicable under present ordinances. . . . John Danz' Magnolia theatre opened on Thanksgiving Day. The Magnolia has also been wired for television. . . . Joe McElhinney has joined the sales staff of Eagle Lion as eastern Washington salesman. . . . John Doerr, buyer for Midstate Amusement Company, and his assistant, Pete Panagos, both of Chicago, and Ed Hickey, theatre supervisor, were on Film Row. . . . Out-of-town exhibitors on Film Row included : Joe Lewis, Bellevue; Eddie Snow, Mt. Vernon; Walter Graham, Shelton ; Billy Connors, Tacoma. ST. LOUIS The area's first official delegation to an Allied States convention left for New Orleans in style. The group was headed by Henry Halloway, president of the new MidCentral Allied Independent Theatre Owners, and included Jeff Jefferis, vice-president ; Hugh Graham, secretary, Charles Beninati, Carlyle, 111., W. H. Hoffman, Arthur, 111., and Andy Dietz of St. Louis. . . . Officially, Mid-Centi-al is applying for membership at New Orleans and will not be an Allied regional until the national board accepts its application. East St. Louis will not levy a three per cent amusement tax. In Mayor Connors' opinion, such a tax would be one-sided because it would fall on the motion picture theatres and not on other forms of amusement. Unfortunately, this decision will have no effect on the Missouri side of the river but it may set a precedent among the Illinois suburbs. . . . "Johnny Belinda" closed a run of 38 days at the Ambassador and Missouri, which is a 1948 record. "Apartment for Peggy," which was its companion piece for most of the run, closed after 35 days. "Unfaithfully Yours," "Angel on the Amazon," "Three Musketeers" and "Julia Misbehaves" were holding the boards at the Ambassador, Fox, Loew's State and Orpheum. TORONTO With an improvement in the power situation, Toronto theatre patronage took a brace, particularly for night shows, but there were holdovers at only three main houses, "Road House" doing a third week at the Tivoli and Eglinton, and "Apartment for Peggy" staying a second week at the big Imperial. "The Best Years of Our Lives" bowed out at the Odeon-Toronto after five weeks, to be followed by "Dulcimer Street," while "Red River" opened nicely at Loew's following a four-week run of "Julia Misbehaves." Reissues occupied the screen at four theatres, the double at the Nortown and Victoria being "The Ox-Bow Incident" and "Daytime Wife." The Danforth and Fairlawn brought back the Royal Wedding film as a companion for "Snowbound." The suburban International Cinema held "The Pearl" for a third week. . . . The rains came to feed the hydro-electric plants in Ontario and the result was a substantial easing in the compulsory power cutoffs. . . . Ontario theatres had a field day November 26 when all schools had a holiday to commemorate the birth of the Royal Prince. With Christmas falling on Saturday, the usual Boxing Day holiday has already been proclaimed for Monday, December 27 ... . The OdeonHyland, Toronto, opened its doors with "Hamlet" and the house is sold out until late in December at $1.50, it is reported. . . . Famous Players Canadian Corp. has declared its fourth 25-cent dividend of the year, payable December 24. VANCOUVER The new $100,000 Rex theatre at Flin Flon in Northern Manitoba will open in December. It replaces the old Rex, destroyed by fire last February, and is a part of Phillett Brothers' circuit. . . . The new Port theatre at Port Coquitlam, B. C, was opened this week. The house seats 350. . . . Howard Fletcher, West Vancouver theatre operator, a member of the council there, is running for the position of reeve in the December election. . . . Vancouver projectionist George Thrift, of the Kerrisdale theatre, had a hectic experience when his 20-foot inboard boat was lodged on jagged breakwater at the mouth of the Fraser River. Thrift was missing 36 hours before being rescued by fishermen. . . . Showcases' business was mostly below par, with many new films on display. Leader was "Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein," which was condemned and passed on appeal, at the Vogue. Also good were "Rope," at the Orpheum; "Tawny Pipit," a British import at Cinema, and a holdover of "Forever Amber," at popular prices, at the Strand. WASHINGTON Business was good, with new openings reported at RKO Keith's — "A Song Is Born"; Warner, "Fighter Squadron"; Palace, "Three Musketeers," and Capitol, "Three Godfathers." Carryovers for the week were "June Bride," at the Metropolitan, and "Road House," at the Columbia. . . . The Warner theatre held a special premiere party for the opening of "Fighter Squadron," with members of the Air Force, the Air Force Recruiting Service, Civil Service Patrol and Air National Guard members as part of the special audience. . . . Glenn Norris, branch manager for 20th Century-Fox, spent Thanksgiving holidays in Statesville, N. C, with his family. . . . Robert Smeltzer, Warner district manager, attended the home office district managers meeting in New York December 1-2. . . . Variety Club Tent No. 11 is holding another open house party December 4, with Willie Biron "King for the Night." . . . Bill Michalson, exploiteer for 20th Century-Fox, and his family, spent the recent holidays in Port Chester, New York. Atlanta Variety Club Elects Coleman Barker The Atlanta Variety Club has elected the following new officers: Fred Coleman, chief barker; Guy Brown, first assistant chief barker; Emory Austin, second assistant chief barker; R. B. Wilby, doughguy; crew, Emory Austin, Guy Brown, Fred Coleman, John Cunningham, Boyd Fry, John Fulton, R. B. Wilby, William K. Jenkins, Robert J. Langer, Nat Williams; delegates, Oscar Lam and William K. Jenkins ; alternate delegates, R. B. Wilby and Nat Williams. The new officers will be installed at a dinner December 13. 32 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, DECEMBER 4, 1948